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Dragon Gate USA debuted tonight in Philadelphia, PA at the ECW Arena. The following is live coverage written as the show was ongoing.
The Fray: Lince Dorado vs. Cheech vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Cloudy vs. Chris Jones vs. Louis Linden vs. Aaron Arbo vs. Andy Harper
A special bonus match for ringside ticket holders with staggered entrances and eliminations.
Arbo and Harper opened the bout, going back and forth with some good wrestling. Number three in was Johnny Gargano, who works regularly in the Mid-West and recently had a TNA tryout. He quickly eliminated both. Gargano got a chair from ringside and stood atop it celebrating while he waited for the fourth entrant, then brandished the chair. Referee Mike Kehner took it away before lucky number four, Louis Linden made his way to the ring. Linden, from the Michigan area, nailed some cool Lucha style takedowns and martial arts kicks. Gargano came back with a thrust to the throat and then began choking Linden against the ropes. Linden battled back out of the corner but Gargano raked his eyes. Gargano continued to work over Linden, clobbering him across the back of the neck. He went for a Dragon suplex but it was blocked.
The fifth entrant, Chris Jones, hit the ring. Jones works the Florida indies. He and Gargano go back and forth. Gargano retreated to the floor. Linden and Jones exchanged headlocks and mat wrestling counters. Jones nailed Gargano on the apron but was caught with a double chop by Linden. Linden leapfrogged over a Gargano charge, causing Jones to be speared. Cheech, a Tony Devito student who has wiorked ROH and CZW, among other indies, was sixth. He got a nice reaction since the Philly fans were familiar with his work.
Cheech and Jones exchanged chops. Jones charged him but got tossed into a flapjack. Cheech hit a springboard moonsault off the ropes. Gargano knocked him out of the ring but Linden kicked him in the face. Cheech hit a back suplex on Linden. Jones leapfrogged Cheech and did a forward headscissors takedown. Jones and Linden exchanged strikes in the center of the ring. Linden caught him with a running big boot. Gargano catches Linden with a thrust and pins him.
Number seven was Lince Dorado, who came in with a flying bodypress on everyone. Dorado went after Gargano but was dropkicked out of the ring by Cheech. Cheech hit a Thesz Press on Jones. Everyone locked on an insane looking submission combination on the other but no one tapped. Cheech nails Jones with a big boot to the face, then hits a knee strike in the throat. Gargano sneaks in and covers Jones, but Cheech breaks it up.
Number eight was cloudy, Cheech's partner and sometimes rival. He hit a double knee charge on Dorado in the corner. Cheech hit a slingshot on Dorado into a Cloudy STO. Cheech and Cloudy continued the double-team assault. They turned their attention to Jones, who ate stereo kicks top the head. Cheech and Cloudy then hit stereo dives over the top to the floor. Back in the ring, Jones was eliminated about a double team knee strike off the top by Cloudy into a powerbomb across the knees by Cheech.
Lince Dorado and Cloudy went at it and Dorado got a quick elimination. Crowd booed that somewhat since Cloudy was so impressive. Gargano rolled up Cheech and eliminated him, then tried to do the same to Dorado, who kicked up. Dorado dropkicked Gargano as he was on the ropes and stunned him. Gargano flipped over to attempt a sunset flip powerbomb but Dorado avoided it. Gargano dropped Dorado on his head out of the corner but Dorado kicked up. The crowd got into the kickout and clapped for Dorado to rally.
Gargano went for a full nelson suplex. Dorado went for one of his own but it slipped, the only miscue of the entire bout, which is impressive when you have eight guys who are for the most part unfamiliar with each other working for the first time.. Dorado went to the top and nailed a shooting star press for the pin.
Your Fray winner, Lince Dorado!
After the match ended, DGUSA opened for the general admission fans.
At 8 Pm, the lights went out for an awesome countdown video. When they hit one, Dawn Marie was in the ring to welcome everyone to the PPV and introduce the first bo
BXB Hulk vs. YAMATO
Hulk was accompanied by dancing girls, who were Daizee Haze and Kelly Dempsey (ROH star Bobby's sister). They went right to the mat with YAMATO taking the early advantage. Hulk was caught in a wristlock and chopped his way out before reversing it. They faced off and the crowd applauded. YAMATO shoulderblocked hulk down, but he kipped up. Hulk came back with a series of dropkicks to take YAMATO out. The crowd chanted for Hulk. He followed up with another dropkick for a near fall. Hulk nailed a reverse crescent kick but was caught in a legbar. Hulk got to the ropes as the crowd rallied both.
