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|tab1=General
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|tab2=Unit History
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}}
 
{{Pwcompanybox
 
{{Pwcompanybox
 
| image = Dragon_Gate_logo.gif
 
| image = Dragon_Gate_logo.gif
 
| caption =
 
| caption =
 
| acronym = DG
 
| acronym = DG
| established = June, 2004
+
| established = July 5, 2004
 
| folded =
 
| folded =
 
| location = Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
 
| location = Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| founder = [[Ultimo Dragon]]
+
| founder = [[Takashi Okamura]]
 
| owner =
 
| owner =
 
| parent =
 
| parent =
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| formerly = [[Toryumon Japan]]
 
| formerly = [[Toryumon Japan]]
 
| website = [http://www.gaora.co.jp/dragongate/ Official Japanese Website]
 
| website = [http://www.gaora.co.jp/dragongate/ Official Japanese Website]
  +
}}
}}'''Dragon Gate Pro Wrestling''' is the primary wrestling promotion based around the Dragon System developed by [[Ultimo Dragon]]. Formally Toryumon Japan, it stayed behind after Ultimo Dragon left and took the Toryumon name and rights with him in 2004 to be reborn as an independent wrestling promotion. They have grown into becoming one of the elite promotions in Japan, running roughly 250 shows a year and airing a series of pay-per-view events annually. In addition to their growing following in Japan, they have developed a cult following around the world, leading to tours in Europe and the development of a sister promotion in the United States called Dragon Gate USA.
 
  +
[[File:Dragon Gate in LA on Sep 5 --- Tickets on Sale!|360px|center]]
   
 
'''Dragon Gate Pro Wrestling''' is the primary wrestling promotion based around the Dragon System developed by [[Ultimo Dragon]]. Formally [[Toryumon Japan]], it stayed behind after Ultimo Dragon left and took the Toryumon name and rights with him in 2004 to be reborn as an independent wrestling promotion. They have grown into becoming one of the elite promotions in Japan, running roughly 250 shows a year and airing a series of pay-per-view events annually. In addition to their growing following in Japan, they have developed a cult following around the world, leading to tours in Europe and the development of a sister promotion in the United States called [[Dragon Gate USA]].
==History==
 
   
  +
==Overview==
In early June 2004, it was announced that Ultimo Dragon, who had just returned from a one-year stint with World Wrestling Entertainment, was leaving the Toryumon Japan promotion and taking the Toryumon name since he owned the rights. The last show promoted under the Toryumon name would take place at the fifth anniversary show "Vo Aniversario" at Kobe World Hall in Hyogo on July 4. Takashi Okamura, who was serving as Director of Toryumon Japan while Ultimo was in WWE, then announced that the promotion would continue on independently as Dragon Gate.
 
   
 
===History===
Naming the promotion Dragon Gate was itself taking from the meaning behind the word Toryumon itself. The word was coined after the homonym that roughly translated as ''climbing up dragon gate'', which itself meant ''gateway to success''.
 
   
 
In early June 2004, it was announced that Ultimo Dragon, who had just returned from a one-year stint with World Wrestling Entertainment, was leaving the Toryumon Japan promotion and taking the Toryumon name since he owned the rights. The last show promoted under the Toryumon name would take place at the fifth anniversary show "Vo Aniversario" at Kobe World Hall in Hyogo on July 4. [[Takashi Okamura]], who was serving as Director of Toryumon Japan while Ultimo was in WWE, then announced that the promotion would continue on independently as Dragon Gate.
Following the split, Dragon Gate immediately went to work, launching the Every Day Pro Wrestling project. As part of the Fuji Television "Adventure King" attraction in Tokyo, Dragon Gate wrestlers would wrestle two shows per day throughout July and August, often having roughly two or three matches per show. They would hold the larger scale "Premium" shows once a week during this period. The project was a success as it brought in new fans to Dragon Gate and wrestling in general. They would hold a second in 2005, which further increased the fanbase.
 
