Dragon Gate USA – Open The Ultimate Gate 2011 – 3rd April 2011
We have arrived at the third and final show in DGUSA’s WrestleMania 2011 weekend triple shot. Open The Southern Gate delivered a surprisingly purposeful and enjoyable B-show, whilst Mercury Rising yesterday was an outstanding event…so this one has a lot to live up to. Since this took place so long ago I’ve honestly forgotten why there are FOUR wrestlers working two matches at this event, but I’m sure all revealed. That stat makes me concerned that the undercard may not be as punchy as yesterday – but the trilogy of main events are certainly strong. Austin Aries competes in what was documented to be his final DGUSA match – against long-time rival Jimmy Jacobs. The Blood Warriors make their play for World-1’s United Gate Title when CIMA and Doi challenge Yoshino and Pac. Top of the bill brings together two of the most consistently awesome Japanese performers in DGUSA history when Akira Tozawa challenges YAMATO for the Freedom Gate Title…although he seems to have to get past Jon Moxley in a No DQ Match first! Lenny Leonard and Leonard Chikarason are back in the Presidential Ballroom in Atlanta, GA.
The show opens with promos from Pac and Yoshino, then CIMA and Doi. Obviously both teams think they are leaving with the United Gate belts. CIMA is quite brilliant as the grinning evil villain…
Johnny Gargano vs Jimmy Rave
On the whole recent DGUSA events have taken Johnny Gargano in an upward career trajectory. He formed Ronin, got to the finals of the United Gate tournament, made CIMA tap out as part of that, came within a whisper of beating CIMA in a singles match, then last night saw Ronin participate in the annual DGUSA Mania weekend trios tag. But he is still missing that big breakout win, and after the 4-0 loss in the Stable Shootout and the loss to Blood Warriors yesterday, he now drops back down the card looking to rebuild. He is, however, the established talent than an outsider is looking to make a name from though. Rave made it to the finals of the Breakout Challenge two nights ago but didn’t win, and will know that future DGUSA bookings hinge on delivering an impressive performance tonight.
Rave has plenty of experience and shows that by continually countering Gargano’s attempts to control him on the mat. It’s actually pretty impressive how they keep countering each other and breaking out new stuff uninterrupted for several minutes. Johnny is the first to quicken the pace, double stomping Rave out of the corner then dropping him with a jumping neckbreaker. I like that Rave’s response is to slow him right back down again – booting him in the face then pulling him to the ground again for a stranglehold. It’s noticeable that Gargano is getting extremely frustrated by repeatedly being grounded, particularly since everything he tries to escape doesn’t seem to work. With the Ronin member now slowed down and wounded, Jimmy tries something higher impact – hitting a swinging neckbreaker. That finally gives Gargano some distance though, and he crawls away to hit the Slingshot Spear. He follows it with repeated elbows to the face then the Baby Ace Crusher seemingly looking to knock his opponent out. Tope suicida drives him into the guardrails…and Rave barely has time to get up before Johnny is on him again with the cannonball senton off the apron. STO ON THE APRON BY RAVE! Once again he shows his ability to counter anything Gargano throws at him. A superplex wrenches Johnny’s neck again…and after two gruelling main event level matches already this weekend you start to wonder how much he has left in the tank. Crappy Wizard COUNTERED to Gargano Escape! But Jimmy fights that off and converts him to the From Dusk Till Dawn satellite crossface. Lawn Dart by Gargano, then a flipping Last Rites variant for 2. Hurtz Donut countered to the Crappy Wizard for 2! Gargano hits him with a German suplex then the HURTZ DONUT! Gargano Escape wins it at 16:33
Rating - *** - A totally different match to that which you normally see from DGUSA, but it was really solid nonetheless. They slowed the pace down, worked the mat extensively and delivered more of a ‘thinking mans match’ than you might expect from this promotion. Rave was great here, playing the veteran well as he countered all of Gargano’s signature moves and combinations, persistently slowed him down and looked to tire him out. Gargano, tired after his exploits this weakened, struggled to fight back – but eventually did manage to hit enough of his signature moves to sneak a win. A solid way to open a show, and Rave definitely did more here to earn a DGUSA/Evolve spot than in Burlington.
Jon Moxley, YAMATO and Trina Michaels are in good spirits. YAMATO had ‘many women’ after defeating Austin Aries last night, and Mox insists they remain the top faction in Dragon Gate USA.
