The show opened with quite an introduction full of talking and I still don't understand much Japanese. I did however watch Dragon Gate USA back when I watched the most wrestling promotions of my life and so I hope to recognize some of these faces if only by name.
Match One: Yosuke Santa Maria vs. Mondai Ryu
Yosuke Santa Maria dresses like a woman wrestler with the cut top, skirt and long tights underneath and yet does appear to be a man otherwise (arm pit hair does give it away, but I think it's the gimmick as such) Mondai Ryu is masked. At one point in the corner, Mondai Ryu climbed up to the second rope and moved the head of Yosuke to motion for oral sex. Classy. A quick google search shows that Yosuke is indeed male and also used to wrestle under an Ultimo Dragon type of mask. Mondai made quick work of Yosuke and neither competitor really won me over as a fan on this match so I'll be moving on.
The cuts and ways these guys are coming out reminds me of early ROH and I like it. Something I'm unsure of is happening in the ring right now and a child has been brought in to pull something out of an envelope. Are these wrestlers fighting or what? Akira Tozawa is on the mic and he took off his shirt and gave it to the kid. As I look at the card online now, as I'm typing this while watching it, I realize that these six men will be involved in the main event and so whatever that paper said had something to do with that. Okay, so that was some sort of segment going into the main event rather than the next match. So now we go into our next match for real this time.
Okay, maybe not. A bunch of guys are in the ring-- six to be exact-- and they pulled out a card that says Kotoka. They have two other cards that I can only assume say El Rindman based upon the match card. So these two guys are called "Millenials" but perhaps that is a faction more than just a tag team and as such they're picking which two will be in the match. I'll go back and look that up later, but the team they're supposed to face is called "Jimmyz" and they are out next because their theme song says in English "We are Jimmy".
Match Two: Millenials (Kotoka and El Rindaman) vs. Jimmyz (Jimmy Kanda and Jimmy Susumu)
Jimmy Susumu sounds familiar in name. So Susumu and Rindaman start. Rindaman has red hair and that's how I remember who he is. Both men make tags and the Millenials double team Kanda now. So I did look up the Millenials and there are something like eight different members to the stable one of which is Yosuke Santa Maria who I do recall seeing prior to this match but I suppose since he already fought he wouldn't be representing Millenials in it. We end up back where we started with Susumu and Rindaman. A good double team by Jimmyz brings in Kanda. Kanda sinks in a half lef Boston crab type of submission hold but Rindaman makes it to the ropes for a clean break. The Jimmyz work him over again together with a suplex this time. Kanda stays with Rindaman and it looks like we're going to wait for Rindaman to get a hot tag even though I feel like they're the heels here. Both sides change and Susumu is working over Kotoka. Kotoka hits a nice double foot stomp dropkick off the top rope onto Susumu. Apparently there are lucha libre rules in Dragon Gate as two men leave the ring and Rindaman and Kanda come in without tags. Both Millenials hit Kanda hard in the corner and they're working him over with some great double team moves. They almost got the three count but Susumu broke it up. Rindaman and Susumu begin trading blows in the middle of the ring, strong style. Rindaman locks an arm bar on Susumu but is broken up by a huge top rope elbow from Kanda. Plenty of near falls for both teams here. And eventually, Jimmy Susumu gets the pin and win on El Rindaman. It was an all right match, but second on the card for a reason.
Match Three: Jimmy Kagetora vs. Punch Tominaga
Why can't Kagetora be part of the Jimmyz?? I'm assuming Punch isn't known for his kicks. Punch goes after Kagetora right away and he was wearing a flower print shirt to the ring. Interesting. Punch reminds me of Shinsuke Nakamura for some reason. Punch puts his hands in his pockets and gets hit in the face for it. Punch keeps making sounds like he's hulking up. He also keeps putting his hands in his pockets and I guess no one is worried he might pull out a weapon (or worse). Okay, Punch doesn't remind me of Nakamura anymore. He just seems like a crazy man with his hands constantly in his pockets now. Kagetora mounts an offense and can hopefully come back and win this. Kagetora acts possessed by something then hits a power move on Punch Tominaga for the pin and win. That felt fairly quick but I'm not complaining. As I glance at the card I'm still a match away from recognizing anyone. I'm not sure what Punch brought to the ring with him but he's also leaving with it. Huzzah.
Match Four: Mr. Kyu Kyu Naoki Tanizaki Toyonaka Dolphin vs. K-ness
Who would have ever imagined K-ness being in a match where he has the normal name of the two? K-ness has a mask that falls somewhere between Ultimo Dragon and Rey Mysterio. Dolphin is not masked and for all of his names he is pretty much wearing just baggy shorts that are ripped up the side and looks like somewhat how you expect wrestlers in Japan to look. K-ness has pants and a sleeveless shirt and is much more someone who would stand out in something like a six or eight man tag match, at least for me. Dolphin hits a leg sweep but can't get a pin. Really, he wanted a pin with that? K-ness came out with someone who looks similar to him and is interfering on his behalf. Chops are exchanged. Dolphin has someone in his corner as well though. K-ness eventually ends up getting the pin and the win in a match that meant very little to me. I'd kind of like to see more of K-ness though. Maybe.
