Toryumon Reunion Vol.2

Promotional card for the event

**Toryumon Reunion Vol.2** (闘龍門、再会。vol.2, *Toryumon, Saikai. Vol.2*) was a professional wrestling event promoted by Dragon Gate (DG). The show took place on June 3, 2022 at the Koruaken Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The event featured the reunion of various wrestlers that graduated from the Ultimo Dragon Gym classes and were trained by the founder of Toryumon system Último Drágon, which later led to the creation of Dragon Gate stable in Dragon Gate by former students of Último Drágon.

The event also featured Dragon Gate wrestlers after the Toryumon split, including from other promotions through which Dragon Gate has working relationship and other freelancers, who were part of the Dragon System.

The event is also available in Dragon Gate's streaming service Dragon Gate Network in both English and Japanese commentaries.

## Production

### Background

The second Toryumon Reunion event was officially announced on May 6, 2022. The event 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 would be provided by Jae Chruch and Ho Ho Lun. The event also aired on tape delay on the Japanese TV Gaora Sports to be launched in the Dragon Gate's ~ Infinity ~ Series. The first show was held on January 31, 2020, which was a success, with tickets selling out for the first event which later led to an announcement that a second show would be held on June 3, 2022. During that time, on May 6, Dragon Gate announced the wrestlers for the show, which would include Ultimo Dragon Gym graduates from various classes of the Toryumon 2000 Project, Toryumon Japan and Toryumon X, with even some graduates reverting to their old gimmick for one night only. The event would also include the reunion of Toryumon's legendary stables M2K, Italian Connection and Aagan Iisou and many other wrestlers, such as Millano Collection A.T., "brother" YASSHI, Shogo Takagi and Toru Owashi. The full card of the event was officially announced on June 2.

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. 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, 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.

In July 2019, Último Drágon returned to Dragon Gate as part of the celebration of its 20th anniversary, when the promotion was founded as Toryumon Japan. Afterwards, one of his former students began asking Drágon to join the promotion full-time, leading him to accept. Soon after, Dragón became a senior advisor for the promotion.

#### Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, other wrestling promotions began to cancel or postpone their shows in an attempt to prevent further spreading of the COVID-19 virus. On March 1, Dragon Gate began canceling events starting with the Glorious Gate tour between March 3 and March 8 and the March 13th show, including a show on March 5 in the Korakuen Hall. Initially, it was announced that the Glorious Gate would be resumed on March 14, however, the tour ended up being canceled, following the recommendations by the Japanese Ministry of Health regarding the coronavirus pandemic. On March 11, it was announced that the Memorial Gate in Wakayama would be postponed, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 22, Dragon Gate began holding shows behind closed doors with no audience and only essential staff present. Four days later, Dragon Gate canceled more events from March 28 through March 31. This led to on March 30, Dragon Gate canceling more events from April 4 through April 8. On April 8, Dragon Gate canceled more events including 2020 Dead or Alive, following Japan's declaration State of Emergency. On May 11, Dragon Gate canceled more events from June 2 through June 10. From May 15 to June 7, Dragon Gate held the entire 2020 King of Gate behind closed doors with no audience and only essential staff present, leading all Dragon Gate programming being relocated to the Kobe Lapis Hall.

### Storylines

The Toryumon Reunion 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.