Dragon Gate USA – Bushido: Code Of The Warrior – 29th October 2010
I’ve not reviewed any DGUSA in well over a year…to be honest it’s probably longer than 18 months. I left them at quite an interesting point, with the DGUSA/Evolve/WWN officials clearly making an effort to get out there and scout/recruit some of the finest undiscovered American independent talent not nailed down to the likes of ROH or TNA and bring them in. Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly had shots before eventually signing for ROH. Tommaso Ciampa is also on a dark match on this show – another guy who would be in ROH within a few months. But the likes of Ricochet, Chuck Taylor, Johnny Gargano, and Brodie Lee all look set to be given real opportunities. Such is the success of this new found focus on bringing in American talent to work around the Dragon Gate crew that, outside of the two main events there’s only one Japanese DG regular in the whole card. When I left clear lines in the sand were starting to be drawn between factions – and Kamikaze USA featuring Jon Moxley (now in WWE as Dean Ambrose) were really becoming a threat. Bryan Danielson completed a trilogy of classics before returning to WWE and the promotion was really starting to get a regular schedule of house shows before ppv tapings.
But, as ever with DGUSA, there aren’t too many firm storylines in place so, whilst I wait for ROH to reupload their SBG TV archive to their website (I received a somewhat short, ‘stop bothering us – we don’t know when it will be restored’ type response from their customer service team), I thought I’d jump back in. BxB Hulk defends the Freedom Gate title in what should be a great match against Shingo in the main event. There’s Warriors vs Kamikaze tag action, DGUSA debuts for Homicide and Austin Aries (fresh from his ROH release) whilst Jimmy Jacobs and Jon Moxley will look to settle their feud in an I Quit Match. Legendary former top ranking sumo wrestler Akebono (the guy who fought the Big Show at Wrestlemania) is here too, and there will also be draft picks to determine the next American members of Dragon Gate’s top factions. This show represents DGUSA's debut on ippv so hopefully they can pull out all the stops. Lenny Leonard is in Fall River, MA. The building looks like a complete sh*tbox…and the crowd looks less than 200. Not the best way to present your product to a new audience...
CIMA and Ricochet open the show and come to the ring. Their Warriors faction will have another new member (Ricochet only just joined) by the time we go off the air tonight.
Ricochet vs Arik Cannon vs Johnny Gargano vs Chuck Taylor
All four of these guys look set to form a core group of US-based talents DGUSA want to spotlight. Ricochet is now a member of Warriors International, is already touring Japan with Dragon Gate (I think) and is a highly rated flier. Gargano has been entertaining as hell as he looks to be recruited by any of the factions in play with the promotion. Taylor has won a couple of multi-mans, has a big following and a super-over finisher…whilst Cannon, a long-time veteran of the independent scene, now looks like he’ll get a chance to shine after doing well on the previous DGUSA weekend. His match with Dragon Kid was really good for it’s spot on the card.
Gargano and Taylor start, with Johnny quickly sent packing much to the delight of the live crowd. Ricochet hits a slingshot headscissors on Chuck…soon followed by a multi-revolution headscissors too. Arik amusing tries to out-lucha Ricochet…and all of sudden things are way too fast for me to call! Gargano gets a boot up to block a standing moonsault as Cannon DESTROYS Taylor with a superkick. SLINGSHOT SPEAR on him by Gargano. Sliding cutter on Taylor…TOPE SUICIDA AIMED AT RICOCHET! Johnny and Cannon end up in the crowd after all that! Ricochet tries to dive after them, only for Chuck to cut him off with a SPRINGBOARD SOLO SPANISH FLY! TOPE ATOMICO INTO THE FRONT ROW BY TAYLOR! SPRINGBOARD CORKSCREW MOONSAULT ABOUT THREE ROWS DEEP BY RICOCHET! Gargano picks Ricochet up for the Lawn Dart, and having nailed that spins round into a brutal lariat from Cannon. REVERSE HEADSCISSORS INTO A PILEDRIVER from Ricochet to Cannon! Sole Food on Gargano…only for Ricochet to put Taylor down with a release Regalplex. PALM STRIKE from Arik – all four down. This is nuts! Ricochet gets 2 in the melee with standing SSP on Taylor. He looks to follow up with a lionsault AND GETS DROPKICKED OUT OF MID-AIR BY GARGANO! HURTZ DONUT ON CANNON! Taylor breaks the fall! Gargano and Chuck try to hit a Doomsday Dropkick on Ricochet, only for the Warriors International member to counter for a reverse rana on Johnny. GLIMMERING WARLOCK from Arik to Chuck gets 2. Rewind Enzi from Ricochet to Cannon! Arik spills to the outside, but thinks fast to catch Gargano and give him a FISHERMAN NECKBREAKER ON THE FLOOR! He goes up the ropes for a HEAD DROP SPIDER GERMAN on Ricochet! AWFUL WAFFLE FROM CHUCK! The madness is over and Taylor pins Cannon at 08:44
Rating - *** - I’m not used to this at all. I’m used to typing play-by-play on the likes of Mike Bennett, QT Marshall and Mike Mondo. These four guys going at 100mph and doing all kinds of crazy sh*t got this show started at a blistering pace and was a real culture shock for me. I really like all four of these guys, and they never once let the pace drop or let it descend into sloppy anarchy. What a way to welcome DGUSA to ippv that was! I think Taylor has now won three consecutive DGUSA Freestyles.