Silas Young vs Lince Dorado vs AR Fox vs Rich Swann vs Sami Callihan vs Arik Cannon
Unlike last night, this isn’t under elimination rules. There is plenty of talent here though. Cannon won the Breakout Challenge two days ago, Callihan has been on a real role in 2011, Fox has been impressing in these Freestyles for some time, whilst Swann is already an established name in this company. Unfortunately for him, he limps to the ring and is clearly carrying a number of injuries after fighting the Blood Warriors last night (and losing to Sami the night before). Young and Dorado have lost matches already this weekend, so will know the pressure is on them to win if they want more dates with this promotion. How will Callihan and Cannon interact after getting involved in a huge brawl with each other last night?
Arik and Sami are right in each other’s faces before the match even starts. Cannon then vents some frustration by putting a beating on Dorado. Silas then clobbers Lince before he can dive too. Swann tags in and promptly stops selling injuries so he can hit all his usual sh*t. Young drops him with a capture suplex then a POP-UP KICK to the stomach. Flying Codebreaker from Fox to Callihan gets 2. Dorado gets the same result with an Asai moonsault on Cannon. The problem with Lince is that literally nothing he does looks remotely painful. Silas squashes him with the Pee Gee Waja Plunge, only for Sami to break up his pin. Swann, who appeared to have a limp AND bad ribs during his entrance, is apparently fine now…and he spikes Callihan on his head with the Swann-acanrana. Fox gives him a frog splash before he has time to capitalise. Dorado gives Callihan the weakest looking jump enzi I’ve ever seen…Fox MISSES a diving leg drop to the apron…then Swann dives out to the floor with a somersault plancha! HANDSPRING SOMERSAULT PLANCHA BY SILAS! SPRINGBOARD 450 TO THE FLOOR BY FOX! CORKSCREW MOONSAULT INTO THE RAILS BY LINCE! Now THAT looked like it hurt (himself mostly). It leaves Callihan and Cannon alone in the ring – taking turns to elbow the sh*t out of each other. STEREO BACK DROP DRIVERS on Dorado and Swann as they try to interrupt them. AR tries to stop them next and he too gets massacred. Silas Young gets similar treatment…and the point is that they decide they are so effective as a team they don’t want to fight anymore – so both walk out. Swann and Dorado have a considerably more feeble strike exchange. SOMERSAULT CANADIAN DESTROYER by Lince! Shooting star leg drop misses though – and Swann polishes him off with the Rich Kick at 10:00
Rating - ** - There were some really exciting moments in this, but also some absolutely infuriating ones. If Swann had no intention of selling the injuries, then why the hell did he bother limping to the ring? It would have been much easier to simply do his normal entrance! Since he introduced the idea that he was working injured, I have to judge him accordingly – and the way he pretty much no sold everything from the opening bell to hit all his usual moves is probably an example of where he needs to improve if he is to live up to his potential. Dorado is an amazing athlete, but 90% of his offence is so obviously fake it makes him hard to watch. Flashy lucha moves which don’t look like they hurt at all, strikes which barely graze his opponent…sometimes he just looks silly. And that’s before we get onto the rather weird way Gabe decided to get Cannon and Callihan together. I know they go on to form a faction which is fine – but personally I didn’t like how it played out.
Stalker Ichikawa is introduced to the live crowd…before Blood Warriors come out and surround him. CIMA rather meanly insists that he fight Brodie Lee…
Brodie Lee vs Stalker Ichikawa
Last night we saw Stalker somewhat irritate the Big Rig. Brodie refused to play along with Ichi’s comedy games, and was particularly violent with him before he was eliminated from their match. The Warriors then decided to include him as part of their entrance for the main event (by beating him up). Tonight it seems like his victimisation at the hands of Blood Warriors continues…
Lee no sells some strikes…then shoulder tackles Stalker so hard he rockets MILES backwards into the ropes. Even when Hollywood does land something (his 619 variant), Lee kicks out with such force that his little opponent is basically thrown out of the ring. German suplex attempted…but obviously he can’t lift Lee and he FALLS ON HIS OWN HEAD! Even Brodie is cracking up! Truck Stop puts little Ichikawa out of his misery at 02:07
Rating - N/A - Obviously not a match in any recognisable sense of the word, but I laughed loudly several times, so this one served its purpose. Ichikawa has been a really fun addition to WrestleMania weekend, and I’d love to see him brought back for DGUSA in the future.
