N-1 Victory Power Rankings: Kaito Kiyomiya Commands A Block While B Block Descends Into Chaos

The margin for error in Pro Wrestling NOAH’s 2026 N-1 Victory tournament has officially vanished. As the grueling round-robin schedule enters its final week, the contrasting realities of the A and B blocks are stark: one is a methodical coronation march, and the other is an absolute mathematical bloodbath.[1][2]

In the A Block, Kaito Kiyomiya is operating on an entirely different frequency. The former GHC Heavyweight Champion extended his undefeated streak on September 22 at Act City Hamamatsu, putting away Kazuyuki Fujita with a devastating Skywalk Elbow in 14 minutes and 4 seconds. The victory pushed Kiyomiya to an untouchable 9 points, built on four clean wins and a single draw.[1][2][3]

The only man keeping Kiyomiya in his sights is Yoshiki Inamura. Sitting at 7 points, Inamura kept his own championship hopes alive in Hamamatsu by flattening Chen with a top-rope DISCHARGE Splash at the 11:05 mark. Inamura’s resilience was forged earlier in the week during a brutal 30-minute time-limit draw against Kiyomiya on September 16—a match that proved he can drag the block leader into deep waters.[1][5]

While the A Block follows a logical hierarchy, the B Block has descended into pure chaos. The standings were blown wide open on September 21 at the Tokugin Tomony Arena in Tokushima, where 854 fans witnessed the biggest shock of the tournament.[2][4]

Masa Kitamiya, the 2025 N-1 Victory winner and heavily favored block leader, suffered a catastrophic upset at the hands of the previously winless Kouga. After nearly ten minutes of stiff strikes and outside interference from YOSHITATSU, Kouga caught Kitamiya with a lightning-fast backslide pin at 9:38 to score his first two points of the tour.[2][4]

Kouga did not mince words after the bell. "Got the three-count on Kitamiya, undefeated Kitamiya — OZAWA, you see that?" Kouga taunted backstage. "That's what a real 'Lightning Reverse Pin' looks like. Yours isn't even fit for a live crowd. I'll say it again — let me teach you some pro wrestling."[2]

That single three-count fundamentally altered the tournament math. Kitamiya’s stumble allowed both OZAWA and Tetsuya Endo to pull level at 6 points, creating a tense three-way tie atop the B Block. OZAWA capitalized by putting away Titus Alexander in 10:21 with a Phoenix Splash, while Endo secured his share of the lead by finishing Manabu Soya with a Shooting Star Press.[2][4]

The spoiler effect is rippling across both blocks. In the A Block, Shane Haste moved to 6 points by hitting the Ayers Rock Bottom to defeat Yuki Iino in 12:25, leaving the passionate Iino stranded at 0-5. Meanwhile, Takashi Sugiura also reached 6 points by pinning his TEAM 2000X stablemate Alpha Wolf with a Huracanrana in just under ten minutes.[1][2][3]

As the roster looks toward the October 4 final at Yoyogi National Gymnasium, the scenarios are unforgiving. Kiyomiya simply needs to avoid a total collapse in his final two matches against Iino and Shane Haste to secure his spot. Inamura must win out and pray for a miracle.[1]

The B Block, however, will be decided in the trenches. With Kitamiya, OZAWA, and Endo deadlocked, and Kenoh lurking just behind at 4 points, the final shows in Sendai and Utsunomiya will require perfection. One slipped pin or missed rotation won't just cost a match—it will end a season.[1][2]