CIMA can’t help but be impressed – and he offers Taylor a spot in Warriors International. Chuck promptly announces that he has withdrawn himself from the draft and walks out. Unfortunately there are a few douches in the crowd shouting crap, most of which is louder than DGUSA’s sh*tty sound system meaning it’s hard to make everything out. Gargano is on his knees begging for Chuck’s spot, and is left disappointed again as CIMA turns him down and leaves.
Jon Moxley cuts another stunning promo. He says he’s coming to fight Jimmy Jacobs alone tonight, with no back up from Kamikaze USA and no women he’s seemingly abusing either. Kamikaze USA aren’t in the draft as they don’t want any new members either.
Rich Swann vs Homicide
After a successful DGUSA try-out camp from Swann, he’s now becoming a regular on the roster. He’s done some really athletic stuff – but lets face it in this promotion that’s basically the norm. He needs wins to truly stand out, and it would be a massive statement if he could defeat the debuting Homicide tonight. The Notorious 187 is World-1’s newest member having been recruited by Bryan Danielson to replace him in the group.
BxB Hulk accompanies Homicide to the ring…and both look totally bamboozled by the differences in their respective cultures. Homicide starts the match by easily taking Swann down…but looks pissed off when Rich nips right back up. Homicide is a veteran now and sensibly works the mat with Swann rather than let him start running the ropes, building momentum and taking to the air. Rich realises he needs to speed things up, and starts going for pinfalls from all angles – breaking those up with a series of athletic kicks. He then STEALS Homicide’s bandana and throws it out into the crowd, which could be a real mistake! Cide tries to be pissed off, but can’t move quick enough to lay a hand on Rich who springboards off the ropes into a crossbody with impressive speed and grace. Of course, the former ROH World Champion does eventually catch him, and the pace immediately slows again. He hits some impressive suplexes, but it’s cheap tactics like eye gouges, back rakes and ear pokes that draw a bigger reaction from the crowd. They rally behind Swann who responds with an aggressive flurry of punches. He gets almost Yoshino-like speed as he runs the ropes into a satellite headscissors and follows it up with a sliding enzi. Standing moonsault senton/elbow drop (depending on how much you think he botched it) sort of scores, and Homicide rightly gets right up after that to drop Rich with the Ace Crusher. Swann crawls to his knees and wearily lands a spinning enzi kick. Both men are running on empty it seems. Split-legged moonsault gets Cide’s knees, and the veteran explodes out of the corner to deck Swann with the Lariat. Homicide wins his DGUSA debut at 11:26
Rating - ** - There are a number of positives to take out of this match. It was actually a lot better than most of the stuff Homicide was doing in ROH at this time. It also allowed Swann to show a lot of personality and determination, despite this basically being a very long squash match. His facials and body language were right on the button, sold Homicide’s beating like he was a real killer and his speed and bumping meant this was noticeably far quicker and less tedious than most of the other stuff Homicide produced during his 2010 return to the indies. Personally I’d have Swann go over here, but that’s easy to say with the benefit of hindsight. Obviously when compared to the Four Way Freestyle which opened the show this struggles, but I think it still stands as a solid debut for the Notorious 187 and another impressive little performance from Swann – who is a real find for DGUSA.
