Ben-K vs. YAMATO - Dragon Gate Open The Dream Gate Title: Kobe Pro Wrestling Festival 2024
FULL MATCH
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00:00:00Main Event!
00:00:03The 39th Open The Dream Gate Champion, Benkei!
00:00:13He defeated Luis Mante, who had established a long-term administration, and became the champion for the first time in 5 years.
00:00:20What's missing from Dragon Gate right now?
00:00:32I know!
00:00:35Yamato is missing!
00:00:39The challenger, Yamato!
00:00:42Yamato, the man everyone's been waiting for, is on his way to the DREAM GATE.
00:00:52Yamato will challenge for the title, this summer.
00:01:00There's a reason why I have to get that title back.
00:01:11On July 21st, at the Kobe Hall, I want everyone to hear my voice.
00:01:30I've thought about it many times, and I've finally found the answer.
00:01:34I can't replace Yamato, but I can surpass him.
00:01:45On July 21st, let's find out who's the real deal.
00:01:53Open The Dream Gate Championship, champion, Benkei vs. challenger, Yamato!
00:02:04Open The Dream Gate Championship, champion, Benkei vs. challenger, Yamato!
00:02:10It's up next!
00:02:22Open The Dream Gate Championship, champion, Benkei vs. challenger, Yamato!
00:02:34Open The Dream Gate Championship, champion, Benkei vs. challenger, Yamato!
00:02:52Open The Dream Gate Championship, champion, Benkei vs. challenger, Yamato!
00:03:04♪
00:03:07His five DreamGate championship reigns already a record.
00:03:13There's nobody in DragonGate even close to that.
00:03:17♪
00:03:21Short of Shingo Takagi coming back
00:03:23and taking the title again.
00:03:26♪
00:03:29Uh-oh, him winning number six would just be padding his stats.
00:03:33♪
00:03:41Laid out this champion, laid out this challenge
00:03:44immediately after the hair match with Kota Minowara
00:03:48on June 5th in Tokyo.
00:03:50He told Minowara,
00:03:52cut your own hair, I don't care about you,
00:03:53I got more important things to do.
00:03:56♪
00:04:11We had a documentary at the beginning of last year,
00:04:14it's called This is DragonGate.
00:04:16Focusing on giving the spotlight
00:04:18to various different wrestlers here in DragonGate.
00:04:21There was Yamato, very famously,
00:04:24while sitting around the campfire,
00:04:27he said, you know, the young guys here in DragonGate,
00:04:30they can do so many things and I can't do all of them.
00:04:33I don't know if I have a place here anymore.
00:04:36He spent most of 2023 on the sidelines,
00:04:39he was not a member of a unit.
00:04:41He watched the Reiwa New Generation,
00:04:43but to him, more importantly, he saw,
00:04:46he watched all the empty seats
00:04:47that haven't been filled since the pandemic.
00:04:51And his tone has changed since that day around the campfire.
00:04:54What has DragonGate been missing for the last 18 months?
00:04:58It was missing Yamato.
00:05:00So here he is back in the Kobe World Main Event.
00:05:08But his opponent,
00:05:13the brand new Open the Dream Gate champion,
00:05:16just won the championship back on June 4th from Luis Monte.
00:05:21This is Benkei.
00:05:27This is Benkei.
00:05:28Benkei.
00:05:48Benkei in his second reign as champion.
00:05:50His first reign with the Dream Gate
00:05:54began right here at this event in 2019.
00:05:58Very famously,
00:06:01he defeated Pac in the main event of that show.
00:06:04Pac was at the time thought to be unbeatable.
00:06:09Benkei only three years into his career at that point.
00:06:14There were a lot of expectations and a lot of...
00:06:19pressure put on his shoulders with that win.
00:06:22Whenever a young wrestler wins the championship in a company,
00:06:26the fans, the critics,
00:06:28they're quick to say a lot of things.
00:06:31You know, this is the guy.
00:06:36And, you know, to put it blunt,
00:06:40it didn't turn out that way.
00:06:46He had a respectable but not overwhelmingly great reign,
00:06:49which ultimately, because of the expectations and the pressures,
00:06:52was seen to be a failure.
00:06:54He took it very personally.
00:07:08Tomiko Hatano from sponsor Office Hatano
00:07:11is going to take the challenger key from Yamato.
00:07:13Again, that key, if Yamato wins, he will be able to use it
00:07:17to open the gate on the front of the championship
00:07:20for the sixth time in his career.
00:07:24The champion, Benkei, will now pass over the championship belt.
00:07:27Benkei will now pass over the championship belt.
00:07:30If he wins,
00:07:32he will be able to take that key and add it to the rack
00:07:35on the front of the belt and make it his own.
00:07:36Benkei is actually carrying the...
00:07:39Oh, no, it does have the rack on it.
00:07:41No keys on it yet because this is defense number one.
00:07:46This is the third time these two have wrestled each other
00:07:50for the Dreamgate Championship.
00:07:51We saw their first match in 2019 at intermission.
