Wrestling

Dragongate Improbable Gate (December 17) Outcomes & Overview

December 25, 2024
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DRAGONGATE
FANTASTIC GATE: KONOMAMA ICHIKAWA RETIREMENT SHOW
DECEMBER 15, 2024
KORAKUEN HALL – TOKYO, JAPAN

Watch: Dragongate Community

Paradox opened the present with a promo in entrance of the sold-out Korakuen Corridor. This included the injured Dragon Child, who got here out in a neckbrace and warranted followers that though he’s nonetheless injured, he will likely be again within the ring sooner or later. He additionally famous that Konomama Ichikawa wouldn’t need this to be a somber night, however a night full of pleasure. 

BEN-Ok DEF. HYO 

Nicely, it was higher than Hyo’s match at Remaining Gate. Ben and Hyo kicked off the present with a match that appeared to lose its juice as quickly because the bell rang and Hyo was pressured to cease gyrating in entrance of the viewers. This has been the most effective 12 months of Hyo’s profession, unquestionably, and a 12 months that Ben ought to little question be pleased with, however this felt just like the worst model of this match attainable. Hyo could be very, very into being 1995 Shawn Michaels proper now (that means an affection for being a “Attractive Boy” and never an affection for abusing prescription drugs) and it’s chopping into his in-ring output. The difficulty for Hyo is that he wasn’t precisely prime Genichiro Tenryu with out an overdose in schtick. Ben was way more explosive, charismatic, and fascinating. I like his missile dropkick and he shot Hyo into subsequent week with the impression of the one which he linked with on this match. 

Ben speared Hyo out of mid-air to select up the win simply after the 8-minute mark. ***

HO HO LUN & TAKASHI YOSHIDA DEF. PROBLEM DRAGON & PUNCH TOMINAGA 

The Briscoe Brothers. The Younger Bucks. Holy Demon Military. FTR. Ho Ho Lun & Takashi Yoshida, in any other case often called Roll Up Or Shut Up. Certainly one of this stuff is just not like the opposite. In case you guessed that FTR could be the staff that doesn’t slot in that group, you’d be right. FTR are large dorks whereas the entire different tag groups that I listed deliver me a ton of pleasure after I watch them. This was innocent enjoyable. **1/2 

HOMARE, JASON LEE, KAI, & YOSHIKI KATO DEF. AKIHIRO SAHARA, DAIKI YANAIGUCHI, MOCHIZUKI JUNIOR, & RYU FUDA 

There’s a match in a while this present that was promoted as “This Is Dragongate”. That match was nice, and it was a match totally distinctive to Dragongate, however this eight-man tag, to me, was a much better illustration of a match billed as “This Is Dragongate”. 

Few matches in 2024 have come throughout so uncooked, but so partaking. Dragongate trotted out literal rookies and crammed out the remainder of the match with folks hardly extra superior than that, they usually delivered in an enormous means in entrance of a packed Korakuen. That is the kind of match that, had I been on a hiatus from Dragongate exhibits at Korakuen Corridor, would’ve obtained me to purchase a ticket to one of many upcoming Korakuen exhibits in January. 

Of the eight guys within the match, six of them had been below 30.

  • Yoshiki Kato – 28 (debuted December ’22)
  • Daiki Yanagiuchi – 26 (debuted March ’23)
  • Akihiro Sahara – 24 (debuted September ’24)
  • Ryu Fuda – 23 (debuted November ’21)
  • Mochizuki Junior – 22 (debuted June ’22)
  • Homare – 20 (debuted September ’24)

What units this match, and Dragongate as a complete, aside greater than every other firm is the best way they develop expertise. Not all of those guys will likely be stars (Fuda is already thought-about a disappointment, Yanagiuchi has a really low ceiling), however they’re all such sturdy staff. Take into consideration the place a few of these younger AEW names are – Lee Johnson, Motion Andretti, and so forth, there’s no means they’re developed sufficient to have a match like this. NJPW develops guys so slowly that they’ll by no means be ready to have matches like this earlier than they’re 30. NXT is full of people who find themselves a humiliation to the artform of professional wrestling. For 2-and-a-half a long time now, Dragongate has thrown children into the deep finish of the pool, and it’s as much as them to sink or swim. 

