From The Shelf – Dragon Gate: Kobe World 2016

Dragon Gate Kobe World 2016
7-24-16
Hyogo, Japan

Gamma, Takehiro Yamamura & Kaito Ishida vs. Naoki Tanizaki, Mondai Ryu & Cyber Kong
Gamma overpowers Ryu to start and he catches Ryu with a dropkick. Kong hits a double clothesline on the young boys and he hits a back senton on Yamamura for 2. Verserk hoist Yamamura up for the the hanging big splash from Kong for 2. Flying forearm by Yamamura and Ishida hits a missile dropkick on Ryu. Triple dropkick knocks Kong to the floor and we get stereo dives by Over Generation onto Verserk on the floor. Back in, Tanizaki eats some kicks before Gamma hits the Air Raid Crash. Swanton Bomb by Yamamura gets 2 as Kong saves. Everyone charges at Yamamura and Tanizaki and Kong hit the knee drop/backbreaker combo onto the young boys for 2 as Gamma saves. Flying elbow drop from Kong misses and Gamma hits a lariat. Everyone lays each other out and Yamamura hits the Fisherman’s Buster on Kong for 2!!! Screwdriver by Kong and he hits the lariat for 2. Cyber Bomb on Yamamura gets 3.
Winners- Naoki Tanizaki, Mondai Ryu & Cyber Kong **3/4 ( Really fun opener. Yamamura and Ishida took a good beating and had their flashes before the vicious heel squad finished them off. Kong looked like the absolute killer he should have been in his career when he was in the ring with the young boys and it’s sad that he never became the unstoppable monster heel that he could have been. )

“Hollywood” Stalker Ichikawa, Big R. Shimizu, Shachihoko Boy & U-T vs. Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee!!, Ryo “Jimmy” Saito, Jimmy K-ness J.K.S & Futa Nakamura
Nakamura drills Ichikawa with a spear for 2 as his entire team saves. Suplex by Nakamura gets 2. Tilt-a-whirl head scissors by Ichikawa to K-ness and they clear the ring of the Jimmyz. Abdominal stretch by U-T to Horiguchi but he hiptosses out. Genki goes to whip the strap into the face of U-T but he turns the tables and sends it back toward Horiguchi on the ramp!!! Shimizu presses Ishikawa onto Nakamura and follows with a big splash for 2. Sky High by Shimizu gets 2. Double Spear to Nakamura and he catches Shimizu with a suplex. Tag to Horiguchi and he hits a summersault plancha to the floor!!! Samoan Drop to Saito gets 2. Rear abdominal stretch by Saito but Ichikawa breaks it up. Slam into a springboard corkscrew senton to Ichikawa and Saito follows up with a standing splash for 2 as Shimizu breaks. Gut wrench suplex by Nakamura but he walks into a spinkick from Boy. Flying knee by K-ness and he rolls Boy around the ring for 2 as U-T saves. Lungblower by U-T into the Chokeslam by Shimizu gets 3.
Winners- “Hollywood” Stalker Ichikawa, Big R. Shimizu, Shachihoko Boy & U-T ** (I wasn’t a big fan of this one. This had a collection of comedy spots and a long sequence of moves and not much else to help mold this into a complete package. It was fine for its’ place on the card but I’m disappointed Shachihoko Boy and Big R. didn’t have bigger roles on this show considering the incredible year they’ve both had. )

El Lindaman vs. Jimmy Kanda
Lindaman overpowers Kanda and he prevents Kanda from spring boarding into the ring. Summersault plancha to the floor by Lindaman and back in, he hits a big splash for 2. Flapjack by Kanda gets 2. Corner dropkick by Lindaman and he catches Kanda with a backdrop. He goes up and misses a second rope Frog Splash. Shotgun dropkick by Kanda and he hits a tilt-a-whirl slam for 2. Lindaman tosses Kanda off the top and follows up with a Frog Splash for 2. Series of exploder suplexes by Kanda and Lindaman comes back with rolling German suplexes. Tiger suplex by Lindaman gets 3.
Winner- El Lindman **1/4 (A short but solid sprint of a match. Lindaman continues to be on a roll and he’s built up strong as we move toward his Summer Adventure Tag League run with Yosuke Santa Maria.)

