[Groovemachine]

Originally Posted by Matt_Yoda

Late as all hell but whatever, better late than never.

Dragon Gate Year In Review:
Overall, this was a solid year for Dragon Gate, it wasn’t going to top last year because lets face it, 2011 was the best overall DG year since 2007. Point is, this year was about getting back into the multi faction groove and having fun. I’d say mission accomplished and another hell of a year for Dragon Gate can’t wait to see what they pull out this year. NOTE: *This show does not include Final Gate, if I decide to watch that (which I most likely will) I'll do a separate review of that at a later date.

Dragon Gate Show of the Year: Kobe World Festival
Dragon Gate Wrestler of Year: CIMA
Dragon Gate Overlooked of the Year: Jimmy Susumu
Dragon Gate Faction of the Year: The Jimmyz

Top 10 Dragon Gate Matches 2012:

CIMA vs. Akira Tozawa (7/22/2012)- ****3/4
CIMA vs. PAC (3/4/2012)- ****1/2+
CIMA vs. Jimmy Susumu (2/5/2012)- ****1/2
Shingo vs. YAMATO vs. Tozawa vs. Hulk vs. Doi vs. Yoshino (6/24/2012)- ****1/2
Dragon Kid vs. Ricochet (7/22/2012)- ****1/4
Tozawa, BxB Hulk & Cyber Kong vs. Mochizuki, Shingo & YAMATO (2/5/2012)- ****1/4
Jimmy Susumu & Jimmy Kagetora vs. Shingo Takagi & YAMATO (7/22/2012)- ****
Mochizuki, Fuiji & Gamma vs. Kanda, Horiguchi & Saito (3/4/2012)- ****
CIMA vs. YAMATO (8/22/2012)- ***3/4
Doi, Yoshino & PAC vs. BxB Hulk, Kong, Tanizaki vs. Mochizuki, Fuiji & Gamma (7/22/2012)- ***3/4

Did you manage to find a full version of CIMA vs. Akira Tozawa (7/22/2012)? I haven't seen the match, but from what research I've done, I can only find a clipped version. Super hyped to see the match, now even more so given your rating.

EDIT: Never mind! Found it. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xvm...2#.UOhi6KyunAQ For those interested.

[Nervosa]

Originally Posted by JoeRulz

I hopre you're talking about this match:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpo...2#.UOhYiqwfg1s

****1/4

That's the one all right. **** 1/2 for me.

[EmbassyForever]

Is Morishima vs Nagata worth a look?

[ywall2breakerj]

Originally Posted by EmbassyForever

Is Morishima vs Nagata worth a look?

I saw the whole NOAH show and that was the worst match. By far. Avoid at all costs. Everything else is worth watching I reckon though.

[EmbassyForever]

Eh, didn't expected this, lol. Kenta vs Nagata wasn't good too.

Anyway, I'm trying to watch as much as possible MOTYC from 2012, started with the match you talked about..

KENTA vs Takashi Sugiura - ****-****1/4
The match was exactly what you said which is awesome because I'm a fan of this style, why it's not full ****1/4 is because of Sugiura's no-selling after the GTS (Kenta slapped the shit out of him after the GTS but he didn't sold it and just got into slap-fest war with him). The kickout from the GTS was lame but the second was great. The punches were BRUTAL!! Ovreall I enjoyed the match a lot

Jimmy Susumu & Jimmy Kagetora vs Akira Tozawa & BxB Hulk - ****1/2
Fantastic spotfest, the finishing sequence with Hulk and Kagetora (not really sure because it's the first time I saw either him or Susumu) was amazing. I really need to see more of DG, everytime it looks like they have at least two awesome matches in each show, they are a promotion that I defintely want to watch more in 2013.

[ywall2breakerj]

People seriously overrate Nagata. He's carriable but he's no ring general. His shtick is fun more often than not and New Japan's full of great workers that get the best out of him.


Sugiura-Marufuji and Shiozaki-KENTA from the same show were both very good, although they didn't hit MOTYC level. Akiyama-MAYBACH was the type of a crazy brawl someone like SEABS would probably enjoy. Botched finish hurt it though.

[Caponex75]

For what it's worth, I loved Shiozaki/KENTA. Shiozaki's power coming into display in many moments such as tossing KENTA to the outside, damn near refusing letting him getting to the ropes, and that boss ass reversal to KENTA sandbagging him. The finish was great but I'm almost sure KENTA nearly tore out Go's shoulder. I enjoyed Go vs. KENTA was more than Sugiura/KENTA.


Oh and in no way was Sugiura/KENTA better than their bout last year. That match finished as a high end match of the year for me. a few things I did like though

Spoiler for KENTA/Sugiura:

I actually like that it's pretty much canon that it takes 3 GTS to put Sugiura down. I mean he is their longest reigning champion ever and did have to get beaten with this much previously. It kinda annoys me when that wrestler get beat with less sometimes(Not saying that more is allows the better option). The botch nearly hurt the match but quick fix Ankle Lock cured that. Plus the fact he was already in a leg wrap position makes it understandable as to why KENTA couldn't pull out the Game Over this time. There are few things I could of went without though. Namely the first GTS pinfall. I'd rather KENTA not been able to make the pin thus start the strike exchange. The second to last one could of just been passed if you asked me but freaking loved that punch sequence. I really really like that KENTA is the only wrestler that can go blow for blow with the Big Boss and not be just punked out. I remember KENTA even won their hardcore slap exchange in 2009 when Sugiura used to be beating people down like that.

[EmbassyForever]

Continue watching as much MOTYC from 2012 as possible.. took the match from Seabs' list (thank you, btw)

DDT What Are You Doing 2012: Kota Ibushi vs Yuji Hino (c) - ****1/2
Really fucking good match, shocked that the match didn't get the hype it desreve here. First time I saw Hino and he was awesome, looked like a boss here and that standing lariat(yep, standing lariat) was amazing (Kota sold it pefrectly). Just an awesome match with Kota beating the odds against the big dude that desreves more hype. In 2013 I'm sure I'll watch more of DDT, they looks like a fun promotion with good wrestlers.

NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY ~ NEW JAPAN LIVE: Hirooki Goto (c) vs Tomohiro Ishii - ****
Woo finally watched it. Great war between these two, great strong-style match and the crowd was into it. Wish Ishii will get more singles matches, he's great. Totally loved the headbutts spot, it got great reaction from the crowd.

40TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR NEW YEAR SHINING SERIES 2012: Suwama Vs Daisuke Sekimoto - ***3/4+
Coming into the match I exepcted this to be similar to Sasaki vs Sekimoto from BJW and just batshit insane with 40sick lariats and headbutts but they actually kept things slow and told very good story with great selling. The last minutes were superb and the power-bomb was sick. Great match but not MOTYC in my opinion.

[dk4life]

I think these are in order, but this is my top 15 or so, didn't really watch any puro last year, but thats changing this year, I am sure there is some missing thou.

1. CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan - Over The Limit
2. John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar - Extreme Rules
3. The Young Bucks vs Super Smash Brothers - Death To All But Metal - No DQ Match
4. Adam Cole vs. Kyle O'Reilly - Best In The World '12: Hostage Crisis
5. James Storm vs. Bobby Roode - Bound for Glory '12
6. Super Smash Brothers vs The Young Bucks vs Future Shock - PWG Threemendous III - Ladder Match
7. Kurt Angle & A.J Styles vs. Kazarian & Christopher Daniels - Slammiversary '12
8. El Generico & Kenny Omega vs The Young Bucks - Failure to Comunicate
9. Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan - Extreme Rules
10. CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho - WrestleMania 28
11. The Shield vs. Ryback & Team Hell No - TLC '12
12. Austin Aries vs.Bobby Roode - Destination X '12
13. El Generico vs Kevin Steen - Last Man Standing - Showdown in the Sun Night 1 '12
14. A.J Styles vs. Christopher Daniels - Last Man Standing - Destination X '12

[EmbassyForever]

Diamond Ring: Shingo Takagi vs Katsuhiko Nakajima - ****1/4+
Oh man this was great. I believe this was the first Diamond Ring's main event and the crowd was super hyped for this one. I'm going to watch the Akiyama and Kobashi tag team match only because of the atmosphere tmosphere in this match (imagine how loud the crowd will be in KOBASHI match). The match was great from beginning till the end, very good leg-work from Shingo and Nakajima actually sold it pretty good through the whole match. Just a kick-ass bout that I really enjoyed.

AJPW 03.02.2012 - Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue vs Masayuki Kono & Minoru Tanaka - ****
Ah fuck. This was unbelieveable. Very similar to Laughter7 awesomeness in NJPW but I even enjoyed this MORE. What a match, what a crowd. Nagata is an awesome showman and probably the best in Japan with Suzuki, he worked the hot crowd so well. Inoue is awesome too and not getting enough cradit. I think I'm going to watch this again now. Nagata's post-match dance was hilarousy awesome. This whole thing just was amazing and thankfully very short (10 minutes!!). Here's a link, give it a chance - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhzGJFtpF4g