Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival (2019)

Promotional poster for the event, featuring various Dragon Gate wrestlers, Último Drágon and Choi Hong-man

### Tagline(s)

"The Big Match in The Biggest 20th Anniversary" (Japanese: 20周年最大のビッグマッチ, Hepburn: *20-Shūnen Saidai no Biggu Matchi*)

## Information

### City

Kobe, Japan

The **Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival (2019)** or often referred to as **Kobe World** was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event promoted by Dragon Gate (DG). The event took place on July 21, 2019, at the World Memorial Hall in Kobe, Japan. It is the 16th Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, which is Dragon Gate's biggest annual event and it's similar to NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom. The event was also available in their streaming service Dragon Gate Network in both English and Japanese commentaries and was broadcasted live at SKY PerfecTV! as pay-per-view (PPV).

The show was headlined by PAC defending the Open The Dream Gate Championship against the winner of the 2019 King of Gate Ben-K. Another title match for the show featured Tribe Vanguard (YAMATO and KAI) defending the Open The Twin Gate Championship against MaxiMuM (Naruki Doi and Kaito Ishida) and R.E.D (Eita and Big R Shimizu) in a three-way tag team match. Two other title matches also took place on the show with R.E.D (Kazma Sakamoto, Takashi Yoshida and Yasushi Kanda) defending the Open The Triangle Gate Championship against Strong Machines (Strong Machine J, Strong Machine F and Strong Machine G) and Susumu Yokosuka defending the Open The Brave Gate Championship against Flamita.

The event was notable for Dragon Gate celebrating its 20th anniversary, which features the return of many wrestlers who worked for Dragon Gate, returned to the company such as Takuya Sugawara, Shuji Kondo and most notably the founder of Toryumon Japan (which later became Dragon Gate), Último Dragón. South Korean mixed martial artist Choi Hong-man also made a special appearance for the show facing "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa and Ryo Saito. All in all, the event featured nine matches.

## Production

### Background

Since 2004, Dragon Gate began annually producing shows on July in the World Memorial Hall, in Kobe, Japan becoming Dragon Gate's premier annual event similar to what WrestleMania is for WWE and American professional wrestling and Wrestle Kingdom is for NJPW and Japanese professional wrestling. The Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival 2019 was officially announced on May 2019. The would air live through Dragon Gate's internet streaming site, Dragon Gate Network, and Nico Nico Douga, with Japanese language and English language commentaries. The Japanese commentary was provided by Katsuya Ichikawa while the English commentary was provided by Rich Bocchini and Larry Dallas. The event also aired on tape delay on the Japanese TV Gaora Sports to be launched in the Dragon Gate's ~ Infinity ~ Series. The event also was broadcasted live at SKY PerfecTV! as a pay-per-view (PPV) event.

Tickets would go for sale on May 30, costing from $39,93 to $99,83, which was later announced that section of the arena for the event was sold out. On June 21, Dragon Gate announced a fan festival taking place on July 20 at the Kobe Portopia Hotel, including meet and greets with the Dragon Gate roster.

The event featured a special appearance by Último Dragón, making his return to the promotion in nearly two decades teaming with Dragon Kid and Masato Yoshino against Masaaki Mochizuki, Takuya Sugawara and Shuji Kondo. During Dragón's time working for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the United States, Dragón decided to open up a wrestling school to give Japanese hopefuls the chance to learn the Mexican Lucha Libre style. The wrestling school operated after the same principles of a university, divided into classes with several terms where wrestlers would "graduate" (debut) at the same time. Toryumon's combination of traditional Japanese Puroresu, Mexican Lucha Libre and elements of Sports Entertainment that Último Dragón had observed while working for WCW such as outside interference and referee's being knocked out, something that at the time was not traditionally used in Japanese wrestling. The first class of Último Dragón Gym graduates began their own promotion, Toryumon Japan, while the second class of graduates called their promotion Toryumon 2000 Project, which primarily used a submission-based style called Llave (Spanish for "Key" the Lucha libre term for submission locks). T2P ran until January 27, 2003, when the roster was absorbed into Toryumon Japan. That same year, Ultimo Dragon stepped down as President and Director of the Toryumon promotion, handing the reigns over to business partner Takashi Okamura, leaving Japan to sign with World Wrestling Entertainment. After his one-year stint in the WWE, Último Dragón returned to Japan in mid-2004. However, in early June, a press conference was held in which it was announced that Último Dragón was pulling out of the promotion altogether and take the Toryumon name and trademarks with him since he owned the rights. The last show to be promoted under the Toryumon Japan would be at the fifth-anniversary show "Vo Aniversario" at Kobe World Hall in Hyogo on July 4, 2004. Subsequently, Toryumon Japan changed its name to Dragon Gate, continuing the traditions of Toryumon Japan including references to Último Dragón.