CIMA and Ricochet come in and make fun of Stalker again – ripping his costume ears and antennae off before mocking his ‘mosquito slap’ spot. Eventually Ronin, and Rich Swann’s rapping, come to his aid. Brodie tells him to shut up then challenges Chuck to a match since ‘that little Stalker fella’ wasn’t much of a contest…
Brodie Lee vs Chuck Taylor
This effectively amounts to a final chance for Ronin to salvage some of their dignity this weekend. They lost the Stable Shootout emphatically, and fell to the Warriors again in the trios tag main event yesterday. Unfortunately for them, Taylor squares off with the dominating enforcer of Blood Warriors – who hasn’t lost many matches in DGUSA. It would be a huge feather in his (and Ronin’s) cap if he could pull out a victory here.
Chuck jumps Lee, diving at him with an early somersault plancha. Unfortunately his old enemy Ricochet is at ringside, and Rico grabs his leg to distract him…leaving him open to a massive Brodie superkick. Taylor ducks a chop attempt, causing Brodie’s arm to crash into the ringpost, but seconds later is on the back foot again as the trucker throws him into the guardrails. Lee is still selling his hand though which is nice to see. Big Boot misses giving Chucky a chance to fly at him with a moonsault off the apron. Truck Stop puts him on the ground again soon afterwards. KOBASHI-PLEX! Still Taylor refuses to be counted down! Brodie Bomb blocked…Awful Waffle blocked…Sole Food nailed! Lionsault gets 2 for Chuck. It’s all for nothing, and the Brodie Bomb finishes him at 06:48
Rating - ** - I get that Brodie needs to look dominant. It’s his whole gimmick right now, and I don’t have a problem with Gabe protecting it. What I don’t get is why he keeps getting booked in singles matches with members of Ronin though. Just like Swann during United weekend, getting basically squashed by Brodie totally erodes the credibility Ronin have been able to build up as a serious threat to Blood Warriors – and that seems like a foolish error in judgement on the weekend when you’ve already booked them to lose so emphatically to CIMA’s group.
‘Go home now’ – CIMA to Ronin. He then calls out Pac and Yoshino for their match…
Masato Yoshino/Pac vs CIMA/Naruki Doi – Open The United Gate Title Match
World-1 are the inaugural United Gate Champions, having won the tournament by going undefeated over United weekend. Ironically, their opponents tonight didn’t win a single match in that tournament. Having said that, CIMA and Doi were in different Blood Warrior teams at that point. They are veterans of the Dragon Gate scene and go back years so have masses of experience working as a duo. Given how dominant their group has been this weekend, Pac and Yoshino will know their title reign is in serious jeopardy. Remember, Pac is also pretty banged up after bleeding heavily at both previous shows this weekend.
Ricochet is injured tonight, which Pac makes fun of by limping around. His near miss to dropkick exchange with Cima to get the match started is absolutely electric too. Yoshino tags and demonstrates why the call him the ‘Speed Star’ as he runs the ropes so fast he looks like a cartoon character. Sadly for him, his old partner Doi has seen it all before and simply waits it out to sock him with an elbow strike. The Blood Warriors try to isolate Pac – which makes sense Yoshino is the Dream Gate Champion therefore, in kayfabe, the best wrestler in Dragon Gate right now. Cima leads an assault on the Brit’s legs in an effort to nullify his aerial skills. Yoshino rescues him with a double stomp to Cima’s arm, taking care to avoid the stupidly low ceiling just like last night. He wants Pac to try a springboard move off his own back…but Cima counters by SPRINGING OFF YOSHINO’S BACK INTO A DROPKICK ON PAC! Once again the Warriors cut Pac off from his partner…with Ricochet involved as well as he gets in a couple of cheap shots from the floor. Cima is such a brilliant bully, stacking Pac in the corner then spanking Yoshi’s ass before crumpling them together with a running dropkick. Elevated Superdrol gets 2 as the beating on the unfortunate Englishman continues. Finally Pac flips away from Naruki into a hot tag. Yoshino dodges the Venus strike, countering Cima into the Colmillo instead. SUPER RUN-UP DROPKICK FROM THE FLOOR! Tope suicida next, as inside the ring Pac gets 2 on Doi with a springboard crossbody. Double handspring flip