Dragon Gate USA live Internet PPV report
October 29, 2010
Fall River, Mass.
Report by James Caldwell & Sean Radican, PWTorch Staff

Radican's in-person pre-PPV Bonus Card Report

(A) Sami Callihan beat Tamasso Ciampa, Rip Impact, Silas Young, Cheech, Shane Smalls, and Caleb Conley in a FRAY match. Callihan wins after submitting Young with the stretch muffler. Great opener. (***1/4)

(B) Brandon Webb & Matt Taven beat Scott Reed & Guy Alexander in a short tag match.

(C) Ginny Maseglia beat Ryan Waters with Code Red. Good stuff. (**)

Live PPV Report

1 -- CHUCK TAYLOR vs. RICOCHET vs. JOHNNY GARGANO vs. ARIK CANNON -- Four-way free-style match

Radican's in-person report: Taylor won after pinning Cannon. Afterward, Taylor refused to join CIMA's stable.

WINNER: Taylor. SR: That was awesome. (***1/2)

2 -- HOMICIDE vs. RICH SWANN

Radican's in-person report: Homicide won with a lariat. Homicide also joined the World 1 stable. Homicide virtually dominated the action.

WINNER: Homicide. SR: Good match. (**3/4)

-- Austin Aries was out for a promo. Aries called himself the hottest free agent in wrestling and talked about the so-called decline of the wrestling industry with MMA and other entertainment forms more popular. Aries transitioned into talking about having a bad locker room reputation and being labeled a "cancer." He said he's here to prove he's one of the top wrestlers in the industry. Swann was still in the ring following the match and Aries invited him to be his protege.

JC Reax: Aries's promo was good, but focusing on the one aspect of him talking about the "status of the wrestling industry," I believe one of the reasons for the overall "decline in wrestling" is too much talk about the industry within the context of a wrestling show. It would be like the actors on CSI: Miami talking about a decline of the CSI genre right in the middle of trying to put together the pieces of a case. It would take the audience completely out of the show. TNA is the worst about this. In WWE, it's Michael Cole's character. When the cameras are rolling, wrestling promotions just need to tell the story without talking about the show within the show.

(3) Dragon Gate Japan champion MASATO YOSHINO vs. AUSTIN ARIES -- non-title match

Strong back-and-forth to start things off. The crowd was into the exchanges and counters. Yoshino eventually fought off Aries's trademark offense before he scored a submission victory targeting Aries's left arm. After the match, Swann entered the ring and stood over Aries before extending a friendly hand. He helped up Aries before dropping his hand and jawing at Aries and leaving. The crowd chanted, "You got Swanned." Aries smirked and laughed it off while selling the left arm.

WINNER: Yoshino in 15:00. Very good undercard match that showcased Yoshino's athleticism and continued to build toward the bigger matches on the PPV. SR rating: (***3/4)

-- Backstage, Johnny Gargano cut a promo saying he just needs a shot. He said Chuck Taylor might be off the market, but CIMA should use his Draft Pick on him. "Give me a chance, please," he said.

4 -- JON MOXLEY vs. JIMMY JACOBS -- I Quit match

After a lengthy video package on the Moxley (heel) vs. Jacobs (face) feud, Moxley cut a promo telling Jacobs to get out here. No sign of Jacobs, who came off the balcony with a splash on Moxley to jump start the match. Moxley weathered the storm and took control of the match. Moxley tried some knee strikes that didn't come close to Jacobs. JC: Moxley's an odd bird. At times, he doesn't look sure of himself as a wrestler, yet he's able to get his sadistic character over with a brawling in-ring style. Jacobs was bleeding heavily from the forehead. Moxley was then busted open.

At 10:00, Moxley tied Jacobs's hands behind his back and grabbed a chair. Jacobs was able to avoid a chair shot with a basement dropkick. Jacobs then applied the End Time submission with no access to his hands, which was impressive. Moxley then grabbed the railroad spike and jabbed it into Jacobs's head over and over. Jacobs refused to quit. He then escaped the tie-up and chaired Moxley in the face, with Moxley getting his hands up to absorb the shot, followed by a second. Jacobs then took the spike and jabbed it into Jacobs's groin, causing Moxley to quit.

WINNER: Jacobs in 14:00. Brutal match based on a strong back-story, which made this more than just . Jacobs's bleeding was pretty gruesome and over-the-top even if it fit the "grudge match" format and nature of the feud. SR: Great crowd heat and just an awesome spectacle. (****)

-- After the match, Jacobs said he's come back from a lot in his life, but it won't be complete until he wins a major singles title. He said this is the last time in a long time he's bleeding and jumping off balconies. Jacobs said his path to the DGUSA Title begins tonight. Good promo.

-- Backstage, Sami Callihan said his anxiety is increasing as he waits to find out if he's going to be drafted. Sami screamed that if he does not get the respect he deserves, he's going to start hurting people. Cue up a maniacal laugh.

[Intermission]

5 -- OSIRIAN PORTAL vs. AKEBONO & BRODIE LEE

The far undersized Osirian Portal did a comedy routine and "put Akebono under their spell" to have a fighting chance. Brodie and Akebondo then had a intercommunication, prompting the very large individuals to beat up each other. Brodie and Akebono eventually hit double slams on OP for the double pin. After the match, Akebono and Lee tried to fight each other, leading to the locker room spilling out trying to separate them.