On June 30, it was announced that the contract signing ceremony for the title matches would be held on July 20, being broadcasted live for free at Dragon Gate's internet streaming service the Dragon Gate Network. On July 5, Misako Hojo announced that she would be performing Natural Vibes' entrance song at the event. The following day, it was announced that the event would also be broadcasted on Nico Nico Douga with the event costing $14,98. On July 8, it was officially announced that the event would be the promotion's first event with English commentary being provided by Larry Dallas and Rich Bocchini, which was previously reported by the *Voices of Wrestling* and *Pro Wrestling Torch* that the event would be the promotion's first event with English commentary provided by Larry Dallas and Rich Bocchini. Dallas had previously worked for Dragon Gate in 2012, where he was a member and manager of MAD BLANKEY. Dragon Gate would also announce that they were putting the first two matches of the event in the Dragon Gate Network's YouTube channel. On July 10, it was announced that the event would be broadcasted live at SKY PerfecTV! as a pay-per-view (PPV) event. On July 17, it was announced the full card of the event, containing nine matches, which four were contested for championships.

### Storylines

The Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival 2019 featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival (2019) was main event evented by PAC defending the Open The Dream Gate Championship against Ben-K. In February 2019, a storyline had started involving a tension between Ben-K's R.E.D stablemates Big R Shimizu and Eita over the leadership of R.E.D, with Ben-K being caught in the middle of Shimizu and Eita. As part of the storyline, Eita cost Ben-K and Shimizu the match against Tribe Vanguard (YAMATO and KAI), causing them to lose the Open The Twin Gate Championship to Tribe Vanguard. On May 6 at Dead or Alive, Eita and Shimizu along with the rest of the members of R.E.D, turned on Ben-K, with Shimizu revealing that he was never planning on kicking Eita out of the stable, they were working together all this time, while also claiming that Eita was the leader. Afterwards, Ben-K vowed revenge against R.E.D. Later that month, Ben-K took part in the 2019 King of Gate. Ben-K reached the finals of the tournament, being undefeated during the entire tournament. On June 8, Ben-K defeated Eita in the finals to win the tournament. Following the match, Ben-K confronted PAC and announced that he was the next challenger for the championship. PAC felt disrespected by Ben-K after he didn't challenge him in English. The General Manager Takayuki Yagi would announce the title match for the event. On June 9, R.E.D attacked Ben-K after his match, but Shun Skywalker made the save. Afterwards, Ben-K and Skywalker formed a team, in order to have backup against R.E.D. Ben-K vowed to open a new door to the next generation by defeating PAC. While part of R.E.D, Ben-K had previously unsuccessfully challenged Masato Yoshino for the Open The Dream Gate Championship in November 2018. This was the first time that a *Gaijin* was part of the main event of the Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival.

In the Open The Twin Gate Championship match, Tribe Vanguard (YAMATO and KAI) would make their second title defense against MaxiMuM (Naruki Doi and Kaito Ishida) and R.E.D (Eita and Big R Shimizu). On June 9, YAMATO and KAI defended the Open The Twin Gate Championship against Doi and Ishida. The match would end in a no-contest after Eita and Shimizu interfered in the match, while also claiming to be the next challengers. Tribe Vanguard and MaxiMuM weren't satisfied with the conclusion of the match and all teams wanted to face each other in a rematch, leading General Manager Takayuki Yagi to make the match official of the event. On June 29, Doi and Ishida faced Eita and Shimizu in a six-man tag team match where they teamed with their MaxiMuM stablemate Dragon Kid, while Eita and Shimizu teamed with their R.E.D stablemate Takashi Yoshida. Ishida scored the victory pinning Shimizu in 14 seconds. Afterwards, Ishida claimed that Shimizu was nothing more than a sidekick in their team.

