GHC Heavyweight Champion Jake Lee: ‘I Am Just Getting Started’

“Right now, I am on my way to becoming a distinguished champion, but I am not yet the most distinguished champion I want to be. I am just getting started.”

Jake Lee defends Pro Wrestling NOAH’s GHC heavyweight championship tomorrow at Demolition Stage, a pivotal show in Fukuoka.

Courtesy NOAH

The card, which also includes a NOAH farewell match for Katsuhiko Nakajima, will air its first two matches for free on YouTube. It features a world title bout pitting Lee, whose reign as champion has lasted more than 200 days, against Kenoh, who is the last man to defeat him.

GHCヘビー級王者 ジェイク・リーを称えるよう握手の手を差し出す、拳王。

しかし、ジェイクがお返しのベルト殴打！！！！#MONDAYMAGIC #wrestleUNIVERSE #noah_ghc pic.twitter.com/5mJA3spjl9

— プロレスリング・ノア ｜PRO WRESTLING NOAH (@noah_ghc) October 23, 2023

Kenoh defeated Lee over the summer in the N-1 Victory tournament, creating an air of possibility that will happen again in their rematch. For Lee, who has been a true force since his arrival in NOAH, emerging victorious in matches against Go Shiozaki, Kaito Kiyomiya, and Naomichi Marufuji, this is an opportunity to further cement his unstoppable run as champion.

“I am very excited for it,” said Lee, 34, speaking through a translator. “This is my chance to pay back the debt I owe to him from N-1.”

After a stellar 11 years in All Japan Pro Wrestling, Lee made his NOAH debut this past January. He has been their top heel ever since, taking the belt in a succinct manner from Kiyomiya. He has also created his own faction with Jack Morris and Anthony Greene, who form the Good Looking Guys.

The formation of Good Looking Guys became an early priority for Lee in NOAH, and he was asked if he ever compares his stable to other groups in wrestling, like The Bloodline in WWE or The Elite in AEW.

“I wanted members who would fight in a tag team,” said Lee. “Not just any member, but a member who is spectacular and above all, a member for fans to admire. We intend to make this team stronger. When that happens, I think we will look at others as a comparison.”

안녕、本日は昨日撮った写真から#noah_glg #王者組 pic.twitter.com/hwu71M61cN

— ジェイク・リー (@JakeLee19890119) October 19, 2023

If Lee retains the title tomorrow, that increases the possibility of a champion-vs.-champion match against New Japan Pro-Wrestling IWGP heavyweight champion Sanada. That would be a chance to represent NOAH, as well as his past in AJPW.

“There is no reason to refuse that,” said Lee. “And if we are going to have a match, a larger venue would be preferable.

“Right now, I am on my way to becoming a distinguished champion, but I am not yet the most distinguished champion I want to be. I am just getting started.”

NOAH offers a very distinct, hard-hitting, and compelling brand of pro wrestling, which will all be on display tomorrow at Demolition Stage. As world champion, Lee is hungry to ensure that this card is specifically remembered for his work.

“This is the story of me paying back my debt to Kenoh and taking a bigger step forward,” said Lee. “This will allow us to see again who has been at the helm this past year, so people should watch to recognize that.”