YAMATO missed a charge in the corner but Hulk's leg got caught when he went for a kick. YAMATO charged and kicked him off the apron to the floor, the followed. He slammed Hulk's leg into the guard rail on the floor and continued to work on it as when they returned to the ring, using kicks to the knee. He torqued the leg but Hulk tried to fight out. Hulk finally used a spinkick to break YAMATO's momentum, but was taken down with another leglock. YAMATO locked on a sleeper, then went for a unique leg submission from a crab position while on his back. The crowd chanted for Hulk. YAMATO worked Hulk in the corner with chops. He whipped Hulk out of the corner but his knee gave out and he collapsed in the middle.
The crowd continued to rally Hulk, who cartwheeled out of another takedown attempt then hit a beautiful dropkick off the middle rope. He flipped over YAMATO and nailed a clothesline. He went for a Mafia kick, It was reversed and he reversed it. Hulk hit a standing moonsault press for a two count. They exchanged strikes in the center of the ring with Hulk getting the better of the exchange, YAMATO nailed a forearm off the ropes for a two count. YAMATO speared Hulk for a two count, then rolled him over into a Sharpshooter. The crowd chanted for Hulk not to tap. He made his way to the ropes but was pulled away and locked away in a crossface. He finally got to the ropes again.
YAMATO went for an over the shoulder slam but Hulk reversed it into a Lucha takedown. He nailed a running kick to YAMATO who was in the ropes, then hit a Spanish Fly off the top on YAMATO. Hulk began beating down YAMATO with kicking combinations to the face. He picked him up for a pumphandle into a Michinoku Driver for a two count but YAMATO got his legs on the ropes. Hulk slammed him and went for a twisting moonsault press but missed. Hulk grabbed at his knee.
YAMATO made his way to his feet, smiling at Hulk. He charged with a forearm smash and a big head dropping suplex but Hulk kicked out again. YAMATO hit an overhead kick but Hulk battled his way to his feet. YAMATO locked on a sleeper then suplexed Hulk over. Hulk again kicked out. YAMATO finally hit a Michinoku Package Driver for the pin.
Your winner, YAMATO!
Great, great opening match. The crowd is absolutely loving it. It was cool to see them do a variation on BXB Hulk's dance entrance here to bring some of the pageantry over.
Ken Doane vs. 2 Cold Scorpio
Doane is former WWE star Kenny Dykstra. Scorpio is obviously well known in these parts. The crowd chanted the Dykstra name at Doane early, then chanted for Scorpio. Scorpio tried to shake hands but Doane slapped it away. The crowd chanted "Spirit Squad" at Doane. They finally locked up and Scorpio got the better of the first exchange, pushing him into the corner with a clean break. The next chant was "Where's your pom poms" followed by "We want Ziggler."
They locked up again, with Doane getting the better of it and slapping Scorpio. They locked up and Doane took Scorpio down with an armbar. Scorp bounced out of it and faced off with Doane. Doane grabbed a top wristlock but Scorpio used his acrobatics to escape. Doane grabbed a side headlock but Scorp used a back suplex. Doane hung onto the move and rolled around, getting back to his feet. Scorp shot him off into the ropes and nailed a dropkick, then used a superkick.
Doanie retreated to the floor. Scorpio teased a dive and Doane retreated. He slammed the ring steps in frustration. While the opener was balls to the wall hot wrestling, this is more of a traditional heel vs. face bout with a slow early build. Doane returned to the ring for a test of strength but Doane cracked him with a right hand. They boxed for a second with Doane nailing a dropkick. Scorp returned to his feet for a dropkick of his own. Doane drove Scorpio's mid-section into the turnbuckles. Scorpio battled back and began chopping Doane around the ring. He whipped Doane, who reversed. Scorp hit the turnbuckles and came off with a flying bodypress off the second for a near fall.
