#genki horiguchi

[scarskelly]

Open The Introduction To Dragongate by Scar The Skelly [UNAFFILIATED PART 2]

Almost there! I was going to make the Unaffiliated sections just 2 parts, but I've had to do 3, so I don't overload you.

Presentation Notes:

Genki Horiguchi

If you don’t know, Blood Generation (CIMA, Doi, Yoshino) vs Do FIXER (Kid, Genki, Saito) is possibly the most well-known match of Dragongate’s for foreign fans, getting 5 stars from Meltzer.

This freaky look included long extensions to his remaining hair and coloured contacts that made his pupils into black crosses with the rest of his eye being white. Here’s an image for reference. Extentions and contacts are elements that have continued in his look to this day, but now it’s much less eerie.

Now you may be wondering why Genki didn’t become a Jimmy like everyone else, but he actually did. Please, if you will, look closely at specifically the Gee.Mee part of his name…Gee.Mee…Jimi?

Takashi Yoshida

By varying levels of sanity, I mean it seems like sometimes he was more animalistic, and sometimes he was less animalistic. When he was a heel, it seemed he was less in touch with his human side, with his promos being complete gibberish.

Ho Ho Lun

Ho Ho would tag with Jason on numerous occasions during the Jason Lee Saga and had to deal with the antics from Z-Brats, High End and Natural Vibes just as much as Jason did. Ho Ho was pretty concerned for Jason himself, and seemed to want to help Jason out of the situation he was in, but he simply could not compete with 3 other units.

This all came to a head when Ho Ho and Jason had a singles match on the day of the Unit Decision match, which would give the group that won the chance to appeal to Jason, and he could choose to join them if he so wished. Jason had seemingly been worn down by Shun and showed the early signs of a heel turn during the match, with Jason getting the win over Ho Ho via low blow.

Ho Ho would appear on comms later in the show, audibly frustrated and saddened by the turn of events. It turned out Jason pretended to be turning to the dark side and joining Shun to trick him. To apologise for fucking with Ho Ho, Jason joined the first iteration of Kung Fu Masters.

Ho Ho is a joy on English commentary, and Jae and Ho Ho make up my favourite English commentary table in puro right now.

Punch Tominaga

Apparently, it took him so long to debut because he wasn’t a very good trainee and got in a lot of trouble with his seniors. Which is why in matches nowadays, you will witness guys like Don Fujii go after him.

Even now, when Shingo returns to Dragongate, Punch is there to be his second. They seem to be quite close even outside the ring.

Mondai Ryu

Kzy’s Mondai impression is potentially his best work.

His Luchas de Apuestas record consists of 2 matches. The first is CIMA vs Mondai in a passport vs mask match. The second is Punch Tominaga (then known as Chihiro Tominaga) vs Mondai in a hair vs entrance theme match. Both Mondai lost, but apparently, he just…didn’t unmask after the match with CIMA.

I should mention the powder here, as it is quite important. It's chalk powder that is thrown in the eyes to blind people, and has been used by almost if not all the heel units that have existed in Dragongate.

Underrated current theme song, I really like it (it’s called Naughty Guy and it’s a bop).

Is referred to by some fans by the nickname he gave himself during his time as a heel in Mad Blankey, International Problem Dragon.

Yosuke Santa Maria

I would say the most well-known exotico is Cassandro, although you may also know of Dulce Gardenia of CMLL who used to come over for New Japan’s Fantasicamania tours.

Eita and Maria were in Millennials together, but the two drifted a part due to Eita turning heel. However, when Eita was kicked out of R.E.D he was left with nobody to defend him from attacks from his former group…except for Maria that is. She came to Eita’s aid and the two began to have a relationship which…can only be described as some sort of BDSM Dysfunctional romance? There was D/S elements, hair-pulling, a little bit of humiliation and using a whip as a makeshift collar/leash?

Maria seems to be a very loyal friend. She returned this year to save Kzy because they were in Tribe Vanguard and Dragongate Generation together. She’s a sweetheart.

Maria ended up suffering two broken bones in her back due to a traffic accident which is what caused her lengthy absence.

Important to mention that Maria was the one responsible for Yasushi Santa Kandy (who has already made an appearance on Kanda’s slide) BxB Harumi and Hyosuke Santa Maria.

For a behind the scenes clip for Prime Zone she even did half of U-T’s face in her makeup (and half of her face so they mirrored each other!)