The asshole crowd rudely trash Homicide as he leaves…but at least they really dug Swann. Austin Aries interrupts Rich’s ovation to make his DGUSA debut. He is glad to be back with Dragon Gate (having toured with them in Japan a few years ago), although he confirms he is a free agent at the moment. He is a little disillusioned with the wrestling business…but whilst he’s here he’s looking for a protégé. Swann is offered that opportunity, and Aries asks him to sit ringside and watch his match before making the decision.
Austin Aries vs Masato Yoshino
At this point in his career it’s obvious that A-Double was bitterly unhappy. His unceremonious exit from Ring Of Honor was a disgraceful way to end the career of one of ROH’s greatest ever performers. In 2009 he got ROH out of jail when they blew it with Tyler Black and carried the promotion with his new heel persona for the entire year. He was undeniably one of the stars of the whole HDNet era. But he was bundled out of the back door having looked unhappy, removed from the spotlight and rarely producing the kind of matches he was capable of after putting Black over for the title. I think he was also deeply disappointed at missing out on a spot in WWE’s revamped Tough Enough show (yet somehow ‘M-Dogg’ Matt Cross got in???) and thought he had nothing else to do on the indies. DGUSA and Evolve booked him for a run of shows, and presumably he’s here to have some fun, win some matches, show ROH what they are missing and put himself in the shop window for WWE and TNA.
Aries looks exceptionally focused as the bell rings. There’s none of the A-Double character on display, he simply looks ready to bring the workrate against the Dream Gate Champion. They criss-cross, then trade armdrags…and credit to Austin as he hangs with the remarkable speed of Yoshino! That’s not his game though, and looks to exert his power in a knucklelock. Masato is used to giving up a little size though and skilfully manoeuvres his way free to start working Aries over on the mat. He focuses on the arm in preparation for the Sol Naciente and Austin doesn’t have an answer to it at this stage. Finally he does respond, using his good arm to give Yoshino a neckbreaker in the ropes. He then dives out after him with a flying axehandle. Back in the ring they come, this time with A-Double working the mat and stretching out Yoshi’s neck at every turn. And if that wasn’t enough he also turns his attention to his legs as well – instantly negating his trademark speed. He hits the Slingblade out of nowhere…but Aries has done so much damage that he can’t follow it up. From Jungle COUNTERED into the basement dropkick from Aries! ROLLING shinbreakers from Aries, but Yoshino has clearly done his homework as he counters the follow up back suplex into a crossbody for 2. SPINNING PRESS SLAM by Aries, into the LAST CHANCERY! But he has a bad arm so can’t get the submission victory there! Brainbuster blocked too, and Masato takes the fight up the turnbuckles. BACKWARDS MISSILE DROPKICK INTO THE CORNER! Yoshi tries to go upstairs again but is caught in a SUPER RANA from the former ROH World Champion! IED BLOCKED! Ude Yoshino nailed, but Sol Naciente is blocked…INTO THE LAST CHANCERY AGAIN! Still no tap out from Yoshino, who fights out to hit the Lightning Spiral for 2. Austin lands the shinbreak back suplex, then the IED. BRAINBUSTER! Yoshino kicks out at 2! 450 Splash misses…TORBELINO! SOL NACIENTE! Yoshi wins at 18:01
Rating - **** - After not reviewing DGUSA for so long, I forgot how flat out awesome watching this promotion can be. Aries was treading water and half-assing a lot of his performances during his last days in ROH. None of that was on display here, as he was back to his brilliant best and clearly wrestling with a point to prove. But what I liked about this is that it wasn’t a typical ‘indy dream match’ spot fest. Both guys actually worked hard to provide some real depth to it. They’d scouted each others moves, they had neat counter sequences, they put in a token effort to work body parts (although sold it selectively). The fact that DGUSA can throw this kind of quality out into their midcard is why so many people keep coming back to watch this company.
Rich Swann sat ringside for the whole match, and he comes back into the ring to give Aries his decision. He shoves Aries on his ass and leaves – making him the second American talent tonight to seemingly decline an alliance for no apparent reason.
