The 2022 N-1 Victory winner will not return to the tournament this year after Kaito Kiyomiya withdrew.
The move was not a surprise given that the NOAH star is part of the field for this summer’s NJPW G1 Climax, and there is an overlap in the schedules.
Both tournaments will be running on August 6th, 9th and 10th.
Speaking at Saturday’s NOAH Sunny Voyage show in Yokohama, Kiyomiya said:
As a result of talking with the company, I decided to withdraw from N-1 VICTORY in order to focus on G1 CLIMAX. I’ve come to the conclusion that I will become a G1 star. I will come back with a win.
#BREAKING: Kiyomiya will not wrestle in the N-1 2023
“As a result of talking with the company, I decided to withdraw from N-1 VICTORY in order to focus on G1 CLIMAX. I’ve come to the conclusion that I will become a G1 star. I will come back with a win.”pic.twitter.com/CMIndHh0vo
— Pro Wrestling NOAH Global (@noahglobal) June 10, 2023
The list of participants in this year’s N-1 Victory is set to be announced on June 22nd.