[randanopterix]

First time I watched this show I had literally zero context and I thought a member of the commentary team had just decided he’d had enough

[puroresu-musings]

UWA World Trios Championship - 4Way Elimination Match: M2K (Masaaki Mochizuki, Dragon Kid & Kenichiro Arai) (c) vs. Crazy MAX (CIMA, SUWA & Don Fuji) vs. Do FIXER (Magnum TOKYO, Genki Horiguchi & Susumu Yokosuka) vs. Italian Connection (Milano Collection A.T., YOSSINO & Condotti Shuji) [Toryumon, August 30th, 2003]

One of the most amazing matches you’ll ever see: Mind-blowing, lightning speed action, a white hot crowd, and some of the craziest multi-man highspots ever seen at the time. A classic.

*****

[jasvvy]

[alibomaye]

[d-courage]

[wrestlingmgc]

Open the Triangle Gate Champions Natural Vibes 

[gdwessel]

Golden Week Winds Down: DDT, STARDOM, Dragon Gate Results; Hayato “Jr.” Fujita Announces Return to Wrestling After 5 Years Away; NJPW Strong Episode 89 - 5/7/2022

Golden Week is winding down, and as far as the scope of this particular blog, a little slower weekend as far as major shows in Japan. Which is good, because I need to breathe sometimes too! NOAH was originally scheduled to have a show Saturday but that got cancelled due to earthquake activity in Fukushima. There have been shows, however!

DDT / Tokyo Joshi

DDT held a couple of shows over this weekend.

DDT Audience 2022 Tour In Shinjuku - 5/6/2022, Tokyo Shinjuku FACE (Wrestle Universe)

Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku [Burning] d. Yuji Hino, Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida (Koroku > Ishida, Chickenwing, 12:25)

Yuki Iino & Danshoku Dino [Pheromones] d. Antonio Honda & Kazuki Hirata (Iino > Honda, Sexy Giga Slash, 9:10)

Children’s Day Special! DDTeeeen!! Challenge Match: Yuki Ueno [The 37KAMIINA] d. Ilusion (Frog Splash, 7:48)

Children’s Day Special! DDTeeeen!! Challenge Match: Tetsuya Endo [Burning] d. El Unicorn (Swivel Torture Rack Bomb, 14:14)

46th KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Tournament 1st Round: Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani [Eruption] d. Akito, Hikaru Machida & Thanomsak Toba (Okatani > Toba, Northern Lights Suplex, 12:19)

46th KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Tournament 1st Round: Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON [DAMNATION TA] d. HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi & Naomi Yoshimura [DISASTER BOX] (Sasaki > Yoshimura, La Mistica, 18:18)

Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi d. MAO & Shunma Katsumata [The 37KAMIINA] (Takanashi > Katsumata, Everclear, 18:42)

CDK get a win leading into the various title challenges between them and The 37KAMIINA coming up. It comes down to Eruption v. DAMNATION TA to become the next KO-D 6-man tag champions. The current DDT generation get opportunities against the participants of the last KO-D Openweight title match, but come up short in both cases.

DDT FRIED Yamada Festival Is It Fried! - 5/8/2022, Kagoshima Shibushi City Unagi Station

Hideki Okatani [Eruption] d. Kazuiki Hirata (Double Arm Suplex, 8:51)

3-Way Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Toru Owashi [DISASTER BOX] d. Yuki Iino & Danshoku Dino [Pheromones] and Chris Brookes & Saki Akai [Eruption] (Takagi > Dino, Sanshiro Stunner, 11:56)

Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul [DAMNATION TA] d. Soma Takao & Shunma Katsumata [The 37KAMIINA] (Sasaki > Katsumata, Crossface, 9:48)

Shinya Aoki & Yuki Ueno [The 37KAMIINA] d. Kazusada Higuchi [Eruption] & Yuki Ishida (Ueno > Ishida, BME, 15:05)

Tetsuya Endo [Burning], Jun Akiyama [Burning] & Naomi Yoshimura [DISASTER BOX] d. Shiro Koshinaka, MAO [The 37KAMIINA] & Toi Kojima [The 37KAMIINA] (Endo > Kojima, Swivel Torture Rack Bomb, 13:39)

FRIED Yamada Festival Deep Fried Food! Special 6-Man Tag Match: Shishamo Power, Unagi Power & HARASHIMA [DISASTER BOX] d. Yuji Hino, Yukio Naya & Akito (Shishamo > Akito, Fisherman Suplex, 20:06)

A special show sponsored by Yamada Fisheries. It’s a thing.

Both Konosuke Takeshita and Yuka Sakazaki lost their AEW Rampage matches. Takeshita was expected, and he is having some matches on the US indies coming up that are pretty mouthwatering. Sakazaki, I am not sure what the point of flying her in special to lose to Riho in a tournament qualifier was.