The event featured the return of many alumni who worked in the past for Dragon Gate such as members of Aagan Iisou (Takuya Sugawara and Shuji Kondo) and the founder of Toryumon Japan (which later became Dragon Gate), Último Dragón. Since January 16, 2019, Dragon Gate started celebrating its 20th anniversary when the promotion was founded as Toryumon Japan, with Masaaki Mochizuki facing Shuji Kondo, which was won by Kondo. Throughout the celebration, various wrestlers who worked for the promotion in the past or graduated as part of the Toryumon classes, which includes wrestlers who worked for its splinter promotions part of the Dragon System such as Toryumon 2000 Project. Various Dragon Gate wrestlers reverted to their old gimmick for one night only, most notably Masato Yoshino, who returned to his old YOSSINO gimmick and the return of Toru Owashi. The next wrestler to return as part of the celebration was Takuya Sugawara, who returned to the promotion on March 7. During this time, Yoshino reminded that celebration was going to end at Kobe World on July 21 and he wanted to Último Dragón to take part in the show. Dragón was the founder of Toryumon Japan and left the promotion on July 4, 2004, taking the name and trademarks with him and the promotion subsequently changed its name to Dragon Gate. On May 9, a person with Último Dragón mask's came to the ring and mimicked his mannerisms, which was revealed to be Toru Owashi. Owashi told Yoshino that he had told Dragón about the subject and Dragón told him to dress like him, the rest of the roster came out and asked Owashi to tell Dragón to return the promotion. On June 6, Dragón returned to the promotion, leading Yoshino to ask him to take part in the event as part of the 20th-anniversary celebration. Dragón initially didn't have an answer, but the whole roster came out and asked him to take part in the event, which he accepted. The match was announced on June 15.

In the Open The Triangle Gate Championship match, R.E.D (Kazma Sakamoto, Takashi Yoshida and Yasushi Kanda) would make their fourth title defense against the Strong Machines (Strong Machine J, Strong Machine F, and Strong Machine G). On March 10, 2019, Strong Machines made their debut in Dragon Gate defeating former Open The Triangle Gate Champions Natural Vibes (Genki Horiguchi, Kzy and Susumu Yokosuka). Afterwards, the Strong Machines began a winning streak, which on June 6, Strong Machines began indicating they wanted a title match for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship starting by attacking Kanda after his match. On June 23, Strong Machines attacked Kanda again after his match, indicating they wanted a title match. Yoshida came out and accepted their challenge, leading General Manager Takayuki Yagi to announce the title match for the event. In a backstage interview, Strong Machines vowed to continue their undefeated streak and win the titles.

    In the Open The Brave Gate Championship match, Susumu Yokosuka would make his third title defense against Flamita. In June 2019, Flamita made his return to Dragon Gate. At the end of the month, Flamita and Yokosuka faced each other in multiple tag team matches, with Flamita pinning Yokosuka each time. On June 29, after being beaten by Flamita for the third time, Yokosuka challenged him to a match for his Open The Brave Gate Championship with General Manager Takayuki Yagi announcing the title match for the event. The title match was announced on June 30. During one of the matches between the two Flamita injured his leg. Yokosuka expressed his concerns, but he would allow Flamita to face him if his injury wasn't too serious. Flamita and Yokosuka had previously faced each other for the Open The Brave Gate Championship in May 2014, with Flamita defeating Yokosuka.

The event also featured a two-on-one handicap match with Ryo Saito and "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa facing South Korean mixed martial artist Choi Hong-man. On July 22, 2018, at the previous Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, Saito and Ichikawa faced each other in a match. During the match, Choi Hong-man who was seated at ringside and had an altercation with Ichikawa who challenged him to get to the ring, which was followed by Saito, but the two were quickly overpowered by him, prompting an apology from them and both wrestlers returned to the ring. On June 29, Ichikawa tried to take Masato Yoshino spot in his match with Último Dragón but failed, reminding he didn't have a match at the event. However, later that night, Naruki Doi announced he was working behind the scenes for his friend Choi Hong-man to face Ichikawa and Saito in a match, which he agreed.

## Event

### Preliminary matches

The pay-per-view opened with an introduction of the match card of the event and the title matches.

The first match of the show featured Super Shisa, K-ness., Shachihoko Machine, Mondai Ryu and Draztik Boy facing Kenichiro Arai, Jason Lee, Keisuke Okuda, Dragon Dia and Jimmy in a winning effort after K-ness pinned Dia with the *Hikari no Wa*.

Next, it was a three-way six-man tag team match between Mochizuki Dojo (Yuki Yoshioka, Hyou Watanabe and Kota Minoura), Tribe Vanguard (BxB Hulk, Yosuke♥Santa Maria and Kagetora) and Natural Vibes (Genki Horiguchi, "brother" YASSHI and Punch Tominaga). Before the match, it was shown a promo featuring Hulk talking about his return to in-ring competition after being sidelined with an injury. In the end, Watanabe performed a Diving Senton on Kagetora to win the match for his team.

The following match featured a two-on-one handicap match between Choi Hong-man against Ryo Saito and "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa as part of Dragon Gate 20th Anniversary celebration. The match ended after the referee Takayuki Yagi stopped the match after Choi choked Ichikawa. Afterwards, he began dancing with two children as a way of celebrating Dragon Gate 20th Anniversary.

