I’ve been in Japan for a few days for some great wrestling action at Korakuen Hall. Here’s a rundown of what I’ve seen:
Dragon Gate:
Yosuke Santa Maria & Stalker Ichikawa (dressed as Stan Hansen for the second time this week) vs.Ryo Jimmy Saito & Genki Horiguchi H.A.GeeMeee!!!
Super fun comedy match with some good action at times.Santa Maria is such an entertaining performer and really got to shine here. Her push continued with a pinfall win over Genki.
Don Fujii & U-T vs. Kaito Ishida & Takehiro Yamamura
Wow, this was incredible. It had everything you’d want from it. Don Fujii being surly and beating the tar out of the young guys, the young guys being ultra-competitive with each other, great crowd heat and a fantastic finish. This was perfect for what they set out for.
El Lindaman vs. T-Hawk
Huge upset here as Lindaman got the biggest singles victory of his career, knocking off T-Hawk with a Cross Armbreaker after ten minutes of good action.
Kzy, CIMA & Gamma vs. Monster Express
Excellent fast paced trios match, with charisma abound. Like in the last match, this had a huge result as Big R Shimizu beat CIMA clean with the Shot Put Slam. The crowd went wild for the finish.
The stip here was that Punch had to retire if he lost. The result was a white hot atmosphere with the crowd living and dying with the nearfalls. Eita made Kotoka tap with the El Numero Uno. The finishing stretch of this was just out of this world.
Verserk vs. The Jimmys
With special “Jimmy for a night”, Masaaki Mochizuki in tow, the Jimmys scored a huge victory in the main event after 20 minutes of insane action. They did an incredible job weaving Verserk strife into a match which involved so much coordination and timing. It was incredible to watch a match like this in front of the Japanese fans. Susumu pinned YAMATO after a vicious Jumbo No Kachi lariat. Watch out for The Jimmys entrance and yours truly getting involved.
Post match, Verserk split into two sides to set up the annual DEAD OR ALIVE cage match where hair and masks are at stake. We got a bonus 19 second Cyber Kong/Mondai Ryu match to determine who could avoid the Cage. Mondai won.
Sendai Girls
This was the biggest show in the history of the promotion as they hit Korakuen Hall for the first time headlined by the renewal of a classic rivalry.
Aja Kong vs. Meiko Satomura
The result was a bona-fide Match Of The Year Candidate. I saw all the big matches from Mania weekend while I’ve been over here and this topped everything. It also topped the incredible Daisuke Sekimoto main event I saw last week at BJW. Aja Kong looked as good as she did in her prime. Not only was her offence looking fantastic but her selling and the subtle little things she did added so much to the match and made me realise I was watching one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
However, she was topped by Satomura, who was absolutely heroic as the babyface. Her fire and her execution were on another level from almost anyone I’ve ever seen in person before. I knew she was good, real good, but not this good. Satomura won the match after an epic closing stretch and retained the title. Kong sold the loss, and the damage, brilliantly after the match. It was like Godzilla being taken down, and slumping away to fight another day.
The undercard was a really fun variety show. We had a hard hitting opening tag match, a comedy match, a really good hardcore match pitting Hikaru Shida & Syuri against KAORU & DASH Chisako, and an awesome veteran vs rookie match as Nanae Takahashi defeated hot prospect Chihiro Hashimoto. This show airs on the 16th, and the main event is absolutely must-see stuff.
Start here on NicoNico. Note there is often a discount for ordering shows early. Korakuen Hall shows are traditionally 1500 points/yen and the big Pay Per Views are at 2160 points/yen for a preorder and 2700 pts/yen day of show.
Overall, the process is very easy:
1- Sign up for a free account. You can Google Translate the page to make it easier, but the registration is fairly standard, so it’s not really needed.
3 – Go here to buy points. Note that any that you have left over after your purchase can be used the next time.
4 – When you click on the points you want to buy, you’ll be presented with several payment options. As you proceed, it’s the gold buttons with Japanese writing that confirm each step (the grey button is cancel).
5 – Once you’ve bought your points, go back to the show page. Click the big red button near the bottom. That will confirm that you’ve bought the show with X of your Y points, and you have Z left:
6 – You have the ability now to watch live. If you want to “timeshift” it, simply hit the yellow button that says Timeshift which appears on the show page and where the show is listed in your account. This will allow you to watch on demand for a week or so after the event.
7 – To be sure you’ve done everything right, go here. It should look like this:
That’s all there is to it. It took me about 3 minutes for the whole process and it was very easy. The best news for me is that they have EVERY Dragon Gate show both live and on demand, including all the Korakuens, alll the TVs and all the big shows!