00:07:54That was when Benkei was champion.
00:07:55It was a successful defense.
00:07:57Their second time,
00:08:002021, at the Gate of Origin in Sendai,
00:08:03when Yamato was the champion.
00:08:05Yamato was victorious in that match.
00:08:07So one and one, there's never been a title change between the two.
00:08:12It's just the main event of tonight.
00:08:16Are we going to repeat this history?
00:08:20We've got a new champion tonight.
00:08:2260-minute time limit, one fall.
00:08:25We'll find out in the next 60 minutes.
00:08:28Aoko, challenger, Paradox,
00:08:31172cm, 82kg,
00:08:34Yaya Aoko!
00:08:35Fighting out of the blue corner, representing Paradox.
00:08:4042 years old,
00:08:42from Ichinoseki in Iwate Prefecture,
00:08:44omniscient, omnipotent, the almighty Yamato.
00:08:47175cm, 84kg,
00:08:50Benkei!
00:08:5132 years old, from Chiba Prefecture.
00:08:552016 debut, representing Gold Class,
00:08:57the 39th Open the Dream Gate champion, Benkei.
00:09:03Referee for this match will be
00:09:05senior official Takeyuki Yagi.
00:09:17These two spent 2020 into
00:09:21the Dream Gate.
00:09:23Into late 2022, these two were stablemates,
00:09:26the Dragon Gate generation, and then into high end.
00:09:31Back-to-back units together.
00:09:37For Benkei, it was the darkest part of his career.
00:09:39This was coming out of that Dream Gate championship ring,
00:09:42where he was struggling with self-doubt,
00:09:44struggling with body image issues,
00:09:46succumbing to bad influences that were surrounding him.
00:09:52You know, it took him a long time for him to find himself.
00:09:55You know, even he came out of it with the, you know,
00:09:57the chiki-chiki sensei...
00:10:01..thing that he was doing during the end of his time in high end,
00:10:06in his early time in Gold Class, and that, you know,
00:10:09for that, you know, he wasn't very serious.
00:10:11You know, the gold chains,
00:10:12the sunglasses carrying around the banana,
00:10:14you know, but he needed that.
00:10:15He needed to know that it was OK for people to laugh at
00:10:19or with him.
00:10:20You know, make fun of him, do your worst.
00:10:22You know, he's ready to prove you wrong now.
00:10:25Most importantly, he's going to prove Yamato wrong.
00:10:29And, you know, for Yamato's side of it,
00:10:31he also came out greatly diminished
00:10:32from that Dragon Gate generation into high end period.
00:10:35You know, he won the Dream Gate championship
00:10:37during the time in high end,
00:10:38but the reign came to an unceremonious end
00:10:41at the end of 2022 in what I think a lot of people
00:10:46would consider to be the biggest upset
00:10:47in Dream Gate championship history,
00:10:50when he lost to Kai at Final Gate.
00:10:53And that led to him spending 2023
00:10:56doing a bit of soul searching.
00:11:03Yamato has had some, you know,
00:11:07those I'm not young anymore moments.
00:11:09You know, there was a skirmish match in Tokyo
00:11:10where it was a Dream Gate and Brave Gate skirmish.
00:11:15So he was in there trying, he had to keep up
00:11:16with not just Benkei, but Dragon Daiya and Hyo as well.
00:11:21You know, his back hurt, his head hurt, his neck hurt.
00:11:25He was tired, out of breath.
00:11:29He has promised that will not be the case today.
00:11:35Benkei, Benkei has run him over,
00:11:38caught him in midair, threw him,
00:11:40and then just knocked him down.
00:11:47Benkei's second Kobe world made event.
00:11:50This is Yamato's fifth.
00:11:54Yamato has actually had a championship match
00:11:56at Kobe world in all of three,
00:11:59except for all of three times.
00:12:012007, where he was only,
00:12:02he was less than a year into his career,
00:12:042013, and then last year in 2023.
00:12:07Every other year, he has been in a championship match
00:12:09here at this event.
00:12:10He knows the importance.
00:12:17He put together Paradox earlier this year
00:12:20because he's, you know, he's not impressed with Benkei,
00:12:24not impressed with Hidoku Kikuta,
00:12:25not impressed with Kotemina Ura,
00:12:26certainly not impressed with Kotemina Ura.
00:12:28Shin Skywalker, Yukio Shioka, Strong Machine J,
00:12:30not impressed with the Reiwa new generation.
00:12:35The reason their unit is called Paradox
00:12:37is that it's a team of veterans.
00:12:39Everybody is over 40.
00:12:41That
00:12:45guys that are over 40 shouldn't be able to keep up.
00:12:48They shouldn't be able to beat title holders
00:12:51in modern Dragon Gate,
00:12:53where the, you know, the average age,
00:12:54you look at the average age of a match,
00:12:57you know, or on a given show,
00:12:59you know, it's going to be skewing into that
00:13:01early to mid twenties.
00:13:04And that it's a paradox
00:13:07that not hug can be twin gate champions.
