October 20, 2012 – Tokyo, Japan
Open the Dream Gate Champion: CIMA
Open the Triangle Gate Champions: Akira Tozawa, BxB Hulk & “Naoki Tanisakiâ€
Open the Brave Gate Champion: Dragon Kid
Open the Twin Gate Champions: Masaaki Mochizuki & Don Fujii
Open the Freedom Gate Champion: Johnny Gargano
Open the United Gate Champions: CIMA & AR Fox
Johnny Gargano and AR Fox are here, reppin’ DGUSA. Gargano gets ready by running backstage, while Fox practices his Thugbait moves in the ring ropes.
The Jimmyz come out before the opener to talk about Mr. Quu Quu Toyonaka Dolphin. He actually does look like a dolphin. Is it racist if Dragon Gate said it first? They start a “Mr. Quu Quu†chant
Jimmy Kagetora {J} & Mr. Quu Quu Toyonaka Dolphin {J} vs. Cyber Kong {MB} & Mondai Ryu {MB}
Kong and Ryu attack before the bell. Kagetora dropkicks Kong. Ryu dropkicks him. He returns the favor. Dolphin hits a facebuster. He hits a legsweep for 2. Kong hits a side slam. He hits a gutwrench suplex. He hits an elbowdrop for 2. He puts on the Stretch Muffler and Ryu hits a chair shot for 2. Dolphin bleeds. He whips Ryu into a chair in the corner. He slams Kong. Kagetora hits a missile dropkick. He hits Ryu with the leaping lariat. He hits Kong with an enziguiri. Kong hits a back suplex and a splash for 2. Kagetora hits the Ace Crusher for 2. Dolphin hits the DH. He hits it again. He hits a diving kneedrop for 2. Kong hits a lariat. He hits another. He hits the Cyber Driver for 2. He hits the flying elbowdrop for 2. Dolphin hits a hurricanrana. Naoki Tanisaki gets involved but Dolphin throws Ryu into him. Kagetora hits a suicide dive. Dolphin hits the Casanova and Implant for the win at 9:11. This existed only to rebuild Dolphin after the loss of his real name. It did a fine job at that, but was pretty dull otherwise.
Rating: *
After the match, Dolphin runs down Tanisaki. Tanisaki looks past Dolphin and calls out CIMA, his opponents in tonight’s main event lumberjack match. CIMA has a whip, calling back to the last lumberjack match that Mad Blankey was involved in. Tanisaki wants it to be a no rope match as well. CIMA obliges him.
K-ness {MG} & Kenichiro Arai {MG} vs. Shachihoko BOY {MG} & Kotoka {MG}
BOY and Kotoka attack before the bell. K-ness stands through Kotoka’s elbows and hits a leg lariat. BOY hits Arai with a head scissor takedown. Arai hits the Alabamaslam for 2. He puts on a half crab. BOY gets to the ropes. K-ness hits a back elbow. He hits a snap suplex and puts on a half crab. BOY hits a dropkick and a springboard leg lariat. Kotoka hits a bulldog. He hits a shotgun dropkick for 2 on Arai. He hits a vertical suplex and BOY gets la magistral for 2. He and Kotoka get the Shachihoko Press for 2. BOY misses a moonsault and Arai rolls him up for 2. He misses the Skyscraper Double Stomp and Kotoka hits a big boot. K-ness hits the Kaishaku for 2. Arai hits a Tombstone Piledriver for 2. He hits the Hanshin Tiger Suplex for the win at 7:23. This was just a showcase for the younger guys, until they got squishy squashed at the end there. Nothing anyone will remember in five minutes.
Rating: ¾*
After the match, Ichikawa runs in and demands a shot at Arai’s Open the Owarai Gate Championship. Arai will give him a shot at the PPV. Ichikawa sings Happy Birthday, and Arai gives him a Giant Swing (but misses the headbutt).
Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee. {J} vs. Naruki Doi {W1}
Doi won’t shake Horiguchi’s hand, which proves wise when Horiguchi hoses him. They do some flippy dippy stuff to start. Horiguchi wants another handshake, but he burns Doi again. This time Doi goes to the ponytail and throws Horiguchi across the ring. He hits a ponytail breaker and a senton for 2. He hits a dropkick. Horiguchi hits a head scissor takedown. He misses the charging headbutt. He hits a reverse DDT and a vertical suplex for 2. Doi blocks the Beach Break and hits the Rydeen Bomb for 2. He blocks it again and they trade roll ups for 2. They dodge each other’s finishers. Doi hits the Doi 555 and the Bakatare Sliding Kick but Horiguchi catches him with the Backslide from Heaven for the win at 8:38. That finish was pretty surprising, but hammers home that Horiguchi can win from any position.
