3. MaxiMuM (Kaito Ishida & Masato Yoshino) vs. R.E.D. (Ben-K & Eita)
Eita looked like a total douche with the added addition of his glasses. Such a small yet huge part to his heel persona. Kaito Ishida stood out as the best guy in the match, but I'm sure that was by design. They clearly see a lot in Ishida, but I think he needs a bit of an edge to become a top guy in the vain of Mochizuki (with kicks being a natural cause for comparison). More will be said of Ishida as a top guy after/if he turns heel.
They played up tensions between Eita and Ben-K well, coming off Eita hitting Ben-K with a chair shot in his twin gate title match a few weeks prior. Yoshino did his usual stuff and got the pin. Good match. ***1/4
5. Open The Brave Gate Title Match: Susumu Yokosuka (c) vs. U-T
Susumu apparently never won the Open The Brave Gate Title before, the only title previously missing from getting the whole set, until he beat Dragon Kid for it at Memorial Gate 2019. U-T has never had a singles title match before either.
The start was pretty fun. After Susumu smashed his arm into the post, U-T went straight to work on the arm. He had all these cool ways of tying it up in submission holds. He did a great job and slowly getting the moves over as the match progressed. Susumu sold his desperation to get out of the submissions well. The last running stretch was great. The match felt like a big deal afterwards which a big progression for U-T. ***3/4
6. Open The Triangle Gate Title Match
R.E.D. (KAZMA SAKAMOTO, Takashi Yoshida & Yasushi Kanda) (c) vs. Mochizuki Dojo (Hyo Watanabe, Kota Minoura & Masaaki Mochizuki)
With arguably being the worst threw of the group, being together Kazma, Yoshida and Kanda work extremely well together and make it work as a trio. On paper, they are totally skippable matches but they deliver more time than not. Mochizuki Dojo rules. Concept and execution. Any pairing is great. The match was exactly that. Didn't have any stand out individual but collectively, this was pretty well done. ***
7. Open The Dream Gate Title Match: PAC © vs Dragon Kid
Dragon Kid is someone that I'm stunned to hear hasn't won the title yet. Had very few Dream Gate Title matches too which is shocking.
The match was pretty good. PAC wasn't as explosive as his previous title defences, more akin to his stinker with Flamita with his slower style but made it work much more here. Used his big moves sparsely early on but made them count. Dragon Kid was naturally a good underdog and his flashy moves stood out much more in contrast to PAC. The nearfalls were done really well and weren't as over done as previous Dream Gate Title matches. ***3/4
8. Unit Bonds Steel Cage Survival Five Way Match: Big R Shimizu vs YAMATO vs Kzy vs Shun Skywalker vs Naruki Doi
The Rules: Flags will be placed at the top of the cage in each corner. After 10 minutes have elapsed, fighters will be free to attempt to retrieve a flag. Retrieving a flag counts as escaping the cage
The yearly match where a lot is happening, you don't fully understand what or why but you are taken on a wild ride of emotions. The match flowed really well with the opening ten minutes blending into the escapes really well. And the outside attempts were a nice touch. There was good storytelling with with everyone ganging up on Big R Shimizu when necessary, putting their differences aside. Small stuff, but it added a little. The return of Dark Side Hulk, and the debut Hyosuke Santa Maria were just the tip of the iceberg. The only thing this match lacked from previous years matches is that hot, dramatic stretch. Other than that, this was business as usual. A high quality bout. ****1/2
Eita looked like a total douche with the added addition of his glasses. Such a small yet huge part to his heel persona. Kaito Ishida stood out as the best guy in the match, but I'm sure that was by design. They clearly see a lot in Ishida, but I think he needs a bit of an edge to become a top guy in the vain of Mochizuki (with kicks being a natural cause for comparison). More will be said of Ishida as a top guy after/if he turns heel.
They played up tensions between Eita and Ben-K well, coming off Eita hitting Ben-K with a chair shot in his twin gate title match a few weeks prior. Yoshino did his usual stuff and got the pin. Good match. ***1/4
5. Open The Brave Gate Title Match: Susumu Yokosuka (c) vs. U-T
Susumu apparently never won the Open The Brave Gate Title before, the only title previously missing from getting the whole set, until he beat Dragon Kid for it at Memorial Gate 2019. U-T has never had a singles title match before either.
The start was pretty fun. After Susumu smashed his arm into the post, U-T went straight to work on the arm. He had all these cool ways of tying it up in submission holds. He did a great job and slowly getting the moves over as the match progressed. Susumu sold his desperation to get out of the submissions well. The last running stretch was great. The match felt like a big deal afterwards which a big progression for U-T. ***3/4
6. Open The Triangle Gate Title Match
R.E.D. (KAZMA SAKAMOTO, Takashi Yoshida & Yasushi Kanda) (c) vs. Mochizuki Dojo (Hyo Watanabe, Kota Minoura & Masaaki Mochizuki)
With arguably being the worst threw of the group, being together Kazma, Yoshida and Kanda work extremely well together and make it work as a trio. On paper, they are totally skippable matches but they deliver more time than not. Mochizuki Dojo rules. Concept and execution. Any pairing is great. The match was exactly that. Didn't have any stand out individual but collectively, this was pretty well done. ***
7. Open The Dream Gate Title Match: PAC © vs Dragon Kid
Dragon Kid is someone that I'm stunned to hear hasn't won the title yet. Had very few Dream Gate Title matches too which is shocking.
The match was pretty good. PAC wasn't as explosive as his previous title defences, more akin to his stinker with Flamita with his slower style but made it work much more here. Used his big moves sparsely early on but made them count. Dragon Kid was naturally a good underdog and his flashy moves stood out much more in contrast to PAC. The nearfalls were done really well and weren't as over done as previous Dream Gate Title matches. ***3/4
8. Unit Bonds Steel Cage Survival Five Way Match: Big R Shimizu vs YAMATO vs Kzy vs Shun Skywalker vs Naruki Doi
The Rules: Flags will be placed at the top of the cage in each corner. After 10 minutes have elapsed, fighters will be free to attempt to retrieve a flag. Retrieving a flag counts as escaping the cage
The yearly match where a lot is happening, you don't fully understand what or why but you are taken on a wild ride of emotions. The match flowed really well with the opening ten minutes blending into the escapes really well. And the outside attempts were a nice touch. There was good storytelling with with everyone ganging up on Big R Shimizu when necessary, putting their differences aside. Small stuff, but it added a little. The return of Dark Side Hulk, and the debut Hyosuke Santa Maria were just the tip of the iceberg. The only thing this match lacked from previous years matches is that hot, dramatic stretch. Other than that, this was business as usual. A high quality bout. ****1/2
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