   
 
Naming the promotion Dragon Gate was itself taking from the meaning behind the word Toryumon itself. The word was coined after the homonym that roughly translated as ''climbing up dragon gate'', which itself meant ''gateway to success''.
The promotion reached a very intriguing predicament by the end of 2004 and going into the start of 2005 as several keys wrestlers left, either by their own accord or by being fired. Those gone were Milano Collection AT, SUWA, TARU, and the entire Aagan Iisou unit, the latter group having been the main heels of the promotion. Furthermore, the highly popular and revolutionary Crazy MAX unit had folded due to SUWA's departure. Following an awkward period in the month of January in 2005, company ace CIMA would turn heel and start a whole new unit in Blood Generation that would get the promotion back on track.
 
   
 
Following the split, Dragon Gate immediately went to work, launching the Every Day Pro Wrestling project. As part of the Fuji Television "Adventure King" attraction in Tokyo, Dragon Gate wrestlers would wrestle two shows per day throughout July and August, often having roughly two or three matches per show. They would hold the larger scale "Premium" shows once a week during this period. The project was a success as it brought in new fans to Dragon Gate and wrestling in general. They would hold a second in 2005, which further increased the fanbase.
2005 also saw the foundations for expansion outside of Japan, a very ambitious concept for a company that was barely a year into its independent existance. CIMA, along with first Dragon Gate trueborn Shingo Takagi, traveled to the United States in August to wrestle in Ring of Honor. In November, they ran a show in Kanan, China that drew 3,500 attendance, setting into motion for plans to run shows in the United States and South Korea. Also in November, Mexican gaijin Vangelis and King Shisa, who would later be revealed to be Pentagon Black, appeared in Dragon Gate and were followed in December by American gaijin Jack Evans and Roderick Strong. This would set the tone for the promotion, previously under isolationist principles for the most part, opening their doors to outside talent from 2006 onward.
 
   
 
The promotion reached a very intriguing predicament by the end of 2004 and going into the start of 2005 as several keys wrestlers left, either by their own accord or by being fired. Those gone were [[Milano Collection AT]], [[SUWA]], [[TARU]], and the entire Aagan Iisou unit, the latter group having been the main heels of the promotion. Furthermore, the highly popular and revolutionary [[Crazy MAX]] unit had folded due to SUWA's departure. Following an awkward period in the month of January in 2005, company ace CIMA would turn heel and start a whole new unit in Blood Generation that would get the promotion back on track.
Dragon Gate would send talent to Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla in 2006 where they immediately won the hearts of American fans, through which produced the legendary Blood Generation vs. Do FIXER six-man tag team match on March 31, 2006 in Chicago Ridge, Illinois that won acclaimed and earned Match of the Year honors of the Wrestling Observer as well as a prestigious five-star rating from its chief editor Dave Meltzer. In addition, Dragon Gate would a series of events called WrestleJAM, bringing together wrestlers from Japan, America, and Mexico to celebrate and showcase their in-ring styles.
 
   
 
2005 also saw the foundations for expansion outside of Japan, a very ambitious concept for a company that was barely a year into its independent existence. CIMA, along with first Dragon Gate trueborn [[Shingo Takagi]], traveled to the United States in August to wrestle in Ring of Honor. In November, they ran a show in Kanan, China that drew 3,500 attendance, setting into motion for plans to run shows in the United States and South Korea. Also in November, Mexican gaijin Vangelis and King Shisa, who would later be revealed to be Pentagon Black, appeared in Dragon Gate and were followed in December by American gaijin [[Jack Evans]] and Roderick Strong. This would set the tone for the promotion, previously under isolationist principles for the most part, opening their doors to outside talent from 2006 onward.
Following the launch of the NEX project and some more success at home in Japan and abroad in the United States throughout 2007, CIMA announced at the end of a PWG show on January 6, 2008 in Van Nuys, California that Dragon Gate would be running their first US show in Los Angeles later that year. It would take place on September 5, 2008 in Bell Gardens, which the followed with a show in Waikiki, Hawaii the next day. This would lay the groundwork for the launch of Dragon Gate USA the following year.
 
