D'Courage

The official logo of the unit

**D'Courage** (ディーカレッジ, *Dīkarejji*) is a professional wrestling group, primarily appearing in the Japanese promotion Dragon Gate (DG). The group was formed in January 2022, by Dragon Dia and Yuki Yoshioka as a duo.

Following the conclusion of a feud between Dia and Dia Inferno, who was later revealed to be Yoshioka after forcing Dia unmask, both decided to form a team achieving imediate success, after quickly winning the Open The Twin Gate Championship. Following the result of a fan vote, their team was named "D'Courage". They became a stable, following the addition of Madoka Kikuta in October 2022, who quickly brought the Open The Dream Gate Championship to the stable, before D'Courage was joined by a fourth member Ryoya Tanaka in November 2023.

## History

### Background (2019-2021)

In December 2019, Dragon Dia and Yuki Yoshioka joined the Dragon Gate Generation stable in order to unite all wrestlers of the Dragon Gate generation against Toryumon and R.E.D in a "Generation War". On March 3, 2019, Yoshioka announced that he was going on a learning excursion to Mexico.

Meanwhile over the following months, Dia began feuding with R.E.D, with Eita teasing a "secret weapon", which was later revealed to be "Dia Inferno", before ripping Dia's mask, interrupting a match between him and Takashi Yoshida, with Eita citing (on Inferno's behalf) his ambition to end Dia. On November 15, at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, Dragon Gate's biggest show of the year, Dia faced Inferno in a winning effort, after Inferno removed his mask causing the referee to award Dia the win. This outcome of the match led Dragon Gate to announce that Dia would face Inferno in a *Lucha de Apuestas* ("Bet Match"), Mask vs. Mask match at Final Gate; however, the match was changed before the event, continuing the feud.

In October 2020, as part of the feud between Masquerade and R.E.D, Dia reignited his feud with Inferno, which culminated to a *Lucha de Apuestas* match, where Dia was forced to unmask. Following the match, after achieving his goal, Inferno revealed himself to be the returning Yuki Yoshioka, ending his association with R.E.D.

### Formation and championship success (2022–Present)

On January 12, 2022, Dia made his return to Dragon Gate, repackaged with a skater gimmick, before Yoshioka making his return as Dia Inferno, to help Dia defeating SB KENTo to win the Open The Brave Gate Championship in 90 seconds, following the the interference from H.Y.O. Afterwards, Dia and Yoshioka challenged KENTo and H.Y.O to a title match for the Open The Twin Gate Championship. The following day, Dia and Yoshioka defeated KENTo and H.Y.O to win the Open The Twin Gate Championship, with Dia becoming a double champion in the process. On February 4, Dia proprosed a fan vote to decide the name for his team with Yoshioka. Following the result of the fan vote, their team was named "D'Courage", a combination of the D from Dia and the Japanese word for courage (勇気, *yūki*), of which an alternate spelling from Yoshioka's first name, Yuki (有紀). After failling to regain the Open The Twin Gate Championship alongside H.Y.O on March 23, KENTo challenged Dia to a rematch for the Open The Brave Gate Championship at Dead or Alive, which he accepted. On April 21, KENTo challenged Dia to a rematch for the Open The Twin Gate Championship, but he refused. Afterwards, Skywalker began manipulating Dia into accepting a title match, after remiding him on how he cost his mask, leading Dia to accept. Despite General Manager Ryo Saito's reservations, Dia persisted and both title matches were scheduled for the event. On May 5, at Dead or Alive, Dia and Yoshioka lost the Open The Twin Gate Championship to Z-Brats (Diamante and Shun Skywalker). Later that night, Dia successfully retained the Open The Brave Gate Championship against SB KENTo. Later that month, Dia and Yoshioka took part in the 2022 King of Gate. Dia was eliminated in the first round. Meanwhile, Yoshioka ended up winning the tournament, after defeating Kota Minoura in the final on June 2. On July 30 at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, Dia lost the Open The Brave Gate Championship to H.Y.O. Later that night, Yoshioka defeated KAI to win the Open The Dream Gate Championship. Shortly after, Dia began teaming with Madoka Kikuta, with the duo winning the Open The Twin Gate Championship, after being joined by Yoshioka, leading Kikuta eventually to be accepted into D'Courage on October 15, turning the team into a stable. On December 2, Dia and Kikuta lost the Open The Twin Gate Championship to BxB Hulk and KAI.

