Tremendous Tirades 4.06.13: Dragon Gate USA Open The Ultimate Gate 2013 iPPV

Brian Kendrick vs. Rich Swann: And we’re off to a great start early in the match as we are having iPPV issues with the feed. You’d get about 5-10 seconds of action, freeze for about the same amount of time, and then back to action for a bit before more freezing. I do love the people trying to say it’s not the company’s fault, and that it is shitty Internet at the building. Um, maybe, just maybe that shit could have been tested ahead of time. So they stopped the stream and restarted it during the match, and I am being asked to be patient. Sorry, I paid to see a show, not a frozen image. So we had the match finally come back. The early part, from what I could tell, was some back and forth wrestling, and when we got back, the pace had picked up, with Swann hitting a dive to the floor. Swann kept the pace up and got two really good near falls off of the ace crusher and then the frog splash. Nice home stretch of counters and near falls, and the finish was Swann counter sliced bread and hit the lights out (trouble in paradise) for the win. What I saw was fun, but no rating for now because I didn’t see the full match. Kendrick continues to be fun in EVOLVE and DGUSA.

Match Rating: n/a

Six Way Freestyle: Chuck Taylor vs. Arik Cannon vs. Jigsaw vs. Tony Nese vs. Fire Ant vs. Shane Strickland: First pin wins the match, and this is supposed to be a wild style match. I always like when some of the other CHIKARA guys like Jigsaw and Fire Ant get a chance to work DGUSA, because they always seem to deliver fun matches. They were having a fun match, and they built to the big spot where everyone does dives, but Strickland screwed the pooch twice and killed the momentum. Thankfully they were able to recover from that, and went into a revolving door spot of clotheslines, cross body spots and superkicks to get the crowd back. Really fn finish as Strickland hit the reverse RANA on Cannon, but that left him set for Nese to hit the 450 on him and that was all it took for Nese to snag the victory. Your enjoyment of the match will vary, this isn’t meant to be a traditional style wrestling match, it is supposed to be that exhibition style, essentially a well choreographed spotfest, and there is nothing wrong with doing those from time to time, as long as the whole card isn’t like that. I thought it was rather great, and showcased a lot of talent. Nese winning plays well off of last night, where it was announced he signed with WWNLive.

Match Rating: ***¾

Derek Ryze vs. Scot Reed w/Larry Dallas and Trina: And nothing kills the momentum of an iPPV more than Larry Dallas and the Scene. These guys are the definition of go away heat. But don’t tell Larry Dallas that, he’s been to Japan and he’ll let you know about it, just ask him. Ryze got some run, but Reed destroyed him rather easily. Comedown match, it was what it was.

Match Rating: *

Jon Davis vs. Trent?: Samuray Del Sol was Davis’ original opponent, but due to an injury was pulled from tonight’s show. The former Trent Baretta is the replacement. Speaking of the crowd going mild, Jon Davis kids, a man nobody would give a single fuck too is their own lives depended on it. The crowd started off hot tonight, but has really tapered off. Trent’s in great shape, and has been getting good reviews for his work since leaving WWE. This match looks like John Morrison battling Tank Abbot; make of that what you will. Man, the crowd has turned into the EVOLVE crowd from yesterday. Seriously, they do not care. Trent worked hard, and I get that there may have been disappointment due to Del Sol being out, but I also feel that Davis is becoming a liability to EVOLVE and DGUSA. His big push failed, and people just do not respond to the guy, and the general lack of response and people caring is just not good for the product. To further piss off the audience, Davis got disqualified for the second day in a row. He then murdered the ref like yesterday and hit three seconds around the world on Trent. He cut a promo on the audience, saying he doesn’t care, and then discussed the DQ and said that he has nothing to lose. He then challenged anyone in the back, noting that he would take out the fan’s superhero. The crowd chanted for Super Dragon, Hulk Hogan and others, and Davis blew it off and said he would kill both of them. He then left. Yup. I get that they are trying to tell a story with Davis, but this fell flat as hell.

Match Rating: **

The Super Smash Brothers vs. EITA & CIMA’s Secret Weapon (Tomahawk TT): As many predicted, Tomahawk TT was CIMA’s secret weapon. Most felt that he would be the man since he has been working in Mexico, and could easily be brought in. Early on they did some comedy, which you expect with the SSB, but they also had some timing issues, and it was a bit of a rough start. Things started to come together though as the match went on and the pace picked up. They ran a sick near fall when EITA and Tomahawk hit a doomsday lung blower for a crazy near fall. EITA and Tomahawk countered the fatality, EITA wiped out Dos with a SWEET moonsault to the floor while Tomahawk hit a falcon arrow variation for the win. Hot finish and they recovered well from the rough beginning. If that was a bit tighter, this could have been one of the very best matches of the weekend. Still, it was very enjoyable and this was a really good debut as a team for EITA and Tomahawk, and they were the right team as far as the winners go, due to them being booked in tomorrow’s big six man main event.

