With all of the G1 Climax protection occurring, it’s simple to overlook that we’re nonetheless in King of Gate season. Dragongate’s most prestigious annual event continues to chug alongside, and I’m again with extra exhaustive protection. This center portion has had some outstanding highs to associate with some middling, long-winded lows. In the event you’re an previous fan, I hope you continue to like me by the tip of this, and in case you’re new, cool! Hello! 

Just like the G1, King of Gate is such an awesome entry level for brand spanking new followers. You get a style of the entire roster and what they’re about, and this yr, a ton of the event is on the market at no cost on YouTube. The place relevant, I’ll embody the hyperlink. Every little thing else might be discovered on the Dragongate Community. 

In the event you’re behind, return and take a look at my recap and rundown of your complete first spherical. In the event you’re questioning what I take into consideration actually something occurring in Dragongate proper now, don’t fear pal, you’ll most likely discover it in there. 

At present, we’ll go over the second spherical and quarterfinals of the event. I’ll rank and evaluation some matches, I’ll give some report grades, after which wrap issues up with a preview of the 8/3 Korakuen Corridor present the place the semi-finals and finals will happen. 

From there, I’ll go the baton to Open The Voice Gate’s Case Lowe, who will all the time evaluation that Korakuen Corridor present for the positioning. 

In the event you’re a newcomer or want some refreshers, I’ll embody hyperlinks to indicate critiques for added context wherever doable. I’d additionally suggest VOW’s glorious 2022 Dragongate Primer and, as it can come up typically, Mike Spears’ glorious piece about Dragongate’s new Huge Six — the wrestlers pegged to guide the corporate into a brand new era. 

Alright, I believe that’s all the things. For reference, right here’s your event bracket. Let’s get into it. 

King of Gate 2023
Second Spherical Outcomes

Evening 5: July 15, Kyoto KBS Corridor

• BIG BOSS Shimizu d. Yasushi Kanda (3:43) ***¼ 
• Yuki Yoshioka d. Dragon Child (17:28) *** 

Evening 6: July 16, Kanazawa Distribution Heart (YouTube)

• HYO d. Kzy (12:04) **** 
• Madoka Kikuta d. Takashi Yoshida (15:01) *** 

Evening 7: July 17, Fureai Dice Kasukabe (YouTube)

• Kota Minoura d. Punch Tominaga (3:34) **¾ 
• Shuji Kondo d. ISHIN (10:53) ***¾ 

King of Gate 2023
Quarterfinal Outcomes

Evening 8: July 22, Kobe Geijutsu Heart

• BIG BOSS Shimizu d. Susumu Mochizuki (13:54) ***¼ 
• Madoka Kikuta d. Shuji Kondo (20:43) **¾ 

Evening 9: July 23, Juroku Plaza (YouTube)

• Kota Minoura d. Yuki Yoshioka (21:04) ****½ 

Evening 10: July 29, Tsushima Bunka Heart (YouTube)

• HYO d. Dragon Dia (17:10) ***¼ 

Prime 5 Matches of the King of Gate 2023 First Spherical

5. BIG BOSS Shimizu vs. M3K (Yasushi Kanda 7/15, Susumu Mochizuki 7/22)

Okay, I’m dishonest. However this can be a nice likelihood to speak about this event and why star scores don’t all the time precisely illustrate its strengths and weaknesses. 

As we established final time, the large story of the event appears to be BIG BOSS barreling by way of the brand new Reiwa Six, proving he belongs to be listed amongst them. Kanda’s first spherical upset over Sturdy Machine J and an damage to Ben-Ok gave us this neat little detour by way of one in all DG’s basic (and newly resurgent) tag groups. I gave each matches ***¼ stars, however this can be a nice instance of why stars don’t inform entire tales. 

Look, I need you, expensive reader, to have the ability to use this text as a useful resource. Possibly you’re studying this 5 years sooner or later and also you simply need to know the place the great matches are. I couldn’t give Kanda’s three-and-a-half-minute romp greater than that. It’s barely a match! 

However actually, Yasushi Kanda cleverly dragged his husk of a physique by way of one other good and memorable entry in his miraculous 2023 marketing campaign. Kanda knew he couldn’t full straight up with the reinvigorated Shimizu, so he empties his complete playbook of veteran M2K methods. He assaults earlier than the bell, he goes for small packages, he receives exterior interference, and naturally, he goes for a countout. 

