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Timothy Thatcher made his Pro Wrestling NOAH debut at their recent Star Navigation show at the Korakuen Hall.
Thatcher was revealed as the fifth member of Takashi Sugiura's team as he competed in a ten-man tag team match. The former NXT star teamed up with El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and former WWE stars Hideki Suzuki and Rene Dupree.
Sugiura, Suzuki, Dupree, and Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. are part of the Sugiura-gun, and it now looks like Thatcher is also a part of the faction.
Check out Thatcher's debut for Pro Wrestling NOAH in the clip below:
In his first match for the Japanese promotion, Thatcher and his team defeated Yoshiki Inamura, Kaito Kiyomiya, the GHC Tag Team Champions, Masa Kitamiya & Michael Elgin, and GHC Heavyweight Champion, Go Shiozaki.
Thatcher was released from his WWE contract on January 5, 2022. Since then, he has competed in GCW Josh Barnett's Bloodsport. During his time with WWE, Thatcher won the interim NXT Tag Team Championships with Riddle. He also unsuccessfully challenged for the North American Championship.
Timothy Thatcher expressed his gratitude towards Pro Wrestling NOAH after his debut
Shortly after Timothy Thatcher's successful debut for Pro Wrestling NOAH, the rest of the Sugiura-gun hyped up the 39-year-old and explained what he could do.
Former WWE Tag Team Champion Rene Dupree did most of the talking during the post-match backstage interview. Thatcher also chimed in with a few intimidating words.
Concluding the promo, the former NXT star said:
Very grateful to be here in Japan. Very grateful for Sugiura-gun. Suzuki-san, very good friend of mine, asked me to come to NOAH. I accept NOAH, number one company, very grateful. [1:34-1:50]
Check out Timothy Thatcher and the Sugiura-gun's backstage interview below:
It will be interesting to see how things unfold for Thatcher in Japan moving forward.
If you use any of the above quotes, credit Pro Wrestling NOAH and H/T Sportskeeda Wrestling