   
 
Dragon Gate would send talent to Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla in 2006 where they immediately won the hearts of American fans, through which produced the legendary Blood Generation vs. Do FIXER six-man tag team match on March 31, 2006 in Chicago Ridge, Illinois that won acclaimed and earned Match of the Year honors of the Wrestling Observer as well as a prestigious five-star rating from its chief editor Dave Meltzer. In addition, Dragon Gate would a series of events called WrestleJAM, bringing together wrestlers from Japan, America, and Mexico to celebrate and showcase their in-ring styles.
Despite a very unfortunate incident that was made public in mid-2009, Dragon Gate continued to grow stronger than ever with ever increasing fanbases in Japan and now the United States following the first Dragon Gate USA show on July 25 in the former ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Furthermore, they ran the first of what would become annual visits to Europe, in particular the United Kingdom, in October and November.
 
  +
 
CIMA announced at the end of a PWG show on January 6, 2008 in Van Nuys, California that Dragon Gate would be running their [[Friday LA Extreme Night|first US show in Los Angeles]] later that year. It would take place on September 5, 2008 in Bell Gardens, which they followed with a show in Waikiki, Hawaii the next day. This would lay the groundwork for the launch of Dragon Gate USA the following year.
  +
 
Despite a very unfortunate incident that was made public in mid-2009, Dragon Gate continued to grow stronger than ever with increasing fanbases in Japan and now the United States following the first Dragon Gate USA show on July 25 in the former ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Furthermore, they ran the first of what would become annual visits to Europe, in particular the United Kingdom, in October and November.
  +
  +
===Dragon Gate NEX===
  +
  +
[[Image:Nexlogo.jpg|thumb|225px|Dragon Gate NEX logo.]]
  +
  +
In mid-2006, the NEX project was announced. It would be a series of shows and events that would focus primarily on the recent graduates of the Dragon Gate Dojo, allowing for them to further gain experience in ability while also being seen as the main attraction of a show. Virtually all of the shows take place in the Dragon Gate Arena, the main training ring at the Dragon Gate offices in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
  +
  +
In addition to the recent graduates, comedy characters, gaijin talent, and any freelance wrestler currently on tour in Japan will also compete on these shows. The occasional main card member of the roster will compete as well. This is done to further enhance the experience to be gained for the trainees and teach the outsiders how to compete in the Dragon System of wrestling.
  +
  +
The vast majority of NEX shows are called "Sancutary" and are held twice a month. They generally draw an attendance of around 90 fans due to the limited size and space of the venue. There are also special event shows called "Premium," which are the equivalent in atmosphere to a pay-per-view. These shows involve the main card members of the roster and will draw up to 100 in attendance. Early in NEX, they ran two anniversary shows at Shin-Kiba 1st RING in Tokyo, Japan, although this has since been discontinued.
   
 
==Roster==
 
==Roster==
   
Since the promotion first started running independently in 2004, Dragon Gate has functioned on having the vast majority of its roster aligned to one faction or another. There are generally multiple factions active at one time.
+
Since the promotion first started running independently in 2004, Dragon Gate has functioned on having the vast majority of its roster aligned to one faction or another. There are generally multiple factions active at one time.
   
  +
<center>
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=100%
 
  +
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Blood Warriors
 
  +
<table width="600" border="1"><tr>
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Team Mochizuki
 
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Unaligned
+
<td style="background: #000000">[[Image:ANTIASlogo.png|center|130px|link=ANTIAS]]</td>
  +
<td><center>
  +
{| class="mainpage-table" style="margin-top:15px; padding:4px;"
 
|
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Eita|name=Eita|image=Eita.png}}
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Shingo Takagi|name=Shingo Takagi|image=ShingoTakagi.png}}
|CIMA
 
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Takashi Yoshida|name=Takashi Yoshida|image=CyberKong.png}}
|Masaaki Mochizuki
 
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Yasushi Kanda|name=Yasushi Kanda|image=JimmyKanda.png}}
|Don Fuji
 
 
|}
  +
</center></td></tr><tr>
  +
<td style="background: #000000">[[Image:Over_Generation.png|center|130px|link=Over Generation]]</td>
  +
<td><center>
  +
{| class="mainpage-table" style="margin-top:15px; padding:4px;"
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=CIMA|name=CIMA|image=CIMA.png}}
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Gamma|name=Gamma|image=Gamma.png}}
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Dragon Kid|name=Dragon Kid|image=DragonKid.png}}
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Takehiro Yamamura|name=Takehiro Yamamura|image=TakehiroYamamura.png}}
|Naruki Doi
 
