Dragon Gate USA’s first PPV of 2011. Freedom Fight 2010 has some solid matches booked, and has gotten mixed reviews from a few saying that it was an alright show, not the best that DG had to offer, but not the worst. Well time for me to watch the PPV and see what I think.
Jimmy Jacobs vs. Arik Cannon
~ Definitely a good opening match in my opinion. Both guys seemed to be on point and looked to be trying to make a point with getting the victory in this match. Both men had some big spots and there things seemed to be even for the most part. This match went back and forth and almost looked as if Cannon could get the victory, but Jacobs would hook the End Time and get the victory. Cannon showed that he is close to finally getting that much needed victory, maybe next time around.
~ Homicide and BxB Hulk vs. Jon Moxley & Akira Tozawa.
Big fan of each man in this match, maybe except for Moxley, just never been that big of a fan of him to be honest. Though I am not looking to let the separate this from me with Tozawa, Hulk and Homicide also in it. Tozawa is definitely one of the most improved wrestlers right now in the pro wrestling world. Homicide and Hulk both have their credentials that most should know by now. Tozawa gets beat up on early in the match, but in his usual fashion shows his fighting spirit and gets things back in his teams favor by tagging in Moxley. Moxley comes in and him and Homicide lock up in the ring with Moxley showing some descent in ring skill against Homicide. Tozawa has some moments as well showing his “High Tension” characteristics by getting some shots in on Homicide and Hulk when he gets the openings. Eventually Tozawa gets in the match with a tag and it is him and Hulk a few characteristic moments with Tozawa busting out his top rope headbutt attempts and hitting the Genki for a near fall on Hulk. Definitely some good stuff going on in this match. In the end it was sort of quick, Homicide/Moxley just turned into a pure brawl and there is nothing wrong with that. Let them just go at it definitely going to be a good feud if done right. Tozawa and Hulk kept the match a wrestling match and do well enough in my opinion. The E.V.O. from Hulk would spell the end for Tozawa.
Following the match there is some words or taunting going on with BxB Hulk flashing the Open the Freedom Gate belt at Moxley, though Moxley is not finished with Homicide and has some choice words for him. During this time that YAMATO comes out and bashes Hulk while Homicide is busy listening to what Moxley has to say.
This leads to Homicide and Moxley continuing their fight and back into the crowd. This turns into so very big shots from these two, they fight all the way back in the crowd and then back near the ring using everything in between. There was some nasty shots to both Homicide and Moxley and they did a good job of making this seem a bit too realistic with the crowd going a bit silent as Homicide was screaming out in pain. It sounded pretty brutal, but if this is a sign of the feud that is coming then I can say it should be good.
SHINGO vs. CIMA
Two of the top names in Dragon Gate Japan with CIMA being considered the top of the first generation with Shingo being called the top of the new generation. Definitely also a meeting of a technical wrestler, in CIMA, versus a power wrester, in SHINGO. This should be a quick and exciting bout just coming into the match and from the opening bell they do indeed start things off with a meaning. CIMA comes in trying to keep SHINGO from getting going because he knows if SHINGO gets him with one of his power moves it can lead to the end of the match quickly. SHINGO though does get the advantage and keeps things going in his favor. Doing everything he can to keep the pain on CIMA’s back with backbreakers, stomps, and a few locks to keep CIMA in pain. CIMA finally gets an opening and delivers a solid springboard corner dropkick and tries to finally gain some control again. CIMA tries the power game with SHINGO but is unable to get the bigger man in the air and SHINGO and CIMA go back in forth looking to get the advantage. CIMA eventually gets the Perfect Driver, but SHINGO manages to kick out. Both men go for some big moves further in SHINGO notably lands the Stay Dream, but CIMA manages to kick out. He then lands the Made in Japan, but yet again CIMA has the fight to kick out. Definitely a good match with CIMA showing a lot of fight that I have not seen from him in a while. SHINGO it almost looks starts to get gassed out trying to get the pin over his senpai, but in the end CIMA’s Meteora puts the bigger man away and gives CIMA the win to become a top challenger for the Freedom Gate title.