Final week I additionally mentioned Shimizu is notable for his “childlike enthusiasm and naivete.” That’s a part of what made this work so properly. He’s so EXPRESSIVE. He was exasperated, gasping for air, and hanging on by a thread. His eyes rolled round in his head like Factor 1 and Factor 2 had been fucking his entire front room up. He obtained no reduction till the second he snagged Kanda within the Shot-Put Slam for the win, just a little shy of 4 minutes. It was a blast. That’s a extremely good three-and-a-quarter! 

The next week, Shimizu met Kanda’s accomplice Susumu. Susumu ran an exhausted Shimizu by way of an analogous gauntlet of M2K-esque trickery. Once more, Shimizu fed into it expertly. 

However Shimizu’s match with Susumu had SO MANY extra layers to it. For starters, Susumu hadn’t wrestled a single match within the event but (he’d gotten into the quarterfinals on back-to-back damage byes), whereas Shimizu had wrestled one-and-a-half grueling matches. Susumu and Shimizu even have a historical past as profitable Twin Gate champion companions in Pure Vibes. Lastly, Susumu CAN full with BIG BOSS Shimizu — in each a kayfabe and non-kayfabe sense, Susumu Mochizuki is without doubt one of the greatest wrestlers in firm historical past. 

They usually capitalized on every of those factors. When Shimizu fought again, Susumu walloped him with stiff Jumbo No Kachis. In the long run, the BIG BOSS win felt hard-earned. Nonetheless, additionally they had me sit by way of a bone-dry eight-minute Susumu management interval in a home present semi-main occasion in a quiet room that appeared like a faculty cafeteria. 

So I suppose what I’m saying is, the tie is a fakeout. Your #5 match is BIG BOSS Shimizu vs. Yasushi Kanda. Matches like that — matches that comprise small, enjoyable chapters within the overarching story of the event — are an enormous a part of what makes this tourney work. Nobody will ever write this a lot about matches this inconsequential once more. ***¼ 

4. HYO vs. Dragon Dia, 7/29

There’s a case to be made that no one’s inventory has risen on this yr’s King of Gate greater than HYO’s.

HYO established early that he can go within the ring as Mochizuki Dojo’s panther cub. Since his heel flip in 2019, it’s been an uneven highway watching the previous Hyo Watanabe discover himself. There have been some unbelievable highs — his “huge mind” interval, spoiling the 2021 KoG with double count-outs, and his Bamashiri Bros. run with SBKENTo. Finally yr’s Kobe World weekend, he claimed the Courageous Gate title after which defended it in what turned out to be SBK’s farewell match from the corporate. 

HYO’s Courageous Gate run was a principally drab sequence of repetitive, gimmicky heel affairs that left him aimlessly adrift going into 2023. Now, he’d lengthy confirmed he may very well be a compelling character; it was simply time to place all of it collectively. HYO wanted to switch all of this right into a bundle that made you need to in whenever you noticed his identify in a singles match. 

Quick ahead to at the moment’s muscle-bound, suspender-donning incarnation of HYO: he’s like a positively shredded stripper who’s going to beat the shit out of you. And now, the in-ring performances are catching as much as the presentation. 

This isn’t his greatest efficiency within the event — we’ll get to that — nevertheless it’s an awesome sampler. HYO’s three opponents have all set the stage for by-the-book face/heel dynamics, and Dragon Dia is the babiest of faces. Z-Brats interference and outside-the-ring stalling obtained just a little lengthy winded right here, however Dragon Dia’s crowd connection and killer comebacks compensated for that. 

Bonus factors to this one for a neat little sub-story. HYO’s been profitable matches with Dragongate’s newly most protected finisher: clapping in his opponent’s face after which rolling them up in a small bundle. Dia was the primary opponent to catch on — on the 7/22 present in Kobe, he pinned HYO along with his personal clap/roll-up combo. Of their KoG tilt, Dia remained savvy: in top-of-the-line spots of the event, he flung his arms out in time to forestall HYO from clapping his fingers collectively. ***½  

3. Shuji Kondo vs. ISHIN, 7/17

Within the first spherical recap, I talked about my excessive hopes for ISHIN’s Courageous Gate reign and my hopes that his KoG would set the tone for it. In that regard, I believe his tourney was a hit. I might have preferred for ISHIN to advance, however Madoka Kikuta’s gauntlet of imposing, giant males required a Shuji Kondo within the quarterfinals. 

