Dragon Gate TV 2/23/06
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2/11/06 Osaka
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CIMA/Shingo Takagi/Jack Evans vs. Masaaki Mochizuki/Kenichiro Arai/Susumu Yokosuka
Jack Evans is a perfect fit for Dragon Gate. Amazing how well he fits in and the fans took to him fast. Shocked at Evans getting two pins in two matches I have seen him. Announcers mention ROH at least 3-4 times during the match. **1/4
Magnum Tokyo/BxB Hulk vs. Don Fuji/Masato Yoshino
Although it didn’t explode off the screen for me, the work here is crisp and the tag dynamic is constant. Tons of saves and flash pins. The heat was missing to some extent. But if a random WWE match could be this good North American wrestling would be a different landscape. **1/2
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2/5 Fukuoka
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Dragon Kid vs. Masato Yoshino (Open the Brave Gate Title)
No doubt Yoshino has one of the best offensive arsenals in the game. Secondly, he is one of the fastest cats I have eve seen go in that ring. Only his D-Gate brethren like Genki or maybe D-Kid seem to have the speed this guy utilizes. CIMA and Don Fuji make a run in during this match and even D-Gate interference is done 50 times better then any company in the US. *** 1/4
Magnum Tokyo/Ryo Saito vs. Masaaki Mochizuki/Susumu Yokosuka
Loss for words watching this stuff. Not that I am in abundance of vocabulary. I prefer watch and rate and get it over with. More time to watch more wrestling. However, this match is a good example where you see it all. Good transitional wrestling, mat work, high flying, running the ropes like sprinters, D-Gate is better then anything out there IMO. Regardless of their entire roster basically consisting of juniors, it doesn’t matter. Great stories and feuds, matches with purpose and soul. Head dropping insanity in this match! Magnum is fine and I enjoy Masaaki’s limited yet convincing moveset, the axekick, the straight up roundhouses to the head, the mat work. But Ryo and Sususmu are the fucking beasts here. Intense fucker, Ryo. Susumu crisp like fresh matzah bread. Psychology? Freud would have a field day with these matches. Ryo/Susumu rivarly is the best I’ve seen so far on 06′. Ryo and Masaaki trade a blithering exchange of kicks and slaps and then some dragon suplexes to finish off a stellar match. ***1/2
Magnum Tokyo vs. Tenryu
Was this a blow-off to a feud? It was cool, regardless. Magnum slightly missed his SSP for the win. Good and stiff and Tenryu does what he does, which is pretty astounding for a 54 year old. What a mug on that guy, too. **
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2/11 Osaka
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Magnitude Kishiwada vs. Anthony W. Mori (Open the Dream Gate Title)
Neck snapping, chair swinging, psychological goodness. Mori tries to put the former Big Boss MA-G-MA away with the crucuifx armbar like he did in the Captain’s Fall Match. Mori gets dropped on his head via back drop and german suplexes. Lacked nothing but the speed. had crazy reversals, kimuras, top rope shenanigans, great match. ***1/2
Ryo Saito/Dragon Kid/Genki Horiguchi vs. CIMA/Masato Yoshino/Naruki Doi
CIMA gets used and abused here, I was shocked! It was a bonus match to end the show. He took a serious number of finishers in a short match. Too bad, I look forward to genki matches more the lst. He hit his crazy ass tope con hilo too, picture perfect. The level of consistency in these matches is outstanding, the teamwork imeasurable and flawless. This is not pro wrestling, this is ballet. This is theatre. Ryo Saito pinned CIMA and then began his challenge for the Dream Gate title. **3/4
