Taso the Greek’s “Bumpin’ Heads 2008″

Dragon Gate “2008 NEW YEAR SPECIAL”, 13.01.2008 º
º ASUTA LIVE FACTORY “SITE-KOBE” º
º 503 Fans º
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º 1. Cyber Kong & Cyber Ryo vs. BxB Hulk & BxB Fujii **3/4 º
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º Dragon Gate, 15.01.2008 º
º Tokyo Korakuen Hall º
º 2,350 Fans - Super No Vacancy º
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º 2. YAMATO vs. Ryo Saito *** º
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º 3. Kenichiro Arai & Taku Iwasa vs. Cyber Kong & Austin Aries **3/4 º
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º Dragon Gate, 14.01.2008 º
º Nagoya Telepia Hall º
º 544 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House º
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º 4. Gamma & Genki Horiguchi vs. Dragon Kid & CIMA *** º
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º Dragon Gate, 15.01.2008 º
º Tokyo Korakuen Hall º
º 2,350 Fans - Super No Vacancy º
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º 5. GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: º
º Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino (c) vs. BxB Hulk & Shingo Takagi ***3/4 º
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º 6. Open the Triangle Gate Title: º
º Dick Togo, Ikuto Hidaka & Munenori Sawa vs. º
º K-ness, Don Fujii & Masaaki Mochizuki ***1/2

All the matches, all the characters, everything about Dragon Gate screams awesomeness. There are 3-4 matches per show that are bright up there with the best matches of any promotion. I just watche some ROH and these two companies have the same kind of intense, crisp, hard-hitting, innovative pro wrestling around.

º Dragon Gate, 23.12.2007 º
º Kobe Sambo Hall º
º 1,250 Fans º
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º 1. Hair vs. Bontan Match: º
º Genki Horiguchi & Yasushi Kanda vs. Akira Tozawa & Yuki Ono *** º
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º 2. Open the Brave Gate Title: º
º Masato Yoshino (c) vs. Susumu Yokosuka ***1/2 º
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º Dragon Gate “GRAND FINAL GATE 2007″, 28.12.2007 º
º Tokyo Korakuen Hall º
º 2,350 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House º
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º 3. YAMATO & Shinobu vs. Kenichiro Arai & m.c.KZ. **1/2 º
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º 4. Gamma, Yasushi Kanda & NOSAWA Rongai vs. º
º Dragon Kid, BxB Hulk & Anthony W. Mori **3/4 º
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º 5. GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: º
º Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino (c) vs. º
º Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Atsushi Aoki ***3/4 º
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º 6. Cyber Kong vs. Cyber Ryo **1/2 º
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º 7. Masaaki Mochizuki, Susumu Yokosuka & K-ness vs. º
º CIMA, Shingo Takagi & Don Fujii ***

Masato Yoshino vs. Susumu Yokosuka face off against each other again. Same match but this time Yoshino doesn’t get rolled up after trying the crucifix cradle on Yokosuka. So they added another 3-5 minutes and Yoshino hits some moves and wins via submission. They made a few mistakes in this one but still a good match. Probably better then the first but only coming off that first match as this built something for a third match that should be outstanding. The GHC Jr. Tag Title match was almost four stars good. I think Susumu, CIMA, Masato Yoshino, and Mochizuki are the best guys here, but so is Ryo.

º Dragon Gate, 01.12.2007 º
º Sapporo Teisen Hall º
º 1,100 Fans - No Vacancy º
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º 1. King of Gate - Round 1: º
º Masato Yoshino vs. Susumu Yokosuka ***1/2 º
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º Dragon Gate, 02.12.2007 º
º Sapporo Teisen Hall º
º 1,100 Fans - No Vacancy º
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º 2. King of Gate - Round 1: º
º BxB Hulk vs. Ryo Saito *** º
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º Dragon Gate, 05.12.2007 º
º Tokyo Korakuen Hall º
º 2,250 Fans - Super No Vacancy º
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º 3. King of Gate - Round 1: º
º Don Fujii vs. CIMA **3/4
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º 4. 4 Way Tag Match: º
º Masato Yoshino & Yasushi Kanda vs. Masaaki Mochizuki & K-ness vs. º
º Shingo Takagi & BxB Hulk vs. Susumu Yokosuka & PAC ***1/2 º
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º Dragon Gate, 09.12.2007 º
º Nagoya International Conference Hall º
º 2,800 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House º
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º 5. King of Gate - Semi Final: º
º Gamma vs. Dragon Kid **3/4 º
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º 6. King of Gate - Semi Final: º
º Masaaki Mochizuki vs. CIMA ***3/4 º
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º 7. King of Gate - Final: º
º CIMA vs. GAMMA ***