Don Fuji and Masakatsu Funkai vs. Masaaki Mochizuki and Yoshiaki Fujiwara
Mochizuki throws kicks at Funaki to start but Funaki attempts to fire back, forcing a stalemate. Fuji chops away at Fujiwara but a single chop from Fujiwara ends that. Head butts by Fujiwara and Fuji comes back with a leaping shoulder block. They brawl in the crowd and Fujiwara starts attacking Fuji with a fan’s SHOE!!! Fuji sends Fujiwara to the post and finally they head back in. Grapevine by Fuji but Fujiwara escapes and throws a head butt. Tag to Mochizuki and they trade blows. Fuji overpowers him and Funaki tags in. He throws some kicks to the chest of Mochizuki for 2. Chickenwing by Funaki and Fuji tags in. They trade chops and Fuji drills Mochizuki with a lariat. Half crab by Funaki but Mochizuki makes the ropes. Knees by Funaki but Mochizuki fires back. Single leg dropkick by Mochizuki and Fujiwara tags in. They trade blows and Fujiwara locks in his’ arm bar!!! Fuji breaks it up and Mochizuki throws some kicks to the chest. Lariat by Fuji and he hits a Chokeslam for 2. PK Kick by Funaki gets 2. Running kick to the chest by Mochizuki and they nail each other with high kicks. They charge at Fujiwara in the corner and Fuji goes for the Chokeslam but Fujiwara counters into the arm bar. Fuji gives!!!
Winners- Masaaki Mochizuki and Yoshiaki Fujiwara ***1/4 (This match was just a total blast. It was like watching the old men’s fight club, they were just throwing kicks and punches as hard as possible and it blew my mind seeing Fujiwara working that style of match at his age. Some of this wasn’t pretty at times, but this match made Fujiwara and Funaki look young again and the Fujiwara/Fuji crowd brawl was the most absurd yet fun brawl I’ve seen in a long time.)

Open the Brave Gate Championship- Yosuke Santa Maria © vs. Eita
Basement dropkick by Eita knocks Maria to the floor and he follows up with a summersault plancha!!! Back in, Eita goes up and hits a missile dropkick for 2. Dropkick by Maria and she places Eita in the tree of woe. She puts her junk into the face of Eita…and it works. Maria leaps off the second rope but Eita catches her with a dropkick on the way down. Back elbow by Eita gets 2. He works the arm of Maria but Maria gets to the ropes to force a break. Tilt-a-whirl side Russian leg sweep by Eita and he holds the rear Octopus. Maria makes the ropes to break. Springboard dropkick by Maria and she hits a crossbody to the floor!!! Back in, Maria sits on Eita to block a sunset flip for 2. Standing leg drop by Maria gets 2. Basement dropkick by Eita and he hits an enzuigiri to the back. Flying knee strike by Eita gets 2. Hidalgo by Eita gets 2!!! They fight on top and Maria kisses him off. Flying knee strike off the top by Maria gets 2. Falcon Arrow by Maria but Eita rolls through for 2. Bridging Cradle by Maria gets 2. Crucifix Bomb by Maria gets 2!! Eita catches Maria in the Numero Uno and Maria gives!!!
Winner and NEW Open the Brave Gate Champion- Eita ***1/2 (This was a really good match. Fast and furious action throughout the contest topped off by a super hot final stretch where Maria tried every trick up her sleeve to catch Eita but he was on top of his game and wasn’t going to be denied. Eita’s hot right now off of his great Tozawa matches in the King of Gate tournament and is a perfect choice to hold the Brave Gate while Maria seems destined for the tag division with Lindaman where I think she will thrive even more than she already has in singles competition. )