Doane battled back with a dropkick into the midsection, then cradled Scorpio for a two count. Scorp began mounting a comeback with a series of punches but Doane snapped his neck on the ropes, then dropped an elbow across the back of his head and neck for a two count. Doane unloaded with rights but Scorp began psyching himself up. He made his way top his feet but was caught with a thrown suplex. Doane got a two count.
Doane ducked a kick and caught a German suplex with a bridge for a two count. He locked in a side chinlock and Scorpio's arm dropped twice but at the third, he began to fight back. Doane tried to push Scorpio's arm down in a funny heel move. Scorp got to his feet and rolled through but Doane kept the chinlock on. Scorpio escaped but was immediately grabbed in a sleeper. Scorp escaped and backdropped Doane over the ropes to the apron, then back into the ring. He took down Doane with a punching combo but Doane returned and did the same. They began exchanging kicks and strikes. Scorp finally got the best of it with a big standing kick to the face. He nailed a running clothesline in the corner, then hit a springboard into an Arabian Press for a two count.
Doane came back with an Alabama Jam off the top but there was no water in the pool. Scorp went for a moonsault but Doane got his knees up and covered him for a two count. Doane charged Scorpio in the corner but missed and Scorp took him out. Scorp hit the Tumbleweed off the top and scored the pin.
Your winner, 2 Cold Scorpio!
Scorpio offered his hand after the bout and Doane took it. Scorp raised Doane's arm as if to endorse him. Doane left and Scorpio bowed before the crowd.
More of your traditional bout than the opener, but a really good face vs. heel chemistry mixed with some strong back and forth wrestling. Watching Doane here, you couldn't help but feel that WWE completely blew it. Scorpio is older than his glory days era, obviously, but can still go with the best of them and in a lot of ways, was the perfect opponent for Doane's debut here. By competing and losing to someone this audience loves, it gave him credibility.
Dawn Marie announced there were fans from Great Britian, France, Japan and Canada, among other countries in the house. She plugged the 9/6 Chicago debut and 11/28 return here. She promised a special announcement by the end of the night.
CHIKARA 8 MAN TAG: Mike Quackenbush & Jigsaw & Fire Ant & Solider Ant vs. Hallowicked & Amasis & Gran Akuma & Icarus
Given the amount of talent here, it's going to be impossible to do a traditional play by play, so we'll just do some highlights. Quackenbush got a monster pop coming out. It was actually bigger than Scorpio. In fact, all the talent got their names chanted. All the CHIKARA talents have colorful outfits and gimmicks as they do an Americanized Lucha Libre style in their home promotion.
As you can imagine, a ton of Lucha style stuff with fast tags in and out, counters, etc. Team Jigsaw worked on Solider Ant for some time. Amasis hit a spinebuster. Soldier Ant finally came back with headscissors on Gran Akuma but was jumped by Icarus. He ducked under an Icarus charge and tagged Quackenbush, who cleaned house and tagged in Jigsaw. Jigsaw hit an enziguiri and rolled him up in a small package for a near fall. Jigsaw used a Lucha armdrag to toss Hallowicked out of the ring. He went for a dive but was kicked and cut off. Icarus hit a spear. Jigsaw tried to cradle him for a two count. He ate a kick to the head. The heels continued to work over Jigsaw while tagging in and out.
Amasis used a series of strikes and a clothesline for a two on Jigsaw. Icarus tagged in and was powerbombed atop of Jigsaw for a two count by his regular partner Gran Akuma. Akuma continued to use kicks to the chest, then rammed Jigsaw into the corner. Jigsaw hit a dive over the top on Akuma and Icarus. Fire Ant and Hallowicked went back and forth. Amasis ducked a double kick from the Ants but then got nailed on the rebound off the ropes.
It settled down to Icarus and Fire Ant. He picked up Ant and ran him into the corner. Soldier Ant kicked him out of the ring. Hallowicked nailed a press into a gutbuster. he and Solider Ant battled in the corner. Quack hit the ring and hit a top rope frankensteiner. Soldier Ant came off the ropes for the pin but Amasis broke it up. Amasis hit a face first driver on Ant. Quack hit a lariat and Amasis took a 360 bump. Quack nailed a side slam. Fire Ant went to the top but was suplexed off by Akuma, who then hit a moonsault for a two count. Great match.
There was an amazing flurry of Lucha dives, leaving Jigsaw with Icarus. He hit a sitdown Michinoku Driver and scored the pin.
Your winners, Team Quackenbush!
Great, fun Lucha bout. The crowd chanted CHIKARA after the bout. There was no way to keep up with this match, that's how insane it was.
Mike Quackenbush took the mic after the bout. He said that if the home office in Japan hasn't figured it out yet, "Doesn't Dragon Gate and CHIKARA make a splendid combination?" He said that they were all part of the same extended family, having been trained by an often underappreciated Luchadore, Jorge Rivera. He asked everyone to watch a video on Rivera, which was a collection of his highspots.
Quack said it feels like there's a bit of sibling rivalry in the back and issued a challenge to see how any CHIKARA talent fares against any talent from Dragon Gate. YAMATO came to the ring. YAMATO cut a quick promo, then kicked Quack low. Jigsaw hit the ring and attacked YAMATO, stomping him. Gran Akuma came to the ring to check on Quack, but then attacked Jigsaw. Akuma and YAMATO worked over Quack and Jigsaw. Several CHIKARA wrestlers hit the ring but were laid out. The other CHIKARA babyfaces finally cleared the ring to check on Quackenbush. Dawn Marie said that YAMATO told her he doesn't have respect for Quackenbush, Jorge Rivera or CHIKARA. Quack was pissed but was helped out of the ring.
Dawn Marie plugged the 8/16 CHIKARA event in this venue.
Dragon Kid (with Shingo) vs. Masato Yoshino (with Naruki Doi)
Yoshino and Kid had some awesomely fast back and forth counter wrestling early. Kid used a head scissors takedown to shoot Yoshino to the floor. He went for a dive but when Yoshino got out of dodge, faked it with a slide around the ropes. Yoshino walked around the floor and returned, getting cut off by Kid. Yoshino ducked under Kid and caught him and slammed him down. He measured and came down with a splash across Kid's arm. He continued to work over Kid's arm, wrapping it around the ropes as the referee warned him to break. Yoshino used his leg to twist the arm and slam Kid to the mat, then pretzeled him with a leg submission around the neck and torso.
Yoshino broke when Kid got to the ropes, but continued assaulting Kid. Kid faked a rebound off the ropes and kicked him in the face. Kid went for a springboard and was shoved down onto the apron. Yoshino charged in the corner but was kicked away. Kid did several rotation spins around Yoshino's neck before sending him to the floor. Kid hit a standing moonsault to the floor on Yoshino.
Kid tossed Yoshino back in and hit a springboard missile dropkick for a two count. Kid psyched himself up and charged. Yoshino evaded and came off the ropes, slammed Kid down neckfirst. Yoshino went to the top rope but was caught by Kid, who followed. Kid went for a superplex but Yoshino fought back. Yoshino went for a sunset bomb but Kid turned it into a rana and hit a 619 in the ropes. Yoshino caught Kid with a powerbomb to cut off his momentum, but was locked in an Octopus submission. Yoshino caught Kid with a boot. He charged Kid, who was on the apron but Kid kicked him in the legs. Yoshino went down and Kid went for a springboard moonsault but Yoshino got his knees up. Yoshino hit a monster missile dropkick for a two count and the fans chanted his name.
They exchanged chops. Kid nailed a twisting DDT. Kid set up Yoshino in the corner but was pushed off. Kid landed on the apron and fired away with chops. He got to the middle rope as Yoshino went to the top. Yoshino went for Splash Kid but Kid turned it into a rana in mid-air, which the Arena popped for huge. Yoshino caught Kid and slammed him down with a tornado. He locked in a submission but Kid rolled him upside down for a two count. Kid nailed a Stone Cold Stunner. Kid came off the ropes with a springboard into a rollup for the pin.
Your winner, Dragon Kid!
Yoshino shoved down Kid after and Shingo got in his face. Doi got in Shingo's face. 2 Cold Scorpio came to the ring and took the mic. He said he was here when Eddie Guerrero and Dean Malenko was a classic. He said he was here when Psicosis and Rey Mysterio "blew our minds." The Arena chanted ECW. Scorpio said he was involved in a few classics here as well with Sabu. He told Yoshino and Kid that they are today's version of those classics and said that he and everyone here would love to see a rematch. Yoshino and Kid both agreed.
A really good bout, but as good as this was, they can do ever better based on tapes I've seen. I was surprised it was as short as it was, but given the angle afterwards, it was probably by design to build the rivalry here in the United States for a new audience. There was definitely a lot of nods to old school Rey in Kid's performance here (which was the booking plan, to make Kid the modern day equivalent of Rey Jr.) and it was smart booking to have ECW alumni Scorpio come out to tie all the history in the venue to these talents to help get them over.
Dawn Marie announced the 11/28 show will feature a one night tournament to crown the first-ever Dragon Gate USA Open the Freedom Gate championship.
After intermission, Dawn Marie plugged her Wrestler's Rescue charity.
CIMA & Susumu Yokosuka vs. The Young Bucks
The Bucks are from California and have worked for PWG, ROH and the NWA. Both teams got big reactions from the crowd. Yokosuka shoulderblocked Matt Jackson several times until Jackson got the better of him. CIMA and Nick Jackson tagged in. Nick nailed a good rana. The Bucks did a double backflip followed by stereo dropkicks. Yokosuka tagged in and dragged Nick into the corner. CIMA and Yokosuka continued to work over Nick. Nick struggled to make a tag but was held back. He finally muscled Yokosuka into the corner and tagged his brother. Yokosuka and CIMA regained control and stomped Nick Jackson's face.
Jackson was propelled into the air by his brother and dropkicked CIMA. CIMA came back with kicks and punches to the chest. Yokosuka tagged in and rode Jackson to the mat, riding him with a side chinlock. Jackson was caught with a knee to the gut, bumping over. Yokosuka locked in leg scissors as CIMA interfered to help. Nick Jackson struggled to get into the ring to help but the referee held him back. Yokosuka grabbed Jackson in a wheel barrow position and CIMA drilled him down into his knees. They took Jackson outside to the floor. Yokosuka held held across the ring barrier and CIMA came off of them with a double stomp.
Back in the ring, CIMA began beating Jackson with drilling kicks to the chest and head. They whipped Matt Jackson into the corner then nailed lariats in succession. Jackson came back with a quick flurry of offense and made the hot tag to Nick. Nick clotheslined Yokosuka and took down CIMA with a Mexican armdrag. Nick did a twisting dive over the ropes onto CIMA and Yokosuka on the floor. The Arena chanted for the Bucks.
Nick came off the ropes with a double stomp on CIMA's arm. The Bucks hit stereo dive splashes onto CIMA for a two count. CIMA and Yokosuka made a comeback in a major way. Yokosuka caught an Exploder suplerplex on Matt Jackson for a two count. Jackson caught him with a big boot and hit a Blockbuster for a two count. He went to the top but CIMA caught him and hit a forward flip slam off the top. CIMA went to the top for a splash but Matt got his knees up. The Bucks caught Yokosuka with a double team move for a two count. Matt was left with Yokosuka and put him on his shoulders. Outside, CIMA kicked Nick in the face.
Yokosuka caught Matt with a lariat. CIMA went for a forward roll and got a two count. Nick got on the apron but was kicked off. They tied up Matt in the corner. CIMA hit a Van Terminator dropkick to the back of the head. They slammed Matt down for a pinfall but Nick broke up the pin. The fans chanted for Dragon Gate. Yokosuka went for a powerbomb but matt escaped. CIMA superkicked Yokosuka by accident. Nate kicked him in the head. Matt nailed a rolling forward splash. Nate hit a swanton and Matt scored the pin in a major upset.
Your winners, The Young Bucks!
Excellent match all around. Two stars are born. Unbelievable.
After the bell, everyone shook hands and the fans chanted for each of them before giving the bout a standing ovation. Matt Jackson took the mic and told CIMA and Yokosuka they were two of the best wrestlers in the world. He said that they went from getting their High School diplomas to working for Dragon Gate, which was like getting their college degrees. He said that everyone calls them the tag team of the future, but he disagrees. He said that tonight, in the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, they proved they are the tag team of the present. He said this ring is their turf and if there is a tag team in Dragon Gate that wants to step to the plate, then "step right up, baby!"
