NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 3

Promotional poster for the event, featuring various Pro Wrestling Noah wrestlers

## Information

### Sponsor(s)

LIDET Entertainment
OSG
The LEAVE

### City

Yokohama, Japan

The **NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 3** was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event promoted by Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah). The event took place on August 10, 2020, at the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium in Yokohama, Japan.

The show was headlined by Go Shiozaki facing Kenoh in a double title match for the GHC Heavyweight and GHC National Championships. Another high-profile match scheduled for the show featured Kaito Kiyomiya against Keiji Mutoh. The event aired live on CyberAgent's streaming services AbemaTV and Wrestle Universe as a pay-per-view (PPV). The event also celebrated Noah's 20th anniversary.

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the event had some restrictions in attendance, after the Japanese Government lifted the State of Emergency. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Noah broadcasted the event on videotelephony and online chat platform *Zoom*.

## Production

### Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

On January 29, 2020, Noah also announced that the promotion would celebrate its 20th anniversary in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan which would be later canceled due to the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). On March 30, 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. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Noah broadcasted the event on videotelephony and online chat platform *Zoom*.

### Storylines

NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 3 featured seven professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

The NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 3 was headlined by Go Shiozaki facing Kenoh in a double title match for the GHC Heavyweight and GHC National Championships. On August 4, 2020, on the first night of Departure, Kenoh defeated Katsuhiko Nakajima to win GHC National Championship. The following day, on the second night of Departure, after Nakajima's AXIZ teammate Go Shiozaki successfully defended the GHC Heavyweight Championship, Kenoh, challenged Shiozaki to a double-title match for the GHC National and Heavyweight Championships, stating that there could only be one strong champion in Noah, which Shiozaki ended up accepting. This was the first double title match in Noah's history.

In May, Noah produced two events, the "New Hope" on May 24 and May 31, with Kaito Kiyomiya being the crucial figure of the event, due to being the promotion's "new ace". On the first night of the event, Kiyomiya defeated Rene Dupree in the main event. Afterwards, Kiyomiya proclaimed his ambition of having a dream match, with Japanese wrestling legend Keiji Mutoh, as a way to progress his career. On July 18, Kiyomiya teamed with Go Shiozaki in a losing effort against Mutoh and Naomichi Marufuji. Leading to the match, Mutoh praised Kiyomiya stating that there were "various things he could pull out, but there are also parts that were last moment". NOAH legend Kenta Kobashi commented on the match, stating that this was Kiyomiya's opportunity to show his new scenery.

On May 9, HAYATA turned on RATEL'S, joining Kotaro Suzuki and Yoshinari Ogawa to reform Stinger, leading RATEL'S to disband. Afterwards, Daisuke Harada vowed revenge due to HAYATA's betrayal. The following day, HAYATA and Ogawa defeated Tadasuke and YO-HEY to win the vacant GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Following the match, Harada confronted HAYATA, leading the two to be separated. Over the following months, Harada and HAYATA continued feuding with each other, with Harada usually trying to attack HAYATA after their matches. On June 11, following an eight-man tag team match between Harada and HAYATA, Harada challenged HAYATA to a match with no seconds, which he accepted. The following day, Harada and HAYATA's match, ended in a no contest, after Stinger interfered in the match. Afterwards, Harada challenged HAYATA to face him, Tadasuke and YO-HEY in a match. On July 19, Harada and Tadasuke unsuccessfully challenged HAYATA and Yoshinari Ogawa for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Afterwards, HAYATA challenged Harada to a match for the IPW:UK Junior Heavyweight Championship. On August 5, 2020, on the second night of Departure, Harada and HAYATA faced off in a six-man tag team match, with Stinger winning the match after HAYATA pinned Harada.