Open the Twin Gate Championships- The Jimmyz (Jimmy Susumu and Jimmy Kagetora) © vs. Naruki Doi and “brother” YASSHI
Kagetora and Doi grapple to start before they reach a stalemate. Dropkick by Kagetora knocks Doi to the floor and he follows out with a suicide dive!!! Susumu and YASSHI trade chops and Susumu tosses YASSHI down by the hair. Knee to the midsection by Susumu and Kagetora follows up with a slingshot elbow drop for 2. Cyber Kong clips Kagetora on the apron and Verserk work over the knee on the floor. Doi and Susumu brawl in the crowd and back in, YASSHI works him over. Double dropkicks to the legs of Susumu and Kagetora attempts a dropkick but misses and nails Susumu by mistake. Doi drives YASSHI into Kagetora in the corner and they continue to work him over. YASSHI actually pulls out some scissors and he cuts the BEARD of Kagetora while Doi cuts his hair!!! Guillotine Swanton Bomb by Doi gets 2. Kagetora comes back with a lariat on YASSHI and he hits the Ace Crusher on Doi. Tag to Susumu and he cleans house with lariats. Springboard Asai moonsault to the floor by Kagetora and Susumu hits an exploder suplex on Doi. Doi dropkicks Susumu for 2. Kneestrike/DVD combo to Doi gets 2 as YASSHI saves. Enzuigiri by Kagetora to YASSHi and he hits a Shining Wizard for 2. They trade blows and YASSHI hits a standing Blockbuster for 2. Brainbuster by YASSHI gets 2. Susumu and Doi go up and Doi catches him for a Powerbomb/Blockbuster combo from him and YASSHI for 2. Tiger Bomb by Doi gets 2. YASSHi goes up and misses a flying splash off the top. Brainbuster by Kagetora to YASSHi gets 2. Tanizaki trips Susumu and Verserk comes in to attack in the corner. YASSHI misses a charge and now the Jimmyz return the favor. Jumbo No Katchi by Susumu and they go up. Exploder superplex by Susumu followed by a flying elbow drop by Kagetora gets 2 as Doi saves. 619 by Kagetora and Doi comes back with the Sky High for 2. Owen Driver by YASSHI gets 2 as Susumu saves. Tanizaki nails Kagetora with a crate, allowing YASSHI to hit a German suplex for 2. Cradle by Kagetora to Doi gets 2 and Doi hits Doi 555. Kagetora catches him with another cradle for 2 as YASSHI saves!!! Kagetora with Genkonitteki for 2 as Doi saves. Susumu and Doi trade blows and Susumu nails the Jumbo No Kachi. DVD Driver by Kagetora gets 2!!! Jumbo No Katchi by Susumu gets 2!!! Kong nails him in the back with the crate and YASSHI hits the release Dragon suplex. Doi 555 followed by the Bakatare Sliding Kick gets 2 as Kagetora saves. Susumu rolls through the Muscular Bomb for 2 and Ryu goes to throw salt at Susumu but misses and hits Doi. Jumbo No Katchi by Susumu gets 2 again and he hits Mugen. Jumbo No Katchi gets 3!!!
Winners and Still Open the Twin Gate Champions – The Jimmyz ***3/4 (The opening portion of this match wasn’t very good. The heat segment on Kagetora was so dry and bland and once they got through that and started to let loose, this was awesome. A hot final stretch of action built on hot near falls from cradles and desperation roll-ups and the final exchange between Doi and Susumu was terrific. YASSHi really does nothing for me and was probably the key reason this didn’t hit that next level of greatness. He’s a generic heel in a promotion with charismatic workers so he drags down the drama of the beating Verserk was giving the Jimmyz. If Doi had anyone else as a partner this probably would have been really great. )

