Pro Wrestling Noah
| Pro Wrestling NOAH logo | |
| Acronym | NOAH |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 |
| Style | Strong style |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Founder(s) | Mitsuharu Misawa |
| Owner(s) | Mitsuharu Misawa |
Pro Wrestling NOAH is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000. It was formed by former All Japan Pro Wrestling stars led by former champion Mitsuharu Misawa. The "NOAH" in the name alludes to the Biblical story of Noah, in which the people and animals in the ark survive the flood and make a new beginning in the world, a story which was seen as a parallel to the wrestlers' departure from All Japan. NOAH's promotional symbol, an ark with a dove holding an olive branch, refers to this.
Pro Wrestling NOAH is essentially a continuation of All Japan's promotional system in the 1990s, with a slight leeway to allow for wrestlers from other promotions, something previous All Japan promoter Giant Baba had not allowed. It also features a strong junior heavyweight division, which All Japan had been relatively lacking in the 1990s due to lack of pushes for the younger stars, such as Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Naomichi Marufuji, who have quickly become NOAH's junior aces.
Like New Japan, NOAH recognizes singles and tag team titles for both heavyweight and junior heavyweight contenders. The titles are known as the GHC (Global Honored Crown) titles. Recent interpromotional work with New Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE has made NOAH the No. 2 promotion in Japan, a rank it steadily maintains.
Roster
See: Pro Wrestling NOAH roster
Titles promoted
- GHC Heavyweight Championship
- GHC Tag Team Championship
- GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship
- GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
- GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship