Dragon Gate News and Notes!

After Cima’s 19-month reign as Open the Dream Gate champion and 15 title defenses, new champ Shingo Takagi failed on his first title defense on 8/23 at Korakuen Hall, as Yamato pinned him in 27:27 with a Frankensteiner before 1,850 fans. After the match, Ryo Saito issued a challenge to new champion Yamato for a match on 9/12 at Korakuen Hall. Eita & Tomahawk T.T., who have been based in Mexico and also wrestling in the U.S. for Dragon Gate USA, return on that show. The show also had an elimination match that went 29:28 with BxB Hulk & Kzy & Mondai Ryu & Uhaa Nation beating Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino & Ricochet & Shachihoko Boy. It came down to Hulk vs. Yoshino with Hulk getting the win.

I guess the iPPV outside of Japan of the Kobe big show must have died because there is nothing on the schedule for a new iPPV and the 8/23 show would have been it. 

They went to Nara in Okinawa on 8/25 for what was pushed as the Doi Homecoming, and had Jushin Liger from New Japan on the show, which drew 1,350 fans. Liger & Dragon Kid & K-Ness lost in the main event to Doi & Yoshino & Ricochet when Doi pinned K-Ness. 

They had two big shows over the previous weekend in Fukuoka on 8/18 and Nobeoka on 8/19. The first night at Hakata Star Lanes drew 1,700 fans, with Hulk pinning Tozawa, and the main event was The Jimmys beating Team Veteran in an elimination match where Horiguchi & Saito & Jimmy Susumu & Jimmy Kanda beat Masaaki Mochizuki & K-Ness & Dragon Kid & Gamma. It came down to Saito pinning K-Ness when they were the last two. Cima is injured but appeared and gave speeches at both shows. In Nobeoka, the main event saw Mochizuki & K-Ness & Dragon Kid beat Horiguchi & Saito & Kanda in 18:26 to win the Open the Triangle Gate title.