Johnny Gargano gets some promo time (which is relayed on the big screen in the arena apparently – judging by the idiot fans who aren’t listening and chanting ‘you’re not Swann’ at him), and he is absolutely livid that CIMA didn’t offer him a spot in Warriors International after his display tonight. He gives him one more chance to pick him for the Warriors International draft
Jon Moxley vs Jimmy Jacobs – I Quit Match
I’d do a run down of this feud, but there is a terrific video package before this match that shows footage of all the key moments. This feud between two of the most dangerous minds in DGUSA is so bitter and personal now that the I Quit Match is the only way they feel they can settle it. Jacobs has been a loner since he arrived in this company – and Moxley says he’s not going to bring anyone from Kamikaze USA to the ring with him, so the score should be settled man-to-man.
Moxley starts crouched and ready for Jimmy as his entrance music starts to play. But he doesn’t see Jacobs walking through the balcony…BALCONY DIVE INTO THE RING FROM JACOBS! That’s a hot start, and he’s all over Mox – flogging him with a belt instantly causing welts to form on his back. Jon gets a forearm up to block a tope suicida though…then pulls out a Jimmy Jacobs signature railroad spike from his own boot! He misses with the stab attempt, but lands a shotgun dropkick then slaps on a Cloverleaf looking for the early victory. Jacobs escapes and hits a SPEAR ON THE APRON! Moxley retaliates with a POWERBOMB INTO THE GUARDRAIL! He has another railroad spike from somewhere…and STABS Jacobs in the face repeatedly! Jimmy is POURING blood! Fujiwara armbar applied WITH elbows to the bloody face. Jimmy escapes, and grabs the first spike Mox missed with earlier. RUNNING STAB TO MOXLEY! Jacobs’ bleeding is getting to Jay Briscoe levels of groteseque at this point – with bits clogging and more running down his face and chest. Jon is bleeding too, and eats the rebound Ace Crusher. Spear nailed too…but whilst those are high impact moves they aren’t making Moxley quit. END TIME! Moxley escapes the an Alabamaslam then lands the Hook & Ladder. Crossface Chickenwing, but Jacobs is so bloody it almost lubricates him so he can escape. Moxley used the belt Jacobs was flogging him with earlier to tie his hands behind him. END TIME EVEN WHILST TIED UP!! But it’s not enough and Mox drags him to the canvas and starts BATTERING him with forearms. Blood is spurting everywhere and going all up Jon’s arms…but still Jimmy won’t quit! Showing crazy agility Jacobs somehow pulls a Houdini and escapes his bindings to level his opponent with a chair! RAILROAD SPIKE DUEL! JACOBS STABS MOXLEY IN THE GROIN! MOXLEY QUITS! Jacobs wins in a violent 12:53
Rating - **** - I’m not sure this would have been quite as dramatic were it not for the horrific amount of blood Jacobs lost, but I’m not going to pretend it didn’t happen. This was an intense, violent, believable and gripping brawl between two extremely talented performers. It’s no wonder WWE quickly signed Jon Moxley as the guy’s charisma is off the charts. Jacobs is a great performer in these types of environment, but Moxley was absolutely sensational tonight. And, other than the balcony dive at the start, this wasn’t really about big elaborate spots or set pieces. This one got over on the ability of both men to emotionally connect with an audience and make them BELIEVE that they are brawling to the death because they hate each other. This match was one of the few times during the whole show that the asshole fans doing their best to ruin the DVD shut the f*cking mouths and just watched in awe.
Jacobs gets on the microphone to say that tonight will be the last time he jumps off high things and bleeds buckets. He wants to get back to wrestling and he wants to win the Freedom Gate Title. (He never got close to that – I think this is even his last weekend in DGUSA)
Sami Callihan is extremely upset that he probably won’t get drafted tonight. He says he’s going to start hurting people if he isn’t drafted tonight…
Osirian Portal vs Brodie Lee/Akebono
This is the first match after intermission, and should be unique if nothing else. The Portal are a popular act from Chikara, with a quirky gimmick and a real cult following. Lining them up against two massive opponents in Brodie Lee (who the Dragon Gate office apparently love) and the debuting former sumo Yokozuna Akebono should be an experience. Brodie and Bono are set to fight each other in a clash of the titans for the traditional ppv taping tomorrow night, so it will be interesting to see how they cooperate with each other this evening.