Elimination Match for the Open the Triangle Gate Championships- Monster Express (Masato Yoshino, Akira Tozawa & T-Hawk) © vs. Tribe Vanguard (BxB Hulk, Kzy & Flamita)vs. Over Generation (CIMA, Dragon Kid & Peter Kassa)
CIMA and Hulk double team Yoshino to start and Hulk hits an axe kick on CIMA. Dropkick knocks Hulk to the floor and Yoshino follows out with a suicide dive. Tilt-a-whirl head scissors by Kid sends T-Hawk to the floor and Kassa catches Tozawa and flamita with a double clothesline. Kassa dropkicks Flamita to the floor and he follows up with the corkscrew Sasuke special to the floor!!! CIMA presses Kid into a back senton on T-Hawk and Hulk goes for a standing moonsault but it eats knees. Rapid chops by Tozawa and he finishes with a straight punch. Tozawa punches everyone but it only doesn’t work on Kassa. Delayed suplex by T-Hawk to Kassa and Monster Express and Tribe Vanguard battle for suplexes. CIMA and Kassa help the Vanguard win that battle. Wheelbarrow bulldog onto Kid and Flamita is pressed into a standing 450 on Kid for 2. Tozawa goes up and hits a back senton off the top for 2. Everyone charges at Kid in the corner and Kid takes Flamita off the top with a Frankensteiner. Kassa cleans house but T-Hawk knocks him out of the ring to come back. Everyone dives to the floor and it ends with KASSA HITTING THE FOSBURY FLOP TO THE FLOOR!!!!! Brainbuster by Tozawa to Kzy gets 2 as Flamita saves. Springboard battery ram by Flamita to Kassa and he springboards into an overhead belly to belly suplex by Kassa. Handspring back elbow to T-Hawk and EVO by Hulk and Flamita hits a springboard 450 splash for 2. Frog Splash by Kzy misses and Kid catches Yoshino with a Frankensteiner off the top onto Kzy!!! Meteora by CIMA gets 2. Single arm power bomb to Kzy by Kassa but Kzy catches him with a cradle for 2 to come back. Moonsault power slam by Kassa gets 2. Kassa Tornado gets 3!!! Tribe Vanguard is eliminated.

Tornado DDT by Kid to Tozawa and Kassa goes up. 630 Splash by Kassa gets 2 as T-Hawk saves!!! Missile dropkick by Yoshino to Kassa. Tozawa goes up with Kassa and he hits a superplex for 2!!! Dropkick by CIMA to Yoshino and he hits Schwein for 2. Over Generation triple team Yoshino and CIMA hits Meteora to the back of the head!!! Saito suplex by Tozawa to CIMA and Kassa catches him with the Olympic Slam. Dragonrana to Yoshino gets 2!!! T-Bomb to Kid gets 2. German suplex by Tozawa to Kid gets 2. Crucifix Bomb to Tozawa gets 2!!! Snap German to Dragon Kid gets 2. Straight Jacket German suplex to Kid by Tozawa gets 3!!!
Winners and Still Open the Triangle Gate Champions- Monster Express **** (An absolutely wild and insane match. They kept this insane pace going for twenty minutes and never let up. Peter Kassa got to look like a machine as he continues to kill it in his first tour of Japan. The match lacked a bit of drama and they had some slip ups along the way but this was an impressive athletic display and a showcase of the greatness that is six man tag team wrestling in Dragon Gate.)

