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Pro-Wrestling NOAH, professional wrestling promotion in Japan since 2000. It was formed by former All-Japan Pro-Wrestling stars led by former champion Mitsuharu Misawa. The "NOAH" in the name alludes to the Biblical story of Noah, in which the people and animals in the ark survive the flood and make a new beginning in the world. In fact, NOAH's promotional symbol is an ark with a dove holding an olive branch. The story is seen as a parallel to the wrestlers' departure from All-Japan.
Pro-Wrestling NOAH is essentially a continuation of All-Japan's promotional system in the 1990s, with a slight leeway to allow for wrestlers from other promotions (which previous All-Japan promoter Giant Baba had not allowed back then).
Like New Japan, NOAH recognizes singles and tag team titles for both heavyweight and junior heavyweight contenders. The titles are known as the GHC (Global Honored Crown) titles. Recent interpromotional work with New Japan and ZERO-ONE have made NOAH the No. 2 promotion in Japan, a rank it steadily maintains.
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