Next, it was a singles match between Kzy facing Shun Skywalker. During Kzy's entrance, the Natural Vibes' theme song was performed by Misako Hojo. In the end, Kzy performed the *Impact* on Skywalker to win the match.

The following match featured R.E.D (Kazma Sakamoto, Takashi Yoshida and Yasushi Kanda) defending the Open The Triangle Gate Championship against Strong Machines (Strong Machine J, Strong Machine F and Strong Machine G). Before the match, it was shown a promo about the title match. After the Open The Triangle Gate Championship ceremony the two teams immediately attacked each other. The match ended with Strong Machine J performed the *Majin Fusha Gatame* on Kanda to become the new champions. After the match, Yoshida attacked Strong Machine J and Strong Machine F until they overpowered him. Shogun KY Wakamatsu would talk about Strong Machines being strong than anyone and he announced that the Strong Machines would take on all comers for the Open The Triangle Gate Championships.

In the next match, Susumu Yokosuka defended the Open The Brave Gate Championship against Flamita. Before the match, it was shown a promo about the title match. The match would end after Yokosuka performed the *Mugen* to retain his title. Following the match, Flamita showed signs of sportsmanship after putting the Open The Brave Gate Championship belt around Yokosuka's waist and thanking him for the match. Afterwards, former Toryumon Japan mascot Ulty and other Dragon Gate personnel distributed t-shirts to the crowd. The event would enter in a short break showing the King of Gate finals between Ben-K and Eita, which Ben-K won after a spear. During the break, Dragon Gate alumni Akira Tozawa and Shingo Takagi delivered a message to Dragon Gate audience congratulating Dragon Gate on its 20th anniversary, with Tozawa wishing the best to his former KAMIKAZE, MAD BLANKEY and MONSTER EXPRESS stablemates.

The next match was a six-man tag team match between Dragon Kid, Masato Yoshino and Último Dragón against Masaaki Mochizuki, Takuya Sugawara and Shuji Kondo as part of the celebration of Dragon Gate 20th anniversary. Before the match, it was shown a promo about Último Dragón and the promotion's history. In the end, Dragón secured the victory for his team after pinning Mochizuki with the *La Magistral*. Afterwards, Yoshino praised Dragón efforts in the match and thanked him for taking part of the show, while also stating that he never expected for him to return to the promotion and begged him to return to the promotion again, which was followed by Genki Horiguchi and Mochizuki, leading Dragón to accept. Yoshino also thanked Kondo and Sugawara for taking part in the show.

The following match featured Tribe Vanguard (YAMATO and KAI) defending the Open The Twin Gate Championship against R.E.D (Eita and Big R Shimizu) and MaxiMuM (Naruki Doi and Kaito Ishida) in a three-way tag team elimination match. Before the match, it was shown a promo about the title match. The first team to be eliminated from the match was MaxiMuM after Shimizu performed the *Shot-put Slam* on Ishida for the first elimination. In the last moments of the match, Eita's R.E.D stablemate Yasushi Kanda distracted the referee, while Eita hit YAMATO with a chair and then performed the *Salamander* on him to become the new champions.

### Main event

In the main event, PAC defended the Open The Dream Gate Championship against Ben-K. Before the match started it was showed a promo of the title match. Following the entrances, started the championship ceremony between the two wrestlers. Then it was displayed the national anthem of England and Japan, which led to the introduction of both wrestlers. In the final moments of the match, R.E.D interfered in the match after the referee was taken out, but Ben-K overpowered them, leading PAC to roll up Ben-K in a near fall, he would then perform two spears and two *Ben-K Bomb*s to become the new champion, ending PAC's undefeated streak. After the match, Ben-K talked about being the new champion and also being able to reach the top in the three years of his professional wrestling career. He would then proclaim to be the strongest wrestler in the promotion over YAMATO, Naruki Doi and Masato Yoshino and being the ace of the promotion. He would then invite all the roster to come out. Ben-K would then pass the microphone to YAMATO, which caught him by surprise and YAMATO, Doi and Yoshino congratulated him for his victory against PAC. Yoshino also reminded Ben-K that he turned on MaxiMuM, but Yoshino handed him the microphone. Ben-K stated that he would carry the promotion into the future and proclaimed they were Dragon Gate to close out the show.