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Kaito Ishida|name=Kaito Ishida|image=KaitoIshida.png}}
|Masato Yoshino
 
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Mondai Ryu|name=Mondai Ryu|image=MondaiRyu.png}}
|Gamma
 
 
|}
  +
</center></td></tr><tr>
  +
<td style="background: #000000">[[Image:Tribe Vanguard.png|center|130px|link=Tribe Vanguard]]</td>
  +
<td><center>
  +
{| class="mainpage-table" style="margin-top:15px; padding:4px;"
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=YAMATO|name=YAMATO|image=YAMATO.png}}
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=BxB Hulk|name=BxB Hulk|image=BxBHulk.png}}
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Flamita|name=Flamita|image=Flamita.png}}
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Yosuke♥Santa Maria|name=Yosuke♥Santa Maria|image=YosukeSantaMaria.png}}
|Genki Horiguchi
 
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=U-T|name=U-T|image=U-T.png}}
|Shingo Takagi
 
  +
||{{portalskin|articlename=Kagetora|name=Kagetora|image=JimmyKagetora.png}}
|Akira Tozawa
 
 
|}
  +
</center></td></tr><tr>
  +
<td style="background: #000000">[[Image:MaxiMuM.png|center|130px|link=MaxiMuM]]</td>
  +
<td><center>
  +
{| class="mainpage-table" style="margin-top:15px; padding:4px;"
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Masato Yoshino|name=Masato Yoshino|image=MasatoYoshino.png}}
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Naruki Doi|name=Naruki Doi|image=NarukiDoi.png}}
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Jason Lee|name=Jason Lee|image=No Image.jpg}}
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Ben-K|name=Ben-K|image=BenKRender.png}}
|Ryo Saito
 
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Big R Shimizu|name=Big R Shimizu|image=BigRShimizu.png}}
|YAMATO
 
 
|}
|Taku Iwasa
 
  +
</center></td></tr><tr>
  +
<td style="background: #000000">[[Image:NaturalVibesLogo.png|center|130px|link=Natural Vibes]]</td>
  +
<td><center>
  +
{| class="mainpage-table" style="margin-top:15px; padding:4px;"
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Kzy|name=Kzy|image=Kzy.png}}
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Genki Horiguchi|name=Genki Horiguchi|image=GenkiHoriguchiHAGeeMee.png}}
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Susumu Yokosuka|name=Susumu Yokosuka|image=JimmySusumu.png}}
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Punch Tominaga|name=Punch Tominaga|image=PunchTominaga.png}}
|Naoki Tanizaki
 
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename="brother" YASSHI|name="brother" YASSHI|image=Brotheryasshi.png}}
|Dragon Kid
 
 
|}
|Keni'chiro Arai
 
  +
</center></td></tr><tr>
  +
<td style="background: #000000">[[Image:Dragon_Gate_logo.gif|center|130px|link=Category:Dragon Gate Roster]]</td>
  +
<td><center>
  +
{| class="mainpage-table" style="margin-top:15px; padding:4px;"
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Masaaki Mochizuki|name=Masaaki Mochizuki|image=MasaakiMochizuki.png}}
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Don Fujii|name=Don Fujii|image=DonFujii.png}}
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Shachihoko BOY|name=Shachihoko BOY|image=ShachihokoBOY.png}}
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Ryo Saito|name=Ryo Saito|image=RyoJimmySaito.png}}
|Yasushi Kanda
 
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Jimmy K-ness J.K.S.|name=K-ness.|image=JimmyKnessJKS.png}}
|BxB Hulk
 
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Super Shisa|name=Super Shisa|image=SuperShisa.png}}
|K-ness
 
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Keni'chiro Arai|name=Keni'chiro Arai|image=KenichiroArai.png}}
|Cyber Kong
 
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename="Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa|name=Stalker Ichikawa|image=StalkerIchikawa.png}}
|Susumu Yokosuka
 
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Shun Skywalker|name=Shun Skywalker|image=ShunSkywalkerRender.png}}
|Kotoka
 
