Dragon Gate Infinity 294 Review
Kobe Sambo Hall, 19th of April 2013 (aired April 30th)
Lee here with coverage and thoughts on the latest episode of Dragon Gate Infinity. I don’t think a dark match really counts as a dark match when it makes it to tv, hence me listing the following as match 1 rather than the official 0.
1) Jimmy Kagetora & Jimmy Kanda of the Jimmyz defeated Kotoka of Windows & Cyber Kong (5:44, Kagenui)
I enjoyed the hell out of this. It’s no secret that I’m Kotoka’s number one fan, so it was nice to see that he hasn’t completely dropped off the radar since the conclusion of the Windows/Akatsuki feud. I’m also pretty high on Cyber Kong at the moment, most of his matches have been fun this year since his transition from failed monster to light hearted loser babyface. Fast paced match with Kotoka bringing it as always, concluded with a slick Kagetora finish.
2) Don Fujji & HUB of Team Veteran defeated Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee & Mr Quu Quu Naoki Tanizaki Toyonaka Dolphin of the Jimmyz (11:44, Armageddon)
I just noticed that HUB and Tanizaki pretty much have matching gear. This is confusing. Typical tag match with a fun stretch after the hot tag. Got to see HUB’s mind bending finish, which is always a good time.
Time for the Fan Appreciation Day rematch the world has been anxiously awaiting.
3) Massaki Mochizuki of Team Veteran defeated Mondai Ryu of Mad Blankey (5:38, Shin Saikyou High Kick > One Foot Pin)
Mochizuki brings the best out of everyone in singles matches. Of course, the exception to that rule is Mondai Ryu. Luckily they kept the “Ryu saltily maintains an advantage” stuff down to a minimum and we were treated to Mocchy brutalising him with kicks for much of the duration. The finishing Shin Saikyou High Kick was particularly nasty.
Mocchy continues to beat Ryu up afterwards.
Next up, K-ness in a rare non-Korakuen appearance! This is coming off the back of his instant classic Dream Gate match on the previous episode, I think he was added to the whole tour schedule for April. I’m excited.
4) K-ness of Windows defeated Naruki Doi of World-1 International (9:29, Hikari No Wa)
Didn’t have the mega crowd heat or emotional weight of K-ness’s 2013 Korakuen Hall matches, but it was never going to. Still a solid bout and it’s very cool seeing the artist formerly known as Darkness Dragon on TV.
5) CIMA & Dragon Kid of Team Veteran defeated Akira Tozawa & Kzy of Mad Blankey (10:59, Jorge Death Lock)
Tozawa is so awesome but so out of momentum at this point. He needs to turn face like two months ago. I guess this existed to hype the Tozawa/CIMA Dream Gate match (which it didn’t do very well) and to get over CIMA’s new leglock (which it did successfully). Good time for CIMA to add that to his repertoire by the way, since it currently takes like twenty Meteoras to end a Dream Gate defence. Wasn’t crazy about the match, but the following bitch-off between Tozawa and the champion was good. CIMA seemed to get the better of the exchange. Because he is CIMA.
6) YAMATO, Shingo Takagi & Super Shenlong of -akatsuki- defeated Ricochet, Masato Yoshino & Rich Swann of World-1 International (16:55, Gallaria)
At this point, World-1 six man tags are guaranteed to be good. This was no exception, with the gaijin entertaining a lot.
YAMATO taunts Mocchy (who is on commentary) as he leaves. Those two are set to meet in the first round of King Of Gate at the next Korakuen. That will be awesome.
7) Open The Twin Gate: BxB Hulk & Uhaa Nation of Mad Blankey defeated Ryosuka (Ryo “Jimmy” Saito & Jimmy Susumu) of the Jimmyz to retain the titles (22:43, First Flash)
This was pretty great, which isn’t surprising since Ryosuka are one of the best teams in Dragon Gate (off the the top of my head, I’d put them third, behind Knessuka and Mochifujii). Typical good opening > getting the heat > ACTION structure, with Ryosuka busting out all of their signature tag moves, most notably the awesome sunset flip/german suplex combo. They really did bring it down the stretch, Sambo Hall was on fire for the challengers. The first BxB Nation Twin Gate match received a mixed reaction from folks online (only I seemed to like it!), but I think this one will be more universally enjoyed. There weren’t any obviously shaky moments like that clumsy double team powerbomb thing (or whatever it was) in the Champion Gate match.
Akatsuki, the number one contenders for the Twin, close the show. Shingo and YAMATO will challenge Hulk and Uhaa at the Dead Or Alive pay per view on May the 5th. Since the PPV will take place between this episode and the next, I guess I should put the card here:
1. Ryo “Jimmy” Saito, Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee!!, Jimmy Kanda vs. Super Shenlong III, Super Shisa, Cyber Kong
2. K-ness, Kotoka vs. Jimmy Kagetora, Mr. Quu Quu Naoki Tanizaki Toyonaka Dolphin
3. Ricochet vs. Jimmy Susumu
4. Open the Triangle Gate Title Match: Naruki Doi, Shachihoko BOY, Rich Swann vs. Masaaki Mochizuki, HUB, Don Fujii
5. Open the Brave Gate Title Match: Dragon Kid vs. Masato Yoshino
6. Open the Twin Gate Title Match: BxB Hulk, Uhaa Nation vs. YAMATO, Shingo Takagi
7. Open the Dream Gate Title Match: CIMA vs. Akira Tozawa
It will take place at the Aichi Prefectural Gym. I think it’s on at cinemas (in Japan) too, but don’t quote me on that.
Closing thoughts: Good episode, obviously highlighted by the great Twin Gate match. Everything else was inessential but nonetheless entertaining. Sambo Hall shows are basically the Smackdown of Dragon Gate, where people wrestle but there isn’t a wild amount of story development, whereas the Korakuen shows are Dragon Gate’s Raw, where stuff goes down. Of course, this analogy only really applies to pre brand split Raw and Smackdown, meaning that it’s out of date by over a decade, but whatever.
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Thanks to IheartDG for the match times and the DoA card.