CIMA has been removed from the card due to a minor illness. The rookie Yamamura has been moved into his spot, and now facing Mochizuki in his place will be the always vivacious Yosuke <3 Santa Maria.
T-Hawk vs. Gamma
A match randomly picked by children at the last show. Gamma gained control early and managed a trademark wipe-of-his-saliva all over T-Hawk, but was given a receipt in the form of a brainbuster. He regained the advantage but ate a splash mountain from T-Hawk. T-Hawk going for the Niteride early. An attempted spit in the face of T-Hawk was blocked, as Gamma was hit with a reverse powerslam, but managed to get a couple two counts off a roll up. Despite their efforts, the match reached it’s 5 minute time limit. They shook hands. A draw, then Gamma spit in his face and ran out of the ring. Gross.
Genki & Ryu started out trading headlocks. Genki got a dropkick and a kip up. They tagged out, where Kong quickly won a test of strength. Genki back in, but was dropped and nailed with a DiBiase-like falling fist. Jimmyz did manage to regain some momentum with some double teaming on Ryu until Kong interfered. Other members of VerserK smiled in approval from the outside. Ryu mounted Genki in the corner and rubbed his crotch in Genki’s face. Some double teaming from VerserK, but Genki out at two. He attempted a rana, which Kong blocked, but was successful hitting a DDT. Tag into Saito, both Ryu & Saito attempted Saito’s cycling yahoo with Saito finally getting it on a 3rd attempt. More VerserK double teaming left the Jimmyz down, but Saito broke up a two count off a big Kong Frog Splash. Combinations from the Jimmyz now, also ending in a two count being broken up off a Frog Splash. Finally, some VerserK miscommunication led to Saito getting the pin. There appeared to be dissension between the two VerserK members following the match.
Over Generation came out for an in-ring promo after the match. They called a kid into the ring who was wearing their t-shirt.
Big R Shimizu vs. Kaito Ishida
The kid was supposed to ring the bell to start the match, but accidentally jumped the gun prematurely, in a funny bit. Shimizu displayed his power to start, tossing Ishida around the ring. There was a point this year where Big R Shimizu was having a better year than Big E Langston, though it is clear the latter has regained the lead. Ishida attempted chops but was no match for the big man. Ishida is mighty small at this point to come across as a threat. He did slap him in the face twice and nail a missile dropkick for a two however. He connected with kicks, extremely technically sound in doing so. Shimizu regained control and hit the big spinning slam, and a tree slam for two. Ishida managed a nice roll up for a fun two count, but was quickly put down with the Shot-put Chokeslam for a three.
Yosuke <3 Santa Maria vs. Masaaki Mochizuki
No idea why she wasn’t on the card in the first place, as entertaining as anyone on the roster. Yosuke cut a promo before the match, wishing everybody a Merry Christmas and welcomed her opponent to the ring. Mochizuki won in less time than Conor McGregor, and made a beeline for the locker room. Yosuke cut another promo, asking for an immediate rematch, this being a staple of Dragon Gate.
Yosuke <3 Santa Maria vs. Masaaki Mochizuki
Big chops from Yosuke, ducking Mochi’s offense and hitting a dropkick. Then no selling his stuff and showing some athleticism, and hit a gigantic dive to floor, placing her foot on his head in triumph. Awesome. Dragon screw from Yosuke as she is controlling the entire match. Mochi regained control and stiffed her with a gigantic boot in the corner. Two count, but Yosuke fighting back. Huge right hand from Mochi. Yosuke with a sweet spring board dropkick and leg lariat for two. Rather than rub her face in his crotch in a trademark spot, she hit the bonzai drop instead. She ate two boots in return, but showed fight and returned fire with a chop, but was nailed with two more kicks, however kicking out at two. Crowd behind her now, and she hits a suplex.
To the top, but Mochi follows her up there. Superplex but she pops right up! Big kiss and crucifix for an absolutely great two count. A couple kicks from Mochi and she gets another one. Another couple nearfalls and the crowd is way into this. Mochi finally gets the three with the Sankakugeri. Mochi led the crowd in applause for Maria Chan after the match. She planted a kiss on him and he reciprocated. This was absolutely everything you want out of pro wrestling, mixing a great match with fun entertainment.