## Reception

Case Lowe in his review of the event for *Voices of Wrestling* said this was the "best show" he had "ever seen this year" and "one of the best Dragon Gate shows" he had ever seen. Lowe stated that the match between Kzy and Shun Skywalker "was a perfectly executed wrestling match" adding that Dragon Gate was "committing to excellence on every possible level". He awarded the match between Kzy and Skywalker a four and a half stars. In the Open The Twin Gate Championship match, Lowe awarded the match four and three-quarter stars, the highest-rated match on the card. The main event, he awarded the match four and a quarter stars. The only negative for the show was the Strong Machines post-match promo after winning the Open The Triangle Gate Championship, stating that their "promo was the quietest the building was all night."

Mathew Sarpraicone in his review of the event for *The Chairshot* said that "it was a great show with great matches and unforgettable moments [...] but it also meant that Dragon Gate will be moving forward with a future star", calling it the "perfect opportunity to for Dragon Gate to create something new".

Dave Meltzer in his review of the event for *Wrestling Observer Newsletter* praised the commentary stating that "Larry Dallas, who did an incredible job of both announcing, calling the stories of the matches, explaining the characters and the stables and just remaining entertaining with stories for five hours. His presentation was completely different from any English language announcer. He had great knowledge of the product as he had worked in the dojo and as a heel manager with the group years ago. He led Rich Bocchini, who handled play-by-play but was more of a first-timer in Japan and learning who the people were and their roles." He awarded 4 stars in the fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth matches on the show and would give two stars to Open the Triangle Gate Championship match, being the worst ranked match of the show. Meltzer would praise the main event saying to be a "pretty much a classic world title match", he told that Ben-K's push to the main event would be something foreign "the idea of putting your world title on someone so new who doesn’t have a special size or wasn’t a star in another sport is almost foreign in wrestling".

## Aftermath

Four days after the event, Dragon Gate announced a spin-off live event of the event named Okayama Pro-Wrestling Festival, with the event being held in Okayama at the Okayama Nadasaki Bunka Hall. Also, on July 29, it was announced that the British wrestler, Martin Kirby would make his debut in the promotion

Following the event, Eita teased an announcement, which he would reveal their next target on September 11. During that Dragón would compete in a series of matches which would culminate on September 11 when R.E.D interfered in a match between Dragón, Dragon Kid and Darkness Dragon against Masato Yoshino, Naruki Doi and YAMATO causing it to be a no contest. Afterwards, Eita revealed that R.E.D's next target was Dragón and R.E.D continued to attack him until Ryo Saito, Super Shisa, and Darkness Dragon made the save. Afterwards, Dragón agreed to make his full-time return to the promotion. Afterwards, it was also announced that Dragón would become a senior advisor for the promotion. Afterwards on October 8, R.E.D lost to Dragón, Saito, Shisa, and Dragon. Afterwards, R.E.D turned on Kanda after he refused to attack his mentor Dragón. Eita also announced that R.E.D would be joined by two new members. Their identity was kept secret under the disguise of Dr. Muscle, known as the Green and Red Masked Demons, respectively. On December 4, Ishida revealed himself to be the Green Masked Demon, after being forced to take part in a match between MaxiMuM and Ultimo Drágon and R.E.D, blaming his former stablemates Naruki Doi and Masato Yoshino for trying to get revenge on R.E.D for Drágon. Afterwards, Ishida's was attacked by his former stablemate Jason Lee, leading General Manager Takayuki Yagi to announced that Ishida would defend his title against Lee at Final Gate on December 15.

Meanwhile, Watanabe began developing a cheating mean-streak. On September 11, after Okuda accidentally attacked Watanabe, which cost him his match against Kaito Ishida, the two were involved in a heated confrontation until Mochizuki proposed a match between the two, which Ishida later asked to part of it, leading Mochizuki to accept. On October 8, during a three-way against Okuda and Ishida, Watanabe began viciously attacking Okuda and afterwards joined the heel stable R.E.D, claiming that Mochizuki Dojo was his idea and his former stablemates Minoura and Yoshioka were just sidekicks, since they didn't come together as a unit or won any championships. Afterwards, Mochizuki, Minoura and Yoshioka vowed revenge against him, leading Mochizuki to challenge him to a match, the match would later end in a double disqualification.

On December 18, BxB Hulk turned on YAMATO to join R.E.D, revealing himself to be the Red Masked Demon. He would blame YAMATO for inviting KAI to the stable, while he was injured when KAI also had a neck injury. This led to Hulk stealing the Open The Twin Gate Championship belts. Afterwards, the additon of Hyo, Ishida and Hulk began a "Generation War" between R.E.D, Dragon Gate and Toryumon.

## Results

### Three-way elimination tag team match

 2
 Winners: