Departure (2020)

Promotional poster for the first night of the event featuring Katsuhiko Nakajima and Kenoh

## Information

### Date

August 4, 2020
August 5, 2020

### City

Tokyo, Japan

**Departure 2020** was an professional wrestling event promoted by Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah). The two shows took place on August 4 and 5, 2020, in Tokyo, Japan at the Korakuen Hall. This was the tenth event under the *Departure* name.

The event aired on CyberAgent's streaming service Wrestle Universe. Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the event had some restrictions in attendance, after the Japanese Government lifted the State of Emergency.

The first night of the show was main evented by Katsuhiko Nakajima defending the GHC National Championship against Kenoh, while the second night of the event was main evented by Go Shiozaki defending the GHC Heavyweight Championship against Naomichi Marufuji.

## Production

### Background

Following the 2000 All Japan Pro Wrestling mass exodus, Mitsuharu Misawa left All Japan Pro Wrestling and formed his own promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH. Afterwards, Noah began annually the Departure event, to symbolize the anniversary of the promotion. The event aired through CyberAgent's internet streaming service Wrestle Universe.

#### Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

On March 30, 2020, it was initially announced that some 2020 Global Tag League shows of the tournament, while the April 15 show would be held behind closed doors, being streamed on DDT Universe, due to restrictions made by the Japanese government regarding the 2019-20 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic but it was later announced that the entire tournament would be held behind closed doors and the shows would be streamed on the DDT Universe under NOAH TV name. On April 22, the first show of the NOAH THE SPIRIT 2020 tour was held in an empty TV studio broadcast live on AbemaTV, and the rest of the shows would be canceled including ALL OUT ATTACK 2020 tour. On May 9, NOAH and their sister promotion, DDT started to promote shows at an empty TV studio being broadcast on AbemaTV under NOAH TV name. On July 18, Noah returned to held events with a limited number of fans in attendance at the Korakuen Hall.

### Storylines

Departure (2020) featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.

The first night of the show was main evented by Katsuhiko Nakajima defending the GHC National Championship against Kenoh. On July 19, KONGOH faced Go Shiozaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Kaito Kiyomiya, Shuhei Taniguchi, Atsushi Kotoge and Hajime Ohara in a ten-man tag team match. Afterwards, Nakajima confronted Kenoh and dare him to challenge for his title. Kenoh asking him if he was only nominating him because no one else had come forward, showing his disinterest. Kenoh ended up changing his mind and challenged him to a match for his title.

The second night of the event was main evented by Go Shiozaki defending the GHC Heavyweight Championship against Naomichi Marufuji. On July 18, Go Shiozaki and Kaito Kiyomiya faced Naomichi Marufuji and Keiji Mutoh. Marufuji scored a direct victory for his team with Marufuji pinning Shiozaki for the win. Afterwards, Marufuji proposed himself as the next challenger for his title.

## Results

### Night 1

 2
 3
 4
 5
 6

* (c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
* – refers to the video of that match

### Night 2

 2
 3
 4
 5

* (c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
* – refers to the video of that match