STARDOM

The Golden Week Fight Tour wrapped up with shows yesterday and today, including a title match main event at today’s show.

Golden Week Fight Tour 2022 - 5/7/2022, Osaka EDION Arena Subarena

Saya Kamitani [Queen’s Quest] d. Rina [Oedo Tai] (Star Crusher, 8:08)

Natsupoi & Thekla [Donna del Mondo] d. Hanan & Saya Iida [STARS] (Natsupoi > Hanan, Rolling La Magistral, 10:38)

AZM, Utami Hayashishita, Minami & Lady C [Queen’s Quest] d. Tam Nakano, Mina Shirakawa, Unagi Sayaka & Waka Tsukiyama [Cosmic Angels] (Minami > Tsukiyama, Love Shark, 15:08)

Syuri, MIRAI, Ami Sorei & Konami [God’s Eye] d. Saki Kashima, Ruaka, Starlight Kid & Momo Watanabe [Oedo Tai] (Syuri > Ruaka, Suzaku, 14:12)

Giulia, Maika, Himeka & Mai Sakurai [Donna del Mondo] d. Mayu Iwatani, Koguma, Hazuki & Momo Kohgo (Sakurai > Koguma, Modified Clutch Hold, 19:31)

- 5/8/2022, Aichi Nagoya Congress Center

Hina [Queen’s Quest] d. Waka Tsukiyama [Cosmic Angels] (Gedo Clutch, 5:54)

Captain’s Fall 3-Way Match: Tam Nakano, Mina Shirakawa & Unagi Sayaka [Cosmic Angels] d. Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani & Lady C [Queen’s Quest] and Maika, Thekla & Mai Sakurai [Donna del Mondo] Order of Falls: - Hayashishita > Thekla, German Suplex Hold, 4:59 - Shirakawa > C, Implant DDT, 7:53 - Hayashishita > Sakurai, Frankensteiner, 9:17 - Nakano > Kamitani, OTTR, 11:31

Syuri, MIRAI & Ami Sorei [God’s Eye] TLD Giulia, Himeka & Natsupoi [Donna del Mondo] (15:00)

Mayu Iwatani, Saya Iida, Hanan, Hazuki & Momo Kohgo [STARS] d. Saki Kashima, Rina, Ruaka, Starlight Kid & Momo Wanatanabe [Oedo Tai] (Iida > Rina, Vertical Drop Brainbuster, 15:11)

High Speed Championship: AZM [Queen’s Quest] © d. Koguma [STARS] (Numero Uno, 11:35) - AZM succeeds her 3rd defense

Post-main, Thekla challenged AZM for her title.

The next show is New Blood 2 on Friday.

Dragon Gate

Contrary to my earlier assumptions, NOW the Gate Of Passion tour is complete after this weekend’s events. These were non-streamed house shows but select matches end up on the YouTube channel.

The Gate of Passion 2022 Night 20 - 5/7/2022, Fukui Sangyokaikan

Kota Minoura, Naruki Doi & Kaito Ishida [Gold Class] d. YAMATO, Dragon Kid & Keisuke Okuda [HIGH-END] (Minoura > Okuda, R-301, 12:02)

Diamante & Shun Skywalker [Z-Brats] d. Takuma Fujiwara & Ishin Iihashi (Skywalker > Ishin, SSW, 8:02)

Eita, Takashi Yoshida, Strong Machine J & La Estrella d. Masaaki Mochizuki, Yasushi Kanda, GEnki Horiguchi & Susumu Mochizuki (J > Horiguchi, Machine Suplex, 11:40)

Dragon Dia & Yuki Yoshioka [D’Courage] d. Ben-K & Kagetora [HIGH-END] (Dia > Kagetora, Double Cork, 13:39)

Kzy, U-T & Jason Lee [Natural Vibes] d. KAI, BxB Hulk & HYO [Z-Brats] (Kzy > HYO, Running Elbow Smash, 14:13)

The Gate of Passion 2022 Night 21 - 5/8/2022, Mie Yokkaichi Kusuryokuchi Gym

Kota Minoura, Naruki Doi & Kaito Ishida [Gold Class] d. Susumu Mochizuki, Yasushi Kanda & Ishin Iihashi  (Minoura > Ishin, R-301, 12:35)

3-Way Match: Ho Ho Lun d. Masaaki Mochizuki & Konomama Ichikawa (Lun > Ichikawa, Reverse Figure-4 Leglock, 5:27)

Dragon Dia & Yuki Yoshioka [D’Courage] d. Madoka Kikuta & Takuma Fujiwara (Dia > Fujiwara, Front Cradle, 9:08)

Kzy, U-T & Jason Lee [Natural Vibes] d. Don Fujii, Eita & Strong Machine J (Kzy > Fujii, Running Elbow Smash, 10:40)

YAMATO, Dragon Kid, Kagetora, Ben-K & Keisuke Okuda [HIGH-END] d. KAI, BxB Hulk, HYO, Shun Skywalker & Diamante [Z-Brats] (YAMATO > HYO, Galleria, 15:09)

Susumu Yokosuka Mochizuki and Genki Horiguchi begin their post-Natural Vibes lives. And with that, the tour is over. King Of Gate 2022 starts Wednesday with a livestreamed show.