Sahara and Homare, Dragongate’s latest roster members, cleared this example with flying colours. Homare’s story has been well-documented. He’s being handled as a prodigy, much more so than earlier rookies like SB KENTo or Kota Minoura, who got here in and garnered quite a lot of buzz earlier of their profession. We obtained to see prolonged interactions between him and Sahara, the ex-American Soccer participant who probably struggles to get via a common-sized doorframe. Homare is clearly extra gifted than Sahara is at this stage of their careers, however Sahara isn’t any slouch. He’s demonstrated large chemistry with a veteran like KAI already, and his prime spots towards Homare on this match had been precisely what you’d need them to be. 

Fuda, somebody who I’ve been a supporter of since day one, is now being lapped by individuals who debuted three years after him. To be clear, he didn’t look dangerous. I really fairly appreciated his interactions with Jason Lee. The issue with Fuda is that of the six sub-30 wrestlers, he’s the one with the least charisma. There have been followers within the crowd with extra charisma than him. That wouldn’t have involved me in, say, December of 2021, 2022, and even 2023, however he debuted three years in the past on a present that had DIA INFERNO~! and GAMMA~! and thus it’s now an actual downside. Why would you place any care or focus onto Fuda when you may have 1) a greater model of him in each means in Mochizuki Junior and a couple of) wrestlers with the next upside and extra charisma. 

Junior, who’s the most effective employee of the younger core, was really the least exceptional of the bunch, however that didn’t cease him from throwing some wonderful knee strikes. 

That leaves Kato and Yanagiuchi, the 2 eldest of the younger core. For Kato, now could be the time for him to strike, and he’s been doing precisely what he must do. He spent the center of 2023 out with a watch harm and virtually all of this 12 months with a knee harm. He got here again as a shock on the December third Korakuen and has been a pressure to be reckoned with ever since. He lastly appears to have the charisma and the footwork essential to be an actual risk in DG. That’s a part of what makes Yanaiguchi, the ex-Korakuen Corridor worker, the right foil for him. Kato appears to be like like he was created by the ghosts of professional wrestling’s previous. He’s an unimaginable specimen. Yanaiguchi appears to be like like a dork. In case you confirmed me a photograph of him with out context, I would definitely consider that he labored at Korakuen Corridor. I wouldn’t consider that he really wrestled on this constructing. DG has hit on one thing large with their current interactions. 

As soon as once more, Yanagiuchi practically caught his large classmate with a flash pin that may’ve given him his first win, however he couldn’t get the job performed. He peppered the face of Kato with a violent collection of slaps, however the massive man was unbothered. Kato cleaned Yanagiuchi’s clock after which planted him with the Cadere Luna for the win. 

Such a match had the ferocity of an old style WAR match, the warmth of a pre-COVID Korakuen match, and the appeal that solely Dragongate has. Go watch this. ****

SHACHIHOKO BOY, SUPER SHISA, & ULTIMO DRAGON W/ CHOCHOFLAKE Ok-ICHI DEF. GENKI HORIGUCHI, KENICHIRO ARAI, & YASUSHI KANDA 

That is the primary time Tremendous Shisa has wrestled in Korakuen Corridor since Ok-Ness’ retirement present in 2022 and solely the second time he’s been on this constructing for the reason that pandemic. Shisa being welcomed again into the Dragongate household in 2024 has warmed my chilly, lifeless coronary heart. Watching him grapple with Kenichiro Arai made my coronary heart develop to twice its regular measurement. I’ll tremendously miss all of those wrestlers once they go the best way of Ok-Ness or Ichikawa. Ultimo pinned Horiguchi with a La Magistral in 8 minutes. **3/4 

MEXICO VS. JAPAN SPECIAL TAG TEAM MATCH
FLAMITA & LUIS MANTE DEF. JACKY KAMEI & RIIITA 

Nicely, at the least Jacky Kamei ended his 12 months with a bang. 

The primary quarter of Kamei’s 12 months was so good that I used to be utilizing his title alongside the likes of Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay as the most effective wrestlers on the earth. His 12 months peaked at Useless or Alive, when he was the primary character in an extremely emotional five-way cage match that ended with him exiting Pure Vibes and becoming a member of Massive Hug with Hyo and Luis Mante. Six months later, Massive Hug was no extra and Kamei’s momentum had been zapped away. 

This was a very good reminder that when Kamei is introduced with the appropriate alternative, he’s nonetheless arguably the most effective wrestler on the roster. All 4 of those guys have had loads of moments to flash their brilliance this 12 months, and all of it got here collectively on this large year-end showcase match. I like how this match felt like a match from a bygone period. Athleticism at this stage is littered all through wrestling in 2024. As I usually word, the most important impediment for Dragongate going ahead is the truth that so many wrestling promotions are doing a watered down model of Dragongate’s home type. Spots on this match felt way more harmful and reckless than the same old Dragongate match, and thus, way more harmful and reckless than wrestling at massive in 2024. Mante breaking apart a sundown flip pin try by powerbombing Riiita onto Kamei (and by proxy, Flamita) was the telltale signal that these guys weren’t going to be coasting on this affair. This was the kind of match that might’ve match into 2002 Zero-ONE simply as simply because it did 2024 Dragongate. 

If I had any say in Dragongate’s reserving in 2025, I might strongly urge GM Ryo Saito to make Mante & Flamita a full-time tag staff. Whereas I’m normally towards pairing folks of the identical ethnicity collectively (all through wrestling historical past, there was no lazier reserving troupe than American wrestling firms placing all of the luchadores or all of the black wrestlers collectively), there’s pure chemistry with these two that can not be ignored. They praise one another so nicely and the massive & little dynamic that they’ve works fantastically. 

Kamei and Flamita stole the present down the stretch, busting out a collection of strikes with blistering and unforgiving pace. They took big dangers and delivered all of them flawlessly. In the long run, nonetheless, neither man factored into the end. Mante caught Riiita with the Vuelta Finale, thus ending the match. You need to exit of your means for this one. ***3/4 

BXB HULK, KAGETORA, SUSUMU YOKOSUKA, & YAMATO DEF. DON FUJII, MASAAKI MOCHIZUKI, SHUJI KONDO, & TORU OWASHI 

The match that almost all overdelivered in 2024? 

This might’ve very simply been a run-of-the-mill multi-man match that obtained in and obtained out with nobody breaking a sweat, however all eight of those males determined to place their working boots on and ship a very, actually enjoyable match that followers new and outdated might get pleasure from. The warmth of this match was largely constructed across the forever-rivals in Don Fujii and YAMATO, who is continuous to do among the perfect work of his profession. Whereas his finest run stays what he did in 2013-2015 as part of Mad Blankey and VerserK, the Paradox-era of YAMATO’s profession has grow to be a signature time interval of his profession. He’s lastly discovered find out how to be a babyface with an edge. He’s not the boring, Lawful Good character that plagued his time in each Tribe Vanguard and Excessive-Finish. YAMATO is now working below the Chaotic Good playbook and it’s understanding tremendously. 

Fujii practically stole a victory with the Gedo Clutch on YAMATO, and fairly truthfully, that ought to’ve been the end. Have you learnt how sizzling a Fujii vs. YAMATO Dream Gate match in Korakuen could be? I can consider no higher strategy to kick off 2025. The group wished Fujii to win, I wished Fujii to win, and but, YAMATO is the one which got here out with the victory after catching Fujii with a Frankensteiner of the Almighty. We virtually had a very nice factor. 

One thing that I continually harp on is that in the event you take a look at a 2017 or 2018 Dragongate card on it with names like CIMA or Shingo Takagi, you would possibly suppose that was a richer period of the corporate. You’d be unsuitable. These playing cards weren’t solely headlined by folks like CIMA, Takagi, YAMATO, and Hulk doing among the most forgettable work of their profession, names like Gamma, Punch Tominaga, a broken-down Ok-Ness, and Takashi Yoshida had been receiving official pushes. Guys like Hulk, Yokosuka, and Kagetora are actually the outdated guys on the roster, they usually’re nonetheless doing nice work once they’re requested to. The Gamma’s and Tominaga’s of the world, your midcard expertise, have been changed by Kondo, Mochizuki, and “Web Optimistic” Toru Owashi. The depth that this firm has amassed in 2024 is unimaginable. 

I’ve a tough time believing this match gained’t put a smile in your face. ****

YAMATO introduced after the match that as a consequence of him being each the Dream Gate and Courageous Gate Champion, he’ll be placing the Courageous Gate title on ice till he loses the Dream Gate belt.

THIS IS DRAGONGATE NINE-MAN THREE-WAY TAG TEAM MATCH
DRAGON DIA, MADOKA KIKUTA, & RYOYA TANAKA DEF. KZY, STRONG MACHINE J, & U-T, ISHIN, KOTA MINOURA, & SHUN SKYWALKER 

And with this, we lastly have our signature Dragongate match of the 12 months. 