Jimmyz (Jimmy Susumu & Jimmy K-Ness) vs. Dia.HEARTS (Dragon Kid & Kzy)
Susumu was a reindeer here. Kzy & K-Ness started with a few minutes of comedy, well received by the crowd, not so much by their partners. A little bit of action, but the match morphed back into comedy shortly after. Finally something of a match broke out. Double teaming from the Jimmyz, as they maintained control of Kid. Susumu & Kid traded strikes, with Susumu coming out on top. Kid came back with a rana and made the tag to Kzy. Dia.HEARTS now taking it to the Jimmyz, as Kid hits an Ibushi-like moonsault from the second turnbuckle to the floor. Exploder from Susumu for two, on Kzy. Jimmyz lock in duel submissions, firmly in control now.
Double gutbuster into a delayed double suplex combo. Huge Susumu lariat stops a Kzy comeback, for two. Kid to his partner’s aid, and he hits K-Ness with an assisted rana from the top rope. Big Kzy frog splash gets broken up at two by Susumu. Susumu and Kzy to the top now. Exploder from the top on Kzy. K-Ness with his series of spinning rollups on Kid, but broken up by Kzy. Finally, Kid gets the Bible (crucifix) for the win. Funny how your typical average DG midcard tag match is still worlds better than any other company’s standard average midcard tag match. While this was standard fare in DG terms, a forgettable match in reality, it would be the most athletic thing on the entire show of most other companies.
VerserK (Shingo Takagi, Yamato & Kotoka) vs. Over Generation (Eita, Punch Tominaga & Takehiro Yamamura)
Again, no Cima, instead the rookie Yamamura. They brawled into the crowd, while back in the ring Shingo took it to the rook, who was in attire similar to Cima. He tagged out to Punch, who locked up with Yamato. Hands in his pockets for power, Punchy hulked up and was impervious to pain. Kotoka in, and Over Generation put the boots to him. Eita went to work on his right leg, which was taped. We’ll see if that plays into their championship match at the big year-end PPV in a week and a half. Punch in. Big kick to the nuts from Kotoka, with the bad leg which he sold heavily. Yamato returned with a big dropkick, and a stroking of his bangs, as VerserK put a whopping on Punch in their corner. Literally beating on Punch for minutes at a time, double teaming and punking him out in general.
VerserK miscommunication led to a tag Eita came in, a house of fire. Huge dive to the outside wiping out VerserK. Yamamura in, but Shingo manhandled the rookie. Yamamura was evasive however and eventually hit a fisherman suplex for a two. This was more competitive than when Punch was in there. Punch back in there with Yamato who he will be wrestling for the tag titles in a week and a half. Yamato remained in control, but finally Punch got an STO for a two count. Triple dropkick put Shingo on the floor and the faces turned their attention to Kotoka.
Some pretty fantastic triple teaming ending with a PT BME. VerserK regained control shortly after though. Alabama Slam on Eita from the champ got two. The rook in there now, gets nailed from the outside with the suitcase, but it’s only a two. Ref distraction and the whole VerserK squad enters the ring to beat the shit out of Yamamura, but Kaito Ishida (dressed as Yamamura) pulls some twin magic behind the ref’s back, replacing his spent stablemate and Over Generation gets a clever upset. Good match, nice finish.
Monster Express (Masato Yoshino, Akira Tozawa, Shachihoko BOY), Naoki Tanizaki & Kenichiro Arai vs. “El Lindaman” Yuga Hayashi, Naruki Doi, Metal Warrior, Super Shisa & Jimmy Kanda
This was a match, once again, randomly picked by young children on the last show, essentially drawing names out of a hat. The irony being Yoshino, Tozawa & Shach all ended up on the same team. Metal Warrior was beaten down by Gamma before the match and dragged to the locker room and replace by Karaoke Machine #1 (Don Fujii in a mask). The match is supposed to lead to odd pairings but the oddest thing here is VerserK members on opposite sides. We start with Yoshino & Doi, which the crowd pops big for. A very nice exchange of moves and countermoves leaves both at a stalemate, and they go at it again. More technical mastery between the two and the crowd pops again. They tag out. Shach & Machine in there now. But he comidically hurts his knee getting in there and tags out. Tozawa and Shisa going at it now, culminating with Tozawa faking a dive to the floor. Too Easy. Fujii in there now, and he takes on the entire opposition 5-on-1 in a chopfest. Now his own team is in there and it’s 9-on-1. Match settles back down into Tozawa & Lindaman, and Tozawa gets his chops in the corner, and proceeds to punch out all five opposing members, and teammate Tanizaki. Yoshino & Lindaman now trading chops. Yoshino killing him with those.
We then get your standard 180 mile an hour rope running exhibition from Yoshino. Tag into Arai, who shushed the crowd, and hits a headbutt with a sickening thud that resonates throughout the building. So unnecessary, poor friggin’ Hayashi. Everybody going at it now with multiple highflying moves to the floor. Everybody gets in on the act. Tozawa, Shach, Yoshino. Finally Machine, but he throws up an airball. Yoshino & Arai with a nice exchange back in the ring leading to a two count off an Arai dicing headbutt, as this thing is all nonstop action. Tozawa senton on Kanda off the top gets two. He goes for the German but it;s reversed. Doi nails him with a cannonball in the corner. Machine with a chokeslam, broken up. Shisa with the code red but Tozawa escapes. Double teaming from Shach & Tanizaki gets two on Shisa. Lindaman wuith a judo throw. Shisa gets the code red but not a theree. Doi attempts a series of double teams with his squad but misses all four. He leaves. Hilarious. Five-on-four now. Tozawa up top. Brainbuster off the top and Lindaman is down.
Quintuple team in the corner on Lindaman, who gets Germaned by Tozawa and tombstoned by Tanizaki. Machine in though, he breaks it up and now all nine men hit consecutive moves on each other in a frenzy you’ll only see in Dragion Gate. Lindaman with the Locomotion suplex series on Shach gets the win. Second year in a row he gets the big pinfall in the final Korakuen match of the year. Super fun match. After the main event, kids are once again brought in to throw darts at a board, selecting teams for a 10-man tag at the next Korakuen show.
Very fun, well paced show. The three hours just flew by. It’s after 4:30 am and I’m late to work, but it was worth it, the mark of a good show.
Dark Match: Yosuke <3 Santa Maria & U-T vs. Dragon Kid & Kzy
Yosuke forgot to shave her armpits tonight. A lovely touch. She would go for her trademark curtsy, but DK would curtsy with her, effectively mocking her. Yes, Yosuke is a her to me. It’s a couple years and the act remains fresh. She slithered around the ring similar to Tonga, only to back her crotch up against the faces of her opponents hanging in the tree of whoa. When the match got serious, the double team maneuvers were spot-on. The kind of balance between strong sport and entertainment that North American companies wish they could produce. Kid went for his handstand knee, only for Yosuke to defend it with a kiss while he stood on his hands. U-T attempted a double team maneuver, missed and accidentally nailed Yosuke. In return, Yosuke almost hit him, but hugged him instead. And then, naturally, french kissed him. The shock and shame caused U-T to get crucifixed by DK for the win.
Akira Tozawa vs. Kaito Ishida
Ishida came out first followed by Over Generation. His cape is far less ridiculous than Lindaman’s. Tozawa came out 10 pounds lighter having dropped the title to Kotoka last week. Ishida chant. He opened with big kicks to Tozawa. Big plancha from the rookie, onto Tozawa on the outside. Back in the ring, Tozawa with the patented closed fist. Ishida made the ropes, fighting out of a Boston crab, young boy style. Tozawa went for the Brainbustah but was countered by Ishida with one of his own. Missle dropkick from Ishida, followed by kicks but Tozawa hulked up and asked for more. Tozawa came back, hitting the rook with big boots and suplexes. Really good final stretch with Tozawa attempting one last German. Finally after much ado, he got it for the victory. Good match, good showing for the kid.
Masaaki Mochizuki & Big R Shimizu vs. Gamma & Takehiro Yamamura
The rookie Yamamura started the match for his team and tagged Mochizuki with a chop early. Mochi returned with a huge kick, but ate a drop kick in return, and then more chops from the kid.The Gammamura team has looked impressive in the past and continued to here, with a good dynamic as a tag team combination. Mochi came back with more chops and a leg lock on the kid, but Gamma dribbled water on his face to break, however he was also sucked into a simultaneousleg lock. More kicks from Mochi but Yamamura fought back made tag. Good stuff with the crowd behind the kid. In the end, Shimizu with the chokeslam for the win. Verserk hit the ring after the match, beat everybody up, and cut promos about being the champs.
Monster Express (Masato Yoshino, T-Hawk & Shachihoko BOY) vs. Over Generation (CIMA, Eita & Lindaman)
I missed the beginning of this. Yoshino, fastest man in wrestling, hit Eita with the quickest offense imaginable. Great triple team work from the men in Orange. Good to see Monster Express strong. They caught a raw deal with Shingo leaving and VerserK really taking off.Hayashi, who is just the best, came in and whooped some ass. Triple planchas from the faces. Two Germans into a Tiger Suplex from Lindaman onto Tiger Fish Boy for the big win, giving OG a nice victory. Yuga Hayashi is friggin’ great.
The Sumos came out before intermission and conducted something of a sumo ceremony mid-ring.
Sumoz vs. VerserK – All Out War #1: Sumo Hagetora (Punch Tominaga) vs. Mondai Ryu
Holy shit, the Sumos have their own theme song, to the melody of “We are Jimmyz”. But rather “We are Sumoz”. This was the friggin’ greatest, for those of us who wondered if they would take the gimmick that far. It’s Ryu vs. Punch, YMMV. Ryu came out like a house of fire, but Punch implored his Matrix based defense. Quick win for Punch here with the PT Kick, in less than 2 minutes. Sumoz winning 1-0.
Sumoz vs. VerserK – All Out War #2: Sumo Susumu, Sumo Kness S.K.S. vs. YAMATO, Kotoka
Sumo chops & Sumo pose from K-Nesuka. Kotoka in, and the BLEEEHS were a plenty. Korakuen not nearly into it as much as the man typing this was. Kotoka now incorporating the moves of fan favorites into modified BLEEEHS. Ok, crowd liked that. Susumu & K-Ness are great as a tag team in Kagetora’s absence, so if they remain Sumoz I can only hope for a little less comedy and more along the lines of their serious Jimmy selves. Susumu in, unable to counter the BLEEEH defense. Kotola got a little too into it and got caught with a top rope exploder.
Yamato back in to elevate the workrate. Nice double teaming from the heels. Gallaria attempt but Susumu yanked Yamato’s trunks into a Sumo g-string form, as a means of defense. Good stuff. Assisted Implant Buster. Susumu & Yamto traded clotheslines, won by Susumu. Heel tactics from Kotoka involving the turnbuckle led to a Gallaria for the pin. Even without Doi, this was pretty good. Tied 1-1.
Sumoz vs. VerserK – All Out War #3: Genki Horiguchi S.U.M.Ooo, Sumo Kanda, Ryo “Sumo” Saito, Sumo Fujii vs. Naruki Doi, Shingo Takagi, Naoki Tanizaki, Cyber Kong
They brawled all over the building to start. Cameras followed Fujii & Yamato, who wasn’t even in the match, throughout the upper deck. Back in the ring, Saito went for some traditional Sumo but was cheapshotted by Cyber Kong. This was not enough to break Saito’s Sumo spirit, however. Eventually a Sumo match spawned. Kong dispersed of three Jimmyz, but got bested by the great Fujii, who then proceeded to put the mack hand down on World Champ Shingo. Triple team from the Sumoz resulted in Fujii chopping Tanizaki’s crotch. Seemed painful.
Match became more of a standard tag, though the heat hadn’t really gone off the charts yet. Cycling Yahoo from all 4 Sumoz resulted in Fujii fumbling through the move, which was pretty funny. Mondai Ryu interfered but Punch took care of him. Horiguchi backslide on Shingo for a hot 2.9. Shingo hit the last falconry in return but that was broken up. All hell broke loose with mass interference and combination maneuvers, ending in Saito hitting his SaiRyo Rocket splash for the win. Big win for the Sumoz.
VerserK cleared the ring after the match and cut promos, despite taking the L. Gamma was called out by Shingo. He proceeded to show up with kendo stick in hand and put a beating on the World Champ, this setting up a Shingo/Gamma title match, a bridge to Shingo vs. CIMA. 20 minutes of promos followed, setting up the next show.
Final Thoughts:
This was a good show, fun show. Nothing over-the-top great wrestling wise, but more like an 80’s episode of NWA Saturday Night, with everything coming across as high energy and keeping the ball rolling for a product that is currently the hottest in the world.
Dragon Gate will presenting an iPPV from its monthly Korakuen Hall show early Thursday morning.
The show will air at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time Thursday morning, and 2:30 a.m. Pacific, with video-on-demand an option. It is available at http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv235460088 at a cost of 1,500 yen, or $12.50 U.S.
The promotion is probably the second most popular in Japan and has the fastest action of any group.
The main event will be an Open the Triangle Gate title match with Cima & Gamma & Don Fujii vs. Shingo Takagi & Cyber Kong & Kotoka.
The rest of the card has:
Super Shisa & Shachihoko Boy vs. Lindaman & Yosuke Santa Maria Masato Yoshino & Akira Tozawa & T-Hawk vs. Dragon Kid & Kzy & Flamita Jimmy Kanda & Genki Horiguchi vs. Eita & Draztick Boy Jimmy Susumu & Kaito Ishida vs. Ryo Saito & Takehiro Yamamura BxB Hulk & Masaaki Mochizuki & Big R Shimizu vs. Yamato & Naruki Doi & Mondai Ryu Jimmy K-Ness vs. Naoki Tanizaki
There will be an international merchandise store for Dragon Gate merchandise that will be launched later this month. We will have more details on that in upcoming weeks.