King Of Gate 2022 - 5/11/2022, Tokyo Korakuen Hall

King Of Gate 2022 1st Round: KAI [Z-Brats] v. Shuji Kondo

King Of Gate 2022 1st Round: SB KENTo [Z-Brats] v. Hip Hop Kikuta

King Of Gate 2022 1st Round: YAMATO [HIGH-END] v. Yuki Yoshioka [D’Courage]

King Of Gate 2022 1st Round: Eita v. Shun Skywalker [Z-Brats]

This week’s NJPW Strong were matches from Lonestar Shootout in Dallas during Mania Weekend. I’ve already posted results here, but now that it has aired, why not post again.

Hikuleo & Chris Bey [Bullet Club] d. Bateman & Barrett Brown [Stray Dog Army] (Hikuleo > Brown, Chokeslam, 12:16)

JONAH d. Blake Christian (Tsunami, 6:56)

“Filthy” Tom Lawlor, Royce Isaacs & JR Kratos [Team Filthy] d. Fred Rosser, Alex Coughlin & The DKC (Isaacs > DKC, Super Powerslam, 11:12)

In other NJPWWorld news, Friday’s TAKA Taichi Mania 2.5 event is now on NJPWWorld, but as a PPV event for about $24. At some point NJPWWorld decided to pivot to PPV events for actual monies. Windy City Riot was one, and both Capital Collision and the Tatsumi Fujinami 50th Anniversary event (that Fujinami himself can’t wrestle at now) are also such events. 

For free, on the other hand, is the 60th Anniversary of Korakuen Hall event that was a join NJPW/AJPW show, so go check that out. (Well, free, with a subscription).

Other News

Earlier today in Michinoku Pro, wrestler Hayato “Jr.” Fujita made his first appearance in a ring in almost five years. He suffered a knee injury in 2017, and whilst recovering, a cancerous tumor was discovered on his spinal cord in 2018. He has been recovering from these ever since. Today, he announced he will be returning to the ring, and challenged MUSASHI for the Tohoku Junior title.

Tenryu Project ran a special charity show on Saturday from Tokyo that had only two matches, but also a “talk battle” between Genichiro Tenryu, Kenta Kobashi and Akira Taue.

ZERO1 also ran another anti-bullying charity show in Niigata Saturday.

Sendai Girls ran shows this weekend, featuring matches against Prominence talents, as that promotion looks to make war with every joshi company imaginable.

AEW’s Hikaru Shida was a surprise wrestler at OZ Academy’s show at Shinjuku FACE earlier today.

BURST ran their first anniversary show today in Saga Kanzaki Base, featuring talents from AJPW, BJW and other promotions.

I don’t see a lot of shows happening by Tuesday, so Tuesday’s post may just be an Upcoming Events one. There definitely will be one this week.

[keepingthespiritalive]

Dragon Gate Results for March 4, 2018

Dragon Gate Results for March 4, 2018

DRAGON GATE ‘CHAMPION GATE IN OSAKA’ 3/4/18 [Sun] 15:00 @ EDION Arena 2nd Stadium in Osaka (0) U-T vs. Yuki Yoshioka ◆Winner: U-T (5:29) with the Pasion (1) CIMA & Gamma vs. Don Fuji & K-ness ◆Winner: CIMA (11:26) with the Mud Splash on K-ness (2) Kaito Ishida vs. Takashi Yoshida ◆Winner: Yoshida (7:38) with the Fatality (3) YAMATO, Ryo Saito & Punch Tominaga vs. Shingo Takagi, Yasushi Kanda & El…

[mengs-mullet]

[scarskelly]

DG Throwback: almost every member of Vibes literally jumping for joy simultaneously when Jason accepted their offer.

[kud-lucas]

[sevensfantasia]

The Kzy unit is now known as Natural Vibes

[jasvvy]

[d-courage]

[wrestlingmgc]

Open the Triangle Gate Champions Natural Vibes