From the ROH Newswire July 9th:

Naomichi Marufuji's tour of ROH is now complete. A first time ever match has been signed for 7/25 in Toronto. It will be Marufuji vs. FIP World Heavyweight Champion Roderick Strong in a non-title match. This gives Marufuji the following schedule for his four show tour:

-7/25 in Detroit with Roderick Strong vs. Go Shiozaki & Chris Hero with Larry Sweeney
-7/26 in Toronto vs. Strong
-8/1 in Manassas with Go Shiozaki vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black for the ROH World Tag Team Titles
-8/2 in Manhattan vs. Shiozaki


I'm gonna miss this guy! :( Marufuji’s been in and out of ROH so long he feels like part of the family. Remember when he first showed up with Kobashi and KENTA at Final Battle 2005 and challenged Bryan Danielson for the belt right off? Danielson kept it, of course, but Marufuji put on such an awesome performance he got a special ovation after the match. He’s going to leave a lot of memories like that….

Any of you going to get to see one of these last shows?

Yes! For Marufuji I’m putting aside my dislike of NYC wrestling fans and braving the Hammerstein one more time.

I do remember when he debuted out of nowhere and demanded a title shot. lol But my two other favorites were his GHC Heavyweight Title Match with Nigel at GHB V ('06), and the match with Rocky Romero at Respect is Earned (’07). The last 6 or 7 minutes of the GHC match Marufuji was on fire! He superkicked Nigel, got him in the Tree of Woe and hit a Van Terminator on him, and then finished him off with the Shiranui. You know how much I loved that! ;)

The match with Romero was a basic match really. But it was highly competitive, and the moves were so perfectly executed with such ease that I will never forget it. I could watch that kind of wrestling 24/7!

I fully expect to see Maru again when ROH tours Japan in September. But, alas, on dvd. Not in the flesh…. Yeah, I’m getting sad thinking about it too.....

I'll see him at the Mannass show! I loved Maru's run and I hop he comes back again soon!

You all are taking streamers, aren't you? If so, throw one for me, please!

I'm afraid Marufuji won't be back Jimmy. He's gotten to come to the US longer than any other guy in NOAH. (That's why Minion said he feels like part of the family.) So when Gabe says the tour will be "complete," I take him literally. Not saying Maru will never be back. Just that it will be a long, long, long time. :(

Sorry, hon. From the balcony, where we’ll be sitting at the Hammerstein, streamers would just fall on the bell table below. Maybe one of the Manassas folks will do it for you.

I remember that too. Especially the part where Marufuji did those lightening swift kicks of his to Nigel’s leg and then used the ringpost to work it over from outside. I kept waiting to hear a crack/rip/crunch sound like the one Hogan’s knee made when he tore it in WCW. :lol:

Another oldie I liked was the International Tag Match of Marufuji and KENTA vs. Samoa Joe and Danielson at Best in the World (’06). Great action all round. And the themes running throughout the match (major heat between Joe & KENTA & Danielson thinking he knew how to beat Marufuji) made it extra fun.

I think when Marufuji started in ROH, his hesitancy about the foreign wrestling styles and insecurity about foreign audiences showed. But the more confident he got, the better he got. Now, when he leaves he certainly won't be forgotten!

You mean us gaijins? :lol: Maybe it was the international travel and his internal time clock instead. :P

Actually I'm hoping he and Go take the Tag Team belts off Jacobs and Black before he goes. Given who Marufuji has wrestled, how long he has wrestled, and the contribution he's made to ROH's top card, it would a shame for him to go back to NOAH without an ROH belt. Morishima got one for nothing!

Besides which, Jacobs and Black could get them back in Japan in September. The fact AOTF was fighting their own guys would guarantee huge heel heat for them from the normally placid (but highly appreciative!) Japanese audience.

Just in case no one heard this and is planning on going to the Philly show. They had to move it to the former ECW Arena. Troops are mobilizing that day, so the Armory can't be used.

Yeah. I saw that. They’ll probably have to add chairs to get the whole Philly crowd in. ‘N hope not too many of ‘em stop by the Beer Fest in South Philly that day before the show. :lol:

What about Team ROH (Danielson) NOAH (Marufuji) ‘n Dragon Gate (CIMA) in Oasaka, Japan last year? ‘N the Battle Of The Brawlers this year at the Hammerstein?

You all can throw a roll of streamers. That's easier to control at a distance and unwinds before it hits the ring.

I’m not fond of Goodbye matches or shows at all. But heck, it’s Marufuji. ‘N I’ll be back from vacation in time for the Manhattan show in August. Just might go ‘n throw a streamer myself!

That would be really cool for all the reasons you said.

You all enjoy.

You will too, DC. When the dvd comes out. ;)

It isn't the first time they've been upstaged by troop mobilizations. At least this time they have somewhere decent to go. One year we had to go outside to a tent. :lol: But, seriously, it was great fun.

I think we'll give that a try. And if it doesn't work, and hits Cary instead, we'll blame it on you. :lol:

Yeah this sucks but he ended up doing twice as many shows for ROH then anyone would of guessed. To bad queer boy & Black are gonna go over in Manassas. I see Go getting pinned or tapping in VA and Fuji jobbing for Go in NYC to give Go that big break out win he really needs.

Possible. But also possible that Marufuji 'n Go will take the belts off Jacobs (queer? Didn't you see any of his stuff with Lacey?) 'n Black. That would be fittin' since Marufuji never held an ROH title. 'N Danielson & Richards are in the NOAH tag title tournament right now.

Those of you who will be seeing Marufuji this coming weekend should be prepared. I.e., the Canadians say he has switched from a Hiroshi Tanahashi hairstyle to a Josh Koshcheck hairstyle. :ph43r:

Please tell me he hasn't permed it to get the short 'fro effect. :o

I'm afraid so. Saw a pic of it today. Its pretty bad. But at least he didn't dye it blond too!

I've seen the Toronto pics too. :ph43r:

Try real hard not to laugh guys. :)

It actually didn't look as bad as I expected. I still prefer him au naturale, but after the first glance it grows on you.