Following his participation in ZERO1′s Fire Festival, LEONA (Fujinami) will now be moving forward and competing for Pro Wrestling NOAH throughout the month of August, and potentially longer.

Coming out of the ZERO1 league, LEONA has stated that he has a lot of regrets and this has lead him want single out a rematch against Kenoh. That he feels the need to continue growing and overcoming the challenges that are placed before him. Chairman Uchida accepted the young talents request and has even given him a rematch against Kenoh on August 26 at the Korakuen Hall. His first ever match in NOAH though will be on August 6, as he teams with Naomichi Marufuji to take on the team of KAZMA SAKAMOTO and Cody Hall.

LEONA added that he doesn’t necessarily seek to win the match, but for his own personal growth as a wrestler. The ZERO1 Fire Festival was a strong learning experience, as that is the most he has competed in back to back singles matches so far in his career, and he knows he can only grow through steady competition. The last three years he has been living under his fathers protection in DRADITION, but he feels it is time now for him to begin to take every other opportunity that he can be apart of elsewhere as well.

Uchida has also put LEONA’s request to continue competing in NOAH in the future into consideration. That if LEONA shows that he can grow through the battles that he will face then the door could be left open for him.

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The full event cards were also announced for the “DEPARTURE” show on August 6 and then the “Summer Navig. vol. 2” tour end on August 26 at the Korakuen Hall. Which the latter will feature three title matches.

The main event of the August 26 show will see Katsuhiko Nakajima finally defending the GHC Heavyweight belt against Eddie Edwards. Edwards has been regularly competing in NOAH since March of this year and has been proving himself once more, as he has years of work with them in the past, in the NOAH ring. Nakajima accepted the challenge after overcoming Brian Cage on July 27.

Then two wrestlers will see their in-ring debuts for NOAH on August 12 in Yokohama, as Jyunta Miyawaki will be making his pro-wrestling debut and the Australian born Ashley Istria (180cm, 89kg, Born 6/28/1988 from Adelaide, Australia) will compete in NOAH for the first time. Istria has been training in NOAH throughout the month of July even appearing as a second, understudy role, at ringside.