Open the Dream Gate Championship- Shingo Takagi © vs. YAMATO
They trade blows and we have a stalemate. Power slam by Shingo and he clotheslines YAMATO to the floor. They head up the ramp and they trade chops. Bicycle kick by YAMATO and they battle for a suplex on the ramp, with YAMATO winning that battle. Back in, YAMATO grabs a short arm scissors but Shingo rolls into the ropes to break. YAMATO continues to work the arm of Shingo but again Shingo gets to the ropes to force a break. YAMATO dumps Shingo to the floor and Shingo uses a chair to block a dive attempt. DVD on the apron by Shingo and back in, he hits a slingshot double stomp. Knees to the midsection by Shingo and he goes up. Reverse flying elbow drop by Shingo gets 2. Suplex by Shingo gets 2. Knee drop by Shingo and he hits some short arm clotheslines. YAMATO fires back but Shingo cuts him off to end that comeback. Shingo throws some knees to the midsection and YAMATO comes back with an enzuigiri. Dropkick knocks Shingo off the apron and YAMATO follows out with a summersault plancha to the floor!!! Back in, YAMATO hits a missile dropkick for 2. Dragon screw leg sweep by YAMATO and Shingo DRILLS YAMATO with a lariat. Swinging neck breaker by Shingo gets 2. Northern lights suplex by YAMATO and they exchange suplexes. Backdrop Driver by Shingo and both men are down. They trade lariats and Shingo catches a corner dropkick attempt. They head up and YAMATO takes Shingo off with a Frankensteiner off the top. Corner dropkick by YAMATO and he hits the Brainbuster for 2!!! Cross arm breaker by YAMATO but Shingo is quick to get to the ropes. Sit-out power bomb by Shingo gets 2. Shingo hits a lariat knocks YAMATO off the top and to the floor. They head up and SHINGO SUPERPLEXES YAMATO ONTO EVERYONE ON THE FLOOR!!!!! Back in, Shingo covers for 2. Wheelbarrow suplex by Shingo and he hits Made in Japan for 2!!! HUGE Pumping Bomber by Shingo and they trade reversals until Shingo hits Gallarea for 2!!! YAMATO catches Shingo with a sleeper and he hits the sleeper suplex. Gallarea by YAMATO gets 2!!! Shingo blocks the hurricanrana and he hits a power bomb. Hard forearm by YAMATO and Shingo comes back with the Pumping Bomber for 2!!! YAMATO tries to fire back but Shingo is toying with him. YAMATO manages to catch Shingo in the sleeper again so Shingo goes up and drives himself off the top onto YAMATO to break. YAMATO goes right to the cross arm breaker!!!! Shingo POWERS INTO THE LAST FALCONRY FOR 2!!!!! Lariats by Shingo but YAMATO won’t go down. Kick to the arm by YAMATO and Shingo fires back with forearms. YAMATO returns fire and hits an enzuigiri. Pumping Bomber by Shingo and he HITS A FUCKING SICK PUMPING BOMBER FOR 2!!!!! Hurricanrana by YAMATO gets 2!!! Dropkick by YAMATO and he hits three enzuigiris. Gallarea by YAMATO gets 2!!! A second Gallarea gets 3!!!!!!
Winner and NEW Open the Dream Gate Champion- YAMATO ***** ( Pro wrestling is the absolute best when it can take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions, and this match did so in ways that exceeded my wildest dreams. This was a masterpiece, the culmination of two great stories in the end of the reigns of terror of Shingo and the establishing of YAMATO as the face of the promotion. Shingo had the performance of his career, beating YAMATO to a pulp and throwing everything with such force and pissed off energy that you felt every blow YAMATO was taking. YAMATO acts of desperation and his will to extract the ultimate revenge on the man he once followed drove him to keep fighting and to take the punishment and that final closing stretch was YAMATO refusing to be denied and the pop he got for the win matched the performance. This went above and beyond what I wanted from this, this was special. )

8.5

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

The first half of the card was a bunch of throw away tag matches and other than the veterans showcase there is nothing really to discuss. Once we hit the championship matches, this show ruled. We got a collection of great matches featuring the crazy Dragon Gate action you come to expect and love., especially in the Triangle Gate match. Then the main event put on a masterpiece of storytelling and drama the likes of which Dragon Gate can only put together once in a while to that degree. YAMATO had his crowning moment and Shingo had the performance that will cement his legacy and will finally validate his reigns as champion. You need to go out of your way to watch Shingo/YAMATO but I also feel you will certainly get some enjoyment from watching this show, especially if you watch all the championship matches. This was an excellent show that meet the expectations of what is Dragon Gate's biggest show of the year.