Ronin (Johnny Gargano, Chuck Taylor, and Rich Swann) vs. Austin Aries, Ricochet, and Genki Horiguchi
The newly formed group “Ronin” are looking for that win to make their union worth something in the promotion. The match starts off with a fast pace and then things turn into a fun time with Swann and Horiguchi having a dance off in which Swann gets a “you got served” chant. Horiguchi tags in Aries and Swann instantly wants nothing of that and jumps back and tags in Aries. Gargano doesn’t last long and tags Swann back into the match. Swann may not be too seasoned as being a wrestler as long as Aries, but he is still looking to get the veteran in a position where Swann makes himself look the better man. Though that might be harder to do that his mind may make it out to be. Swann shows signs of frustration as he cannot gain any ground over Aries. Aries tags in Horiguchi, but that does not work out in they way Aries might have thought as Swann gets him into the Ronin corner. This now turns into Ronin staying over Horiguchi and working him over with quick tactics and holding him in the corner. Horiguchi finally gets the tag and in comes Aries, though this time around Ronin finally begin to work together and manage to finally to take Aries off of his game. Swann takes advantage of the weakened Aries and Ronin in general begin to get cocky and arrogant. Ricochet can barely keep himself in his corner, while Ronin play their games. Finally Aries gets his breather and tags in the hot Ricochet and he comes in and begins to clean house. Headscissors to everyone, but the numbers of Ronin finally put Ricochet down a notch. The match the turns into a free-for-all as all men finally get in the ring and a lot happens, from Aries hitting the Heat Seeking Missle to Ronin again showing their cohesiveness over Aries, who they have seemed to pick on in this match. Ronin definitely are on their top game as they end up getting the pin on Ricochet following some strong double team moves which set up Gargano to hit the “Hurts Donut” for the pin.
~ All I gotta say is that Ronin are definitely going to make a name for themselves, with a great showing in this match. With this win they will be going into 2011 with an even more so boost of confidence so we will see at the end of the month of January if this is a fluke or if they not to be taken lightly.
YAMATO vs. Masato Yoshino
These two can be considered two of the tops in Japan in 2010, both were champions this year with Yoshino actually beating YAMATO for the Dream Gate belt back in March of 2010. These two have a lot of history and are looking to show us in the USA how much that they are against one another. Yoshino controls the match early on, but YAMATO is not this much of a pushover and eventually gets rolling on his side. He gets Yoshino outside and delivers a few solid shot and gets him back in the ring and starts to work on the legs of the faster opponent. YAMATO keeps the pace in his favor with all his attention aimed at the legs. Yoshino finally gets an opening and hits YAMATO with the Sling Blade and hooks him with a Guillotine Leg Choke over the ropes. Yoshino finally gains some space, but YAMATO still goes for the legs, this doesn’t seem to work as much this time around as Yoshino’s speed lets him hook in the From Jungle. YAMATO slowly powers out and this match begins to go back in forth. YAMATO positions Yoshino on the top turnbuckle, but Yoshino fights off and then hits a top rope Sling Blade. This doesn’t keep his opponent down for long as YAMATO soon follows up with a big spear. YAMATO begins to show off, but this is something you want to do is give Yoshino room to breath as he gets an oppening an delivers a top rope stomp to YAMATO’s arm. With this blow you gotta think that Yoshino is looking to end this match with the Sol Naciente. The match again goes back and forth, with the match finally slowing down with YAMATO landing a solid top rope Vertical Suplex. YAMATO has the match in his favor as he goes for the Galleria, but only manages to get a near fall on the champion. Yoshino seems to have had enough and begins pushing YAMATO back against ropes as he is getting slapped in the face. Definitely showing that YAMATO almost has nothing left as the champion aims to show why he is the champion. Yoshino soon hits a couple Torbellino’s and locks in the Sol Nociente that ends up causing YAMATO to give up and signal that the champion is the better man of the night.
All in all I agree with this event being good, all the matches where solid and on point, not many errors in the matches. With this being the final show of 2010 the eventual story lines being built from this show alone make this worth watching. With the next set of shows coming up here in a few weeks it would be wise to watch this and get a feel of the promotion as a lot that happened in the event will undoubtedly effect the flow of 2011.
Will Ronin become the top unit in DGUSA?
Who will be the one to dethrone BxB Hulk for the Freedom Gate Belt? YAMATO, Moxley, Akira Tozawa? They have the first shots in 2011.
Who will be the team to become the first Open The United Gate Champions?
As usual thanks for taking the time to check out ProWrestlingPonderings.com and my review of this PPV.
I hope you all take the time to watch it for yourself and come to your own opinions on the event.
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Let’s make 2011 a year to remember for Pro Wrestling!