Dragon Gate USA debuts in Canada! Pac debuts in DGUSA! It’s this weekend!

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Hey, Justin Houston here. I do the Chikara column and DVD Reviews, along with the much-neglected Pushing Puroresu. Now, I consider myself a pretty patriotic fellow. My curtains are all semi-sheer red, white and blue. I don’t eat French Fries or Bratwursts unless they are surrounded by American cheese. I would take a bullet for a bald eagle, unless it was super old or something. While I sleep, I listen to “Toughen Up, Brah”, an inspirational audio book by Dog the Bounty Hunter. I have a back tattoo depicting Randy Couture planting the American Flag on Mars. Despite all of this, I currently harbor a deep-seeded jealously of Canadians in the Ontario area. Dragon Gate USA is coming to Canada this Friday & Saturday, and while any foreigner with a passport can attend these potentially awesome shows (it’s insanely close to Detroit), the residents of America Jr. have easy access to see DG stars like Dragon Kid, CIMA, BxB Hulk, SHINGO, Naruki Doi, YAMATO and Masato Yoshino. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect.

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“Open the Northern Gate” DVD Taping

May 7^th, 2010 ~ Windsor, Ontario

The Windsor Armory ~ 8:00pm Bell Time

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The Main Event of DGUSA’s debut in Canada will also mark the DGUSA debut of Pac, world-renowned high-flyer and member of the WORLD-1 faction. He will team with fellow WORLD-1 member and Open the Freedom Gate champion BxB Hulk to take on teammates of the KAMIKAZE faction: its leader, Shingo Takagi (or SHINGO as he’s billed in the U.S.) and the Open the Dream Gate champion YAMATO. Before he beat Naruki Doi for the Dream Gate, the top belt in Dragon Gate, YAMATO made it to the final two of the tournament to crown the very first holder of the Freedom Gate, the singles title of DGUSA. Hulk pinned YAMATO to win the title, and he made his first defense at the next show. It was there that YAMATO and SHINGO took their frustrations out on him post-match, as YAMA wanted the title and SHINGO had yet to manage a win. BxB Hulk and YAMATO also share the distinction of being in the first ever match on a DGUSA show, where YAMATO beat Hulk. And as long as the history between those two are, the one between Takagi and Hulk dwarfs it in intensity. Shingo has bested Hulk in most every confrontation between the two, beating him for the recently-vacated Dream Gate back in 2008. The deck is stacked against Hulk once again, but with an innovator and risk-taker like Pac by his said, anything can happen.

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Their rivalry started on the very first DGUSA show and it will finally end in Canada. Dragon Kid, one of the best high-flyers in the business, bested Masato Yoshino, the fastest wrestler on Earth, on the first and second DGUSA shows. He rejected DK’s congratulations and it lead to a tag match between involving the two. Yoshino’s team got the victory, forcing this match-up. Dragon Kid and Masato Yoshino know each other better than just about anyone on the Dragon Gate roster. They have faced each other numerous times over the years, recently rekindling their feud during the 2010 King of Gate tournament. In the semifinals, it was Kid who scored an upset over “Speed Star”, nailing a satellite crucifix pin for a three count that Yoshino immediately protested. Now, in a 2 out of 3 Falls Match, the score will finally be settled.

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The match between Naruki Doi, leader of the WORLD-1 faction, and Masaaki Mochizuki, a hard-hitting and respected veteran, is a long time coming. 2008 saw the rise of Shingo Takagi in Dragon Gate. He would attempt to become the first new generation Dragon Gate wrestler to become a credible force, beating BxB Hulk in July for the ultimate prize in Dragon Gate, the Open the Dream Gate Title. He would only hold the title to the end of the year, where he was bested by Naruki Doi, who had gone through a never-before-witnessed, meteoric rise to the top levels of DG. He would shatter every Dream Gate record in the books, becoming its greatest champion ever. Shingo has yet to get revenge on Doi, and Mochizuki will now attempt to get his. You see, it was a win against Mochizuki that won Doi the King of Gate 2008 title and a title shot at Shingo, which he would win. Two years have passed, and, insane as it may sound, Masaaki Mochizuki is, at age 40, the best he’s been in years. He has gone from a calculated striker to a relentless buzzsaw, mowing down even the stiffest competition, sometimes against grapplers half his age. Now is as good a time as any for Mochizuki to gain a measure of retribution, but with a looming Dream Gate title match again YAMATO at the Korakuen Hall on May 13th, who knows what’s on his mind.

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At first glance, CIMA looks to be the better of Jimmy Jacobs in every conceivable way that matters in a wrestling match. He’s faster, taller, stronger and more experienced. He’s also tanner, but that’s probably extraneous. Or is it? Perhaps that’s why “Daniel Bryan” isn’t doing so well at the next level. That, or Michael Cole knows voodoo, or at least has a “male friend” who does. But I digress. Despite the physical factors against him, do NOT count out Jacobs in any contest. He has proved many times over that underestimating him can lead to more than just a pinfall loss. BJ Whitmer was never the same after their Cage Match. Austin Aries went from a razor-focused mat machine to a flamboyant, mouthy jerk after they met in an I Quit Match. He’s never the biggest dog in the fight, but he may be rabid…and he’ll never let up.