I know it’s stating the obvious, but f*ck me Akebono is a massive guy. And it’s Brodie that neither member of the Portal seem particularly keen to start with. Ophidian (the snake) aims an idiotic chop at the big trucker…and is rightly dismissed with a brutal chop from Lee. Next he tries one of his odd snake poses only for Lee to squish him with a body avalanche. Pescado attempt…caught! Lee tosses Ophidian from the floor to the ring then KILLS him with a running kick. Akebono has seen enough and forcibly tags Brodie out. Amasis tries to attack Ake from behind – and does no damage whatsoever. The Portal try a double shoulder tackle and duly both go flying! They SNAKE CHARM Akebono instead! He’s asleep in the corner – leaving Brodie alone to fight both of them. They even hypnotise him to attack Brodie! The Portal dance in celebration…AND MAKE AKEBONO JOIN IN! He snaps back to reality, just in time to see Brodie miss Amasis and Ophidian to rattle his own jaw with a mafia kick. Brodie and Akebono exchange slaps and fight amongst themselves whilst their opponents sneak up the ropes. TRUCK STOP ON OPHIDIAN! WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM ON AMASIS! Brodie and Akebono win at 04:47, but are clearly thinking about tomorrow night…
Rating - *** - This was exactly the match they should have had. Nobody expected this to be much good, and lets face it Akebono is basically completely immobile (I can’t think Brodie will be able to get much out of him tomorrow). But fair play to the big sumo, he didn’t have to come in and play along with the Osirian Portal’s gimmick. He could have pulled a power play, stood in the corner without taking a bump and clobbered the hell out of the Chikara team. But instead he had fun, and the snake charming spot was absolutely brilliant. Brief little comedy match, building to the ‘money match’ of Akebono’s brief tour of DGUSA which is the showdown with Brodie tomorrow. Not sure you could ask for much more.
Lee and Akebono have to be separated by the whole locker room. The sight of Tommaso Ciampa literally RIPPING Brodie off Bono was quite impressive...although once you've seen that make sure you rewind your DVD to see little Masato Yoshino trying to calm Akebono down. It looks completely stupid (in a good way)!
Homicide slurs and rambles his way through a nonsensical promo until Jon Moxley jumps him from behind. He is going to beat World-1’s Homicide up tomorrow for Kamikaze USA. Cide’s promo was so brutal that most of the crowd cheers Mox.
YAMATO/Akira Tozawa vs CIMA/Genki Horiguchi
This is Kamikaze USA vs Warriors International, and should be another classic Dragon Gate tag battle. YAMATO has been the star of the American Dragon Gate franchise thus far, producing endless classic matches through the first year of the promotion. Tozawa teams with him tonight – remember this was before he really blew up on the American indies, but the Japanese DG office already had high hopes for him. CIMA and Genki are the veterans, have masses of experience as a team and will be looking to teach their younger opponents a real lesson tonight.
Yamato starts with Horiguchi and it’s evenly matched throughout their exchange. Cima tags and looks to make his experience count against the youngster Tozawa…who promptly surprises him with a running knee strike. That was hit with such force that Cima actually bails – and under Dragon Gate tag rules that means Genki can come in, which he does to blindside Akira and give his team the advantage. Tozawa takes some punishment before finally blasting Cima back to the Kamikaze corner with some really stiff strikes. And Cima is really aggressive in return, ripping Yamato’s skirt off him and choking him in the corner with it! It turns out everyone wants to be vicious as f*ck – as Yamato starts tearing chunks out of Horiguchi’s hair, throwing him across the ring with a hairmare. Kamikaze start isolating Genki and literally seem to be working over his receding hairline! With every chinlock they pull at his ponytail, and Yamato even starts plucking the hairs out of his head! Hori does make a tag in the end of course, and Cima steamrolls in with a bulldog/lariat combo to take out both opponents. Northern lights/deathlock combo comes next! He then does his best to stop Tozawa’s heart with some of the loudest open hand chops to the chest you’ll ever hear. Yamato drops off the apron and walks away just to make sure he doesn’t have to tag in and take some of those! Warriors International are on top now, working over the youngster.
