Tribe Vanguard

**Tribe Vanguard** (トライブ・ヴァンガード, *Toraibu Vangādo*) was a professional wrestling stable in the Japanese promotion Dragon Gate on May 5, 2016. On May 28 BxB Hulk, Kzy, Maria and YAMATO named the stable Tribe Vanguard. Tribe was easy to understand in the jungle and the need a tribe as to survive and pro wrestling was the same and Vanguard meant the forefront unit of Dragon Gate being reflected in their name.

On July 2, 2016 it was revealed that Flamita was the mystery member that was going to join them for the Open the Triangle Gate Championship match at the Kobe Pro Wrestling Festival. Later in 2017 U-T joined them. *Tokyo Sports* cited YAMATO's Open the Dream Gate Championship reign impact as one of the factors of giving YAMATO the 2017 Outstanding Performance Award. Kzy left the stable at the beginning of 2018. Shortly after Kagetora joined the stable on May 6 at Dead or Alive. At the beginning of January, KAI would join the unit. In December 2019, Hulk turned on YAMATO and defected to R.E.D. Afterwards, YAMATO suspended the stable and formed the Dragon Gate stable, entering into a feud with R.E.D and Toryumon as part of a "Generation War".

## History

On May 5, 2016, during the Six-way steel cage match, all VerserK members betrayed YAMATO during the match when VerserK tried to prevent YAMATO from escaping but Kzy and Yosuke♥Santa Maria tried to help but he couldn't until the returning BxB Hulk helped YAMATO escape and Hulk prevent to Kotoka escape and also Jimmyz, Monster Express and Over Generation blocked him to escape and Kotoka get his hair shaved and YAMATO and formed an alliance with them and promised that they were going to destroy VerserK. On May 8 VeserK attacked YAMATO but BxB Hulk made the save, BxB Hulk, YAMATO, Maria and Kzy formed a stable. On May 28 BxB Hulk, Kzy, Maria and YAMATO named the stable **Tribe Vanguard**, Tribe is easy to understand in the jungle, you need a tribe to survive and pro wrestling is no different and Vanguard means the forefront and they will be the leading unit in Dragon Gate and their name reflects it. Their attire scheme is varying colors in a camo pattern, although the most common color is white. At the end of the King of Gate Kzy finished block A with 5 points and Maria finished block B with 4 points and YAMATO finished his block with 6 points and he advanced to the semifinals. At the semifinals YAMATO defeated Akira Tozawa to advanced to the semifinals and at the finals YAMATO defeated Big R Shimizu to win the tournament after the win YAMATO challenged Shingo Takagi for the Open the Dream Gate Championship and the General Manager Yagi announced that the match was going to be on the 2016 Kobe World Pro Wrestling Festival. On June 26 Eita challenged Maria for the Open the Brave Gate Champion and later that night Hulk and Kzy challenged Monster Express (Masato Yoshino, Akira Tozawa and T-Hawk) for the Open the Triangle Gate Championship Yoshino also accepted their challenged and announced that they were going to defend the titles in a Nine-Man Three Way Six Man Tag Team match the match was also including CIMA, Dragon Kid and Peter Kaasa and Hulk and Kzy also announced that on July 2 they were going to reveal the new member of the stable.

On July 2 Flamita returned to Dragon Gate after a stint in Mexico, being revealed as the new member of the group. On July 24 Maria lost the Open the Brave Gate Champion to Eita while Hulk, Kzy, and Flamita unsuccessfully challenged Masato Yoshino, Akira Tozawa and T-Hawk for the Open the Triangle Gate Champions and YAMATO defeated Shingo Takagi for the Open the Dream Gate Championship. During the Summer Adventure Tag League, El Lindaman appealed to join the stable. On September 10 Kzy, Maria and Hulk challenged Jimmyz (Ryo "Jimmy" Saito, Jimmy Kanda and Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee!!) for the Open the Triangle Gate Champions and it was decided that Lindaman would not join the stable. At the end of the Summer Adventure Tag League ,Maria and Lindaman finished block A with 2 points and YAMATO and Hulk with 6 points. On September 22 Hulk, Kzy and Maria failed to win the Open the Triangle Gate Champions from Jimmyz and YAMATO successfully defended the Open the Dream Gate Champion against Akira Tozawa. On December 25 YAMATO successfully defended the Open the Dream Gate Champion against Naruki Doi.