00:13:09It's a paradox that Yamato can be here
00:13:11in the main event again.
00:13:13But
00:13:17Yamato feels for the sake of
00:13:18Oh!
00:13:21Be it while they have both hand a hope.
00:13:27Oh!
00:13:28He needs to take the reins and go to hospital.
00:13:30One catches Benkei sends him off the apron.
00:13:40Oh!
00:13:40Yamato with the dive!
00:13:42He overshot him.
00:13:46Wow.
00:13:48Don't see that very often.
00:13:50It's the biggest stage requires the biggest chances.
00:13:56It's interesting because Yamato just posted
00:14:00overnight that, you know,
00:14:02he's come in his time to train
00:14:04and get into condition for you.
00:14:05He's promised that he would be in the best condition
00:14:08of his life for this.
00:14:10But the reality kind of said it.
00:14:11He said, I can't, I just can't push my body.
00:14:14The way I used to be able to.
00:14:15So him jumping over the top rope
00:14:19less because we just hit the five minute mark
00:14:21in this match.
00:14:27It's going to slam him here.
00:14:29Going to throw him on the ramp.
00:14:37Benkei's blocking it
00:14:38because you know it's how painful it's going to be.
00:14:42Absolutely.
00:14:45Slips behind.
00:14:47Nobody's thrown anybody yet.
00:14:53Absolutely.
00:14:55Positively.
00:14:58100% going to suplex him.
00:15:01And, oh.
00:15:04Ah, it's Benkei and he's good on the promise.
00:15:08Yamato.
00:15:10Get slammed on the ramp.
00:15:18That's metal bar and wooden plate.
00:15:23Planks.
00:15:25It's going to be 10 times more painful
00:15:27than getting slammed on the ramp.
00:15:2810 times more painful than getting slammed
00:15:30in the ring, I tell you.
00:15:32Benkei going back on the offense.
00:15:34He said that he has no intention of trying to be
00:15:37the guy that replaces Yamato.
00:15:40Or, you know, being what Yamato was.
00:15:44What he can prove in this match,
00:15:46what he can accomplish in this match
00:15:49is surpassing him on the pecking order
00:15:51in Dragon Gate now.
00:15:5213.
00:15:5614.
00:15:57Now it's 14 count now.
00:16:00Title can change hands on a count out.
00:16:03So, Benkei's going to want to think about
00:16:06getting in the ring soon.
00:16:07And he is going to bring Yamato in ahead of him.
00:16:14Breaks the count so Benkei can take his time
00:16:17getting back in.
00:16:22That's the back where he just took a vertical suplex
00:16:26to the outside.
00:16:27That lower back just hit straight to the wood plank.
00:16:33Benkei, he was just a few weeks into his career.
00:16:38A few weeks?
00:16:39Back in 2016, he was using this.
00:16:43This bear hug variation.
00:16:46And broke Genki Horiguchi's ribs.
00:16:49The only injury.
00:16:50Broke what?
00:16:51Genki Horiguchi's ribs.
00:16:52Really?
00:16:54Squeezed so hard.
00:16:55The only injury, the only time Genki Horiguchi
00:16:58has had to miss an important match due to an injury.
00:17:05It's a bear hug.
00:17:06Was because of a baby Benkei.
00:17:16I think back to the pandemic period.
00:17:20Right after Benkei dropped the Dreamgate Championship
00:17:24at the end of 2019, he had an eye injury
00:17:28that had been nagging.
00:17:31Every time he would get hit, his eye would swell up.
00:17:33If you go back and watch, if you go back
00:17:34and look at the pictures from when he won
00:17:35the Dreamgate the first time, he's got,
00:17:37actually right where you've got that mark right now,
00:17:40he had a big, it was bigger than yours though.
00:17:42That's painful.
00:17:43Yeah, and he had to go to the hospital
00:17:46to get it worked on during the winter break.
00:17:49And he actually, he elected to get cosmetic surgery
00:17:52while he was in there because he thought that maybe
00:17:55the fans didn't think he was attractive enough.
00:17:58Well, he is now.
00:17:59And that's why, and then during the lockdown period,
00:18:04during the early stages of the pandemic,
00:18:06he was set, he was 83 kilos when we went in.
00:18:09The next picture we saw, he was 100 kilos.
00:18:12The next, he was 120 kilos at one point.
00:18:16Different hairstyle, different body shape,
00:18:19every time he appeared somewhere, he looked different.
00:18:23Although the label, the logo is still the same,
00:18:2582 kilos, 110.
00:18:27Yeah.
00:18:28When he's under 10, it says 82.
00:18:30Well, you know, he was changing.
00:18:35Well, he's more consistent now.
00:18:36Well, now, I asked him,
00:18:38so are you gonna bulk up for this?
00:18:39He says, no, 83 is my best weight.
00:18:44This is the weight he competed at
00:18:46back when he did amateur wrestling.
00:18:49In high school and college.
00:18:50So this is peak physical condition for Benkei.
