In February 2023, DRAGONGATE brought back the Toryumon tag team tournament “Rey de Parejas” for the first time since 2004. This tournament returns this year on March 6th after the conclusion of Champion Gate. Rey de Parejas follows round robin rules, with twelve teams competing in two blocks of six. The winner of Block A will face the runner up of Block B (and vice versa) in the semi-finals and the winners of these two matches will face off in the finals. Both the semi-finals and finals are held on April 10th in Korakuen Hall. The winners of this tournament will earn a Twin Gate championship opportunity against current champions Kaito Kiyomiya and Alejandro from Pro Wrestling NOAH.
Here is the line-up for this year’s Rey de Parejas!
Block A
- Kota Minoura & Ben-K: The aptly named “Team Muscle” are the two powerhouses of DRAGONGATE’s female-focused unit Gold Class. Both participated in last year’s tournament, with Minoura and veteran BxB Hulk making the semi-finals. Minoura and Ben also competed for the Twin Gate championships after they were vacated due to Yuki Yoshioka’s eye injury, losing to NOAH’s Kaito Kiyomiya and Alejandro.
These two will look to make up for their past failures and get some momentum going for this year. - Big Boss Shimizu & Strong Machine J: The powerhouse and the dancing machine of babyface unit Natural Vibes. Shimizu was not in last year’s tournament, as he was a Twin Gate champion at the time. Strong Machine J teamed up with Strong Machine F. While J missed out on the playoffs, he earned a Dream Gate championship match by pinning then-champion Shun Skywalker.
This year, J enters the tournament having been frustrated with both himself and the state of Natural Vibes for a while, so there may be some discord. - Naruki Doi & Dragon Kid: Two legends of the Dragon System, Naruki Doi and Dragon Kid were forced to team by GM Ryo Saito. Dragon Kid had previously asked YAMATO and Shuji Kondo to team with him and both refused. Naruki Doi, nowadays known as “Mr Korakuen”, has worked in AJPW and DDT in addition to DRAGONGATE since going freelance. He and Dragon Kid used to be part of the same faction, but were often in tension even then.
While Dragon Kid is very enthusiastic about their reunion, Doi still finds him deeply annoying and it remains to be seen how well they will be able to work together. - Shuji Kondo & Toru Owashi: Shuji Kondo, wrestling’s top surfer and cake salesman, refused a partnership with Dragon Kid and instead elected to team with Toru Owashi, who primarily wrestles in DDT these days. Both were previously members of Toryumon heel stable Aagan Issou, so the tactics they will employ during this tournament will be a point of interest.
- KAI & Gianni Valletta: The two heavies in Z-Brats, DRAGONGATE’s top heel faction. KAI has held every championship aside from the Brave Gate. He also reached the semi-finals of last year’s tournament with Shun Skywalker, losing to Yuki Yoshioka and Madoka Kikuta, who would go on to win in the finals.
Gianni Valletta is Malta’s answer to Bruiser Brody. He has an affinity for throwing around and beating up the young boys, particularly Daiki Yanagiuchi, and often rampages through the crowd before, after, and during his matches. Whether KAI will be able to control him enough to work together is still an open question at this point. - Mozuku Tominaga & Shuri Joe: The current tag team champions of DG’s Okinawa indie affiliate Ryukyu Dragon Pro Wrestling. As a power-based wrestler with a boxing background, Shuri Joe fits right in with the rest of this block. On the other hand, Mozuku Tominaga bears a striking resemblance to previous Triangle Gate champion Punch Tominaga, who does have a reputation for being one of the weaker wrestlers on the DRAGONGATE roster.
Whether or not they are one and the same, this relatively new team will likely be seen as the underdogs of Block A overall. However, they are still champions, and not planning to go down so easily.
Block B
- Luis Mante & Hyo: The duo named BIG HUG (because, well, they like to have big hugs) has been running DRAGONGATE this year. Mante won the Dream Gate championship from Madoka Kikuta in December and beat nemesis Shun Skywalker at Gate of Bayside in January. Likewise, Hyo won the Brave Gate championship from ISHIN in December and has 4 successful defences under his belt.
This combination of DRAGONGATE’s current singles champions will be the team to beat, especially for those looking to establish challenge rights. - Madoka Kikuta & Dragon Dia: Two members of popular babyface unit D’Courage, who previously held the Twin Gate championship together. Madoka Kikuta was also the previous Dream Gate champion. Both will be looking to regain some momentum; Kikuta after losing the Dream Gate championship and Dia after having to vacate the Twin Gate due to his partner Yoshioka’s injury.
