Watch: Dragongate Network
NOTE: As a result of incomplete nature of the Velocity Star Last card, together with the title matches on that present being contingent on the outcomes of Kobe Professional Wrestling Pageant 2021, we’re combining each exhibits on this preview. For the title matches, every previewer will discuss in regards to the weekend for every belt, together with their anticipated Velocity Star Last eventualities. Every match can be listed with its corresponding present.
Darkish Match
Kenichiro Arai, Yasushi Kanda & Okay-ness. vs. Tremendous Shisa, Konomama Ichikawa & Shachihoko Boy (Kobe World)
Shachihoko Boy is one among Masato Yoshino’s closest buddies and has a complete heater for an entrance theme. That gained’t be sufficient to get him out of the darkish match. This’ll go lower than ten, and be a pleasant sufficient cameo from some fellas who share a wealthy historical past with the Velocity Star. Ichikawa slaughters the opposite staff, stacks all of them for the pin, and calls for a Dream Gate key. Yagi arms it over, eyes vast with terror. PREDICTION: I’m nonetheless in mattress when this hits the ring.
Masaaki Mochizuki, Don Fujii & Ryo Saito vs. R.E.D (BxB Hulk, KAI & H・Y・O) (Kobe World)
This looks like rando-soup, however it would possibly over-deliver. Mochizuki’s in there together with his previous accomplice Don Fujii, however I’m serious about Saito right here. Again in April, a battle royal at Kobe Sambo Corridor led to a killer mini-match between SaiRyo and Mocchy. Mochizuki made be aware of the uncommon Critical Saito look. I adore it when Saito will get to kicking ass. I actually, actually, deeply adore it.
It seemingly gained’t matter a lot, although. BxB Hulk is a part of Yoshino’s farewell match the following night time and he ought to most likely be on the profitable aspect right here. Simply be cool, guys, and provides me that scorching closing stretch with Saito. PREDICTION: R.E.D.
Takashi Yoshida, Yosuke♡Santa Maria, U-T & Funky “Jacky” Kamei vs. Gamma, Ben-Okay, Downside Dragon & Punch Tominaga (Kobe World)
Even for a “get everybody on the cardboard” tag match, there’s not a number of meat on the bone right here. U-T, Kamei and Maria don’t know the way to take an evening off, however they is perhaps stifled right here by comedy bits from their opponents. Ben-Okay’s the one one who must look robust, as he’ll problem for the Twin Gates belts the following night time. I anticipate him to pin Maria, however I’m a sucker for Ben roughing up a much bigger opponent. Takashi Yoshida’s babyface revival has wound right down to a meek fart. Let Ben-Okay end it off. PREDICTION: Gamma, Ben-Okay, Downside Dragon, Punch Tominaga.
Particular Singles Match (Kobe World)
Kota Minoura vs. Eita
Kota Minoura went from essentially the most boring man in Mochizuki Dojo to essentially the most thrilling rising star within the firm. He developed an electrical arsenal of forearms and suplexes; with Jason Lee, shaped the most effective new tag staff within the firm since Huge Ben; grew to become a long-hair scorching man; and stole the highlight in King of Gate 2021 with two instant-classics on the ultimate night time.
Anyway, Eita wins. Earlier than getting derailed by additional damage and COVID spikes, the trail to Yoshino’s retirement revolved round Eita. And he’s nonetheless booked like a closing boss! Simply on the twenty second at Sambo Corridor, Eita almost broke Funky Jacky Kamei in half with a Camel Clutch. He’ll stroll into Velocity Star Last trying as fearsome as doable.
Don’t fear although — he’ll do it clear. Similar to Shun Skywalker’s match with Kzy at Kobe World two years in the past, this match is setting the inspiration for a future star. Additionally, identical to that match, everybody can be speaking about this one when the present’s over. PREDICTION: Eita
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Open the Triangle Gate Championship
Kobe World – Masquerade (Dragon Dia, Jason Lee & La Estrella) (c) vs. R.E.D. (SB KENTo, Diamante & Dia Inferno)
Velocity Star Last – Winners at Kobe World (c) vs Aagan Issou (Shuji Kondo, Toru Owashii & “brother” YASSHI)
If we assume Aagan Issou is shedding at Velocity Star Last, and I’m prepared to make that assumption, the elements in choosing the Kobe World matchup come into better focus. Does Masquerade’s fame as a can’t-miss-act in multi-man tags outweigh the speedy rise of SB KENTo? Will we need to see the larger Aagan Issou guys base for 3 world class Masquerade flyers? Or do we wish AI and R.E.D. to attempt to out-heel one another?