from Pac…only for Doi to shotgun dropkick him face-first into the turnbuckles! From Jungle on Cima…who escapes to hit a vicious rebound double stomp to the stomach. Perfect Driver blocked into an arm-capture DDT to leave both men down. Missile dropkick/senton combo on the Warriors nailed, followed by the Sling Blade on Doi. Pac gets 2 with a corkscrew shooting star of Yoshi’s back! Venus on Yoshino, who hits back with a SPRINGBOARD SUPER SLING BLADE! SPRINGBOARD 450 SPLASH BY PAC! Doi rescues his partner and nails Pac with the Rydien Bomb…SCHWEIN nailed for 2! Doi 555 blocked, but so is Pac’s standing SSP! Doi stacks both opponents the corner...there’s no way they are attempting this. DAI BOSOU/TOKAREV COMBO! THAT IS INSANE! DOI 555! BAKATARE SLIDING KICK! Yoshino kicks out! Muscular Bomb countered to the Riverina Special for 2! LIGHTNING SPIRAL SCORES! FOR 2! Torbelino! SOL NACIENTE! Pac is literally dragging Cima away! Doi is out! The champs retain at 23:06
Rating - **** - If you enjoy the typical ‘Dragon Gate stye’ tag match, then as usual you will love this. Putting four guys of this quality together was always going to end in something good. CIMA and Doi were brilliant as the villains of the piece, and did a great job bullying Pac – the most inexperienced man in the contest. Pac and Yoshino knew they needed to rely on their speed if they were to emerge victorious, and finally won the match because they were better equipped than the challengers to survive the elongated, frenetically-paced spot-splurge in the last ten minutes. The second half is going to have to contain something really special to stop these four from stealing the show…
Ronin are back at ringside, making fun of the Blood Warriors for losing the match. Swann wears a pair of CIMA’s sunglasses, and Gargano calls CIMA a ‘she-male’ to much hilarity. He doesn’t think Blood Warriors are the most dominant faction in DGUSA…
Dark City Fight Club are brought to the ring and introduced as the newest team in Dragon Gate USA. Jon Davis (rather ambitiously) states that they are one of the best teams in the world…before Sami Callihan and Arik Cannon come out. They want a fight...
Dark City Fight Club vs Sami Callihan/Arik Cannon
Callihan and Cannon have been in a pretty bad mood since yesterday. Their weekend started off ok, with both of them picking up big victories at Open The Southern Gate…but yesterday they both lost and felt wronged in some way. First they vented their frustration by fighting amongst themselves, then tonight they decided their bad moods made them compatible allies so they walked out of the Six Way Freestyle together. In their first outing as a duo, can they defeat an experienced team like DCFC?
Officials try to restore order as all four men brawl on the floor. Lenny Leonard is totally blown up by the time he makes it back to the announce table from the ring too. Rainman and Callihan start legal but quickly spill to the outside again where Chavis wheelbarrows Sami into the apron. Backbreaker/leg drop combo on Cannon nailed…before the DCFC CATCH Callihan jumping out of the corner then pop him up into Total Elimination for 2. Callihan hits a hurricanrana to block Project Mayhem then dives through the ropes into a tope suicida on Kory. Total Anarchy from Cannon to Davis gets 2. Jon recovers to POOOUUUUUNCE Callihan halfway across the ring. He misses a dive to the floor though and gets superkicked into the apron by Arik. Saito suplex/Glimmering Warlock combo wins at 05:10
Rating - ** - For the popcorn slot this was actually ok. I have no issue with four big, hard-hitting dudes lugging the crap out of each other for five minutes. There was no real hook or anything to really make you care about what they were doing, but they didn’t outstay their welcome and largely kept everyone entertained. I’m not sure we’ve quite had enough exposition on the Callihan/Cannon duo for them to be teaming yet, so fans really didn’t get behind them at all. This would also be the only time Kory Chavis competed in Dragon Gate USA.
Sami does now provide some explanation as to why he is teaming with Cannon. He feels marginalised and victimised by the Dragon Gate system, and has found someone as pissed off about it as he is. They rather sarcastically suggest their team be called the ‘Dirty Ugly F*cks’ because they don’t give a sh*t about their name…and ‘DUF’ actually would become the name of their faction.
