Josh Barnett to make Pro Wrestling NOAH debut at N-1 Victory finals

Originally posted on F4WOnline.com | By Ian Carey | Last updated 5/14/23

Pro Wrestling NOAH has announced a big match for its September 3 show.

Josh Barnett will make his debut for the promotion when he faces co-founder of Pancrase and two-time King of Pancrase winner, Masakatsu Funaki in a martial arts match.

The event is the final night of the promotion's N-1 Victory tournament and will take place from the Edion Arena in Osaka. Barnett vs. Funaki is the only match announced for the show thus far.

Barnett recently provided English commentary at NOAH Majestic on May 4. His last match took place on March 30 when he lost to Timothy Thatcher in the main event at Bloodsport 9.

Barnett wrote on Twitter:

September 3rd in Osaka at the Edion Arena. Masakatsu Funaki (4th & 6th King of Pancrase, AJPW Triple Crown, GHC National Championship) vs Josh Barnett (10th King of Pancrase, UFC Heavyweight Champion, Metamoris Heavyweight Champion) Let's ride.

Funaki holds wins in MMA over names such as Frank Shamrock, Ken Shamrock, Paul Lazenby, Minoru Suzuki, and Bas Rutten. He is also the first fighter to win the King of Pancrase twice.

In wrestling, Funaki is a former Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion in AJPW, and a GHC National Champion in NOAH. He also won the AJPW tag titles with Keiji Mutoh in 2010.

Funaki was voted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2006.

This article first appeared on F4WOnline.com and was syndicated with permission.

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