It’s a coin-toss to me, however I feel SBK can have greater fish to fry quickly and (to not spoil one among my subsequent predictions, however) Masquerade will want illustration at Velocity Star Last. PREDICTION: Masquerade
Open the Courageous Gate Championship
Kobe World – Keisuke Okuda (c) vs. Genki Horiguchi
Velocity Star Last – Winner at Kobe World (c) vs Kagetora
Keisuke Okuda’s once-promising Courageous Gate has screeched to a grinding halt, and actually, it’s no fault of his personal. This man spent the again half of 2020 within the yr’s hottest feud with Kaito Ishida, then closed it out at Last Gate with a monster of a match in opposition to Kagetora. On high of all that, he seemed like a really tan Artwork Alexakis.
Since then? He’s had disappointing defenses in opposition to U-T and H.Y.O, and an infinite feud with Punch Tominaga that made me suppose I used to be in Groundhog Day. It’s time to take this reign out to the shed.
In case you’re bummed about Genki Horiguchi taking the belt, simply give it a day. It’s a belabored level {that a} motivated Kagetora is among the finest juniors on the market. Nicely, we’ve gotten that motivated Kagetora, haven’t we? He persistently delivered in his tour by way of the factions earlier than touchdown in HIGH-END and has been a powerful function participant within the group since. He’s turning on the jets in KBS and Sambo Corridor like a person who is aware of gold is coming. Apart from, on this slew of back-to-back title matches over the 2 nights, the corporate has to show early in Night time 2 that they’re prepared to do consecutive switches. The Courageous Gate’s lineage has seen worse. PREDICTION: Horiguchi beats Okuda, Kagetora beats Horiguchi.
SPEED STAR FINAL COUNTDOWN in KOBE (Kobe World)
Masato Yoshino, Shuji Kondo, Toru Owashi, “brother” YASSHI & Takuya Sugawara vs. Ultimo Dragon, Naruki Doi, YAMATO, Dragon Child & Kagetora
Each good collection finale wants that penultimate scene that stuffs in each doable cameo. This match is everybody sitting round Cheers after hours to shit discuss Diane once more. That is the trial of Jerry, George, Diane, and Kramer. That is candy, merciful fluff earlier than we are saying goodbye.
Yoshino will staff together with his fellow T2P classmates, together with his previous pal Toru Owashi and his former Italian Connection accomplice Shuji Kondo. Reverse him can be his everlasting accomplice/rival Naruki Doi, his former instructor Ultimo Dragon, and three different skills he’s shared the trenches with for a lot of the final twenty. He’ll need to tolerate Dragon Child for another night time. Yoshino appears to have a Liger-esque disinterest in profitable on his method out, and I’m certain YAMATO can be joyful to present Sugawara a feel-good Galleria. PREDICTION: Ultimo, Doi, YAMATO, Dragon Child, Kagetora
Open the Twin Gate Championship
Kobe World – R.E.D. (Kaito Ishida & Kazma Sakamoto) (c) Vs. Pure Vibes (Susumu Yokosuka & King Shimizu)
Velocity Star Last – Winners at Kobe World (c) vs HIGH-END (Ben-Okay & Dragon Child)
In June at Sambo Corridor, King Shimizu bought an enormous pinfall over reigning Twin Gate champ Kaito Ishida. A minute later, his accomplice, Susumu Yokosuka, bought speared into mincemeat by Ben-Okay. These matches are the consequence.
At Kobe World, anticipate fireworks. The Susumu/Kaito matchup is pure fireworks — the main focus is a fish-in-a-barrel battle between Susumu’s arm and Kaito’s kicks. It by no means will get previous, it by no means falls flat. I’ve been calling Shimizu a king ever since he bought the boot from R.E.D., so I’m glad to see he’s embraced the title. Watching him collide with an thrilling massive dude like KAZMA can be a blast.
I’ve bought R.E.D. profitable right here. To me, Ishida appears too integral to DG’s future to not be in an enormous spot the next night time. SAKAMOTO, a revelation as a promo and persona, has earned his current reserving as a critical menace.
They’ll roll by way of the Ben-Okay/Dragon Child pairing the next night time, too. And that’s okay — faraway from the Courageous Gate image, Keisuke Okuda is free to hold together with his pal Ben-Okay. Set a course for a future Bensuke vs. Ishida/KAZMA Twin Gate match; it’s the corporate’s finest potential saloon brawl. A twenty minute Roadhouse tribute. I’m breaking glass bottles over my head simply serious about it. PREDICTION: R.E.D. beats Pure Vibes, then beats HIGH-END.
Open the Dream Gate
Kobe World – Shun Skywalker (c) vs. Kzy
Velocity Star Last – Winner at Kobe World (c) vs YAMATO
A number of threads intertwine these three, and it makes choosing the Dream Gate champion on the finish of the weekend an actual coin toss. Fortunately, Mike Spears has you coated with all of the history surrounding these three men and these two matches.