WINNERS: Lee & Akebono in 5:00. Your basic come-back-from-intermission comedy match also serving the purpose of building up the Lee vs. Akebono feud. SR: Fun while it lasted. (*1/2)

-- Backstage, Homicide cut a promo about business picking up. Homicide called himself a one-man LAX and World-1. Suddenly, Jon Moxley jumped Homicide from behind. Moxley, with his dry, harsh voice said he's not afraid of him. Moxley took off and Homicide smiled when he saw blood on his hand.

6 -- CIMA & GENKI HORIGUCHI (w/Ricochet) vs. YAMATO & AKIRA TOZAWA

YAMATO is one of the best heels in wrestling and CIMA is one of the greatest men alive, so this should be good. The big spot early in the match was Akira coming off the top with an axehandle to Horiguchi's long ponytail, which YAMATO put in an "arm wringer." CIMA then tagged in and forced Akira to accept three successive hard chops to the chest. CIMA and Horiguchi worked over Akira for a while before Yamato tagged in and started throwing bombs with his fists and feet.

The action broke down and several close nearfalls resulted for both teams. Horiguchi played to the crowd, giving YAMATO an opening to slap on a sleeper. Guchi broke free, but ended up on the top turnbuckle where YAMATO executed a superplex for a nearfall. Rapid-fire offense from both teams ensued before YAMATO hit a brainbuster on Guchi for another close two count. YAMATO then hit a modified Michonuku Driver, the Gallaria, for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: YAMATO & Tozawa in 25:00. Excellent tag action. YAMATO would be money on a national scale with the way he carries himself and his overall demeanor. SR: Awesome match. Entire building was standing. (****1/2)

-- After the match, refs checked on Horiguchi, who sold a neck injury. Johnny Gargano took it upon himself to hit the ring and talk to CIMA about being drafted. Gargano tried to plead his case for CIMA to draft him, then he attacked him. Rich Swann and Chuck Taylor then joined the action beating down CIMA and Ricochet. Taylor took the mic and said they don't need to be drafted. He said they are Ronin. CIMA then collected himself and said they have a new member. Brodie Lee stormed the ring and cleared Ronin.

-- Backstage, Austin Aries interrupted Lenny Leonard and said he's joining the Warriors for one night only. Aries said it's him, CIMA and Horiguchi vs. Ronin in a six-man tag match tomorrow night in Rahway, N.J.

7 -- DGUSA champion BXB HULK (w/Masato Yoshino) vs. SHINGO -- Open the Freedom Gate Title match

The grudge match began with BxB Hulk charging Shingo, who shot him back to the mat with a big shoulder tackle. Shingo, who is built like a football linebacker, baited BxB Hulk to the outside where he landed a big running knee strike as BxB Hulk was seated on a chair. Shingo completely dominated before Hulk countered a pumphandle slam attempt from the ring apron into a bodyslam onto the edge of the apron. Hulk followed with a top rope moonsault onto Shingo in the front row to slow down Shingo.

Back in the ring, Hulk landed a missile dropkick to the back followed by a standing corkscrew moonsault for a nearfall. Shingo then cut off Hulk with a giant spear mid-ring, setting up another round of power offense. Shingo then hit a top-rope superplex, maintained the hold, and dropped Hulk with a side suplex for a close nearfall. They traded control, then Shingo dropped Hulk with a high-impact pumphandle driver - Made in Japan - for a close two count.

At 25:00, Hulk resumed control and went up top, but Shingo recovered and put Hulk in position for a Torture Rack Bomb, only to have Hulk land on his feet and land multiple kicks to the head. Hulk then went up top and hit a Phoenix Splash for a super close two count. Hulk followed right up with his EVO side powerslam for the pin and the win to retain the DGUSA Title.

WINNER: Hulk in 27:00 to retain the Open the Freedom Gate Title. Excellent, signature singles match capturing Dragon Gate's aggressive and athletic wrestling styles. Both men carried themselves like top stars and delivered a showcase match to be proud of on DGUSA's first live PPV main event. SR: Another awesome match. (****1/2)

After the match, YAMATO tried to attack Hulk, but Masato made the save. Yoshino then took the mic and told YAMATO he'll see him tomorrow night. YAMATO stuck out his tongue and waved off Yoshino's threat. So great. Yoshino then thanked the crowd for joining them as BxB Hulk celebrated in the ring. Lenny Leonard then signed off and plugged the show in New Jersey tomorrow night.

CALDWELL'S FINAL THOUGHTS: An overall very good showcase of in-ring action from bell-to-bell with satisfying matches and the wrestlers settling issues inside the ring without run-ins and over-booked finishes. The venue was not acceptable for a live PPV broadcast, though. DGUSA's production value was acceptable for a first-time live broadcast with mainly a few camera issues to clean up, such as cameraman swinging their cameras around to shoot other parts of the venue while still live on the air. That seemed to improve as the PPV went on. Overall, a successful debut.

Did you watch the DGUSA Internet PPV? We're looking for your Reax and 0-10 score sent to pwtorch@gmail.com.

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