DOUBLE UNDERHOOK PILEDRIVER by Genki…and he doesn’t even cover him! Instead he drags Akira to the floor, hanging him on the guardrails whilst Cima climbs into the crowd. SPRINGBOARD DOUBLE STOMP OFF THE RAILS BY CIMA! At last Tozawa hits a sliding enzi and makes a crucial tag to Yamato. He and Cima tee off on each other until he kicks the legs out from under him. Anklelock applied in an instant but it doesn’t do enough damage to stop Cima rattling off a flurry of kicks then a standing senton seconds later! Venus Strike then the Iconoclasm on Tozawa! Akira angrily misses diving headbutts but does connect with a senton before Yamato arrives on the scene to help him take it to Hori. DOOMSDAY INVERTED DDT FOR 2! Cima drops Yamato with a lungblower! CROSSFIRE BOMB GETS 2! Beach Break blocked…and Yamato puts Genki in the Choke! Horiguchi fights that and the Galleria only to have Tozawa kick him in the head! Superplex nailed by Yamato…and everyone is down! The camera switches to Ricochet helping Cima up on the floor whilst Kamikaze continue to assault Genki. SUPERKICK/BACKSLIDE FROM HEAVEN COMBO as Cima finally makes it back to the ring. Tozawa counters the Schwein and nearly snatches victory with a double knee strike. This is going so fast now by the way. STALLING GERMAN gets 2 for Tozawa. ELBOW SUICIDA UP THE AISLE! In the ring Horiguchi gets 2 with the Backslide From Heaven, gets over-excited, argues with the referee then walks into GALLERIA! Yamato wins at 24:01
Rating - **** - Another outstanding tag team wrestling contest from the Dragon Gate crew. I’m sure long time followers of the DG product in Japan won’t have enjoyed this quite as much as me, but for the DGUSA fans (particularly any new followers watching on ippv) this will have been a real experience. What I liked here is that, whilst we know it’s all about the rapid fire spots these guys produce, they actually kept a story going throughout it. You weren’t left in any doubt that these were two teams from rival factions vying for supremacy. It ALWAYS seemed like CIMA literally wanted to beat the hell out of the cocky younger stars of Kamikaze USA.
The crowd don’t even care that the heels have won. All 62 people in the building give it a standing ovation – and it’s richly deserved. They quickly ruin in by once again shouting out some of the most retarded things imaginable.
Kamikaze USA leave, and Genki is carried to the back by officials – but as CIMA tries to leave he finds Johnny Gargano in his face again. He gives CIMA one more chance to draft him…then doesn’t let him answer before laying him out with a superkick. Chuck Taylor and Rich Swann run in to attack Ricochet and it seems another group has entered the fray in DGUSA. They call themselves Ronin and beat the crap out of CIMA…who just about drags himself to a microphone to announce the newest member of Warriors International he promised earlier. It’s Brodie Lee! Ronin leave the ring and sprint out the front door of the building before Lee can catch them.
In the back Austin Aries tells Lenny Leonard that tomorrow in Rahway he’s going to become an honorary Warrior, teaming with Horiguchi and Ricochet to face Ronin in trios action
BxB Hulk vs Shingo – Open The Freedom Gate Title Match
This is a grudge match for the top prize in DGUSA, and once again features a member of the rogue Kamikaze USA group. Kamikaze have assaulted Hulk repeatedly, and now send Shingo to take his belt from him. Stripped of his hair and identity, all BxB has left is the Freedom Gate Championship. Will he be overwhelmed by Kamikaze USA again, or can he retain his belt?
Hulk looks so fired up for this, and both men back up to their respective corners and SPRINT into the middle of the ring to get the fight started. Shingo has the power, but can’t keep up with BxB’s speed and is dropkicked out of the ring! Shingo is hesitant to get into the ring, instead luring Hulk to the floor where he lies in wait to drop him throat-first over the guardrail! OLE OLE KICK NAILED! Somehow that didn’t kill BxB and he ducks an attempted lariat forcing Shingo to clatter his arm against the ringpost. The challenger’s arm is hurt and Hulk instantly attacks it with both strikes and submissions. The crowd seem audibly stunned at how aggressive and dominant BxB has been so far. Shingo clearly is too, but has had enough. He runs at Hulk, uses his good arm to lift him in the air and deliver an ugly urinage backbreaker. A gutbuster comes next, and a big senton soon after as the challenger looks to turn the tables in this match and open up an injury to the champion’s midsection. And if that wasn’t enough as BxB tries to crawl away Shingo hauls him off the canvas into a deadlift piledriver! Next he hangs Hulk in the ropes, diving off for a knee drop to the back of the neck. To the apron…where BxB blocks whatever Shingo was going for to hit the EVO ON THE APRON! Shingo falls into the crowd!