- Kzy & U-T: The first Natural Vibes team in Block B, Kzy and U-T have not held the Twin Gate, but have held the Soryuo Tag Team championships before, for nearly a full year. Both were not present in last year’s tournament; Kzy was the other Twin Gate champion at the time and U-T was injured.
U-T has lost a lot since returning from injury, but these two will be a promising team in this block nonetheless. - Jacky ‘Funky’ Kamei & Jason Lee: Natural Vibes’ top tag team unsuccessfully challenged Kiyomiya and Alejandro for the Twin Gate championships at Gate of Bayside, so they will undoubtedly be aiming to avenge that loss. They are also previous Twin Gate champions and nearly made the semi-finals in last year’s tournament, so their chances of success are not looking too bad.
However, Kamei has been getting recruitment offers by other factions for a while now, and has been repeatedly hitting his own teammates with accidental attacks recently, so whether this duo will be able to reprise their past successes still remains in question. - YAMATO & Susumu Mochizuki: Considering they have been in the same company for close to twenty years, this is a surprisingly fresh tag team. YAMATO and Susumu have rarely teamed so far, as they’ve usually been in different factions.
YAMATO has also been without a unit since HIGH-END disbanded last year, having teamed with Naruki Doi in the previous Rey de Parejas. Susumu, the current contender for the Dream Gate championship, is likewise factionless after the disbandment of M3K.
Faced with several much more closely bonded teams within their block, YAMATO and Susumu are going to have to figure out their teamwork quickly. - Shun Skywalker & ISHIN: Shun Skywalker is DRAGONGATE’s top villain and, much like last year, he has been stirring various pots. After losing his Dream Gate challenge against Luis Mante, he redirected his focus to tormenting Natural Vibes, in particular Jacky “Funky” Kamei, who he holds an unusual affection for. He was originally supposed to team with Z-Brats rookie Yoshiki Kato, however Kato unfortunately sustained a knee injury and had to withdraw from the tournament. Instead, Skywalker will be fighting alongside the second-youngest Z-Brats member ISHIN.
ISHIN had a very successful 2023, holding both the Triangle and Brave Gate championships twice. He competed in last year’s Rey de Parejas with former Z-Brats member Hyo and challenged for the Twin Gate alongside veteran KAI.
By comparison, ISHIN and Skywalker have not had a run as a tag team yet, so how they work together will be interesting to see.
Championship Developments
Assuming they successfully defend their belts against Susumu Mochizuki and Yasushi Kanda respectively at Champion Gate, Luis Mante and Hyo will go into this tournament as the Dream and Brave Gate champions. Last year, Strong Machine J earned a title match against then-champion Shun Skywalker by pinning him in the tournament. With Dead or Alive scheduled a month after this tournament ends, it’s likely that the title contenders could come from this tournament.
Within Block B, there are several contenders for both belts.
Madoka Kikuta was the previous Dream Gate champion and could definitely make a push to reclaim his championship.
YAMATO, while seemingly handing the reigns to Yuki Yoshioka after losing a Dream Gate match to him in 2022, has been vocal about the younger generation this year. In contrast to his previous attitude, he no longer believes they are ready to carry the promotion, which could serve as a solid basis for the man holding the record for most Dream Gate reigns to challenge once again.
Kzy, too, could potentially make a move for the belt if they do not run Vibes vs Brats as the classic Dead or Alive cage match.
In terms of Brave Gate contenders, there are three main possibilities in this block.
Jason Lee, while a previous champion, has bulked up in the past year and is most likely aiming for the heavyweight ranks, eliminating him from the pool.
His partner is a different story. Jacky ‘Funky’ Kamei was Hyo’s first challenger for the belt, but it is definitely feasible that he could earn another shot.
Brave Gate division ace Dragon Dia is a big possibility, but perhaps the most fascinating option would be U-T. Dead or Alive takes place in his hometown, and removing him from a big Z-Brats vs Natural Vibes elimination match would even out the numbers without being as glaring of an omission as leader Kzy would be. Depending on how such a match might go, U-T’s absence could even lay the groundwork for future conflict. All of this is purely speculation for the time being, of course, but it is worth considering.
BIG HUG making the semi-finals or even the finals is quite likely, so considering the potential challengers within Block A is important as well.
Ben-K, Naruki Doi and KAI are former Dream Gate champions, giving them decent chances of getting a pin. Doi in particular has hinted at going after the Dream Gate lately, so keep an eye out for him.
