At DRAGONGATE Kobe Pro Wrestling Festival 2023, there will be big a junior heavyweight dream match. As current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Hiromu Takahashi visits to battle YAMATO. This stems from this year’s All-Star Junior Festival which Hiromu hosted, and YAMATO threatened to boycott.
However, this match represents more than a minor dispute. It’s a dream match built on company pride, wanting to be the best, and elevating junior heavyweight wrestling.
⑤ Open the Twin Gate Championship Match
(Champions)
Susumu Mochizuki
Yasushi Kanda
vs.
(Challengers)
B×B Hulk
Ben-K⑥ Special Singles Match
YAMATO
vs.
Hiromu Takahashi (New Japan Pro-Wrestling) pic.twitter.com/wMGR9IPhgv— Dragongate Japan Pro-Wrestling (Official English) (@DragonGateEN) June 12, 2023
YAMATO’s Attempted Boycott
When Hiromu Takahashi with the help of LEC Corporation started putting together the All-Star Junior Festival, it was seen as a positive for junior heavyweights. Everyone was pretty happy about being selected to participate. Well everyone, but YAMATO.
YAMATO noted he thought the event was classic New Japan Pro Wrestling throwing their weight around. Looking down on the smaller companies like DRAGONGATE, which they only call upon when it’s convenient for them. Even going as far as to refuse to paint the canvas for the event, as well as argue with NJPW fans who took offense to his statement.
Despite all of that the narcissistic YAMATO showed up to the event, and competed. Before going on to thank Hiromu for putting the show on, but before exiting requested one thing. To repay him for showing up, then Hiromu should come have a match in a DRAGONGATE ring. Hiromu agreed, and that’s where it stood on June 1st.
DRAGONGATE ran Korakuen Hall, and YAMATO urged sponsor LEC Corporation that he was ready for another big match at Kobe Pro Wrestling Festival. That’s when he was presented with a video challenge from Hiromu Takahashi. The match was made.
Guiding Lights of Their Companies
Both of these men are irreplaceable for their respective promotions in hindsight. Hiromu Takahashi truly has been the savior of the New Japan Pro Wrestling junior heavyweight division. As the face of the division, he’s always speaking out seeking better opportunities for junior wrestlers. Without him who knows if there would’ve even been an All-Star Junior Festival?
However, YAMATO hasn’t been the savior of a division. He’s constantly been the savior of DRAGONGATE as a whole through multiple dark periods it was always him who steered the ship. He’s been Open The Dream Gate Champion more times than anyone else in company history. Not only that, but he is still seen as “The Almighty” by DRAGONGATE wrestlers no matter how many times he falls out of title contention.
For this reason, YAMATO feels he can’t fail here, and needs to defend the honor of DRAGONGATE. Wanting to prove that no matter the size, New Japan isn’t at the top and DRAGONGATE isn’t at the bottom.
What To Expect From This Match?
This match exceeds an inter-promotional match between NJPW and DRAGONGATE even if both sides don’t see this way. This match will push junior wrestling forward, as two of the greatest juniors of the modern era meet on DRAGONGATE’s biggest stage.
For Hiromu, he gets a chance to beat a junior legend and keep adding to a great career so far. While YAMATO can prove the older generation of DRAGONGATE can still go, and no matter what he will always be almighty.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. Looking to watch Dragon Gate? All their live shows will be on their steaming service Dragon Gate Network. Looking to talk wrestling, pro football, or any number of sports?