The Dragon Gate wrestling style is not for everyone. I would compare it similiar to ROH and Lucha and Strong-Style mixed together. It makes for some great lightweight action. It might not be for everyone, but it probably is performed at it’s best by these guys. My one complaint is the level of no-selling that goes on during these spotfests but I don’t think they are clumsy about their use of the highspot, it’s just tjhe style of the wrestlers who are all top-tier junior heavyweights. Yoshino vs. Susumu had a great finish and an old-school level booking feel to it the way it ended. No doubt during the match everything they did together was war-like ballet.
I guess BxB Hulk is the nest Magnum Tokyo. His match with Ryo Saito is a damn good athletic contest, although BxB’s offense comes off as weak to me. The tornado 8 man tag match was off the charts good, choc full of spots, great tag team wrestling. Kanda’s driving elbow drop off the top rope is an awesome spectacle. Dragon Kid is good but for Dragon Gate standards I think he is overpushed. Ryo Saito and Susumo Yokosuka are so much better in the work and charisma department. Masaaki Mochizuki vs. CIMA was VERY GOOD. Probably the best match on this dvd. CIMA vs. GAMMA was too filled with outside interference and a funky finish. GAMMA and heel Genki are awesome. Dragon Kid vs. GAMMA *** bonus match also delights with good athletic moves, a fast pace, and a flashy ending.

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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

Dragon Gate 1/27/2006 PPV

1. Kenichiro Arai & Susumu Yokosuka vs. King Shisa & Super Shisa
Super Shisa uses a Magic Lasso in this match that earns him bonus points in my book. This match was standard “Quality A” grade D-Gate production. It was not an awesome match, but there was no doubt there were some great moves, acrobatics, comedy… I thought this was a good example of what D-Gate is about. **1/2
2. Handicap Match: Florida Brothers (Michael Iwasa & Daniel Mishima) vs. Genki Horiguchi
Genki is the Japanese version of The Rock, I swear he could be. The Florida Brothers should be at or near the top of any tag team of the year lists, every year. This match was creative, complex, funny, innovative, clever, and silly.**1/2
3. Katsuo & BxB Hulk vs. Tozawa & Vangelis
Before even viewing this match I would prefer if they had Katsuo & Tozawa teaming in this, as well as BxB and Vangelis, which seem like an obvious fit. I enjoyed the young tag team in the one match I saw with them 12/26/05. This match was another highly enjoyable, acrobatic, spotastic, emotionally manipulated match. ***1/4
4. Magnum TOKYO & Masaaki Mochizuki vs. Don Fujii & Shingo Takagi
Hard hitting match, lots of chops and kicks and who can hit who the hardest type offense. Why does Shingo Takagi remind me of Bolo Yeung? Put Takagi’s head on Akitoshi Saito’s body and you get Bolo. This really becomes a test of strength, a war of attrition. Very stiff shots all the way around. Superb finish with crisp moves, oh man! ***1/4
5. Captain’s Fall Match: (Captain) Anthony W. Mori, Dragon Kid, Ryo Saito/Naoki Tanisaki vs. (Captain) Magnitude Kishiwada, CIMA, Naruki Doi/Masato Yoshino
Hot match. Great finish. Good swerve, a little blood, high flying, killing finishers, looking cool, Yoshino as a heel, a gifted group of wrestlers. ****