What’s so enjoyable about this match is the position reversal. After some Z-Brat help put ISHIN in management, he saved the a lot bigger Kondo on his heels for the remainder of the match. ISHIN appeared just like the killer we wish him to be, even hoisting Kondo up for some spectacular slams. Kondo was capable of finding a King Kong Lariat and squeak by after a uncommon, very sport, underdog efficiency. ***¾ 

2. HYO vs. Kzy, 7/16

Some people lament the present route of Dragongate for being just a little extra vanilla, rather less colourful than issues have been prior to now. I get that. We’re within the midst of a generational shift, and lots of the principal gamers are nonetheless discovering the weather that can make them true, dependable torchbearers. Dragongate constructed its identify on a few of the most vibrant characters and matches we’ve ever seen. Current champs like Yoshioka and Kikuta are nonetheless, primarily, “smiley good-looking younger dudes who wrestle good.” 

Right here, Kzy and HYO present a wonderful rebuttal towards claims that the Gate’s gotten too dry. This one’s obtained all basic hallmarks — opposing factions at odds, a loopy tempo down the stretch, and tons of creativity within the end. Kzy, even whereas flanked by Pure Vibes at ringside, was up towards seemingly insurmountable odds, getting battered by Z-Brats at ringside. As anticipated, these two turned on the jets within the match’s climax, and Kzy secured the higher hand, locking HYO in a deep Spider Twist. 

Then the bell rang. Kzy relinquished the maintain, considering HYO had tapped out. Because it turned out, ISHIN had taken the timekeeper’s hammer and rung the bell himself. The gang was on fireplace on the reveal, and HYO quickly took the opening to carry out his devastating super-finish which, once more, is clapping in his opponent’s face and rolling them up in a schoolboy. ****

1. Yuki Yoshioka vs. Kota Minoura, 7/23

I predicted final time that both Minoura or Yoshioka would lose within the second spherical as a result of this match was too huge to occur on a random YouTube present. What I omitted was that I’m a dimwit. The 7/23 present was in Gifu, making it a homecoming present for each of those guys (and in addition, Konomama Ichikawa). 

Earlier than I’m going on, I actually can’t suggest that present sufficient. It’s free on YouTube or out there on the Community as a Director’s Lower. It has the return of Yoshiki Kato, an all-star six-man tag for Stalker’s homecoming, and this match — one of the best match of the event up to now, and DG’s second-best singles match this yr. 

Rivals, Kota Minoura and Yuki Yoshioka 🔥#KingOfGate2023 #DragonGatehttps://t.co/2Vbew7anz6https://t.co/HsBCpCmtxM pic.twitter.com/yhvdqhAjnn

— Abid アビド 🐉 🌊 🤟🎀💪🍫☝️ (@abid5706) July 25, 2023

Early on, Minoura assumed the heel position, displaying flashes of what he could have absorbed below Naruki Doi. He’d escape the ring to interrupt Yoshioka’s momentum, earlier than tricking Yoshioka right into a beating on the ground. As soon as Yoshioka, the babyfaced main man, regained composure within the ring, the tone shifted. There’d be no extra video games, simply two males making an attempt to outdo one another in a continuous firework present — two males competing like they know this rivalry simply would possibly outline their careers. 

That is smart. In any case, the final time these two wrestled was in the primary occasion finally yr’s Kobe World. However herein lies the fantastic thing about King of Gate: the fats from weighty, typically bloated Dream Gate matches can get reduce. Right here, in a good 21 minutes that felt extra like 15, Kota Minoura and Yuki Yoshioka blew away their huge Kobe World conflict. They usually did it of their hometown in entrance of one-quarter of that crowd. And I watched it at no cost on YouTube, filmed by a single handheld digicam on the ground. 

And you must too. ****½ 

Prime Ten King of Gate 2023 Matches General

• Yuki Yoshioka vs. Kota Minoura, 7/23 ****½

• BIG BOSS Shimizu vs. Shun Skywalker, 7/7 ****¼

• Naruki Doi vs. Kota Minoura, 7/9 ****

• Madoka Kikuta vs. Masaaki Mochizuki, 7/7 ****

• Shuji Kondo vs. ISHIN, 7/17 ***¾

• ISHIN vs. Minorita, 7/14 ***½

• HYO vs. Dragon Dia, 7/29 ***½

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Preliminary King of Gate 2023Report Playing cards

Shun Skywalker: B+

I mentioned final time that Skywalker is, up to now, the one actually confirmed commodity within the new Reiwa Period Huge Six. All it took was one match to indicate you why. I believe, regardless of how this event performs out, after we look again on the ‘23 KoG, we’ll keep in mind Shun’s raucous Evening 1 collision with BIG BOSS Shimizu. He re-established Shimizu as a severe risk and set the BIG BOSS on his tournament-long course to humble the brand new class of stars. 

