At the end of October, Nakajima is going to be wrapping up with NOAH.
Two-time GHC Heavyweight Champion Katsuhiko Nakajima is opting to leave Pro Wrestling NOAH. His departure was announced by the promotion along with listing the dates, teammates and opponents for his final matches in October.
Nakajima is 35 years of age and he’s been working dates for NOAH since he was a teenager. After the news of his departure became public, PKDX reached out and conducted a Q&A with him.
They asked why he’s leaving and he stated that 20 years into his career, being the age of 35, he wants to challenge himself and see how far he can go. There are no concrete plans in place for the future. He shared that when he told NOAH about his decision, they showed him nothing but love and support.
In the 20th year of my career, at the age of 35, I wanted to challenge myself. In this double milestone year, I wanted to test myself and see how far I could go. Nothing concrete has been decided about my future… When I told the company about it, they gladly gave me their support. I love NOAH, so I have nothing but gratitude to the company.
Nakajima mentioned that he’s been working dates for NOAH since 2005 and got to have a singles match against the promotion’s founder, Mitsuharu Misawa. He stated that if Kensuke Office is his home, then NOAH is his second home.
Kensuke Office, also known as Diamond Ring, was an independent promotion in Japan that was founded by Kensuke Sasaki. Nakajima was a part of the promotion’s launch in 2005.
I’ve been in NOAH since I was a teenager. I had a singles match with (Mitsuharu) Misawa, and I have so many memories that I don’t know where to start. If Kensuke Office (Diamond Ring independent promotion) is my home, NOAH is my second home.
Nakajima’s last match in NOAH will be as a member of AXIZ with Go Shiozaki. The pair held the GHC Tag Team Championships on three separate occasions.
He thinks AXIZ is ‘immortal’, adding that him and Shiozaki started from the bottom of the totem pole and went on to become champions. He doesn’t think the team has to end, even if he’s leaving.
I think AXIZ is immortal. Me and Go-san created it from nothing. Even if I quit NOAH, I don’t think it’s necessary to end it, so I think it’s a temporary break. I hope you will come to Korakuen and Fukuoka (for my last matches in NOAH).
On his ‘X’ account, Nakajima wrote a message and apologized for the sudden announcement of his departure. He reiterated that nothing has been decided regarding his future, but he hopes everyone understands his decision.