Then Hulk then started a storyline, where he started a losing streak, causing him to enter a slump. On January 18, 2017 Hulk, YAMATO and Kzy participated at the New Years Unit War 6 Man Tag Team Tournament. Hulk, YAMATO and Kzy were eliminated in the second round by Masato Yoshino, Ben-K and Kotoka with Hulk being pinned by Kotoka. After the match YAMATO offered Hulk a title shot for the Open The Dream Gate Championship, Hulk then started to have more wins. On February 2 YAMATO successfully defended the Open the Dream Gate Champion against Hulk after the match Hulk if he could stay in and YAMATO accepted and they were attacked by VerserK with Cyber Kong challenging YAMATO into a title match. On March 5 YAMATO defeated Cyber Kong to successfully retain the Open The Dream Gate Championship. On September 18 at the Dangerous Gate YAMATO lost his Open The Dream Gate Championship to Masaaki Mochizuki. On November 3 YAMATO, Hulk and Kzy defeated Shingo Takagi, Takashi Yoshida ,and El Lindaman and Naruki Doi, Masato Yoshino and Kotoka for the Open the Triangle Gate Championship.

On November 28 Hulk and Kzy defeated Gamma, Dragon Kid and Mondai Ryu to make U-T joined them. On December 23 at Final Gate YAMATO, BxB Hulk and Kzy lost the titles to Naruki Doi, Masato Yoshino, and Jason Lee. On February 7, 2018, after unsuccessfully challenging Masaaki Mochizuki for the Open The Dream Gate Championship, Kzy left Tribe Vanguard. On May 6 at Dead or Alive, Kagetora helped YAMATO escaping the Seven-way steel cage match, joining Tribe Vanguard. Following the Dead or Alive, four members of Tribe Vanguard took part in the King of Gate with YAMATO, Hulk, Maria and Kagetora wrestling in separate round-robin blocks. Hulk and Maria finished the tournament with a record of two wins and two losses, Maria entered his last round-robin matches with a chance to advance to the semifinals, but was eliminated after losing to Naruki Doi. Meanwhile, Kagetora finished almost last in his block with a record of one win, one loss, one draw, and one double coun- out, while YAMATO won his block with a record of three wins and one loss, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament. On June 1, YAMATO defeated Naruki Doi to advance to the finals of the tournament. YAMATO was defeated by Masato Yoshino on June 9 in the finals of the tournament. The following day, Kagetora and Maria unsuccessfully challenged Big Ben (Big R Shimizu and Ben-K) to win the Open the Twin Gate Championship. Shortly after, Hulk and YAMATO challenged Shimizu and Ben-K to a title match, leading the two defeating Ben-K and Shimizu on July 22 at Kobe Pro Wrestling Festival. On December 19, YAMATO and Hulk were forced to vacant the Open The Twin Gate Championship due to Hulk suffering a neck injury. On December 23 at Final Gate, YAMATO and Kagetora failed to regain the Open The Twin Gate Championship in a four-way elimination tag team match involving Naruki Doi and Masato Yoshino, Bandido and Flamita, and Ben-K and Big R Shimizu.

Since January 2019, Tribe Vanguard suffered three casualties with Hulk and Maria, being injured and Flamita in Mexico, YAMATO had to ask KAI to join Tribe Vanguard, which he accepted. On February 5, tensions would come ahead between Tribe Vanguard and all the stables in Dragon Gate, with every stable except MaxiMuM agreeing to a match on March 7. At the event on March 7, Tribe Vanguard won the four-way eight-man tag team elimination match, due to an error by R.E.D. General Manager Takayuki Yagi capitalized on the opportunity and announced the rules for the Steel Cage Survival match, as well as multiple tag team matches between members of the respective units to decide, which member would enter in the match. Leading to the event, YAMATO joked that he would kick out Maria, leading him to return from his injury. YAMATO and U-T defeated Kagetora and KAI, with YAMATO pinning Kagetora to represent Tribe Vanguard in the match. On April 28, YAMATO and KAI defeated Ben-K and Shimizu to win the Open the Twin Gate Championship, after Eita cost Ben-K and Shimizu the match. On May 6 at Dead or Alive, Hulk returned from his injury as Darkside Hulk helping YAMATO to escape the "Bonds" steel cage survival five-way match. After the match, YAMATO decided that no one would be no one kicked out of the stable. He also announced would return that Flamita would be returning to Dragon Gate in June. Later that month, five members took part in the 2019 King of Gate, with YAMATO and Kagetora wrestled in the C block. KAI was the only one, who advanced to the semifinals, after winning his block with a record of three wins, one loss and, one draw. On June 6, KAI was defeated by Eita in the semifinals of the tournament.