Match Five: Kzy vs. BxB Hulk
I do remember BxB Hulk from the old DGUSA days (and the old Dragon Gate days) of my watching. Not sure who Kzy is but he does look crazy enough for me to be a fan of his also. He is wrestling in shiny overalls with one pant leg rolled up and, yeah, you kind of have to see him to believe in him. BxB Hulk looks nearly the same. At one point, after exchanges, they both drop kick each other at the same time, proving to be equals. Mondai Ryu and Punch Tominaga, who I recognize from earlier in the show, storm the ring and beat up Kzy to end the match. Apparently they have some sort of problem with him. Punch gets on the mic and says something. Kzy responds. Mondai Ryu *might* have been in the corner of K-ness before I'm still not entirely sure. Kzy sets up the tag match that is up next.
Match Six: Kzy and BxB Hulk vs. Mondai Ryu and Punch Tominaga
Both of the heels (I'm assuming?) work over Kzy to start. BxB Hulk clears the ring of both heels. BxB Hulk and Kzy then take down Punch together for a two count. Standing corkscrew moonsault by BxB Hulk onto Punch. Good double team moves and Kzy hits a five star frogsplash on Punch for the three count. Mondai says something to Kzy after the match and apparently Kzy and BxB Hulk are the tag team champions together? Then why were they fighting each other before?
Match Seven: Millenials (Eita, T-Hawk and U-T) vs. MAD BLANKEY (CIMA, Cyber Kong and Gamma)
I recognize everyone from MAD BLANKEY but no one from the other side. Millenials got some good cheers though. Are they like the Bullet Club of Dragon Gate then? This feels overbooked. The guy with the giant red mohawk from Millenials (T-Hawk?) is in the ring a lot. Another guy has blonde hair and they're all in red and green while MAD BLANKEY members are in yellow. Cyber Kong gets a near fall on red mohawk guy. This feels like a three on one contest now with MAD BLANKEY working over the red mohawk guy. The other Millenials just stand by and watch. CIMA locks in a sharpshooter and Cyber Kong stomps on red mohawk guy's head. As each other member grabs a side and picks up red mohawk guy, who I'm just going to call T-Hawk now, Cyber Kong hits a huge splash on him. They're blindfolding T-Hawk now. It would appear as if CIMA just kissed T-Hawk. Mmmkay. Gamma clears the apron of his friends and T-Hawk just cannot catch a break in this match. Finally a hot tag and the blonde member of Millenials is in. The action spills outside and the black haired Millenials member is in. I'm trying to figure out who these Millenials members are by name but really they need to give me a reason to care. All three Millenials members had submission holds applied when an outside member of MAD BLANKEY came in and cleared the ring. Gamma is being worked over by all three men. Almost a three count on him by blondie. The blonde Millenials member turns a Razor's Edge into sit down power bomb, only for Cyber Kong to break up the pin. Now we're somehow back to all three MAD BLANKEY members beating on one of the Millenials. A huge top rope elbow by Cyber Kong is good for a close fall. Cyber Kong keeps trying power moves but can only get two counts on the black haired Millenial. Powder to the face of the black haired Millenial, running power bomb from out of the corner and into the middle of the ring by Cyber Kong and this match is over. Cyber Kong is cutting a promo in ring now. Apparently, from what I can tell on a google search result the mohawk guy is actually U-T, the blonde one is T-Hawk and thus the black haired member was Eita. Sorry for any confusion there. I'm not going to go back and edit it but you can adjust it in your mind as such.
Before the next match Kzy and BxB Hulk came out. I believe their promo was about setting up a tag team title match for the next event. I'm pretty sure that's what just happened.
Match Eight: Genki Horiguchi HAGeeMee & Ryo Jimmy Saito vs. MAD BLANKEY (Don Fujii and YAMATO)
Other members of MAD BLANKEY were at ringside, representing the yellow. I recognize Don Fujii and YAMATO so apparently everyone I recognize is MAD BLANKEY now. So how does an actual Jimmy get left out of the Jimmyz before and now a non-Jimmy gets in? I'm so confused. Genki and YAMATO have some nice back and forths. Don Fujii worked over Saito and I can't help but feel like these Dragon Gate matches have each guy sort of choosing their own opponent, like a one on one defense strategy rather than zone or whatever else they do in basketball. YAMATO got worked over by Saito and then taken to their corner for the tag to Genki. This has turned into a two on one now. I'm also curious, as I watch this, as to whether or not everyone in Dragon Gate is part of a stable. We have MAD BLANKEY, Jimmyz, Millenials... Seems like everyone could be. I said before that everyone I recognize is MAD BLANKEY but I do recognize Genki. YAMATO shows Genki a mirror at one point to see if it cracks. Funny. Genki gets worked over until the hot tag is made and Saito begins going to work on Don Fujii. After outside interference by other members of MAD BLANKEY, Don Fujji rolls up Saito with his legs for the pin and win. Still not sure what all of these factions are about, but yes, it does feel like everyone is in one of them.