00:18:55But not just peak physical condition,
00:18:59peak mental condition.
00:19:07It's too calm, Benkei.
00:19:09According to him, he feels now that that piece
00:19:11that was missing when he was champion last time,
00:19:13it's there now.
00:19:14Oh!
00:19:18You should note that Gold Class
00:19:19has lost every match tonight so far.
00:19:22Kota Minoru was pinned in the opener,
00:19:25and then Hulk Minorita and Motosuki Jr.
00:19:29were not successful in their attempt
00:19:31on the Triangle Gate Championship.
00:19:32Whereas Paradox, Big Hug were successful
00:19:35in their defense of the Twin Gate in our semi-final.
00:19:40Oh, that's a gut buster.
00:19:45Oh!
00:19:46Kicks out.
00:19:49Look at Benkei's face.
00:19:50He said, let's put on the Big Hug again.
00:19:57He's done a number on the ribs
00:20:00in the midsection of Yamato
00:20:02since the first time he had this on.
00:20:05With a knee!
00:20:06Gonna throw knees to the liver
00:20:07just for good measure.
00:20:15Oh!
00:20:22Benkei, take a deep breath.
00:20:28And thinking for the next round of offense.
00:20:30Look at his face.
00:20:32He's thinking of powerbomb, maybe.
00:20:39Can he lift him up?
00:20:41Yamato.
00:20:45Benkei, get up!
00:20:46Benkei's gonna, uh-oh,
00:20:47Yamato's gonna lift Benkei up!
00:20:51Powers him up and over, Yamato.
00:20:54Benkei said, no, let's do it again.
00:20:55Yamato had no chance.
00:20:57Let's do it again.
00:21:02Yamato has also mentioned that
00:21:04he has a very good reason
00:21:05for wanting the championship again.
00:21:07Ooh!
00:21:08When he wins tonight,
00:21:10he's gonna have a chance to win
00:21:12When he wins tonight,
00:21:14he's gonna have a chance to tell all the fans here
00:21:18exactly what that reason is.
00:21:19Maybe that's the momentum.
00:21:22Reverse with the brain buster.
00:21:26Yamato!
00:21:29Let's get up on the feet, Yamato!
00:21:31Come on!
00:21:37Ooh, tried to close line.
00:21:39Benkei, no!
00:21:42Yeah, he was in the air
00:21:44before Benkei was even off the ropes.
00:21:46Didn't have time to get full extension on it.
00:21:49But I don't think he needed it.
00:21:55Yamato.
00:22:01What have you got?
00:22:07Suffering from the back, the ribs,
00:22:11all the back.
00:22:14But now the leg is okay,
00:22:15so he's gonna run up.
00:22:16Coming in.
00:22:17Boom!
00:22:18A big forearm.
00:22:20Benkei just shoves him.
00:22:26Oh, just one forearm.
00:22:28Yamato is down.
00:22:29Benkei has been overwhelming.
00:22:32Some flashes of hope for Yamato here and there, but.
00:22:41Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!
00:22:43Ooh!
00:22:45It's been like shooting a wall with a slingshot so far.
00:22:50Rehearsal is in.
00:22:51Oh!
00:22:52Took a big swing and he got T-bone suplex for it.
00:23:09Yamato's on the top rope.
00:23:12And missile drop kick.
00:23:16Another.
00:23:19Yamato.
00:23:23Showing he understands the importance
00:23:25of the time and location,
00:23:26taking another big risk coming off the top rope
00:23:28with that drop kick.
00:23:41They're gonna try it again.
00:23:44Oh, no!
00:23:50Corner, Yamato.
00:23:51Put the boots up.
00:23:53Second rope.
00:23:54Into the waiting arms of Benkei.
00:23:57Oh, just throw him like a baby.
00:24:02They're gonna do it again.
00:24:03Another one.
00:24:08Benkei is on fire.
00:24:12Suplex again.
00:24:13Again.
00:24:20And a two count after three suplexes.
00:24:24Never won an Olympic gold medal
00:24:25with a broken freaking neck,
00:24:27but he can suplex with the best of them.
00:24:41Benkei.
00:24:46Uh-oh.
00:24:48Oh!
00:24:49Hit him up in the rack.
00:24:51I've just seen back breaker.
00:25:02Oh, with a slam.
00:25:11Oh!
00:25:25Benkei.
00:25:26Uh-oh.
00:25:28Yamato's.
00:25:30Yamato stumbling his way into the corner
00:25:32while Benkei is locked on.
00:25:36Gonna run up with a running spear.
00:25:39You know, I just realized this.
00:25:41You know, something that has been Benkei's undoing
00:25:45for a long time is when he goes for that exact move
00:25:49and the opponent gets out of the way
00:25:50and he spears the ring post.
00:25:53We got new turnbuckle pads.
00:25:54So he can't spear the ring post now.
00:25:56Benkei is safe.
00:26:02It's all designed for Benkei.
00:26:04Turnbuckle pads.
00:26:06Being champ has its benefits, right?
