Several titles changes highlight Dragon Gate’s first of two shows in Kobe

Dragon Gate held its first of two big shows this weekend in Kobe that will culminate with the retirement match of Masato Yoshino on Sunday.

Photo Courtesy: Dragon Gate

Dragon Gate held its first of two big shows this weekend in Kobe that will culminate with the retirement match of Masato Yoshino on Sunday.

The first night of its Kobe Pro Wrestling Festival featured Genki Horiguchi winning the Open the Brave Gate Championship by defeating Keisuke Okuda.

Okuda had been champion since November 2020 and is Horiguchi’s fourth time holding the belt. He first won the Open the Brave Gate Championship in March 2007 with subsequent reigns in 2008 and 2013.

The other title change on the show saw the crowning of Susumu Yokosuka & King Shimizu as the new Open the Twin Gate champions defeating Kazma Sakamoto & Kaito Ishida (R.E.D.), who had won the titles in May at the Dead or Alive show.

In his penultimate match, Masato Yoshino took the fall in a ten-man tag, teaming with Shuji Kondo, Toru Owashi, Yasshi & Takuya Sugawara against Ultimo Dragon, Naruko Doi, Yamato, Dragon Kid & Kagetora with Kagetora winning with a cradle. This sets up Kagetora for a shot at the Open the Brave Gate Championship on Sunday’s card.

The main event saw Shun Skywalker retain the Open the Dream Gate Championship against Kzy. This sets up a second title defense this weekend as Skywalker will defend against Yamato on Sunday’s show.

Yoshino’s retirement match on Sunday will see him team with Naruki Doi against Eita and BxB Hulk.

Below are the results from Saturday’s card in Kobe and the updated card for Sunday’s show (Courtesy: Purolove.com)
*Open the Dream Gate: Shun Skywalker (champion) over Kzy
*Open the Twin Gate: Susumu Yokosuka & King Shimizu over Kaito Ishida & Kazma Sakamoto (champions)
*Ultimo Dragon, Naruki Doi, Yamato, Dragon Kid & Kagetora over Masato Yoshino, Shuji Kondo, Toru Owashi, Yasshi & Takuya Sugawara
*Open the Brave Gate: Genki Horiguchi over Keisuke Okuda (champion)
*Open the Triangle Gate: Dragon Dia, Jason Lee & La Estrella (champions) over SB Kento, Diamante & Dia Inferno
*Kota Minoura over Eita
*Ben-K, Gamma, Punch Tominaga & Mondai Ryu over Takashi Yoshida, Yosuke Santa Maria, UT & Funky “Jacky” Kamei
*Masaaki Mochizuki, Don Fujii & Ryo Saito over BxB Hulk, HYO & KAI
*Super Shisa, Ko no Mama Ichikawa & Shachihoko Boy over Kenichiro Arai, Yasushi Kanda & K-ness

Sunday, August 1st at 3 a.m. ET on Dragon Gate Network
*Masato Yoshino Retirement: Masato Yoshino & Naruki Doi vs. BxB Hulk & Eita
*Open the Dream Gate: Shun Skywalker (champion) vs. Yamato
*Open the Twin Gate: Susumu Yokosuka & King Shimizu (champions) vs. Dragon Kid & Ben-K
*Open the Triangle Gate: Dragon Dia, Jason Lee & La Estrella (champions) vs. Shuji Kondo, Yasshi & Toru Owashi
*Open the Brave Gate: Genki Horiguchi vs. Kagetora

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Born on a Friday, John Pollock is a reporter, editor & podcaster at POST Wrestling. He runs and owns POST Wrestling alongside Wai Ting.