Rating: **
Akira Tozawa {MB}, BxB Hulk {MB} & Kzy {MB} vs. YAMATO {A}, Shingo Takagi {A} & Super Shenlong III {A}
Mad Blankey attacks before the bell. What a shock. Akatsuke Is ready for them and everyone brawls. YAMATO and Tozawa trade elbows. YAMATO hits a dropkick. Kzy hits Takagi with the B-Boy. He goes for a Pumping Bomber, but that ends badly for him. Takagi cleans house. He and YAMATO double-team Kzy for 2. Shenlong hits the reverse Rocker Dropper for 2. Kzy puts on a Testicular Claw. Hulk and Tozawa pepper Shenlong with kicks for 2. Tozawa hits a senton. He goes for another with a chair, and off or a chair, but the chair slips, botching the whole thing. That’ll teach him to try something new. Hulk hits a roundhouse kick for 2. Shenlong slaps him back. He hits the reverse Rocker Dropper. YAMATO cleans house. He hits a suicide dive on Tozawa. Takagi hits a vertical suplex. He hits a neckbreaker for 2. He hits a lariat. Tozawa hits the running knee. He chops and jabs Takagi in the corner. Takagi hits the DVD for 2. YAMATO hits Hulk with an exploder. Hulk hits a senton for 2. They block each other’s finishers. Hulk hits an axe kick. Kzy talks for too long and Takagi stops him from hitting KZ Time. Shenlong hits a dropkick. YAMATO hits a brainbuster. Takagi hits the Sliding Bomber for 2. Tozawa hits a chair shot on Shenlong. He hits a superplex for 2. Hulk hits the uranage and Tozawa hits the running knee. He hits a brainbuster and Kzy hits KZ Time. Shenlong gets a crucifix pin for 2. Hulk hits YAMATO with a missile dropkick. Tozawa hits Takagi with the Ganki. Hulk hits the First Flash for 2. Tozawa hits the German suplex for 2. With some help from a yellow box, he hits the High Tension Suplex for the win at 15:27. It was nice to see Tozawa actually get a win over someone who matters for a change. The match was a lot of fun, reminding me of why I enjoyed the new generation feud of 2011 in the first place. After the match, extra points are awarded for Tozawa standing on another wobbly chair to regain his confidence, and YAMATO dropkicking it out from under him.
Rating: ***½
Everyone brawls after the match. They set up singles matches for the next Korakuen Hall show: Shenlong vs. Kzy, Tozawa vs. Takagi, and Hulk vs. YAMATO. I can’t help but feel like I’ve seen this all before… like, a lot.
Masato Yoshino {W1} & Johnny Gargano {W1} vs. Dragon Kid {Z} & AR Fox
Fox is a permanent associate of the Zetsurins on this tour thanks to his DGUSA association with CIMA. Everyone in the match brings a little gold with them: Kid = Brave; Fox = United; Gargano = Freedom; Yoshino = Dream Key. Gargano and Kid start. They play on the mat for a bit. Gargano hits a shoulder tackle. He gets a roll up for 2. Kid hits a head scissor takedown. Yoshino dropkicks Fox. Fox returns the favor and hits the Bermuda Triangle for 2. Kid hits a pair of kneedrops. Fox hits a backbreaker and a split legged moonsault for 2. Yoshino hits Kid with the Sling Blade. Gargano hits an enziguiri and a funky facebuster for 2. Yoshino hits a facebuster for 2. Kid hits Gargano with a head scissor takedown and the 619. Fox hits a dropkick. He hits Yoshino with the Thugbait for 2. Kid hits the Bermuda Triangle. Fox hits the Lo-Mein Rain. Kid hits the Diamond Dust for 2. Yoshino hits a vertical suplex. He hits the Michinoku Driver for 2. Fox hits Gargano with an enziguiri and a DVD for 2. Gargano hits a head kick. He hits a slingshot DDT for 2. Yoshino powerbombs Kid. He dropkicks Kid into the Hurts Donut for 2. Kid hits the Skyscraper Frankensteiner and Fox hits a Swanton Bomb for 2. Gargano hits the spear and a suicide dive. He puts Kid in the GargaNo Escape but Fox makes the save. Fox and Kid hits dropkicks. Fox hits the Air Fox. He hits the Lo-Mein Pain and Kid hits the Ultra Hurricanrana for 2 when Yoshino makes the save. Gargano hits the Lawn Dart and the superkick. Yoshino hits the Torbellino and the Lightning Spiral for the win at 14:39. This took its sweet time shifting out of first gear, but once it did we got some decent back-and-forth flying. Sadly, even though Gargano and Fox got to show their stuff, they did so in front of a dead crowd.