In terms of young competitors, Kota Minoura has challenged for the belt three times and won last year’s King of Gate tournament, making him a solid option.
On the veteran side, Dragon Kid is a consistent Brave Gate mainstay who is also from Nagoya, where Dead or Alive is held. He has also challenged for the Dream Gate before, so could theoretically find himself in either position.
Who else is getting a BIG HUG?
Outside of championship matches, Luis Mante and Hyo recently announced their intent to expand BIG HUG into a full unit. So far they have only gone after Jacky Kamei, but they might move on to other options if he continues to refuse them.
In Block B, both YAMATO and Susumu Mochizuki are factionless. Mante and Susumu will face off for the Dream Gate at Champion Gate on March 3rd, but since their match is based on mutual respect and Susumu’s need to prove himself rather than any grudge, it would not be surprising if BIG HUG tried to recruit such a great asset.
There are also several rookies, such as Ryu Fuda and Daiki Yanagiuchi, who have yet to find their home in a unit and would likely accept an invite.
Are the good vibes over?
After spending much of 2023 in awkward tension with each other, Shun’s pursuit of Jacky “Funky” Kamei, as well as Strong Machine J and KAI’s battle in Yokohama, brought these factions into full-blown conflict once more.
Kzy, Big Boss Shimizu and Strong Machine J lost a Triangle Gate championship match against champions KAI, ISHIN and Yoshiki Kato after Z-Brats distracted them with a mysterious figure, named “Masked Z”, dressed in Kamei’s clothes. Shun Skywalker laid several hints that the masked man was a traitorous Natural Vibes member, which would have been a first for the faction, which has never suffered a betrayal in their six years of existence. Masked Z would specifically come out to distract when U-T or Jason Lee were not present, making them the key suspects for many fans.
On February 7th, Natural Vibes and Z-Brats had a 10 man elimination tag team match. NV lost this match after Masked Z came out again, allowing ISHIN to pin Kamei. The babyfaces were able to get a hold of Masked Z and reveal his identity, but he was not one of their own. He was in fact young boy Dai Tsujiguchi, forced to wear the mask by Z-Brats. Natural Vibes had been tricked.
This caused NV member Strong Machine J to break into an angry outburst. J had been frustrated with his position in the company for a while at this point. He has not won a single championship since joining Natural Vibes in 2022 and has lost a Dream Gate match, a Twin Gate match and four Triangle Gate matches. His fellow second generation wrestler ISHIN has overtaken him in accolades, and he was lagging far behind the other Reiwa Generation Leaders. While the other members of Vibes have held championships, these reigns, at least in J’s eyes, have been short and insignificant compared to the successes of D’Courage and Z-Brats. They allowed such a simple ruse to divide them. J chastised his stablemates, saying he was ashamed to be associated with them, and left the venue alone.
Natural Vibes and Z-Brats will face off in both blocks, with KAI and Valletta set to fight Shimizu and J in Block A, while Kzy and U-T, as well as Jacky Kamei and Jason Lee, will encounter Shun Skywalker and ISHIN in Block B. The fissures in Natural Vibes will likely be felt throughout the tournament as they attempt to get back on track as a faction.
The Almighty vs The Golden Rose Prince
Although they are not in the same block, both teams are likely to meet each other in the semi-finals or finals, so it bears mentioning.
In addition to the current faction conflicts, Kota Minoura and YAMATO have been feuding since the beginning of the year.
As part of Masaaki Mochizuki’s 30th Anniversary show on January 10th, five representatives DRAGONGATE’s old generation, including YAMATO, faced off against five representatives of the new generation, including Minoura. The match ended when YAMATO pinned Minoura with the Galleria.
Afterwards, YAMATO proclaimed that, as one of the people who carried the company during the past decade, he was not ready to hand the reigns to the younger generation just yet. He offered a handshake to Minoura, who slapped it away and walked out.
They would face off again at Gate of Bayside. This time, the combination was Minoura and Ben-K against YAMATO and fellow veteran Shuji Kondo. Unlike the fast-paced 10 man tag match, this one was a lot more grounded, with both men opting for a classic mat wrestling strategy.
Eager to make up for his loss, Minoura attempted to go for his Golden Rose finisher, but YAMATO also had a counter for this move, locking in a sleeper hold and choking the Gold Class leader out. He had to be carried out of the arena by partner Ben-K.