On January 11, 2023, Yoshioka lost the Open The Dream Gate Championship to Shun Skywalker. The following month, Yoshioka and Kikuta took part in the 2023 Rey De Parejas, finishing the tournament with a record of two wins, two draws and one loss, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament. On March 2, Yoshioka and Kikuta defeated Z-Brats (KAI and Shun Skywalker) and then M3K (Susumu Mochizuki and Yasushi Kanda), in the semifinals and finals to win the 2023 Rey de Parejas. Traditionally, the winners of the tournament have earned a shot at the Open The Twin Gate Championship and following the win, Yoshioka and Kikuta called out reigning champions, Natural Vibes (Big Boss Shimizu and Kzy), and challenged them to a title match, which they accepted. On March 5, at Champion Gate in Osaka, Yoshioka and Kikuta unsuccessfully challenged Kzy and Shimizu for the Open The Twin Gate Championship. On May 5, at Dead or Alive, Kikuta defeated Shun Skywalker to win the Open The Dream Gate Championship. On July 2 at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, Kikuta successfully defended the Open The Dream Gate Championship Yoshioka. On November 5 at Gate of Destiny, Dia and Yoshioka defeated M3K (Susumu Mochizuki and Yasushi Kanda) to win Open The Twin Gate Championship. Four days later, Ryoya Tanaka became the newest member of the stable. On December 20, Dia and Yoshioka relinquished the Open The Twin Gate Championship, after Yoshioka was sidelined with a detached retina.

## Members

 Yuki Yoshioka | \*
 Ryoya Tanaka |  | November 9, 2023 – Present

## In wrestling

* **Double-team finishing moves**
	+ **Dia and Yoshioka**
		- Firebird splash (Dia) followed by a Frog splash (Yoshioka)
* **Double-team signature moves**
	+ **Dia and Yoshioka**
		- Assisted standing moonsault (Dia)
		- Assisted wheelbarrow facebuster (Yoshioka)
		- Rocking horse (Dia) / Basement dropkick (Yoshioka)
		- Running back elbow (Yoshioka) followed by a handstand back elbow smash (Dia)
		- Double knee facebreaker (Yoshioka) followed by a step-up enziguiri (Dia)
* **Entrance themes**
	+ **"Courage and Diamond"** by Okinawa Electric Girl Saya

 Championships and Accomplishments

* **Dragon Gate**
	+ Open The Dream Gate Championship (2 times, current) – Yoshioka (1) and Kikuta (1, current)
	+ Open The Brave Gate Championship (1 time) – Dia
	+ Open The Twin Gate Championship (3 times) – Dia and Yoshioka (1) and Dia and Kikuta (2)
	+ King of Gate (2022) – Yoshioka
	+ Rey De Parejas (2023) – Yoshioka and Kikuta

## Gallery

* Gallery
* Current Members
* Champions
* Accomplishments

The original members of D'CourageD'Courage post Madoka Kikuta's additionD'Courage post Ryoya Tanaka's addition

Dragon DiaYuki YoshiokaMadoka KikutaRyoya Tanaka

Dia as the Open The Brave Gate ChampionDia and Yoshioka as the Open The Twin Gate ChampionsYoshioka as the Open The Dream Gate ChampionDia and Kikuta as the Open The Twin Gate ChampionsKikuta as the Open The Dream Gate Champion

Yoshioka as the winner of the 2022 King of GateYoshioka and Kikuta as the winners of the 2023 Rey de Parejas