Rating: ***¼
Jimmy Kanda {J}, Jimmy Susumu {J} & Ryo “Jimmy†Saito {J} vs. Masaaki Mochizuki {Z}, Don Fujii {Z} & Gamma {Z}
The Veterans attack before the bell. Mochizuki and Susumu square off, as do Fujii and Kanda. Gamma spits in Saito’s face. Fujii blocks Kanda’s la magistral for 2. Susumu hits Mochizuki with the Jumbo no Kachi. Mochizuki kicks his face, back, and chest. Saito puts Gamma in a chinlock. Gamma hits a chinbreaker to escape. Saito hits a back elbow. Kanda takes a cheap shot at Fujii. He kicks at Gamma’s leg. Gamma hits Susumu with an enziguiri. Fujii works the leg. Mochizuki kicks the leg. He slams it against the mat. Gamma gives Susumu the Osuikougeki. Susumu hits an exploder. He cleans house with the Jumbo no Kachi until Mochizuki starts kicking the Jimmyz around. Gamma blocks the Jon Woo with a clothesline. Fujii chokeslams Kanda for 2. Susumu and Mochziuki go at it. Susumu hits the Sankakugeri! Mochizuki hits the Jumbo no Kachi! Susumu hits a vertical suplex. Mochizuki hits the Aikata! Fujii and Kanda trade chops. Kanda starts looking for the Jon Woo, but Gamma keeps blocking him from hitting it on Fujii. Fujii side steps a Jon Woo attempt, and Gamma gives it to Kanda. Fujii hits the axe bomber. Mochizuki hits the Ikkakugeri. Saito hits a dragon suplex. Susumu hits a lariat in the corner. He hits the super exploder and Saito hitshte Superfly Splash for 2. Kanda misses the flying elbowdrop and Mochizuki kicks his head off. Susumu hits the Jumbo no Kachi. Gamma hits a backdrop driver. Saito hits a fisherman suplex. Fujii hits a piledriver. Kanda hits the flying elbow. Fujii gets the Gedo Clutch for 2. Gamma canes Susumu and Saito. He hits the axe bomber and a superkick. Mochizuki hits the Sankakugeri. Saito counters the Gamma Special to a roll up for the win at 17:03. This match was too fast for words. Kanda was actually his team’s weak link, letting his rage get the better of him, but Saito was there to surprise the Veterans and get the win for his team. Brilliant stuff here.
Rating: ****
After the match the Veterans take out the referee and brawl with the Jimmyz. Everyone gets some microphone time to hype the Twin Gate match at the PPV. Then they brawl to the back.
CIMA {Z} vs. Naoki Tanisaki {MB} [No Rope Lumberjack Match]
Only Veterans and Mad Blankeys surround the ring. CIMA and Tanisaki lock up to start. Kzy pulls CIMA to the floor where Mad Blankey whips him. Back in the ring, CIMA tries to trade chops with Tanisaki. When that fails he hits a chest kick and a bodyslam. He dropkicks Tanisaki to the floor where the Veterans whip him. Tanisaki escapes, so CIMA throws him back to his buddies on the floor. Fujii whips the tattoo so much it smears. CIMA chokes Tanisaki with a wrench. He dumps Tanisaki to be whipped again. Tozawa has enough and starts whipping the Veterans to help Tanisaki escape. CIMA whips Tanisaki in the ring. Tanisaki hits a vertical suplex. He rolls CIMA to the floor where Mad Blankey attacks. That gets 2 for Tanisaki. Tanisaki puts on a dragon sleeper and gets 2. He hits a Rocker Dropper for 2. He hits a neckbreaker for 2. He shoves CIMA to the floor and his friends attack. That gets 2. Tanisaki hits a bodyslam for 2. He hits a vertical suplex for 2. CIMA blocks the reverse Implant, but not a Tombstone Piledriver. Tanisaki dropkicks him to the floor, but the Veterans protect him from Mad Blankey. CIMA baits Tanisaki into chopping the post. He works the hand. He hits a chest kick. He puts Tanisaki on a cart and rolls him to the floor. He hits a suicide dive. He hits a Regalplex for 2. He goes to the back and gets a ladder, setting it up at ringside. Tanisaki suplexes him from the ladder to the ring. He ducks the superkick and chops CIMA to the mat. He hits the reverse Michinoku Driver for 2. He hits the Razor’s Edge on a chair pile for 2. CIMA blocks the Night Ride and hits the Schwein on the pile. He hits the Meteora but hurts his knee on the chairs. He hits another Schwein and the Meteora off of the ladder for the win at 18:20. They were obviously worried about Tanisaki working a main event singles match by himself, so they dressed it up with a ton of outsider help and plunder. I don’t think Tanisaki needed all the help, and most of the match ended up very repetitive in its hardcore nature. Chalk this one up to an experiment gone mediocre.
Rating: ***
After the match, Dolphin runs in and attacks Tanisaki. CIMA tries to calm him down so Dolphin attack shim too. The Veterans attack Dolphin. The Jimmyz run out and even the odds. This turns into a big argument about how CIMA had nothing to do with the Twin and Triangle Gate rivalries, and how Kanda is leading the Jimmyz in a new, aggressive direction. They’re tired of all the jibber jabber; it’s time to fight! I can dig it. They set up a twelve man tag match for after the PPV.