AR Fox feels pretty down about going winless this weekend. He has bigger things in store for DGUSA though, so leaves with a smile on his face.
Jimmy Jacobs vs Austin Aries
A-Double has vocalised his frustration within the DGUSA system. He’s used to being a top guy and a main event player. He doesn’t want to be a midcard act, or a guy that only comes in to have good matches that don’t mean anything. He wanted a purpose in the company, or he wanted out. Last night he thought his ‘purpose’ was to become the Open The Freedom Gate Champion…but came up short in a hard-fought battle with YAMATO. As such he now seems poised to leave Dragon Gate, with this match against his old Ring Of Honor rival Jimmy Jacobs taking place as his farewell. Jacobs and Aries have stated that their feud years ago has left them with a great deal of mutual respect – which is why Austin agreed to join Jimmy’s team for an 8-man tag at United Finale. However, Jimmy isn’t leaving (supposedly) and wants a Freedom Gate Title shot. He knows a big victory over a top name like Aries on his last night goes a long way to erasing going 0-4 in his last four DGUSA matches.
Aries smiles and jokes before the match, and shakes hands with Jimmy as it starts. He lands the first serious blow, with the reverse elbow from the apron that he’s hit on so many times throughout his career (so Jacobs probably should have expected it). Jacobs then puts him in a headscissors, which even Austin laughs at. He escapes, asks Jacobs if he’s serious…then gives the people what they want by landing the escape dropkick. Jimmy apparently let him do that! In return Aries lets him hit the multi-revolution satellite headscissors spot. The fun and games quickly dissipate into legitimate intensity though. They leave the ring for a brawl on the floor, with Jacobs braining A-Double against multiple fans’ boots. Austin retaliates with the flying elbow smash from the top rope to the floor. Back inside Jimmy is knocked all around the ring with strikes and is the whipping boy as Aries runs through a greatest hits package of all his favourite spots – the frog elbow, the slingshot senton, slingshot corkscrew splash, quebrada and so forth. Brainbuster is blocked…but so is the Contra Code. Somehow Jacobs then counters a tree of woe INTO the Contra Code for 2. It’s too early for End Time though, with Austin shoving him off for the Power Drive Elbow. Senton bomb attempted, only for Aries to get the knees up then hammer him with the IED. Jimmy rolls through the 450 Splash, goes for the Spear, which AUSTIN COUNTERS TO THE LAST CHANCERY! No submission is forthcoming though, with Jacobs making it to the ropes to Ace Crusher him into End Time. Kick Of Death! Brainbuster countered to a small package…and Jacobs wins at 14:23
Rating - *** - Obviously this wasn’t intended to be as good as some of their great matches together in Ring Of Honor. It was, however, rather enjoyable as a parody of the classic ‘farewell’ match. Austin openly acknowledged his desire to get his favourite spots in…and Jacobs even played his part by freely ‘letting him’ execute some of them. Even when things got more ‘intense’ they very much kept the same tongue-in-cheek, self-aware style to what they were doing. Ironically, this would actually turn out to be Jimmy’s last match for DGUSA as he’d be back in Ring Of Honor as Steve Corino’s ‘sponsor’ fairly soon afterwards.
Jimmy Jacobs and Jimmy Rave both give Aries big hugs after that match, as another acknowledgement to their time spent together in a different locker room. Austin gives a rather touching ‘retirement’ speech, discussing the pros and cons of being a professional wrestler on the independent scene. He also takes some time out to bash internet critics…which I’ll pretend didn’t hurt since I’ve always been a fan of his and always do my best to be positive about what I’m watching! He calls out Ronin because he wants to ‘pass the torch’ and they remind him of Generation Next. Each one of them get put over in turn…which the Blood Warriors don’t take kindly to. They come out, prompting Aries to call them disrespectful. It’s a swerve though. Aries says he’s ‘found his purpose’ and attacks Ronin from behind. Blood Warriors join him…before Austin announces that he’s not leaving. His purpose is becoming the newest member of Blood Warriors. In the midst of all this CIMA appears to be TEA-BAGGING Swann too! Long segment, but the pay-off to it was really good…
It’s time for our main event – which is supposed to be Akira Tozawa facing YAMATO in a non-title grudge match. Jon Moxley is at ringside too though, and tells Tozawa that he’s only popular with the fans because they feel sorry for him. He offers Akira a chance to earn a Freedom Gate Title shot TONIGHT though…but only if he can defeat Mox in a No DQ Match first.