00:26:08Yeah.
00:26:10You're right.
00:26:11The only person I see who's spearing the ring post
00:26:13all the time, that's Benkei.
00:26:15My first thought when I saw it was,
00:26:18was how it would affect Zebrads.
00:26:19I hadn't thought of Benkei until I saw him
00:26:22measuring Yamato for that spear in the corner.
00:26:28Yamato beats him off.
00:26:30Gonna try another.
00:26:33Just gets caught again.
00:26:35What is Benkei?
00:26:38Just throw into the outside.
00:26:40It's not a wrestling move.
00:26:49Benkei just catch Yamato
00:26:52and throw him to the outside.
00:26:54You see, that's a...
00:26:55This is not Bill Watts WCW.
00:26:59This is not Bill Watts WCW.
00:27:02That's not a disqualification.
00:27:06Benkei, it's quite smart.
00:27:08Sometimes you don't need a wrestling move
00:27:11to do a wrestling match.
00:27:12If you throw the guy over the top rope like that
00:27:15and he just lands on his face,
00:27:18and you win by count out, you won the wrestling match.
00:27:21Benkei take time, drink some water.
00:27:25Come on, Benkei.
00:27:27Come on, Benkei, come on, Benkei.
00:27:29Well, it may be a count now.
00:27:30It could be a count now.
00:27:34Fourteen.
00:27:35Fourteen seconds now.
00:27:36Six more count.
00:27:40Shichidi.
00:27:42Well, actually, not a new champion
00:27:43in the Thai Successful Defense, Yamato.
00:27:46Eighteen.
00:27:49Okay, Benkei said it's okay.
00:27:51Benkei.
00:27:53But I think if you just threw your opponent
00:27:56over the top rope,
00:27:57if you let him walk back in, it's fine because,
00:28:03well, just look.
00:28:07Yamato's game plan has been foiled every turn.
00:28:20Yamato.
00:28:23Boom.
00:28:27Boom.
00:28:28And I'm just gonna throw some Vader hammers
00:28:31at him for good measure.
00:28:33Wow.
00:28:37Wreck Yamato up once again.
00:28:39I'm gonna rack him again.
00:28:41This is the second time.
00:28:43Yeah.
00:28:44Yamato.
00:28:47He was gonna go try and drop him again.
00:28:48Yamato, oh, he's locked the hands.
00:28:52Benkei said, no, no way.
00:28:53This has turned into a sleeper now.
00:28:56No way.
00:28:57Yamato.
00:29:01Has cinched it in.
00:29:04Got the arm and you could see Benkei
00:29:07starting to accept his fate.
00:29:09But no, he is still there.
00:29:13Try German this time.
00:29:15Benkei.
00:29:16No, nothing.
00:29:17You got nothing.
00:29:22Yeah.
00:29:26Benkei.
00:29:26How about that for a German suplex for you?
00:29:33We are 20 minutes have passed here
00:29:38in our main events.
00:29:39Come on.
00:29:40Come on.
00:29:44Benkei.
00:29:45Yamato.
00:29:50Both of them is down.
00:30:03Benkei is not giving up.
00:30:05Benkei.
00:30:10This is only his first defense match.
00:30:13He has battered the challenger at every turn.
00:30:25Benkei.
00:30:28During his five times as a Dreamgate champion
00:30:31in the countless challenges,
00:30:33I don't know if I've ever seen Yamato outmatched like this.
00:30:39Benkei.
00:30:53Oh, Yamato.
00:30:54Throwing two forearms and get back down.
00:31:01Benkei.
00:31:02Benkei said, well, why not go to the top rope then?
00:31:04It's not a missile drop kick.
00:31:09It's a mortar strike.
00:31:15Okay.
00:31:19Signaling for one more move.
00:31:21Going to go up again.
00:31:30Can only survive so many heavy bombs raining down on you.
00:31:35Oh, Yamato realized it at the last minute.
00:31:45I don't know if he's thinking any steps ahead, but.
00:31:52Uh-oh, on top of the top rope.
00:31:56Finally, he's got the champion
00:31:58all the way from the top superplex.
00:32:01And Benkei stands up again.
00:32:04Oh.
00:32:08Oh.
00:32:09Runs into a bicycle kick.
00:32:11Comes back with a knee lift.
00:32:13Frankenstein.
00:32:14Oh, no.
00:32:15Oh, no.
00:32:17Climber bomb.
00:32:18Wow.
00:32:25Benkei.
00:32:28Full body left arm lariat.
00:32:34Oh.
00:32:41Kobe World Hall starts to come alive for Yamato.
00:32:49Benkei.
00:32:49Benkei wants him to come alive
00:32:53so he can spear him out of his boots.
00:32:57Here it comes.
00:32:58Oh.
00:32:59Oh, no.
00:33:01Yamato, we've seen that counter on Benkei a few times.
00:33:06Here again.
00:33:07Duck.
00:33:08Oh, but that one caught him.
00:33:15Caught him good.
00:33:17No popping up from that.