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Hyou Watanabe|name=Hyou Watanabe|image=HyouWatanabeRender.png}}
|Kzy
 
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Yuki Yoshioka|name=Yuki Yoshioka|image=No Image.jpg}}
|PAC
 
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Katsumi Takashima|name=Katsumi Takashima|image=No Image.jpg}}
|"Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa
 
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|{{portalskin|articlename=Oji Shiiba|name=Oji Shiiba|image=No Image.jpg}}
|Tomahawk T.T
 
|KAGETORA
 
|Super Shenlong
 
|-
 
|Ricochet
 
|Super Shisa
 
|Shisa BOY
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 
|Shachihoko Machine
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 
|Johnson Florida
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 
|Jackson Florida
 
|-
 
|
 
|
 
|Dr. Muscle
 
 
|}
 
|}
  +
</center></td></tr></table>
  +
</center>
   
 
==Championships==
 
==Championships==
  +
'''Active Championships'''
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=100%
+
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="98%" style="text-align:center;"
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Championship
+
! style="background: #e3e3e3;" |Championship
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Current Champion(s)
+
! style="background: #e3e3e3;" |Current champion(s)
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Date Won
+
! style="background: #e3e3e3;" |Date won
 
|-
 
|-
|Open The Dream Gate
+
|[[Open The Dream Gate Championship|Open the Dream Gate]]
 
|[[Masato Yoshino]]
|Masaaki Mochizuki
 
|April 14, 2011
+
|June 10, 2018
 
|-
 
|-
|Open The Triangle Gate
+
|[[Open The Triangle Gate Championship|Open the Triangle Gate]]
  +
|[[Natural Vibes]]<br />{{small|([[Kzy]], [[Susumu Yokosuka]] and [[Genki Horiguchi]])}}
|Vacant
 
|May 15, 2011
+
|May 6, 2018
 
|-
 
|-
|Open The Brave Gate
+
|[[Open The Brave Gate Championship|Open the Brave Gate]]
  +
|[[Eita]]
|PAC
 
|August 29, 2011
+
|July 25, 2018
 
|-
 
|-
|Open The Twin Gate
+
|[[Open The Twin Gate Championship|Open the Twin Gate]]
  +
|[[Tribe Vanguard]]<br />{{small|([[BxB Hulk]] and [[YAMATO]])}}
|Genki Horiguchi and Ryo Saito
 
|February 6, 2011
+
|July 25, 2018
 
|-
 
|-
|Open The Owarai Gate
+
|[[Open The Owarai Gate Championship|Open the Owarai Gate]]
 
|Vacant
|Don Fuji
 
 
|
|April 10, 2011
 
 
|}
 
|}
   
 
'''Inactive Championships'''
 
'''Inactive Championships'''
   
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=100%
+
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="98%" style="text-align:center;"
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Championship
+
! style="background: #e3e3e3;" |Championship
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Last Champion(s)
+
! style="background: #e3e3e3;" |Last Champion(s)
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Date Won
+
! style="background: #e3e3e3;" |Date Won
!style="background: #e3e3e3;"|Notes
+
! style="background: #e3e3e3;" |Notes
 
|-
 
|-
|I-J Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
+
|[[International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship|I-J Heavyweight Tag Team Championship]]
|Masato Yoshino and Naruki Doi
+
|[[Masato Yoshino]] and [[Naruki Doi]]
 
|October 12, 2007
 
|October 12, 2007
|Unified with Open The Twin Gate Championship on October 12, 2007
+
|<small>Unified with [[Open The Twin Gate Championship]] on October 12, 2007</small>
 
|-
 
|-
|Open the Owarai Gate Tag Team Championship
+
|[[Open the Owarai Twin Gate Championship]]
|Don Fuji and Kikutaro
+
|[[Don Fujii]] and [[Kikutaro]]
 
|April 12, 2009
 
|April 12, 2009
|Has seemingly been forgotten about after its first appearance
+
|<small>Has seemingly been forgotten about after its first appearance</small>
 
|}
 
|}
   
  +
==Annual tournaments==
  +
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="98%" style="text-align:center;"
  +
! style="background: #e3e3e3;" |Tournament
 