Jon Moxley vs Akira Tozawa – No DQ Match
These two were both members of Kamikaze USA up until the last set of shows over United weekend. Despite going 3-0 that weekend (with victories over Callihan, Aries and BxB Hulk) Moxley accused Tozawa of ‘screwing up’. He refused to attack Reby Sky when ordered, he failed to help Moxley defeat BxB Hulk in Philly and he was late for their post-show promo in New Jersey. He and YAMATO decided to kick Tozawa out…and now the plucky Japanese firebrand wants some revenge.
Trina Michaels, who had already made fun of the size of his penis, attacks Tozawa from behind – and since it’s No DQ nobody cares. Hell, Moxley lays out referee Bryce Remsburg just because he can. The fight spills into the crowd, although the lighting is so bad you can’t actually see much of it. In the ring again, where Tozawa bicycle kicks Jon through a chair. Trina sneaks into the ring again, distracting him so Moxley can give him a nut shot. Lenny Leonard’s continual wisecracks about Trina’s porn career are cracking me up. Moxley lands a brainbuster…but when he looks to polish him off Tozawa counters with a GERMAN SUPLEX THROUGH TWO CHAIRS! Bridging German polishes Moxley off in 03:57…
Rating - DUD - I considered giving this an ‘N/A’ pass since the end game of Tozawa getting a title shot to end the weekend is a good one. But this sucked. Why is Moxley getting buried, squashed flat, murdered inside barely any time at all inside a No DQ match to a DG Japan talent for the SECOND TRIPLE SHOT RUNNING? The guy is supposed to be good at hardcore matches if nothing else. Moxley has basically been getting his ass kicked all year and his credibility is in the toilet right now. And by booking this to go less than four minutes, it simply wasn’t effective or memorable enough to really stick in people’s minds when Tozawa ‘battles the odds’ in his second match of the night against Tozawa. I’d love Gabe to explain his booking of Moxley to me. I know there must be logic behind it. I’ve vocally supported Sapolsky’s booking for a long time. But the way he’s managed Moxley over the last six DGUSA shows has left me completely baffled. I know he was basically signed by WWE at this point…but what he’s been doing over the last shows hasn’t been putting people over on his way out. It’s been getting crushed, meaning any victory over him (including Tozawa’s tonight) is rendered totally meaningless.
Trina Michaels starts beating on Tozawa with her purse until Reby Sky, wearing the exact same outfit she had on at United Philly, comes out for a cat fight.
YAMATO vs Akira Tozawa – Open The Freedom Gate Title Match
As mentioned, initially this was going to be a grudge match. YAMATO attacked Tozawa from behind when he was kicked out of Kamikaze USA. Tozawa had tried to get YAMATO to see that they didn’t ‘need’ Moxley (and given his record in the promotion this year, he had a point)…so felt particularly betrayed when YAMATO chose the American over him. Having fought past the No DQ bout with Mox, YAMATO is now forced to defend the Freedom Gate Title against him in our main event…
Tozawa seems happy for the opening minutes to be fought at a slow, methodical pace as he looks to get his breath back after his fight with Moxley. However, he’s also a tad quicker than the champion so when things do pick up it seems that he has the edge over Yamato there. The challenger is pumped for this and basically ignores Yamato’s strikes before battering him right into the corner. At the five minute mark it’s clear that Yamato is really struggling to get out of the gate in this impromptu defence of his belt. In the end he has to rake Tozawa’s eyes just to get an opening in the match. He plants Akira on his back wit a tilta-whirl backbreaker then blasts the same body part with a double stomp. As fatigue sets in, a bad back as well will surely be too much for the young challenger to overcome. What comes next is an extended assault on the lower back – Yamato punishing it with backbreakers, suplexes, stretches, tackles and anything else he can think of. Tozawa can barely stand and very little offence comes back in the champ’s direction. Even when Akira tries to chop Yamato, he nearly collapses clutching his spine. Somehow he plants a running