MOONSAULT INTO THE FRONT ROW BY HULK! He comes back into the ring by delivering a springboard dropkick right onto Shingo’s shoulder too. Standing corkscrew moonsault nailed…but Shingo gives it the one count of disrespect. ROCK BOTTOM! BxB STAR PRESS! ONE AGAIN! Hulk nearly takes his head off with a springboard spinning heel kick and at least gets 2 this time. EVO blocked…GORE BY SHINGO! Back Drop Driver follows that. Hulk is on his knees, and floored again with the Buckle Bomb/Alley Oop combo. PUMPING BOMBER FOR 2! He switched to his good arm there which was awesome! Superplex…ROLLED INTO THE EVO ON HULK! BxB KICKS OUT! He starts attacking Shingo’s lariat arm…SO SHINGO PUNCHES HIM THE F*CK OUT! No idea how Hulk gets up from that, but he does to flatten Shingo with an axe kick. LARIATO FROM SHINGO! NO SOLD! SUPERKICK BY HULK! BOTH MEN DOWN! BxB kicks and slaps at Shingo, who completely ignores them! DEAD LIFT MADE IN JAPAN! GETS 2!! Shingo can’t believe that didn’t win, so he drags BxB up the ropes looking for a big top rope finish. AVALANCHE EVO! SHINGO KICKS OUT!!! BLOOD FALL BLOCKED…KICK TO THE FACE! SHINGO NO SELLS! SUPERKICK FROM HULK! PHOENIX SPLASH NAILED! SHINGO WILL NOT STAY DOWN! H-THUNDER! BxB retains in a classic! It’s finally over at 26:07
Rating - ****1/2 - Wow, that was phenomenal. Easily the best Freedom Gate Title Match thus far, and definitely my favourite BxB Hulk singles match. You could complain about no selling, and early work setting up injuries meaning very little, but to be honest this was irrelevant. These two made this match feel like it was a huge deal from the first minute, and that ‘big match aura’ is an x-factor that no amount of great arm selling can provide. Hulk has been relentlessly pursued by Kamikaze USA. Shingo took his hair from him in Japan. Shingo is clearly bigger and stronger than him…but from the opening bell Hulk wrestled with amazing fire and determination. He literally was NOT going to lay down for Shingo tonight, come what may. That was the story here. Would it be BxB’s desperation not to lose, or the dominating power and will to win of the challenger? In the end this was just an awesome spectacle and a superb main event to round off DGUSA’s first ippv
YAMATO runs in to jump Hulk after the match, knocking him out with the title belt. Yoshino makes the save and says he’ll deal with YAMATO when he faces him in New Jersey tomorrow night.
Tape Rating - **** - A spectacular show, sitting right up there as one of DGUSA’s best so far. It really had everything – a frantic spotfest to start, a thrilling technical battle between Yoshino and Aries, a bloody brawl, comedy fun with a sumo, spectacular tag team thrills and an epic championship match to main event. The angle running through the show of new draft picks kept a theme going throughout the night – which is pretty clever considering Homicide was announced before the show as a member of World-1 and Jon Moxley announced pretty quickly that Kamikaze weren’t recruiting anyone. In the end the formation of Ronin is a really significant moment in DGUSA history so that’s worth checking out. All that really holds this DVD back is the TERRIBLE crowd. I mean that in terms of numbers (it was an embarrassingly low turn out – Gabe must have been tearing his hair out) and the fact that the show is near enough ruined by a few assholes shouting total crap all through every match. Most of the crowd, though small in number, were there to support the wrestling in the right away. But as ever a few spoilt it for the many. Oh, and the building was awful. Broken balconies, broken light fittings hanging down, scratched up sh*tty old walls. After the last building in Milwaukee looked so good it’s a shame that DGUSA had to debut their ippv in such a dump. Minor quibbles though. The quality of wrestling is really strong throughout. Even Homicide/Swann wasn’t bad. If you’re looking to jump into DGUSA but aren’t sure where to begin, as this is the first ippv, the formation of Ronin and BxB Hulk’s best Freedom Gate defence so far, this is actually a great place to start in my opinion.
Top 3 Matches
3) Jimmy Jacobs vs Jon Moxley (****)
2) YAMATO/Akira Tozawa vs CIMA/Genki Horiguchi (****)
1) BxB Hulk vs Shingo (****1/2)