Open the Dream Gate & Brave Gate champion Naruki Doi vs. Shingo
The crowd chanted for Shingo at the bell. Shingo muscled Doi into the ropes but broke clean. They went into a test of strength, which Shingo easily won. Doi was able to reverse the knucklelock and went into a standing wristlock. Doi rolled him over with a leg takedown and tied up Shingo's legs. Shingo escaped and went for headscissors on Doi. Doi escaped and they faced off.
Doi tried to run through Shingo but was shoulderblocked down. Shingo caught him with a Fireman's Carry into a Stunner. Shingo slammed Doi and rubbed his boot across Doi's face. Doi nailed a Dragon Screw legwhip. Doi began focusing on Shingo's legs, stomping on his knee. The Arena began dueling chants. Doi grapevined Shingo's leg. That was a set up for the figure four leglock. Shingo reversed it but Doi rolled it back over to the original submission position. Shingo grabbed the ropes to break the hold. Doi went for a cannonball in the corner but Shingo caught him and powerbombed him down. Awesome. He hit a kneedrop to the back of the head.
Doi made a comeback but was hit with a lariat. Shingo went for a standing vertical suplex and held Doi up there for a count of 30 before snapping him back. He chopped Doi in the corner, shushed the crowd and did it again. He whipped Doi into the corner but was kicked in the face during a charge. Shingo caught him with a powerslam for a two count. Shingo worked over Doi on the mat.
Shingo went for a suplex but Doi escaped and kicked him in the legs. He tied up Shingo in the ropes and dropkicked his legs several times. Shingo hung through the ropes, where Shingo hit a diving knee drop off the ropes. Doi ducked a charge and nailed a strike to the chin. The crowd rallied both men. Shingo began unloading with jabs but Doi dropkicked him in thje knee. Doi charged Shingo in the corner but was caught in the goozle and suplexed him over. Shingo nailed a kneedrop off the ropes for a two count.
Shingo grabbed Doi in a Fireman's Carry but Doi escaped. He went for a kick but Shingo evaded it and caught him with an STO. Shingo hit several lariats but Doi nailed a sidewalk slam. Doi tied up Shingo upside down and hit a cannonball splash. Doi nailed a back superplex for a two count. Doi caught them with a Fireman's Carry into a death valley driver. Shingo begasn punching the back of Doi's head as Doi wobbled on unsteady legs. Shingo hit an exploder into a Michinoku Driver for a two count.
Shingo hit as running clothesline in the corner but Doi came back with a sprinting leg lariat. Doi grabbed him in a wheel barrow position but Shingo broke free, then drove Doi headfirst into the mat. Doi and Shingo exchanged forearms and slaps in the center of the ring. Doi nailed several kicks and lariats before nailing a back suplex with a bridge for a two count. Doi hits a sliding kick and rolls up Shingo for a two count.
Doi hits a Package Driver for the three count.
Your winner and still Open the Dream Gate & Brave Gate champion Naruki Doi!
A great main event. Tons of stiff work here.
Overall, from top to bottom, a really strong card designed to please the niche audience it was designed for. Gabe Sapolsky had to feel some level of vindication tonight.
Dragon Gate USA Notes: I'd estimate the crowd at 900-950. The pre-sale before they opened the doors was 598...In a smart inside idea, they were playing music from Japanese American rock band Loudness as fans entered the building....The Arena was a boiling hot, the hottest I can recall in some time, made all the worse by the crowd size....The DG roster from Japan did a free meet and greet for the ringside VIP fans, who were allowed to enter early. The VIP ticket holders also received a gift bag with a poster, a coupon for a t-shirt and inflatable thundersticks similar to the ones you'd see at a major league baseball game...Dragon Gate USA PPV Producer Ken Gelman of G-Funk Productions was in attendance....I saw a lot of fans who were familiar faces at the original ECW and Ring of Honor that I haven't seen at shows in quite a while, so the first outing brought some fans out of the woodwork....The NYC bus trip (I wasn't involved in this one) sold out, which I was really glad to hear....Commentary for the DVD release was done live in the building by Lenny Leonard and Leonard F. Chikarason. Mike Quackenbush replaced Chikarason for the final two bouts.
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