00:33:23Benkei was ready for it the first time, but.
00:33:27Not that one.
00:33:30Oh.
00:33:32It's enough to get a long two count.
00:33:41Yamato.
00:33:42Oh, no, going right for the finish.
00:33:45Galaria, center of the ring.
00:33:50Doesn't get it.
00:33:52Yamato start to cry.
00:33:56That's his finisher.
00:33:58That's what you call finisher if you can finish someone.
00:34:04But not tonight.
00:34:05The way Benkei has had an answer for everything else,
00:34:07I'm not sure Yamato could afford to do
00:34:10any other sort of attempts to soften him up.
00:34:15Sometimes you just have to go right for the kill shot
00:34:17and hope that, aim for the head and hope it hits.
00:34:28Ooh, that's a big one.
00:34:31Oh, Yamato even hurt his arm.
00:34:35We are at 25 minutes.
00:34:40Oh, elbow, oh, headbutt, another headbutt.
00:34:44Oh.
00:34:46Pummels him, go to hospital one.
00:34:50Turned his back and gets German suplexed again.
00:34:53Oh, the spear.
00:34:55The spear from Yamato.
00:34:58Oh.
00:35:01He might've jammed his own neck in the process though.
00:35:10Yamato hit the spear.
00:35:12There was a time, there was a time
00:35:15where Yamato would finish with that, but
00:35:20in his youth until he separated his shoulder doing it.
00:35:28You're right, his shoulder is getting hurt.
00:35:31Yeah, he's hurt his own shoulder while doing the spear.
00:35:34Oh, the neck and the spear, the neck and the shoulder.
00:35:52Ooh.
00:35:58He's got a better forearm.
00:36:04It's become an instinct now, I think.
00:36:06Both of them are all exhausted.
00:36:10Two rhinos, button heads.
00:36:12Benkei crush.
00:36:15Here go, try, try the spear again.
00:36:19Ah, so much speed.
00:36:21He came from so far away.
00:36:22Oh, no way.
00:36:23He speared him and Benkei has not
00:36:28not enough.
00:36:32Not a three, Benkei was starting to celebrate.
00:36:44But that's only for two count.
00:36:45What a spear.
00:36:54Benkei.
00:36:55Benkei.
00:36:57You see, he's thinking about it.
00:36:59Oh, he's got a, he's come up with something.
00:37:04Going to try a Galarian on his own.
00:37:05Oh, I'm sorry, Yamato said.
00:37:10Benkei now.
00:37:11Going in circles.
00:37:13Benkei.
00:37:19Yamato knows exactly how to reverse it.
00:37:24It hit, finally, it's Yamato.
00:37:27Oh, the second Galaria, not enough.
00:37:37Going to try, going to drop him.
00:37:40Oh, on the side.
00:37:41With the Ragnarok.
00:37:44Yamato has done it.
00:37:50Sixth time.
00:37:53Open the dream gate, champion.
00:38:03Benkei.
00:38:06After Yamato kicked out of that spear,
00:38:09you saw Benkei was, I think he was lost for a minute.
00:38:11He didn't know what to do next.
00:38:16And he decided on trying to
00:38:21throw Yamato's own move back at him
00:38:24and go for his own version of the Galaria.
00:38:27And it didn't pay off.
00:38:37The second Galaria of the match followed by a Ragnarok.
00:38:51Yamato has won the match.
00:38:53He is now recognized as the 40th champion.
00:38:59On July 21, 2024,
00:39:03Dragon Gate Pro-Wrestling General Manager,
00:39:07Saito Ryo,
00:39:08Chairman, Office Hatano,
00:39:12Executive Director, Hatano Tomiko.
00:39:16New champion.
00:39:18Yamato once again.
00:39:21Sixth time, open the dream gate, champion.
00:39:23And this is now half of those reigns
00:39:26have happened right here in the main event at Kobe World.
00:39:42As Benkei's reign ends without a single defense.
00:39:48In a match where he seemed like he had an answer
00:39:52for everything the challenger had been thrown at him.
00:40:06The paradox effect continues to spread across Dragon Gate.
00:40:13Benkei.
00:40:15You're amazing.
00:40:20I'm the one who won.
00:40:28I'm not just a god.
00:40:33I was overwhelmed.
00:40:36Right?
00:40:39I don't have a reason to say this to you guys.
00:40:48But...
00:40:51There's no one left for me to rely on.
00:41:00You guys don't have a new generation.
00:41:04I'm already an old man.
00:41:08If it wasn't for you guys, I'd already be an old man.
00:41:18We may be on different paths, but our goals are the same.
00:41:29Let's keep going.
00:41:32Let's keep going.
00:41:34Let's save our lives.
00:41:59The Reiwa new generation, he's just an old timer.
00:42:05He's an old timer, but...
00:42:08You know, without opponents like Benkei,
00:42:11and without the opportunities to be an opponent for them,
00:42:16he would be nothing.
00:42:17So there was a...
00:42:19Hopes to fight with him again.