Shuji Kondo: D

Hey, I’ve all the time liked Shuji Kondo. I’m not completely satisfied about it both. If something, this event could have proven me {that a} Kondo singles match isn’t essentially appointment viewing lately. In his 7/22 major occasion towards Madoka Kikuta, somewhat than partaking within the complete bullfight all of us anticipated on paper, Kondo labored Kikuta’s arm for about 12-14 minutes, shifting like a person caught in molasses, solely to get steamrolled by — you guessed it — a cavalcade of lariats from the champ. He had three possibilities to wow me, however the one time I dug Kondo this yr was when he was getting the shit beat out of him by ISHIN. 

HYO: A

I already ranted about HYO sufficient, however King of Gate was the approaching out get together for what this incarnation of HYO is able to. If you need extra proof, watch him on the receiving of Stalker Ichikawa’s huge comeback on the 7/23 YouTube present. Right here’s how I do know it’s working: for the primary time in his profession, I’m genuinely, full-heartedly excited to observe a HYO singles match this week. 

Kota Minoura: A- 

Right here he’s people, your King of Gate MVP up to now. In two of the three greatest matches of the event, he asserted himself within the GOLD CLASS pecking order by dropping Doi after which reasserted himself within the firm’s pecking order by knocking off Yuki Yoshioka. I imagine he’ll be in two extra matches this week, and the hits will carry on coming. Minoura’s nonetheless has some discovering himself to do, however goddamn if he can’t placed on a present. 

Kzy: B+

Kzy went on the market and took terrible beatings in two of probably the most memorable matches of the month. He let the free agent model of Eita get ALL of his shit in, and he was a magical foil for HYO’s antics. 

I take into consideration Kzy rather a lot within the ascension of the brand new Huge Six. 7 of the final 9 Dream Gate holders have been first time champs. Because the belt will get handed round, greater than ever, it looks like Kzy’s window to win the large one has handed. Possibly that’s the best present Kzy may give to that belt — proof that not everybody can maintain the Dream Gate title, even when they had been far more certified. 

Madoka Kikuta: C+

Simply maintain scrolling, it’s FINE. I didn’t assume I might get away with skipping the champ. The Mochizuki Particular was superb, he simply obtained caught having to wrestle snoozers with Yoshida and Kondo on home reveals. He’s an excellent champ up to now, he’s within the two greatest DG matches this yr, and he’ll go crush it with Shimizu at Korakuen. In two years, I’ll be the one one who remembers the Yoshida and Kondo matches as a result of I wrote 3,000 fucking phrases about them. 

BIG BOSS Shimizu: B+

It’s his story and he’s performing prefer it. His match with Shun would possibly go down as “the match” from this yr’s tourney, and his subsequent two rounds had been grasp courses within the character stuff he brings to the desk. The strain is on for August third to be a memorable one. 

King of Gate 2023 Finals Preview

DRAGONGATE
KING OF GATE FINALS 2023
AUGUST 3, 2023
KORAKUEN HALL
TOKYO, JAPAN

Watch: Dragongate Community

Provided that our solely remaining matchups will occur  on this coming Korakuen Corridor present, I determine we are able to swap the format for a straight-up present preview. This Thursday’s present will open with the semi-final matchups, delve right into a smattering of considerably attention-grabbing midcard fodder, and wrap up with the King of Gate finals. You may sit up for this present being coated extensively by the professionals, Case and Mike, each in textual content and on Open Voice The Gate. 

King of Gate Semifinal
Madoka Kikuta vs. BIG BOSS Shimizu

Right here it’s, the centerpiece of KoG’s most outstanding thread. Kikuta is the one which took a microphone and named the brand new Huge Six and, as champion, he’s their de facto prime canine. If Shimizu needs to push again on being omitted, right here’s the place he could make his greatest assertion. 

Kikuta’s had an uneven event, nevertheless it’s taken him by way of a assassin’s row. He obtained the Mochizuki Particular on evening one, and since then, he’s dispatched a pair of outsized brutes in Takashi Yoshida and Shuji Kondo. It gained’t get any simpler for him towards BIG BOSS Shimizu within the semis. 