In June 2019, Flamita made his return to the promotion. 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. Meanwhile, 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 Big R 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 making the match official of the event. On July 13, it was announced that Hulk would make his in-ring return at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival. At the event on July 21, Hulk made his return from injury teaming with Kagetora and Maria in a losing effort against Mochizuki Dojo (Hyou Watanabe, Yuki Yoshioka, and Kota Minoura) in a three-way match also involving Natural Vibes (Genki Horiguchi, "brother" YASSHI and Punch Tominaga). Later that night, KAI and YAMATO lost the Open The Twin Gate Championship in a three-way match also involving Naruki Doi and Kaito Ishida. During this month, Kagetora and Maria took part in the AJPW's 2019 Jr. Tag Battle of Glory, finishing the tournament with a record of three wins, one loss, and one draw, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On July 28, Kagetora and Maria were defeated by Hikaru Sato and Yusuke Okada in the finals of the tournament. On December 15 at Final Gate, YAMATO and Hulk defeated Eita and Big R Shimizu to regain the Open The Twin Gate Championship. Three days later, 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 also had a neck injury. Afterwards, YAMATO suspended the stable and formed the Dragon Gate stable in order to unite all Dragon Gate generation of wrestlers against Toryumon and R.E.D in a "Generation War". Meanwhile, Kagetora became part of the Toryumon due to Último Drágon being his mentor.

## In Wrestling

* **Double team finishing moves**
	+ **Kzy and Hulk**
		- Punch to the chest (Kzy) followed by Kick to the back (Hulk) followed by Legsweep (Hulk)/Running uppercut (Kzy))
		- Standing fireman's carry (Kzy) followed by kick to the head (Hulk) into a spinebuster (Kzy)
		- *Kakato Otoshi* (Hulk) followed by *Kzy Time* from Kzy
		- Running head smash into the corner (Kzy)/Spin kick (Hulk)
		- Multiple kick to the head to a kneeling opponent (Hulk) followed by uppercut to the back (Kzy) followed by by a *First Flash* from Hulk
		- Doomsday device
	+ **YAMATO and Hulk**
		- *Ragnarok* (YAMATO) followed by a *First Flash* from Hulk
		- *First Gallaria* (*First Flash* from Hulk followed by a *Gallaria* (YAMATO))
* **YAMATO's Finishing moves**
	+ *CBV – Cross Bone Vanguard* (Crossface, sometimes with chickenwing over the shoulder)
	+ *Doujime Sleeper* (Choke sleeper)
	+ *Frankensteiner of The Almighty* (Hurricanrana into a pin)
	+ *Gallaria* (Inverted facelock lifted and dropped into a sitout scoop slam piledriver)
	+ *Musha-gaeshi* (Spear into a pin)
	+ *Ragnarok* (Inverted facelock lifted and dropped into a leg-hook sitout side powerslam)
* **Hulk's Finishing moves**
	+ *First Flash* (Superkick to a kneeling opponent)
	+ *H Thunder* (Scoop side piledriver)
	+ Multiple sitout side powerslam variations
		- *EVO* (Pumphandle, sometimes from the second rope)
		- *EVOP* (Vertical suplex dropped into)
		- *FTX – From Texas* (Wrist-clutch)
	+ *Phoenix Splash* (Corkscrew 450° splash)
	+ Hurricanrana into a pin
* **Kzy's Finishing moves**
	+ *Impact* (Double underhook piledriver)
	+ *Kzy Time / KZ.time* (Frog splash)
	+ *Skayde Schoolboy* (Arm drag takedown into a modified reverse rolling prawn hold)
* **Maria's Finishing moves**
	+ *Neraiuchi* (Crucifix driver)
* **Flamita's Finishing moves**
	+ *Flam Fly* (Standing moonsault side slam)
* **U-T's finishing moves**
	+ *Pasion* (Cradle, as a counter to an oncoming opponent)
* **Kagetora's finishing moves**
	+ *Genkonitteki* (Spinning fireman's carry dropped into a reverse piledriver)
	+ *Gurumakakari* (Gutwrench driver)
	+ *Ikkitousen* (Spinning fireman's carry dropped into a sitout side powerslam)
* **KAI's Finishing moves**
	+ *Meteor Impact* (Standing Samoan driver)
	+ *Honkekōnin Gannosuke Clutch* / *Shōtakōnin Gannosuke Clutch* (Gannosuke clutch) - adopted from Mr. Gannosuke
	+ *KAI Clutch* (Oklahoma roll)