! style="background: #e3e3e3;" |Last winner
 
! style="background: #e3e3e3;" |Last held
 
|-
  +
|[[King of Gate]]
  +
|[[Masato Yoshino]]
  +
|June 9, 2018
 
|-
  +
|[[Summer Adventure Tag League Tournament]]
  +
|[[Over Generation]]<br />{{small|([[Dragon Kid]] and [[Eita]])}}
  +
|September 10, 2016
 
|}
  +
  +
==Affiliates==
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
  +
|-
  +
! Promotion name
  +
! Location
  +
! Partnered on
  +
! Ref.
  +
! Notes
  +
|-
  +
|[[Dragon Gate USA]]
  +
|USA
  +
|2009
 
|
  +
|Closed in 2015
  +
|-
 
|[[Dragon Gate UK]]
  +
|United Kingdom
  +
|2009
 
|
  +
|Closed in 2015
  +
|}
   
  +
==Events==
   
  +
* [[Kobe World Hall Pro Wrestling Festival]]
__NOTOC__
 
  +
* [[King of Gate]]
  +
* [[Summer Adventure Tag League Tournament]]
  +
* [[Friday LA Extreme Night]]
  +
* [[King of Chop]]
 
[[Category:Promotions]]
 
[[Category:Promotions]]

Latest revision as of 04:27, 18 September 2018

General
Unit History
Dragon Gate
Dragon Gate logo
Acronym DG
Founded July 5, 2004
Headquarters Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Founder(s) Takashi Okamura
Sister Dragon Gate USA
Formerly Toryumon Japan
Website Official Japanese Website

Dragon Gate Pro Wrestling is the primary wrestling promotion based around the Dragon System developed by Ultimo Dragon. Formally Toryumon Japan, it stayed behind after Ultimo Dragon left and took the Toryumon name and rights with him in 2004 to be reborn as an independent wrestling promotion. They have grown into becoming one of the elite promotions in Japan, running roughly 250 shows a year and airing a series of pay-per-view events annually. In addition to their growing following in Japan, they have developed a cult following around the world, leading to tours in Europe and the development of a sister promotion in the United States called Dragon Gate USA.

Overview

History

In early June 2004, it was announced that Ultimo Dragon, who had just returned from a one-year stint with World Wrestling Entertainment, was leaving the Toryumon Japan promotion and taking the Toryumon name since he owned the rights. The last show promoted under the Toryumon name would take place at the fifth anniversary show "Vo Aniversario" at Kobe World Hall in Hyogo on July 4. Takashi Okamura, who was serving as Director of Toryumon Japan while Ultimo was in WWE, then announced that the promotion would continue on independently as Dragon Gate.

Naming the promotion Dragon Gate was itself taking from the meaning behind the word Toryumon itself. The word was coined after the homonym that roughly translated as climbing up dragon gate, which itself meant gateway to success.

Following the split, Dragon Gate immediately went to work, launching the Every Day Pro Wrestling project. As part of the Fuji Television "Adventure King" attraction in Tokyo, Dragon Gate wrestlers would wrestle two shows per day throughout July and August, often having roughly two or three matches per show. They would hold the larger scale "Premium" shows once a week during this period. The project was a success as it brought in new fans to Dragon Gate and wrestling in general. They would hold a second in 2005, which further increased the fanbase.

The promotion reached a very intriguing predicament by the end of 2004 and going into the start of 2005 as several keys wrestlers left, either by their own accord or by being fired. Those gone were Milano Collection AT, SUWA, TARU, and the entire Aagan Iisou unit, the latter group having been the main heels of the promotion. Furthermore, the highly popular and revolutionary Crazy MAX unit had folded due to SUWA's departure. Following an awkward period in the month of January in 2005, company ace CIMA would turn heel and start a whole new unit in Blood Generation that would get the promotion back on track.

2005 also saw the foundations for expansion outside of Japan, a very ambitious concept for a company that was barely a year into its independent existence. CIMA, along with first Dragon Gate trueborn Shingo Takagi, traveled to the United States in August to wrestle in Ring of Honor. In November, they ran a show in Kanan, China that drew 3,500 attendance, setting into motion for plans to run shows in the United States and South Korea. Also in November, Mexican gaijin Vangelis and King Shisa, who would later be revealed to be Pentagon Black, appeared in Dragon Gate and were followed in December by American gaijin Jack Evans and Roderick Strong. This would set the tone for the promotion, previously under isolationist principles for the most part, opening their doors to outside talent from 2006 onward.

