| Open the Historic Gate Dragon Gate USA DGUSA.tv $20.00 Reviewed by Joe Babinsack Note that this is the DVD of the first Dragon Gate USA Pay Per View event, held July 25th, 2009, in Philadelphia. The current PPV is called Untouchable, and is airing now on cable TV stations. I remain on record as a great fan and proponent of the Dragon Gate style of professional wrestling. Add to the mix the strong characters and highly entertaining (and talented professional wrestlers to boot) CHIKARA promotion, and how can such an event disappoint? It doesn’t Dragon Gate remains the fastest, most technically proficient and most enjoyable ‘pure’ wrestling on the planet. It’s also a newer product, having been developed in Japan, and seen in glimpses across the indy world – in Ring of Honor, in Full Impact Pro, and across the notable landscape of US independent promotions, especially with appearances of Shingo. But if you think Shingo is the prototype Dragon Gate wrestler, you’re in for an eye-opener. Aside from the in-ring greatness of the style, one thing this Dragon Gate PPV shows is a cutting edge in various aspects of professional wrestling, from ring entrances to innovation of maneuvers, from lightning like speed to the zany characters of CHIKARA, from the fan participatory gestures to a product that zooms in on the athleticism of the wrestlers (not the words that they speak.) Are there flaws? Sure. To the mainstream viewer, there’s a lack in of ‘star power’ and to the critic, there’s too much of a good thing, and worst of all, if you watch this show, you’re going to have a hard time ever taking cable TV promotions seriously. Which, by far, isn’t a bad flaw at all. We open the DVD with a battle between BxB Hulk (pronounced B B Hulk) and the epitome of Dragon Gate heels, YAMATO. I’ve seen BxB Hulk do far more impressive ring entrances, but this one alone blows away anything seen on American soil. I know it’s hard to expect innovation and glitz and glamour from Hollywood writer types, but c’mon – dancing girls in choreographed moves, an entrance music that doesn’t sound like Muzak, and a wrestler dressed to the 9’s? That’s different. YAMATO is different as well. He’s the smarmy heel type, unconcerned with confusing the audience and convincing in his mean streak. Here’s a guy who can smile with a devilish grin, without making you laugh, but making you feel the proper emotion elicited by a bad guy. As an opener, this was quite impressive, beyond the aforementioned facts. There may be those who would complain about psychology, and BxB Hulk sold quite well, but did have some minor streaks of ‘hey, wait a minute’ but the sheer talent in the ring and the work to the finish more than made up for it. Too Cold Scorpio vs Ken Doane was something I wasn’t altogether up for, but it’s a good juxtaposition to present a name that links DG USA back to the other hallowed promotions who used the former Alhambra Arena, and surreptitiously brings in a former WWE guy with a lot of potential. Scorpio would reappear to provided his ‘blessing’ to the new style, and I like his inclusion. Ken Doane? I’m not quite getting that, and to be frank, I’m getting Brian Kendrick even less. (Although Kendrick was a top notch indy guy before he moved to the WWE.) Doane is still young, still talented and still has places to go. The problem I have is that Doane compared to the Dragon Gate guys is worse than Chris Hero/Claudio Castagnolli and the ROH guys. Then again, maybe showing how slow the American style practitioners are, in comparison to the new style, is a good thing. I just thought the match went a little too long to make that point. Next up is the CHIKARA guys, in an eight-man match that spotlights the Lucha Libre roots of this other Philly based promotion. Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw and two representatives of the Colony (Fire Ant & Soldier Ant) take on the interesting heel team of Gran Akuma, Icarus, Amasis (the Funky Pharoah!) and the awesome Hallowicked. Now, without being hip to CHIKARA, you may find the Ants funny, and the heels a little cartoony, and the masked men a little too mysterious for your tastes, if you’re a mainstream type fan. Let me assure you that the Colony is something that will put a smile on your face. These guys take their characters seriously, and it’s pure enjoyment to watch how Soldier Ant makes use of the salute in a variety of holds and positions, and how the Fire Ant just has to do a hot tag, and other associated holds (ok, maybe not the Thunder Fire Power Bomb, but hey, I’m sure it’s in his repertoire.) Jigsaw is a