knee into Yamato’s face though…knocking him to the floor into the path of ROLLING ELBOW SUICIDAS! Somersault senton off the apron nailed as well, before the adrenaline wears off and Tozawa collapses to the ground alongside his opponent. BACK DROP DRIVER! It only gets 2 since the weary challenger was slow to cover though. SAMOAN CRAB ON TOZAWA! It’s converted to a half crab as once again Yamato cruelly and sadistically punishes the back. Once again Tozawa rallies, frantically landing strikes on Yamato and shaking anything the champ hits him with off before nailing ANOTHER BACK DROP DRIVER! They battle up the ropes, with Tozawa defying the back to land a bicycle kick then a big superplex which leaves them both down and out! SNAP GERMAN BY TOZAWA! NO SOLD! KICK OF DEATH! BRAINBUSTER! TOZAWA NO SELLS! SHINING WIZARD! BOTH MEN DOWN! The whole crowd is behind Akira as he crawls to his knees still swinging elbows in Yamato’s direction. RUNNING MAFIA KICK TO THE FACE! EVEREST GERMAN SUPLEX! DEAD-LIFT BRIDGING GERMAN! YAMATO KICKS OUT! Tozawa’s bridge wasn’t perfect since he’s sustained so much damage to his back! Yamato is frantic, desperately trying to score flash pins just to put Tozawa away. SLEEPER SUPLEX! BRAINBUSTER! TOZAWA KICKS OUT! GALLERIA! ONE COUNT OF DISRESPECT! F*CK YES! Tozawa is out on his feet but he marches towards Yamato swinging elbows. GALLERIA AGAIN! Yamato finally retains at 22:25
Rating - ****1/2 - If Tozawa hadn’t already solidified himself as a legitimate main eventer to the DGUSA audience with his performances during United weekend, then this will undoubtedly have done it. He was amazing in this one. His subtle sell-job on the back was perfect, his delivery of the fiery underdog battling the odds was quite stunning and he had the crowd in the palm of his hands. The whole building was willing him on, and went wild when he kicked out of that first Galleria at 1. YAMATO, as ever, was great as well. He struggled in the opening minutes since his opponent was so fired up after the Moxley match…but as fatigue started to set in he worked his back hard – and that ultimately saved him since Tozawa couldn’t hold the bridge on his usual German suplex finish. Tonight was the weakest of DGUSA’s three Mania weekend shows…but this was the best match.
‘I respect you’ – YAMATO to Tozawa. They hug after the match, signifying the aforementioned respect between them.
Tape Rating - *** - Yep, as I just said, I thought this was the weakest of the three WrestleMania 2011 shows from Dragon Gate USA. The undercard was cluttered, inconsistent and nowhere near as slick and enjoyable as Mercury Rising, and with only two matches reaching the 4* mark (how much does DGUSA spoil its fans??) this one isn’t carried by the main events as well either that one or even Southern Gate from two nights ago. However, as always with this promotion, even the ‘less good’ events are still well worth watching. YAMATO/Tozawa was a real show-stealer and even pips CIMA/Gargano for match of the weekend, the United Gate Title match was a real stormer on the undercard – and I enjoyed both Aries/Jacobs and Gargano/Rave because they were so different to the kind of matches normally presented by this company. We also got some solid storyline advancement too with the formation of DUF and Aries joining Blood Warriors in another twist to their feud with Ronin. Once again DGUSA has delivered a really stellar triple shot of shows, and I find myself giving even the weakest of the three a pretty solid and enthusiastic recommendation.
Top 3 Matches
3) Johnny Gargano vs Jimmy Rave (***)
2) Masato Yoshino/Pac vs CIMA/Naruki Doi (****)
1) YAMATO vs Akira Tozawa (****1/2)
Top 7 Open The Southern Gate/Mercury Rising/Open The Ultimate Gate Weekend Matches
7) Masato Yoshino/Pac vs CIMA/Naruki Doi (**** - Open The Ultimate Gate 2011)
6) Pac vs Akira Tozawa (**** - Mercury Rising 2011)
5) Ricochet/Pac vs Chuck Taylor/Akira Tozawa (**** - Open The Southern Gate)
4) CIMA/Naruki Doi/Ricochet vs Johnny Gargano/Chuck Taylor/Rich Swann (**** - Mercury Rising 2011)
3) YAMATO vs Austin Aries (**** - Mercury Rising 2011)
2) CIMA vs Johnny Gargano (****1/2 - Open The Southern Gate)
1) YAMATO vs Akira Tozawa (****1/2 - Open The Ultimate Gate 2011)