00:42:21This is the sixth time I've experienced this.
00:42:29Who the hell are you?
00:42:31Yamato again?
00:42:33Yamato again?
00:42:35Who the hell are you calling Yamato again?
00:42:39Shut up!
00:42:41It's not like that.
00:42:42I know it best.
00:42:47My neck hurts.
00:42:49My back hurts.
00:42:52How long...
00:42:55How long do I have to live?
00:42:58How long do I have to carry this heavy cross?
00:43:06But...
00:43:08It can't be helped.
00:43:10It can't be helped.
00:43:12Because I'm Yamato.
00:43:22But...
00:43:28It doesn't matter how much longer he needs to do this. He'll do it.
00:43:40He said he had a reason that he needed to take the Dream Gate again.
00:43:51He abandoned the Dragon Gate and created a new Dragon Gate.
00:43:58That decision wasn't wrong at all.
00:44:03If it had been like that, the Dragon Gate would have been gone.
00:44:08But...
00:44:10The decision at that time...
00:44:12The young ones who wanted to start with Benkei...
00:44:16They didn't even think about it.
00:44:19The decision was made by someone above me.
00:44:26It can't end like this.
00:44:30The decision at that time wasn't wrong at all.
00:44:35But...
00:44:38Now that COVID-19 is here...
00:44:39Now that COVID-19 is here...
00:44:45The fans aren't coming back.
00:44:50This is our responsibility.
00:44:54If we can't get back the Dragon Gate, I won't be able to live.
00:45:09He doesn't think that the company was wrong to make that decision.
00:45:24Yamato, as long as he draws breath,
00:45:27He's going to be fighting to fill every single seat here in Kobe World Hall.
00:45:33And anywhere else we go.
00:45:40Some of us have made it to the next stage.
00:45:44But I don't care.
00:45:49The Dragon Gate isn't everything in life.
00:45:53But...
00:45:56Those who didn't let go of the Dragon Gate...
00:46:00Those who didn't let go of the Dragon Gate...
00:46:04Mr. Amatsu...
00:46:07Those who betrayed us and turned against us...
00:46:11Don't you guys have any pride?
00:46:18Are you just going to show off in the ring?
00:46:25Even if you quit,
00:46:27Even if you quit our ring,
00:46:29You won't change, will you?
00:46:32You guys are watching, aren't you?
00:46:34Don't you dare look back!
00:46:40Some words for the people that...
00:46:42I don't want that.
00:46:43I don't want that.
00:46:44I don't want that.
00:46:45I don't want that.
00:46:46I don't want that.
00:46:47Even if I'm the last man standing,
00:46:51I'm going to hold on to this ring.
00:46:54And...
00:46:5530 years...
00:46:5750 years...
00:46:59No...
00:47:00100 years...
00:47:02I'm going to make the Dragon Gate!
00:47:12I'm sorry.
00:47:15My juniors are all my brothers.
00:47:19My seniors are all my brothers.
00:47:22My boss is my dad.
00:47:26My boss...
00:47:28I'm sorry for my sons.
00:47:34I'm sorry for my sons.
00:47:36I'm sorry for my sons.
00:47:50That's why...
00:47:52That's why I'm going to use up all of my talent.
00:48:00That's why I'm going to use up all of my talent.
00:48:0130 years...
00:48:0350 years...
00:48:05No...
00:48:06100 years...
00:48:08I'm going to make the Dragon Gate!
00:48:19I said Dragon Gate!
00:48:21I said Dragon Gate!
00:48:24I said Dragon Gate!
00:48:26I said Dragon Gate!
00:48:28I want to dream with everyone.
00:48:31I want to make everyone dream.
00:48:42This sweetness...
00:48:46I know I'm at my limit.
00:48:50I could have earned more money if I had gone elsewhere.
00:48:57I don't need that.
00:48:59I have something more important.
00:49:08I'm satisfied.
00:49:10If I had my career for the Dragon Gate...
00:49:16It would have made a difference in my life.
00:49:20That's what I think.
00:49:23I'm satisfied.
00:49:26I'm very satisfied.
00:49:30But...
00:49:33To be honest...
00:49:36I want to make a little more money.
00:49:41If you want, you can buy my recipe book.
00:49:48It's 1,650 yen in total.
00:49:531,650 YEN
00:49:58And...
00:50:00One more thing...
00:50:04I want to say thank you to all the fans of GAORA SPORTS.
00:50:13The 25 years of Dragon Gate history is the history of GAORA SPORTS.
00:50:20Without GAORA SPORTS,
00:50:23We wouldn't have been able to deliver our first match to the fans.
00:50:30Thank you to GAORA SPORTS for being the home for Dragon Gate for all 25 of our years.
00:50:35Without them, we wouldn't be here.
00:50:38Let's keep moving forward together.
00:50:45You are all part of our family.
00:50:58Serious bikes are very tiring.
00:51:01It's not like me.
00:51:06But I'll keep going.
00:51:09If I start riding a bike like this, I'll lose.