Match Rating: ***¾

Akira Tozawa w/Christina Von Eerie vs. Ricochet : This was one of the matches I was really looking forward too. Both guys are great and tend to deliver big time when I get to see them. They did the expected quick start, easily getting the crowd into things and setting the pace for the early portion of the match. Christina Von Eerie got involved at one point, laying the books to Ricochet on the floor and also hitting a suplex, allowing Tozowa to fully take control of things. Near the finish they did a sweet spot where Tozowa hit a Saito suplex, but Ricochet popped up and landed a kick to the head, which led to both guys being down. They then brawled a bit, and Tozowa about killed Ricochet with a German suplex while both were standing on the ring apron. That was followed with what could have been a great finish, as Tozowa did the electric chair into a German and then hit a dead lift German for a near fall. Things kept building, Ricochet countered the dead lift German, hit the back slide driver and then a swank 630 to pick up the hard fought victory. This was a match filled with amazing work and sweet back and forth action, and the crowd got hotter as the match went on. One of the top matches of the weekend thus far.

Match Rating: ****½

Sami Callihan vs. Uhaa Nation: This is something like Callihan’s 7th match of the weekend. Dude is earning his money for sure. They worked a different style, which is good coming off of the Tozowa vs. Ricochet match. More deliberate, hard-hitting style. Sami got a near finish with the stretch muffler, but Nation was able to counter with a roll up. Sami worked on the knee of Nation, which they have well documented he is coming back from a serious injury. There was lots of work on the knee by Sami, with Nation battling back with a slingshot powerbomb for a great near fall. Nation finally scored the win with a press slam, standing moonsault and then standing SSP combo. The match didn’t really do much for me, and the crowd seemed out of it for one reason or another. Not bad, but I had trouble getting into it at times.

Match Rating: **¾

Open The United Gate Tag Team Title Match: CIMA & AR Fox defend vs. The Young Bucks: I know that a lot of people don’t like the Young Bucks, but these dudes are simply entertaining. Early fun with the superkicks and then back rakes, including Matt Jackson doing a cartwheel, back hand spring, and then doing a back rake to a “this is awesome” chant for fun. The early portion of the match featured the Bucks in control, keeping Fox isolated and frustrating CIMA. After working over Fox for some time, CIMA finally got the hot tag and ran wild, but the crowd didn’t react like you’d think for it. The champs ran wild, including the iconoclasm and senton combo, but the Bucks survived. They then did a sweet series of superkicks, counters and such that led to all four men being down. Insane spike tombstone by the Bucks for a near fall on Fox, but CIMA barely made the save. The champs looked to score the big win after Lo Mien Pain and the double knees from CIMA, but again the save was just barely made. The Bucks got a low blow on CIMA, and then got more bang for your buck on Fox to score the victory and the titles. Booking wise this was expected. Fox won the EVOVLE title, the Bucks win here, which will likely lead to Gargano retaining later, and CIMA winning the six man tomorrow to get his title shot at the anniversary show. So in that regard, things seem to be falling in place nicely. This was very similar to the SSB match, where the beginning was a little down and the crowd was out of it. The action picked up, they worked really hard, and by the end they got the crowd back and delivered a strong finish. It was really good and a they get the show back on track after the Nation-Callihan match.

Match Rating: ***¾

Open The Freedom Gate Title Match: Johnny Gargano defends vs. Shingo : Shingo is returning to DGUSA after a two-year absence. Gargano has been the Open The Freedom Gate champion for over 500 days at this time. The early story of the match was Gargano trying to overcome the strength and striking of Shingo. They had good back and forth and Gargano finally got the real advantage when they went to the floor for an extended segment. Gargano was rolling, but Shingo caught him on the run and destroyed him with a death valley driver on the concrete. This played well as a few moments later they did a really good near fall spot where Gargano avoided the DVD, countered, but then got caught for the close call. They did the big striking exchange, leading to the Gargano escape, but Shingo made the ropes. Gargano would escape the last falconry, and get a RANA off the top, leading to a lawn dart, but Shingo was able to survive. They again did a crazy striking exchange, and really got the crowd back into things and they were simply beating the piss out of each other until Shingo hit the bomber and both men were down. Shingo then hit the last falconry for an insane near fall as at 12:02AM the crowd went wild. Gargano struggled to his feet, countered made in Japan and hit the Hurts Don’t It for another near fall. He then locked in the Gargano escape mid-ring, but Shingo again managed to get the ropes and survive. Shingo came back again and hit a dead lift made in Japan for yet another great near fall, followed by the bomber for another near fall. The crowd is getting louder on each near fall. They teased a ref bump and Shingo got made in Japan again and yet again Gargano survived. Crowd is standing here, they were battling and Gargano accidentally hit the ref with a back elbow. Gargano then low kicked Shingo and superkicked him, and then grabbed tape-string from his tights and choked out Shingo. He then locked in the Gargano escape and scored the submission victory. Commentary put over that Gargano had treated being champion with respect, only to win that way.

The crowd shit on the finish, with those in attendance noting on Twitter that they felt they ruined the show with it. I won’t go that far, but I wasn’t exactly a fan of a finish like that after a match that was honestly feeling pretty epic, because it did take away from the work. It is very questionable when you consider that DGUSA doesn’t play by the usual face-heel dynamic rules, and just books as things go along and work out organically. I am willing to see where it goes, but it did take away from the match for me.

Match Rating: ****½