top player, and Quackenbush deservedly holds a reputation as a man with a 1001 holds. The heels are an amalgamation of factions in CHIKARA, and while I’m disappointed in not seeing Ultramantis black, I can’t complain about seeing ½ of the Osirian Portal, the power players of F.I.S.T in Akuma and Icarus, and the former Night Shift member, Hallowicked. CHIKARA’s style is more Mexican based than super fast, more character driven than technical, and yet equally smooth, impressive and enjoyable as Dragon Gate style. I loved seeing these guys featured on DG USA’s PPV, and I think the fundamentally different approach will do both promotions well. I love the intrapromotional battle concept. It’ll never reach the level of CZW/ROH for various dynamical reasons, but the concept of fighting over Juan Rivera’s legacy came across well. Just absolutely loved the subtitles of YAMATO’s Japanese response to Mike Quackenbush’s heart felt thanks to his trainer. It’s the kind of setup and delivery that rarely works elsewhere, and here, the language barrier only enhanced it. The sense of ‘this guy’s insulting us’ even without them realizing what was said, and the complete execution of the angle, was impressive. Following this is a pure wrestling treat. Dragon Kid and Masato Yoshino is a feud for the ages in Dragon Gate. The announcers (Lenny Leonard and I’m not quite sure who at this point) set it up well, and the sense that Yoshino is back from a serious injury, still gunning for the Kid, and raising the intensity of the match (if such a thing is possible) all made sense. Words cannot describe the action of this match, and if you’re the kind of person who has lost hope with wrestling these days, here’s a great way of reclaiming faith in the artform. Now, we go to CIMA & Susumu Yokosuka against the Young Bucks. What’s awesome here, aside from the tag team talent on display, is the sense of a ‘catch-phrase’ gesture on the part of the Dragon Gate regulars. Well, the DG regulars not of Japanese descent. That’s something that has been missing for years now in any product – an evolution of The Rock, and quite frankly, a far less obscene knock-off of Stone Cold’s patented double barrel fingers. It’s the sort of thing that makes audience participation fun again. And then there’s the tag action. The Young Bucks are a new generation’s Briscoes, a little less insane, a little smaller and arguably a bit smoother in the ring. Both teams share a passion for tag team wrestling, and a penchant for innovation. Well, both those mentioned teams and the opponents in this match. I continue to be amazed that tag team wrestling isn’t on display in the mainstream. All the elements are there, but they haven’t been seen much in years. It’s not a tired concept. It’s not a division in any way, shape or form that has been done to a boring degree. And if it’s not revived soon, the industry is going to have to reinvent a lot of the tricks and secrets. Then again, if the Young Bucks, the Briscoes and any of the Dragon Gate teams (because Cima/Yokosuka are not the Champs) keep it rolling like this, we won’t have to worry about the future of tag team wrestling. Main event is Naruki Doi vs Shingo The best way to approach this match is to sit back, get comfortable, and make sure there are no foreign objects or large furniture between yourself and the TV screen. Put your finger on the pause button ... heck, the rewind button as well, but just know that you’re going to watch this multiple times. It’s not just the style, or the moves or the speed or the dynamics of big man/fast man on display, but the whole lead-up to the match. Devoid of nonsensical skits, we see clips of the guys building up to the main event, throughout the event. It adds to the sense of anticipation, and heightens the importance of the battle. This match is all about professional wrestling on display, from the subtleties to the superficial. And the talent on display is what takes it to a new level. Dragon Gate’s Open the Historic Gate is a PPV of the “MUST SEE” variety, and merely sets up a bar that the new PPV is said to have already eclipsed. Obviously, I’d suggest buying the current PPV, and sitting back and waiting for this one in the mail, because of the timing, but you won’t go wrong watching either one first. Joe Babinsack can be reached at
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. WSU on the way, I promise. Also ECW Books – Howard Brody and Slam! To review and hopefully enjoy. And what's this EVOLVE thing? Where do I find it? What's the story? And why is Dr. Keith being such a tease about it? | 