It’s a cool story for our large-rumped champion. He’s begun to place himself because the super-physical aggressor of the brand new Huge Six — it’s no coincidence that he was despatched in to tangle with historic DG bully Shingo Takagi at Last Gate 2022. Toppling Goliaths is a good way to exhibit his power and athleticism. I can forgive meandering major occasions with Yoshida and Kondo, I don’t assume we’ll be screwing round a lot in a hyped opener at Korakuen Corridor. 

So who wins? Properly, let’s have a look at current King of Gates. They don’t actually have the champ win this factor, and so they often don’t get too cute with the reserving. Ascensions of names like Ben-Ok, Eita, and Yuki Yoshioka had been fairly clearly projected. Let Shimizu cook dinner. He made this event about him when he confronted the Huge Six at Korakuen Corridor. And he was proper to, for what it’s price. Most of them aren’t at his stage but. Prediction: BIG BOSS Shimizu

King of Gate Semifinal
HYO vs. Kota Minoura

In very alternative ways, these two are my prime performers this yr. HYO efficiently levelled up, and Kota Minoura was probably the most constantly thrilling man to observe. If I needed to guess, I’d predict this match to be the lightest fare of the night, and that’s fantastic. Let these guys take a victory lap. 

HYO’s path has been by way of a few of the purest, most whitemeat babyfaces within the firm. That isn’t the case right here — Minoura and the remainder of GOLD CLASS are very comfy taking a shortcut or two. We all know the remainder of GOLD CLASS is within the constructing; I don’t foresee them letting Z-Brats have a discipline day on their boy. 

Past that, the King of Gate last is often pegged to be a severe major occasion struggle. HYO’s model, and his notable dimension disparity subsequent to Shimizu or Kikuta, makes {that a} tall order. I decide Minoura to maneuver on, giving Shimizu another Huge Six pin to knock down. Prediction: Kota Minoura

Elsewhere on the cardboard…

Clearly, this present is in regards to the event matches, however I’ve obtained two matches circled that you could be need to control. 

An M3K lineup of Susumu Mochizuki, Yasushi Kanda, and Mochizuki Jr. will tackle a Z-Brats staff of ISHIN, KAI, and Shun Skywalker. The one factor we’ve been lacking over the previous month is seeing our expensive boy Mochizuki Jr. wrestle. A scary neck damage took him out of the combo for just a few months, however now the prize of the rookie(-ish) class is again in motion. Due to their historical past, some people have Mochizuki Jr. pegged because the man who ends ISHIN’s title run. I don’t know if we’re prepared for that, however I’m not complaining if this match units up a Courageous Gate bout between the 2. 

GOLD CLASS is within the constructing, sending a staff of Naruki Doi, BxB Hulk, Minorita, and Ben-Ok out towards a mish-mash squad that includes Yoshiki Kato, Dragon Child, Punch Tominaga, and Daiki Yanagiuchi. The July twenty third Gifu present noticed the return of Yoshiki Kato, and thank heavens. Kato is an instantaneous consideration grabber. He wrestles like horrifying and angsty strongman, a welcome diversion from the slew of petite excessive flyers popping out of the dojo. I apologize for that stray, Daiki. I believe you’re superb, too. 

This may be an attention-grabbing glimpse at what’s occurring in GOLD CLASS. The unique staff daddy, Naruki Doi, is again on the town and a part of their Triangle Gate squad. Final time these guys wrestled collectively, Doi couldn’t jive with the brand new guys’ household dynamics. Since then, he’s been put in his place by Minoura within the KoG first spherical. Do they play good? 

King of Gate 2023 Last
??? vs. ???

Clearly, there’s solely a lot I can say a couple of match I don’t know the contributors of. However let’s ship ‘em dwelling completely satisfied. 

Madoka Kikuta is a champ that wants a challenger. HYO is a tiny dude who wrestles gimmicky matches. Kota Minoura is an lively Triangle Gate champion who continues to be rehabbing his picture from his final run on the Dream Gate title. 

All indicators level to BIG BOSS Shimizu taking this one. It looks like we’ve been ready for Huge R Shimizu to get again to his true ass-kicking methods ever since he sat in that chair coated in flour and trash on the finish of the 2019 Lifeless or Alive cage match. Possibly he’s again on this evening. Possibly he’s an inconsequential stepping stone in Madoka Kikuta’s story. Possibly he simply loses and we overlook this all occurred. 

Both manner, I hope we see him finish the evening in that ring with Kota Minoura, and I particularly hope we watch them beat the hell out of one another. Prediction: BIG BOSS Shimizu