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At the very first DGUSA show, Gran Akuma turned on Mike Quackenbush and Jigsaw, natives of the Chikara Pro wrestling promotion, aligning himself with YAMATO for his fight against the “unworthy” Chikara luchadors. But, with YAMATO and Shingo Takagi joining up with Jon Moxley, it appeared that Akuma might have been left out of the mix. Enter the debuting Akira Tozawa, the youngest member of Shingo’s stable KAMIKAZE. So while YAMA focuses on other projects with Mox and SHINGO in KAMIKAZE USA, it appears that Akuma is still in the mix with them, tagging with Tozawa for the young, brash wrestler’s United States debut!

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FIP World Heavyweight Title: Jon Moxley© vs. Phil Atlas

I have no clue who Phil Atlas is, but he’s in for a world of hurt when he faces the psychotic, garrulous Jon Moxley. When Atlas takes on Mox for the FIP World Title, he’ll be looking to move up the independent ladder and earn future bookings in both FIP and DGUSA. After doing a little research, I’ve found that Atlas has toured with All Japan Pro Wrestling, facing the likes of Katsuhiko Nakajima and Kaz Hayashi. He is also an Ontario native, but Moxley is used to being the least favorite person in the ring, so I don’t imagine he’s sweating it much.

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Maximum Pro Wrestling Showcase: Tyson Dux & Jon Bolen vs. Brad Martin & Xtremo

I know of Tyson Dux, and I think he’s a solid wrestler that shows a lot of unique personality. The other three…no clue. Professionalism! So instead of talking about the four wrestlers aka make shit up for a paragraph (Bolen starred in Species 7!) I’ll comment on “showcase” matches in general. Back in 2006, Dragon Gate put six of their best guys in a ROH ring and became the talk of the wrestling word the next day. Lethal Wrestling Alliance threw four guys into the ring during Chikara’s King of Trios 2009, and they were booed out of the arena and met with “Don’t Come Back” chants. There’s a lot of pressure on guys who have to not only represent themselves, but an entire company. Some rise to the occasion, some work for the Lethal Wrestling Alliance. It’s a risky endeavor that can pay off in the future or bury your company’s reputation…*ominous voice*…FOREVER. Good luck, guys.

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– On the Bonus Card for those who purchased Row 1-3 Tickets, Johnny Gargano will take on a mystery opponent. Gargano’s a lot of fun as a performer, so it’s a nice treat for those select folks.

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“Uprising” Pay-Per-View Taping

May 8^th, 2010 ~ Mississauga, Ontario

International Centre ~ 8:00pm Bell Time

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Masato Yoshino is either the most understanding man of all-time or he is convincingly hiding his anger towards BxB Hulk. Yoshino and Hulk are members of WORLD-1 and occasional tag partners. At the end of last year, Hulk turned his back on Yoshino during the Hair vs. Mask Survival Cage Match, leaving him 2 on 1 versus K-ness & Yokosuka and ultimately causing him to have his head shaved as the match’s loser. Yoshino managed to get to a flag earlier, allowing him to escape, but he saw Hulk was in big trouble, so he came back down to help him. Then Hulk managed to get to the hard-to-reach flag with the help of a pair of gloves and a rope. Yoshino was in big trouble now…but BxB Hulk, with tears in his eyes, grabbed the flag and hopped down, hanging Yoshino out to dry. Yoshino was in disbelief that his friend could leave him like that, and Hulk, showing severe regret, screamed in support of Yoshino, as did all of WORLD-1. It was the first time I’d ever heard Hulk get booed in a Dragon Gate ring, and quite loudly, too. It was a selfish act by Hulk to preserve part of his identity, as Yoshino had run to Hulk’s aid just minutes before, sacrificing a golden chance to exit. Everyone took turns shaving the head of a deeply depressed-looking Yoshino, except Hulk. When he tried to leave, Yoshino grabbed Hulk by the arm and shoved the electric razor into his hand, forcing Hulk to face the same fate as Hulk’s enemies. Hulk could only shave a little bit before the impact of his betrayal was too much and he collapsed. They have played nice for almost six months, but with BxB Hulk’s Open the Freedom Gate title on the line, it may be anything goes.