Match Nine: Dia,HEARTS (Big R Shimizu, Dragon Kid and Masaaki Mochizuki) vs. Monster Express (Akira Tozawa, Shingo Takagi and Syachihoko BOY) *Open The Triangle Gate Championship Match*
BxB Hulk and Kzy are actually part of Dia.HEARTS just further proving my theory. And yes, Monster Express is yet another faction. I recognize a few names in this match, most noted of them is Shingo. Dragon Kid comes out breakdancing in the ring. Syachihoko BOY is kind of like an orange Shark Boy, at least to the effect that he has teeth painted onto his mask. Big R Shimizu is in a singlet cut much lower than that of Shingo and I'm about to establish shorter versions of all their names. BOY starts things off with Masaaki. BOY climbs the ropes and yells something that gets a laugh. Masaaki yells the same and gets a round of applause. A hard chop by Masaaki and then Masaaki also slaps BOY in the face. A bit of running and BOY takes Masaaki down with an airplane spin. Dragon Kid and Tozawa are in the match now. Dragon Kid does some break dance moves and Tozawa imitates them the best he can, which draws laughs and cheers from the crowd. Dragon Kid throws Tozawa outside then runs the ropes and fakes going out himself. Tozawa does a similar set but instead flips off the second rope backwards into the ring. Shingo and Big R are the legal men now, and as they both wear singlets they also both seem to be the powerhouses of the match. Tozawa paints the chest of Masaaki with rapid fire chops. Later, Tozawa is in trouble as Dragon Kid works him over, takes him to the corner and lets Big R have at him. Shingo tries to get involved but is stopped by the ref. Masaaki wrenches the leg of Tozawa under the second rope in a most awkward fashion. Tozawa screams out in pain as this has become a bit of a three on one contest now. Masaaki begins targeted and really kicking the leg of Tozawa hard. Big R comes in once Masaaki looks to be in trouble. Tozawa manages to get the tag finally and Shingo comes in with Dragon Kid. Shingo then hits a huge double clothesline on both men who are not Dragon Kid. After some other moves, BOY hits a huge moonsault onto everyone on the outside. Big R overpowers BOY. Shingo and Masaaki are in together now. They exchange strikes and kicks until Masaaki gets a two count on Shingo. Dragon Kid locks a triangle arm bar of some form on Shingo only to be whirled around and slammed down by the much stronger man. Shingo hits a piledriver on Dragon Kid and then repeatedly slams his head into the mat for a two count. The clock behind them says 20:42 and I'd imagine they're wrapping this up by 21:00. Masaaki is back to working over Tozawa now. Tozawa dodges a corner attack from Masaaki and Masaaki is met by Shingo instead. Tozawa yells and plays to the crowd. Superplex by Tozawa on Masaaki and Tozawa and Shingo are now hulking up. Monster Express hits a series of running moves on Masaaki in the corner. Masaaki ducks a double clothesline attempt by the two who aren't BOY and when it looks like Masaaki might finally be done his partners come to save him. Shingo looks ready to finish it. Shingo hits a nice hook power slam of some kind but it's only good for two. BOY gets worked over and Big R hits a sit down powerbomb on him for two. BOY swings and is put in a submission hold by Big R. As BOY seems to be getting towards the ropes, Big R hits a powerbomb on him so he can't. Big R reminds me a bit of Kevin Owens (Steen). Shingo dominates but then almost gets pinned by Dragon Kid. Masaaki hits Shingo with some kicks. Everyone is getting kicked and punched now. BOY goes for Spike Dudley's finisher but Big R grabs him and chokeslams him down hard for the pin and the win. All the other members of MAD BLANKEY storm the ring. They are not happy losers. Cyber Kong is cutting a promo and he sounds upset. BxB Hulk is out here yelling now too, What a way to end a show-- talking.
Overall this show had some fun moments and the main event was certainly a decent match. If you're wondering why you hear so much about NJPW and not Dragon Gate though, this show might be the reason why. This was to kick off their 2015 and as such I decided to watch it because I wanted to try and get back into more professional wrestling this year. This certainly could have been better but I'm not sure based on the talent involved that I'm not entirely familiar with still. If you're looking for a Dragon Gate event to watch and win you over as a fan of professional wrestling this is probably not the right one for you. It certainly hasn't put Dragon Gate on my top promotions list and I do so enjoy All Japan even though I've only watched it one time. Being ranked third out of three in Japan is probably not a good thing, but this is still better than certain things which happen in WWE and, as it should also then go without saying, TNA.
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