A Look at the 2019 NOAH N-1 Victory Tournament and the Participants

A Look at the 2019 NOAH N-1 Victory Tournament and the Participants
August 8, 2019 
By Ryan Porzl

Back in 2010, Pro Wrestling NOAH established a yearly heavyweight round robin tournament called the Global League. The tournament was supposed to be to the organization what the G-1 Climax is to New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Champion Carnival is to All Japan Pro Wrestling, or the Fire Festival is to Pro Wrestling ZERO1. However, with the change in management in 2019, NOAH saw many changes including new logo and the end of their signature green mats. Another change was the renaming of the Global League to the N-1 Victory tournament. For the first annual N-1 Victory, things got more interesting when it was announced current GHC (Global Honored Crown) Heavyweight Champion Kaito Kiyomiya would not participate and that the winner would be the number one contender to the GHC Heavyweight Championship with the match being held at Sumo Hall on November 2nd. As I've done this year with the Champion Carnival and Fire Festival, I shall take a look at the participants and see where I think they stand.

I just realized we had some morbid anniversaries this year. I already brought up this year being the 60th Anniversary of "The Day The Music Died" back on February 3rd but there's more.

January 26th was the 40th Anniversary of the passing of former Vice President of the United States and Governor of New York Nelson Rockefeller who apparently went out in a way most would want to by "dying in the saddle" at 70. A true man's man.

February 26th was the 25th Anniversary of the passing of Bill Hicks, probably the best comedian you never heard of at 32 due to cancer.

July 20th was the 35th Anniversary of runner Jim Fixx who some may remember for being an advocate of running and wrote books on it during the 70s. He also became known for having one of the most ironic deaths ever by dying of a heart attack....while running. Speaking of Bill Hicks, he did an awesome bit about Fixx, his death, Keith Richards outliving him, and asking what you write about running.

I would also point out May 16th is the 35th Anniversary of Andy Kaufman's passing but let's be real, we know he's still alive in an undisclosed location with Elvis. Probably where Walt Disney is cryogenically frozen.

The Darkest Side of the Night - Metropolis

Happy 30th Anniversary to Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan.

Eyes Of The World

Rainbow - All Night Long High Quality HQ

Happy 40th Anniversary to the Rainbow album Down To Earth. The album is the last with drummer Cozy Powell, the only one with vocalist Graham Bonnet, and the first with Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover.

Alice Cooper - Poison (Official Video)

Happy 30th Anniversary to the Alice Cooper album Trash. Though Cooper had been on the comeback trail since 1986's Constrictor, Trash solidified his comeback. It's produced by the brilliant Desmond Child and features guest appearances from Jon Bon Jovi, RIchie Sambora, Steven Tyler, Joan Jett, and Joe Perry as well as former Cooper band members Kane Roberts and Kip Winger.

Here's a reason why the album is a classic since I think it might actually be impossible to hate this song.

Charles Bronson vs. Muggers

Happy 45th Anniversary to Death Wish. Interesting note, Jeff Goldblum had one of his earliest roles in this movie as a mugger (not in this scene).