00:51:13So, I'll keep going.
00:51:16Everyone...
00:51:18How did you like the 25th anniversary of Dragon Gate?
00:51:32I can say with confidence...
00:51:35To everyone who came to this venue,
00:51:39And to everyone watching on Dragon Gate Network,
00:51:45Without you, we wouldn't be able to produce.
00:51:51If you're having fun tonight,
00:51:54Please, come to the venue.
00:51:59And please, support the young ones.
00:52:04You don't need me, Mochizuki, or Fujii.
00:52:12The young ones we've received from all over the world,
00:52:18They've supported us a lot during this pandemic.
00:52:25They are the treasure of Dragon Gate.
00:52:30You don't need me, Mochizuki, or Fujii.
00:52:44I'll keep going.
00:52:46I won't lose.
00:52:48This is the 25th anniversary.
00:52:52The next one is the 30th.
00:52:55The 50th.
00:52:56Dragon Gate will go on for 100 years.
00:53:00With everyone's support,
00:53:02Dragon Gate will get bigger and bigger.
00:53:11So...
00:53:14It's been a while,
00:53:16But I want to finish what everyone forgot.
00:53:27What was it?
00:53:32Kobe World...
00:53:35I'm Yamato.
00:53:37Blue Sky!
00:53:40Not just Dragon Gate,
00:53:43I'm going to carve my name on Blue Sky!
00:53:49Kobe Hall!
00:53:53Today...
00:53:58I was awesome, wasn't I?
00:54:01Thank you, everyone!
00:54:22Thank you, everyone.
00:54:24Harsh words for those that bailed on us.
00:54:28A lot of words of praise for those that are still here.
00:54:32But one common thread is...
00:54:36we wouldn't still be able to be here without our family.
00:54:40That's Gower Sports.
00:54:43Those of you watching on the network,
00:54:44those of you watching on pay-per-view,
00:54:47the fans that are here in the arena.
00:54:52♪
00:54:58We are Dragon Gate, we are family,
00:55:00and you are our family, too.
00:55:03♪
00:55:10Thank you for joining us along the way
00:55:13on our first 25 years,
00:55:16as now it's time to think about our 30th, our 50th,
00:55:21our 100th.
00:55:23Am I still there in the 100th year?
00:55:26You'll be what, 110?
00:55:30Well, I wish everyone's happy about tonight.
00:55:33New champion, Yamato.
00:55:35New Dream Gate champion,
00:55:36new Brave Gate champion, Dragon Daiya.
00:55:39Not Hug still Twin Gate champions,
00:55:41Natural Vibe still Triangle Gate champions.
00:55:46And...
00:55:48♪
00:55:53Mochizuki's still there.
00:55:54Mochizuki, well, we don't need him anymore, though,
00:55:56so don't tweet about him, don't talk about him.
00:56:01♪
00:56:05I know we are gonna have a video message
00:56:09pop up here, too.
00:56:10Oh, is it?
00:56:11In the meantime, between now and then,
00:56:12so we will be back here on the network
00:56:15one more time from Kobe
00:56:16from, is it Sambo Hall or Art Center next week?
00:56:19Next week, yes.
00:56:20Kobe Sambo Hall.
00:56:21Kobe from Sambo Hall next week,
00:56:23and then Hoho and I will be back here
00:56:24at the English commentary table on August 1st in Tokyo.
00:56:28Yes.
00:56:29As we head into, we've only got
00:56:32about three weeks between now and Dangerous Gate.
00:56:35Dangerous Gate this year.
00:56:37In Yokohama.
00:56:38Yeah, will happen in Yokohama.
00:56:40So, no downtime.
00:56:45It's gonna continue to be a very hot summer
00:56:47here in Dragon Gate,
00:56:48so keep it locked in here to the
00:56:50dragongate.live and the Dragon Gate Network.
00:56:53Thank you.
00:57:23Thank you.
00:57:53Thank you.
00:58:23Thank you.
00:58:54Alright, as Yamato heads up the ramp one last time again,
00:59:04next live stream here on the network
00:59:07will be next Sunday,
00:59:08the 28th from Kobe Sambo Hall.
00:59:10Yep.
00:59:11That will be the final live streaming of this month.
00:59:14Of this month, and then just a few days later
00:59:16on August 1st in Tokyo,
00:59:18Hoho and I will see you again there.
00:59:20So, for all of us at Dragon Gate,
00:59:22to all of you,
00:59:23thank you for helping us celebrate our 25th anniversary.
00:59:26Thank you for being a part of our family
00:59:29for however long of the last 25 years you have been.
00:59:33Until next time, for Hoho Lune,
00:59:38thank you.
00:59:41Thank you and goodbye.
00:59:43Thank you and goodbye.
00:59:51Thank you.
00:59:52Thank you.
00:59:53Thank you.
00:59:54Thank you.
00:59:55Thank you.
00:59:56Thank you.
00:59:57Thank you.
00:59:58Thank you.
00:59:59Thank you.
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01:00:47Thank you.