* **Entrance themes**
	+ "**BLOW'EM AWAY**" by Jon Underdown

## Championships and accomplishments

* **Dragon Gate**
	+ Open The Brave Gate Championship (1 time) – Maria
	+ Open The Dream Gate Championship (1 time) –YAMATO
	+ Open The Twin Gate Championship (3 times) – YAMATO and Hulk (2) and YAMATO and KAI (1)
	+ Open The Triangle Gate Championship (1 time) – YAMATO, Hulk and Kzy
	+ King of Gate (2016) – YAMATO
	+ Best Tag Team Award (2018) – YAMATO and Hulk
* **Pro Wrestling Illustrated**
	+ PWI ranked YAMATO #**180** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2016
	+ PWI ranked Hulk #**198** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2016
	+ PWI ranked Flamita #**340** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2016
* **The Crash**
	+ The Crash Cruiserweight Championship (1 time) – Flamita
* **Tokyo Sports**
	+ Outstanding Performance Award (2017) – YAMATO

## Notes

1. ↑ This was a Hair Vs. Mask Steel Cage Survival Double Risk Six Way Match also including all the members of VeserK (Cyber Kong, Naoki Tanizaki, Naruki Doi, Shingo Takagi and YAMATO) and Kotoka couldn't get a flag, as a result, his hair was shaved.
2. ↑ This was a Hair Vs. Mask Steel Cage Survival Double Risk Six Way Match also involving Naruki Doi, BxB Hulk and Shingo Takagi.

## Gallery

* Gallery
* Members
* Champions
* Accomplishments

Tribe Vanguard old logoThe original members of Tribe Vanguard.Tribe Vanguard post Flamita addition.Tribe Vanguard post U-T addition. (missing Yosuke♥Santa Maria and Flamita)Tribe Vanguard post Kagetora addition. (missing YAMATO and Flamita)Tribe Vanguard post KAI addition. (missing BxB Hulk and Flamita)

<gallery columns="3" spacing="small" widths="200" captionalign="center" bordersize="medium" bordercolor="#17bf63" captionsize="small">
YamatoTribe.jpg|YAMATO
BxBhulkTribe.jpg|BxB Hulk
MariaTribe.jpg|Yosuke♥Santa Maria
FlamitaTribe.jpg|Flamita
U-Ttribe.jpg|U-T
Kzytribe.jpg|Kzy
KageTribe.jpg|Kagetora

KAI.jpg|KAI

<gallery columns="3" spacing="small" widths="200" captionalign="center" bordersize="medium" bordercolor="#17bf63" captionsize="small">
SantamariaBraveTribe.jpg|Yosuke♥Santa Maria as Open The Brave Gate Champion
YAMATO4dream2.jpg|YAMATO as Open The Dream Gate Champion
flamitacrash.jpg|Flamita as The Crash Cruiserweight Champion
Tribe6Tag.jpg|BxB Hulk, Kzy and YAMATO as Open The Triangle Gate Champions
TribeTwin2.jpg|YAMATO and BxB Hulk as Open The Twin Gate Champions

YAMAKAItwin.jpg|YAMATO and KAI as Open The Twin Gate Champions

YAMATO as the winner of the 2016 King of GateYAMATO after winning the 2017 Tokyo Sports Outstanding Performance Award

## References

1. ↑ *6/12 King of Gate Finale*. *iHeartDG* (2016-06-12).
2. ↑ Yamato profile . iHeartDG.com.
3. ↑ King of Gate 2011 .
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 CageMatch profile . CageMatch. Retrieved on 2011-07-11.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 BxB Hulk's profile at the official Dragon Gate USA website .
6. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (November 10, 2014). "Nov. 10, 2014 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Huge WWE Q3 breakdown, Bob Geigel bio, Lucha Underground week 1 evaluation, NJPW Tokyo Dome on U.S. PPV, & tons more". *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Campbell, California: 40. ISSN 1083-9593.
7. ↑ Santo Jr se presentó en México con triunfo . *Terra* (2016-08-14). Retrieved on 2016-08-15.
8. ↑ 05/05 Dead or Alive 2017 . *iHeartDG* (2017-05-05). Retrieved on 2017-05-05.

* http://www.iheartdg.com/
* https://twitter.com/yatsukanakazawa/status/736510288946569216
* http://www.iheartdg.com/