The most effective promotion of 2024 had constructed its resume on staunch consistency, routinely pumping out playing cards and angles that might, at worst, be deemed “excellent”. Promotions like AEW and All Japan might need peaked greater this 12 months, however neither had the show-in-show-out vibe that Dragongate had for a majority of the 12 months. Previous to this match, my favourite DG match of the 12 months was YAMATO & Susumu Yokosuka vs. Dragon Child & Naruki Doi, the finals of Rey de Parejas 2024. I described the match on the time by saying, “Labored as in the event that they had been wrestling within the Tokyo Dome and never its a lot smaller counterpart subsequent door, these 4 Dragongate veterans whipped the Korakuen crowd right into a frenzy with a brilliantly constructed and delightfully dramatic tag match, paying homage to a Summer season Journey Tag League basic from 15 years in the past.” 

Whereas the aforementioned tag match was labored with Massive Room Pacing in a small room, this nine-man tag match, Dragongate’s signature gimmick, was labored for the 1,552 within the constructing. Since August 2001 when Toryumon first trotted out this type of match, this promotion has routinely been capable of fire up Korakuen Corridor right into a frenzy at any time when they determine to bust it out. Regardless of which technology has been handed the baton off the three-way nine-man, they’ve been capable of orchestrate an epic match. With U-T because the elder statesmen on this one, we obtained to see Dragongate’s signature match performed with a technology that was largely new to this match. 

Outdoors of a sloppy, early sequence from Tanaka and ISHIN, I used to be floored by how crisp the whole lot on this match regarded. Even the gang brawling, which ate up the primary quarter of the match, was performed with a way of urgency and felt like greater than only a strategy to kill time. I cherished ISHIN beating down Sturdy Machine J in entrance of a military of Sturdy Machines within the entrance row. I adored Kikuta battling it out with Yoshiki Kato, who was not formally within the match, in entrance of the Korakuen devoted. Z-Brats has discovered find out how to produce extra partaking crowd brawling than numerous the heel models that preceded them. A part of that is due to Skywalker’s Nick Bockwinkel-esque bumping, however ISHIN, Jason Lee, and Yoshiki Kato are all glorious at protecting me engaged when the motion spills to the ground. 

It’s fascinating seeing ISHIN work together with so lots of his contemporaries. Whereas he’s technically in several graduating lessons than Kikuta, SMJ, and Tanaka, they’re all post-2018 DG Dojo graduates who’ve seen an uptick in momentum across the similar time. Kikuta is a former Dream Gate Champion, so he has reached the highest of the mountain, but when I had been to mission out these 4’s potential ceilings, I might have ISHIN on the high of the listing. Whereas Tanaka is likely to be the most secure wager out of anybody to at some point be a bonafide most important eventer, ISHIN has been injected with a stage of charisma that jogs my memory of Naurki Doi at his absolute peak. ISHIN stood within the ring with the corporate’s finest wrestler in Skywalker, the corporate’s most enjoyable younger wrestler in Tanaka, and one of many firm’s most charismatic wrestlers in Kzy, and outshined all of them. If Dragongate performed their hand proper, he might find yourself having a humungous 2025. 

In fact, the factor that set this match excessive is when Skywalker determined to shift gears and switch this into an instant-epic. Beginning with Kota Minoura (the least exceptional wrestler within the match) and SMJ’s strike sequence, the match hit one other dimension that was highlighted by Skywalker’s sequence with Tanaka and Kzy. Nothing higher personifies the “Dragongate Distinction” than what these three had been capable of pull off in solely a matter of seconds. Good professional wrestling. 

The one person who I haven’t talked about on this bout is Dragon Dia. Recent off of the most effective match of his profession towards YAMATO, Dia was largely within the background of this match till the very finish. After ISHIN was drilled with a Cross Saber, Dia delivered an outstanding Reptilian Rana for the pinfall. His impression within the match was minimal, however Dia got here throughout like a megastar within the ending stretch. It was the right strategy to finish this match, given the month that Dia has had. 

In conclusion: Dia regarded like an enormous star, ISHIN regarded unimaginable towards his contemporaries, Skywalker, Kzy, and Tanaka all wrestled like their lives trusted it, Kikuta was a ton of enjoyable, and Sturdy Machine J and U-T helped spherical out what was a superb match. Additionally, Kota Minoura was there. 

That is my favourite Dragongate match of the 12 months. ****3/4 

KONOMAMA ICHIKAWA RETIREMENT MATCH
HIROSHI TANAHASHI DEF. KONOMAMA ICHIKAWA 

Two matches came about to finish Ichikawa’s profession. The primary got here after Ichikawa reduce a pre-match promo noting that whereas he was voluntarily retiring tonight, he was going to pressure Tanahashi into an early retirement with the ache he inflicted upon him. As soon as the bell rang, Ichikawa landed two strikes on Tanahashi earlier than being waylaid with a slap from the President of NJPW. Tanahashi pinned Ichikawa and hilarity ensued. Jae and Ho Ho Lun sped via their farewell on English commentary, GM Ryo Saito in a short time thanked Ichikawa for his service, and Dragongate blitzed via a 10-bell salute for the worst wrestler of all-time. That is among the funniest stuff I’ve ever seen happen in a wrestling ring. 

Ichikawa pleaded to return out of retirement for a rematch towards Tanahashi, which was ultimately agreed upon. The rematch was longer, though Ichikawa practically ended it early by repeating the identical sequence as the primary match, however ducking Tanahashi’s once-deadly blow and rolling him up for a 2.9 depend. Tanahashi, probably the most distinguished Japanese wrestling determine of the twenty first century, was booed closely and mightily over the following eight minutes as he dominated Dragongate’s comedy legend. Lastly, after Ichikawa confirmed a stunning quantity of life, Tanahashi put him away with a Excessive Fly Move. 

I’ve all the time struggled writing about Ichikawa matches. It’s onerous to place into phrases simply how humorous a few of his spots are. With this match, it’s not possible to clarify simply how hilarious the primary match and expedited post-match ceremony was. It was simply good. 

I’ll say two issues about Ichikawa, although. First, he’s wrestled among the largest names in Japanese wrestling historical past. He missed out on Inoki and Okada, however crossed off the likes of Toshiaki Kawada, Riki Choshu, and Keiji Mutoh alongside the best way. He battled Dump Matumoto after her profitable Netflix present, Naomichi Marufuji in his Dragongate debut, and Necro Butcher on the primary Dragongate-produced present in America. He’s been a beacon of sunshine in what is usually a brutal and unforgiving business. When CIMA departed from the corporate in 2018, the tone of Ichikawa matches modified. They appeared to take a shift from how badly Ichikawa might be overwhelmed to how hilarious his survival instincts had been. He ended his profession with the respect that he deserved. It can’t be understated how exceptional it’s {that a} lifelong comedy wrestler retired towards the President of NJPW. That’s the form of respect that Ichikwa derived from his contemporaries by the top of his profession. 

It’s onerous to think about massive Dragongate exhibits with out Ichikawa. Subsequent 12 months will likely be my tenth 12 months reviewing Dragongate for this web site and Ichikawa has been an important presence the complete time. Dragongate has been part of my life for my total grownup life. The early mornings I’ve spent chugging an power drink whereas attempting to remain awake for reside Dragongate motion have usually been highlighted by Ichikawa’s weird, but common comedy. Even on the worst Dragongate exhibits – and I’ve seen some dangerous ones – Ichikawa’s presence has by no means been something however hilarious. 

In 2021, my Open the Voice Gate co-host Mike Spears anointed Ichikawa as one of many 100 biggest wrestlers of all-time. It’s onerous to argue towards this. What number of wrestlers had been simpler of their function than Ichikawa? His hit charge was astronomical. It didn’t matter the place he went, he introduced an incredible quantity of pleasure to those who had been watching him. 

Ichikawa’s retirement saddens me in a means that Masato Yoshino’s and Ok-Ness’ didn’t. There’s not one other Ichikawa coming. There’ll by no means be anybody like Ichikawa once more. I had hoped that his laughter would final a lifetime, however laughter doesn’t final endlessly. 

For the primary time since December 12, 1998 when Ichikawa debuted, there’s a brand new worst wrestler on the earth. NR

Remaining Ideas

I couldn’t have requested for extra from Konomama Ichikawa’s retirement. The present itself acted as a soccer spike ultimately zone as Dragongate wrapped up their stellar 12 months, and Ichikawa’s retirement match was completely good. Very wrestling does wrestling ever really feel elegant, however Ichikawa’s retirement ceremony felt appropriately elegant. If life has overwhelmed you down currently, this present can decide you again up.

Hearken to Voices of Wrestling’s Dragongate podcast: Open the Voice Gate!

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