King of Gate Tournament
1. BxB Hulk & Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Katsuo & Tozawa
This was a really solid tag match. Everyone was good. Nakajima espcially so. Nuff Said. ***
2. King of Gate Tourney – Semifinals: Ryo Saito vs. Shingo Takagi
Oh what a sweet match this turned out to be. As if there was any doubt. ***
3. King of Gate Tourney – Semifinals: Susumu Yokosuka vs. CIMA
Starts off with good heat. Start off going to CIMA working the injured and taped up arm of Susumu. CIMA rips off the padding. He does moves and counters escapes 5 years ahead of what you normally see in the US. The style is light years ahead of ROH, IMO. All this great wrestling lead to a crazy sequence where CIMA hits an air raid crash, Susumu no-sells into a massive clothesline, rinse, and repeat, and both men collapse. I thought no-selling two awesome cradle piledrivers like that would kill a man but I guess not. CIMA gets folded like a chair on the Susumu clotheslines for extra flavor. Crowd going nuts. Wow. Ending sequemce has CIMA gloating over how both men are now equal but gassed, except Susumu has no arm left. Susumu tries to clothesline him three times with no success, his arm a mess. CIMA checks the arm himself, like a ref, it’s dead, so he goes for the ropes but on the return he gets kicked with a straight leg & knee kick, hit with an air raid crash AND a clothesline, and pinned. ***3/4
4. 3 Way Dance: Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino vs. Jack Evans & Roderick Strong vs. King Shisa & Vangelis This match was a high spot dreamfest. Fucking killer moves, wow!***3/4
5. 16 Man Battle Royal: Don Fujii & Masaaki Mochizuki, Michael & Daniel, Magnum TOKYO & Naoki Tanisaki, Stalker Ichikawa & Syachihoko Machine, Magntidue Kishiwada & President Okamura, Dragon Kid & Genki Horiguchi, Jackson & Johnson, Super Shisa & Karaoke Machine
Incredible!***1/2
6. King of Gate Tourney – Finals
Ryo Saito vs. Susumu Yokosoma
15 minutes in, good match, not ad good as the matches leading up to it for some reason. I don’t mind no-selling, but these guys get dropped on their heads and pop right back up time and time again. Dragon Gate is a trip, because they really do some astonishing near falls and cleverly thought out comebacks and reversals for dramatic effect. Susumu hits about a dozen clotheslines. Saito says, “Is that all you got, bitch?” Susumu runs out of gas against the unstoppable Ryo Saito and takes a couple of dragon suplexes. They trade even more offense at a machine gun pace before Saito hits an arm trap dragon suplex for the win. ***3/4

King of Gate Tournament - Quarter Finals
I’m going to go on a big D-Gate bender for the next several weeks. I have the gut feeling that is where the good wrestling is right now.
1. Masato Yoshino/Don Fuji/Naruki Doi/Magnitude Kishiwada vs. Magnum Tokyo/Katsuhiko Nakajima/Super Shisa/King Shisa
Wow. Completely unreal. Everyone seemed to have a part and they played it well. Talk about hiding strengths and accentuating weaknesses. ***
2. Micheal Iwasa/Daniel Mishima vs. Vangelis
Short. Some innovative comedy. You gotta love The Florida Brothers. *3/4
3. Jack Evans/Roderick Strong vs. Genki Horiguchi/Naoki Tanisaki
WHOA! What a great match! I was surprised at how good Roderick and Evans worked together and kept up with Genki & Tanisaki. This was a highspot fans dream match. Definitely a match that I wanted to deliver and it did, although not a classic , it is memorble. A match to note. And Gen NEXT goes over, which was a nice touch. ***1/2
Quarterfinals
4. CIMA vs. Kenichiro Arai
CIMA works the right leg of Arai the whole match, and in some very innovative ways. Arai makes a couple of cool comebacks, but he didn’t do my favorite spot which is his head butss to the mat. Awesome submission finish to this match that really told a good story. ***
5. Shingo Takagi vs. BxB Hulk
My first time seeing BxB. The opening dance sequence from BxB Hulk was awful. Is he supposed to be super metrosexual? I hate him already. Takagi reminds me of Bolo in “Bloodsport”. But damn, what a match. They are clicking on all six cylinders on this show. BxB sells stuff like he is getting shot with a nine. But he is smooth and crisp, even soft… like his pink sash.***
6. Susumu Yokosuka vs. Dragon Kid
This kicks off with alot of working body parts. There is a crescendo being built. Susumu has a wrapped up left arm and they key in on that. Then the flash pins and false finishes come, lots of lucha style stuff and innovative moves and again, a build toward a finish. The flip pd Susumu hits at the end look like either he took it instead of DK or something, but it doesn’t detract. Gives the tourney a special match too. It’s no SD! KOTR style match. These guys WANT to win. (I watched this match twice and would have given it more stars this time except for two sloppy spots and the finisher. It really was a great match)***1/2
7. Ryo Saito vs Masaaki Mochizuki
First 5 minutes Saito works over Masaaki’s leg convincingly yet methodically. Masaaki comes back with some good kicks, stiff, the comeback isn’t great though and then on top he works a rest hold keylock. So it’s slow 8 minutes in. Yet there are bursts of fast action, tricky moves, and back to submission holds, both men almost tapping out to brutal looking stretches. I don’t like Saito’s no-selling because one moment he’s dazed by a weak looking move and the next he takes a top move and it doesn’t even register. They trade some nice dragon suplexes. Masaaki kicks out of a top rope fisherman suplex at one. More dragon suplexes and then a stiff as exchange of strikes, real nasty, then more reversals and dragon suplexes. ***3/4