On the high, we’ve bought Shun Skywalker, who returned from a Mexican tour to take the Dream Gate title ultimately yr’s Kobe World. No person’s been capable of contact him since. His title reign has appeared snakebitten at instances by unlucky damage (Ben-Okay, Hip Hop Kikuta) however when given the chance, he’s delivered in spades (Kaito Ishida, KAZMA SAKAMOTO).
YAMATO, the corporate ace, is coming off a virtually two-year feud with BxB Hulk and KAI. After placing that to mattress in a brutal No-Ropes Match at Korakuen Corridor, he instantly inserted himself into the title image. YAMATO declared himself the challenger at Velocity Star Last for whoever survives a grueling Kobe World predominant occasion. In case you didn’t know any higher, you’d suppose he’s the unhealthy man (hmm…).
What I’m most serious about, although, is the opposite man. The perpetual different man.
I do know it’s at all times Kzy Time, however people, this weekend is perhaps, like, the true one. We’ve been constructing to this. With the suspension of Pure Vibes main into the Generational Battle, Kzy bought new gear and a champion-chic haircut. He walked out to new big-match music for his title problem in opposition to Eita. He languished within the shadow of Dragongate Technology’s captain, YAMATO.
When the struggle ended, a brand new model of Pure Vibes shaped round him. Initially, this appeared like a step backward, however swapping in U-T, Kamei, and King Shimizu has put him within the captain’s chair of 1 colossal faction. He flaunted that confidence when he reminded Masquerade, led by Shun Skywalker, that they’ll’t contact his star prowess on a microphone. Lastly, he knocked it out of the park night time after night time en path to profitable this yr’s King of Gate.
Above all, Kzy has already failed within the massive spot too many instances in current reminiscence. He simply dropped two Dream Gate bids final yr. If that little trash-ass McKZ is ever going to complete his ascent to championship glory, it has to occur now and on this stage.
Alternatively, Shun Skywalker is owed retribution for giant singles losses to each Kzy (Kobe World 2019) and YAMATO (King of Gate 2021 Night time 1), so be happy to throw this prediction proper into the trash. PREDICTION: Kzy beats Shun Skywalker, then beats YAMATO
Masato Yoshino Retirement Match (Velocity Star Last)
Masato Yoshino & Naruki Doi vs Eita & BxB Hulk
Hear, I really like Masato Yoshino. The deep dive that led me to being a fan of this firm was a deep dive into Yoshino’s profession. As soon as I discovered his match with Doi at Gate of Future 2013, I bought hooked. Now, I’ve spent half the week hunched over a pc typing about them. Thanks so much, Yoshino. However this isn’t the time to wax poetic about his profession, Case Lowe’s incredible piece from earlier this week coated all bases in that regard. Let’s speak about this match.
We mentioned goodbye to the Yoshino who placed on singles epics together with his Dream Gate problem in opposition to Ben-Okay at Gate of Future 2019. Since then, the pairing of SpeedMuscle has continued to take care of such a prestigious aura that you could possibly have missed all of the clues. You won’t have observed all of Yoshino’s singles matches topping out at 5 minutes. You might have even ignored how a lot time Yoshino was spending on the apron in tags. And the way applicable for Doi, and the legacy the 2 share, to prop Velocity Star up by way of his final lively yr. It doesn’t matter what the 2 ever completed aside, and it’s so much, they’ll at all times be tethered.
They’ve hinted on the potential for drama right here with Doi diving in entrance of a Susumu lariat to guard his accomplice at Korakuen Corridor. Their relationship has so many intriguing dynamics to drag from — for instance, Doi’s two betrayals of Yoshino. You’ll consider these when and if Yoshino holds an opponent up for the Bakatare Sliding Kick.
On the other finish, BxB Hulk is right here as a fellow remaining member of the Huge Six who simply occurs to be in R.E.D. Eita, however, represents infinite prospects. It’s simple to neglect with the derailments from COVID and Yoshino’s well being, however at one level, all roads have been resulting in this matchup. Eita clamored to be the one who put Yoshino away and spent months assaulting his injured neck. On Sunday, we be taught the endgame. Does the long-speculated Eita face flip start right here? Is the void that would depart in R.E.D. stuffed by a veteran like Doi or YAMATO? Is Eita merely a closing hurdle for Yoshino to clear triumphantly, or is Yoshino a stepping stone into heel godhood for Eita?
When Eita took the Dream Gate title from Naruki Doi at Memorial Gate 2020, he knew the gravity of the second. He known as off the hyenas of R.E.D. and proved he may do it on his personal. Masato Yoshino had an entire roster of promising expertise to choose from, and he’s chosen Eita to obtain his closing rub. An entire new chapter for Dragongate begins when this match ends, and a method or one other, Eita seemingly figures in closely. I sit up for seeing how. PREDICTION: Eita & BxB Hulk