Dragon Gate would send talent to Ring of Honor and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla in 2006 where they immediately won the hearts of American fans, through which produced the legendary Blood Generation vs. Do FIXER six-man tag team match on March 31, 2006 in Chicago Ridge, Illinois that won acclaimed and earned Match of the Year honors of the Wrestling Observer as well as a prestigious five-star rating from its chief editor Dave Meltzer. In addition, Dragon Gate would a series of events called WrestleJAM, bringing together wrestlers from Japan, America, and Mexico to celebrate and showcase their in-ring styles.

CIMA announced at the end of a PWG show on January 6, 2008 in Van Nuys, California that Dragon Gate would be running their first US show in Los Angeles later that year. It would take place on September 5, 2008 in Bell Gardens, which they followed with a show in Waikiki, Hawaii the next day. This would lay the groundwork for the launch of Dragon Gate USA the following year.

Despite a very unfortunate incident that was made public in mid-2009, Dragon Gate continued to grow stronger than ever with increasing fanbases in Japan and now the United States following the first Dragon Gate USA show on July 25 in the former ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Furthermore, they ran the first of what would become annual visits to Europe, in particular the United Kingdom, in October and November.

Dragon Gate NEX

Nexlogo

Dragon Gate NEX logo.

In mid-2006, the NEX project was announced. It would be a series of shows and events that would focus primarily on the recent graduates of the Dragon Gate Dojo, allowing for them to further gain experience in ability while also being seen as the main attraction of a show. Virtually all of the shows take place in the Dragon Gate Arena, the main training ring at the Dragon Gate offices in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.

In addition to the recent graduates, comedy characters, gaijin talent, and any freelance wrestler currently on tour in Japan will also compete on these shows. The occasional main card member of the roster will compete as well. This is done to further enhance the experience to be gained for the trainees and teach the outsiders how to compete in the Dragon System of wrestling.

The vast majority of NEX shows are called "Sancutary" and are held twice a month. They generally draw an attendance of around 90 fans due to the limited size and space of the venue. There are also special event shows called "Premium," which are the equivalent in atmosphere to a pay-per-view. These shows involve the main card members of the roster and will draw up to 100 in attendance. Early in NEX, they ran two anniversary shows at Shin-Kiba 1st RING in Tokyo, Japan, although this has since been discontinued.

Roster

Since the promotion first started running independently in 2004, Dragon Gate has functioned on having the vast majority of its roster aligned to one faction or another. There are generally multiple factions active at one time.

ANTIASlogo
Over Generation
Tribe Vanguard
MaxiMuM
NaturalVibesLogo
Dragon Gate logo
 Oji Shiiba
     
Oji Shiiba

Championships

Active Championships

Championship Current champion(s) Date won
Open the Dream Gate Masato Yoshino June 10, 2018
Open the Triangle Gate Natural Vibes
(Kzy, Susumu Yokosuka and Genki Horiguchi)
May 6, 2018
Open the Brave Gate Eita July 25, 2018
Open the Twin Gate Tribe Vanguard
(BxB Hulk and YAMATO)
July 25, 2018
Open the Owarai Gate Vacant

Inactive Championships

Championship Last Champion(s) Date Won Notes
I-J Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Masato Yoshino and Naruki Doi October 12, 2007 Unified with Open The Twin Gate Championship on October 12, 2007
Open the Owarai Twin Gate Championship Don Fujii and Kikutaro April 12, 2009 Has seemingly been forgotten about after its first appearance

Annual tournaments

Tournament Last winner Last held
King of Gate Masato Yoshino June 9, 2018
Summer Adventure Tag League Tournament Over Generation
(Dragon Kid and Eita)
September 10, 2016

Affiliates

Promotion name Location Partnered on Ref. Notes
Dragon Gate USA USA 2009 Closed in 2015
Dragon Gate UK United Kingdom 2009 Closed in 2015

Events