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This feud stems from Dragon Kid’s involvement with YAMATO & SHINGO in their KAMIKAZE stable. As you can see IN THIS VIDEO, they turned on DK and he had to be saved by his longtime friend CIMA. Days prior to this, Dragon Kid had left the KAMIKAZE faction and joined CIMA’s faction, the WARRIORS-5, after a laundry list of miscommunications between the men. CIMA and Dragon Kid will be facing an uphill climb, as they have been unsuccessful in recent matches against the pair. Much like Naruki Doi earned his status as the company’s top dog by first defeating Masaaki Mochizuki, YAMATO earned the respect of CIMA by tapping him out to begin his road to the Dream Gate championship. Shingo Takagi faced underdog Dragon Kid in the finals of the King of Gate 2010, where he defeated him and earned a title shot against his own partner. However, despite the recent wins, the Dream Gate match between the two caused much friction, nearly fracturing their unit beyond repair. The in-fighting within KAMIKAZE is the biggest advantage CIMA and DK will have, and they must find a way to exploit it if they’re to win.

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While their first tag match of the weekend will be more heated, Mike Quackenbush and Jigsaw will have just as much to prove in their match against WORLD-1 members Naruki Doi and Pac. With Chikarasaurus Rex on the horizon for Chikara Pro in July (see below), QuackenSaw will be looking to scout talent for the huge Chikara vs. Dragon Gate weekend. In all likelihood, they could face Doi again on familiar ground soon enough, as he is one of the biggest stars of DG. Pac has worked several dates for Chikara in the past, so he could show up, too. But Quack & Jig have a golden opportunity this weekend to also, perhaps, earn themselves a shot at the Twin Gate, Dragon Gate’s tag titles, just as The Young Bucks did. In fact, QuackenSaw beat The Bucks on their way to TNA! So, despite an innocent exterior, there’s quite a lot on the line here.

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Akira Tozawa will make his debut the night before, getting thrown into a feud he has no real part in. However, he second match in the company and first singles match will be against a man who’s been picking at him for years: Masaaki Mochizuki. Since he was a rookie, Masaaki as seemed to take perverse joy in throttling young Tozawa with vicious kicks…and who wouldn’t? Tozawa has a reputation for yelling at the top of his lungs in an attempt to rattle his opponent. While its actual effect has not been verified, for the most part, it has just lead to worse and worse beatings, specifically from veterans like Mochizuki and Don Fujii. But, with Tozawa getting closer and closer to breaking through in Dragon Gate, a win over Mochizuki could propel him from the back of the line to a future Brave Gate or even Dream Gate shot. It could happen!

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John Moxley and Jimmy Jacobs may be the biggest non-DG feud in the company right now. Moxley started at the side of Brian Kendrick in his efforts to screw with Jacobs, but Jacobs pinned Kendrick at the March 27^th Phoenix show, banishing him from DGUSA and leaving Mox on his own against Jimmy. At said Phoenix shows, Moxley showed he can handle himself just fine, going undefeated on the weekend, including beating Tommy Dreamer in a Hardcore Match. Moxley also won the FIP Title recently, so he’s on a hot streak. Things will get extreme when Jacobs tries to cool him off with a big loss.

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Special Attraction Match: Tyson Dux vs. Gran Akuma

Once again, I don’t know a ton about Tyson Dux. I know he loves comic books, so he’s automatically a hero in my book. He’ll have to handle potential KAMIKAZE USA member Gran Akuma, who I’m quite familiar with. For the benefit of Mr. Dux, here’s the scoop on Akuma: he gonna kick you. Hard. OFTEN. The Rubik’s Cube sounds like a silly name for a finisher, but if he manages to get you on his shoulders, you won’t be laughing much longer. He’s an unforgiving, unflinching striker who always aims high and rarely misses. Good luck, dude. If they allow it, wear a helmet. And wear a cup, because…he WILL kick there.

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– Like the previous night, the Bonus Card will be for those who purchased Row 1-3 Tickets. FRAY! makes its return to DGUSA. It starts with two competitors. Every 2 minutes another one enters the ring. Eliminations can take place anytime by pinfall, submission or DQ. The last man standing is the winner. Those competing so far: Phil Atlas, Brodie Lee, Cheech, Cloudy, Xtremo, Brent B, Anthony Fiasco and Michael Elgin. Any match involving the Miracle Ultraviolence Connection gets a thumbs up from me. Also, there will be a match consisting of wrestlers chosen by CIMA from the Seminar/Tryout that will be held that afternoon.

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From Chikara Pro: “A year ago, CHIKARA partnered up with a revolutionary new brand in the American wrestling scene – Dragon Gate USA! Now that partnership will bear some truly unique fruit…on Sunday afternoon, July 25th, the stars of both CHIKARA and DG USA will come together for a giant spectacle that could only be called “Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Show“! Some once-in-a-lifetime encounters will take place, as DG USA sends six of their most acclaimed superstars into a CHIKARA ring for this epic event. Get your tickets in advance through our online store and save!”

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If you’re looking for the best Dragon Gate reviews that also just happen to be the quickest to the net, look no further than Brad Garoon’s groin-grabbingly awesome blog, “Open the Garoon Gate”. You’d be a fool not to read his reviews…a fool I’d pity. So…I guess I’m saying I’d pity the fool who didn’t read his blog. Pity to the max. He also posts them here, so for the sake of hits, read both his blog and his column here. Don’t make me beg…

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