Minoura has achieved a lot of success in DRAGONGATE. However, he has not found what it takes to win the Dream Gate just yet. Minoura and YAMATO are likely headed for a big singles match, potentially at Dead or Alive in May or Kobe World in July, and this could lay the foundation for Minoura to finally win the Dream Gate championship. Regardless of what the future may bring, another tag team battle between the two would be an exciting option for the conclusion of Rey de Parejas.
Full Tournament Schedule
March 6th: Korakuen Hall – DRAGONGATE Network
A BLOCK:
– Kota Minoura & Ben-K vs Naruki Doi & Dragon Kid
– Shuji Kondo & Toru Owashi vs KAI & Gianni Valletta
B BLOCK:
– YAMATO & Susumu Mochizuki vs Madoka Kikuta & Dragon Dia
– Luis Mante & Hyo vs Jacky “Funky” Kamei & Jason Lee
March 9th: Acrie Himeji – YouTube
A BLOCK:
– Kota Minoura & Ben-K vs Big Boss Shimizu & Strong Machine J
B BLOCK:
– Kzy & U-T vs Madoka Kikuta & Dragon Dia
– Luis Mante & Hyo vs Shun Skywalker & ISHIN
March 10th: Nagoya Congress Centre – YouTube
A BLOCK:
– Kota Minoura & Ben-K vs KAI & Gianni Valletta
B BLOCK:
– Kzy & U-T vs Shun Skywalker & ISHIN
– Luis Mante & Hyo vs YAMATO & Susumu Mochizuki
March 16th: Akaiwa Sanyofureai Park Gym – YouTube
A BLOCK:
– Naruki Doi & Dragon Kid vs Big Boss Shimizu & Strong Machine J
– Mozuku Tominaga & Shuri Joe vs KAI & Gianni Valletta
B BLOCK:
– YAMATO & Susumu Mochizuki vs Jacky “Funky” Kamei & Jason Lee
March 17th: Hiromichi Challenge Gozakanakun Arena – YouTube
A BLOCK:
– Big Boss Shimizu & Strong Machine J vs Mozuku Tominaga & Shuri Joe
B BLOCK:
– Kzy & U-T vs YAMATO & Susumu Mochizuki
March 18th: Tottori Sangyo Gym – YouTube
A BLOCK:
– Naruki Doi & Dragon Kid vs KAI & Gianni Valletta
B BLOCK:
– Madoka Kikuta & Dragon Dia vs Shun Skywalker & ISHIN
– Kzy & U-T vs Jacky “Funky” Kamei & Jason Lee
March 20th: Fukui Sangyo Hall – YouTube
A BLOCK:
– Kota Minoura & Ben-K vs Mozuku Tominaga & Shuri Joe
B BLOCK:
– YAMATO & Susumu Mochizuki vs Shun Skywalker & ISHIN
March 23rd: Tsuruga Kirameki Minatokan – YouTube
A BLOCK:
– Dragon Kid & Naruki Doi vs Mozuku Tominaga & Shuri Joe
– Big Boss Shimizu & Strong Machine J vs Shuji Kondo & Toru Owashi
March 24th: Nagano Arcs – YouTube
A BLOCK:
– Mozuku Tominaga & Shuri Joe vs Shuji Kondo & Toru Owashi
B BLOCK:
– Madoka Kikuta & Dragon Dia vs Jason Lee & Jacky “Funky” Kamei
March 30th: Kobe Sambo Hall – DRAGONGATE Network
A BLOCK:
– Kota Minoura & Ben-K vs Shuji Kondo & Toru Owashi
B BLOCK:
– Shun Skywalker & ISHIN vs Jacky “Funky” Kamei & Jason Lee
March 31st: Hiroshima Prefectural Sangyo Hall – YouTube
A BLOCK:
– Naruki Doi & Dragon Kid vs Shuji Kondo & Toru Owashi
B BLOCK:
– Luis Mante & Hyo vs Kzy & U-T
April 6th: Act City Hamamatsu – YouTube
A BLOCK:
– Big Boss Shimizu & Strong Machine J vs KAI & Gianni Valletta
April 7th: Mercure Hotel Yokosuka – YouTube
B BLOCK:
– Luis Mante & Hyo vs Madoka Kikuta & Dragon Dia
April 10th: Korakuen Hall – DRAGONGATE Network
SEMI FINAL 1: A Block winner vs B Block runner-up
SEMI FINAL 2: A Block runner-up vs B Block winner
TOURNAMENT FINALS
WHERE TO WATCH: DRAGONGATE Network | DRAGONGATE YouTube
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