Dragondoor
Encyclopedia
DragonDoor, also known as d2p, was a professional wrestling
federation started under Último Dragón's "Toryumon" banner, and was announced on April 27, 2005. It was the first foray into the Japanese pro wrestling market since Toryumon X closed its doors in 2004.
Led by Noriaki Kawabata as Director, it cast Taiji Ishimori
and Shuji Kondo
as the aces of the promotion (Ishimori being the fan favorite
, and Kondo being the villain
).
DragonDoor had difficulties from the start. Taiji Ishimori, despite being a solid performer, had not connected with the fans sufficiently to make him a true ace. On the other hand, Kondo's faction of Aagan Iisou was quite popular, far more so than anyone else on the card. Aagan Iisou (represented here by Kondo, Brother YASSHI and Takuya Sugawara
) were fired in controversial fashion from Dragon Gate
, and the fans were hot for their return. Aagan Iisou's popularity proved a problem with booking, because while they were supposed to be the heels, they had all the fan support.
There were also issues with Kawabata continuing to book his older Luchador friends on the shows, creating something similar to the situation that killed World Championship Wrestling
- older wrestlers taking up the spotlight and keeping it away from the performers the fans wanted to see: despite the few shows the promotion ran, nearly 50 wrestlers were used, thus creating a chaotic situation.
There was also a great amount of focus on Yoshihiro Asai's gimmick related ordeals. With "Dragon Tiger", "Dragon the Great", "Tiger the Great", and numerous imposters, the angle turned out similar to The Undertaker vs Underfaker
and the Kane vs. Impostor Kane
feuds that bombed in World Wrestling Entertainment
.
Bright spots in the promotion included some extremely talented and popular young stars, such as Xtreme Tiger and Joe Lider
, and the participation of Los Guerreros del Infierno
(Último Guerrero
and Rey Bucanero
).
Crowd interest was sparse, with only Aagan Iisou (and, oddly, Maximo) getting reactions from the fans, and the average match quality wasn't as good as the former Toryumon projects.
DragonDoor ceased activity after its February 7, 2006 convention, running all of 6 shows.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
federation started under Último Dragón's "Toryumon" banner, and was announced on April 27, 2005. It was the first foray into the Japanese pro wrestling market since Toryumon X closed its doors in 2004.
Led by Noriaki Kawabata as Director, it cast Taiji Ishimori
Taiji Ishimori
is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Pro Wrestling NOAH as well as making appearances for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración through a NOAH/AAA working relationship.-Professional wrestling career:...
and Shuji Kondo
Shuji Kondo
is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Prior to becoming a pro wrestler, he played rugby.-Toryumon/Dragon Gate:Kondo was part of the T2P class in Toryumon. At first he was a face in the Toryumon Seikegun....
as the aces of the promotion (Ishimori being the fan favorite
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
, and Kondo being the villain
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
).
DragonDoor had difficulties from the start. Taiji Ishimori, despite being a solid performer, had not connected with the fans sufficiently to make him a true ace. On the other hand, Kondo's faction of Aagan Iisou was quite popular, far more so than anyone else on the card. Aagan Iisou (represented here by Kondo, Brother YASSHI and Takuya Sugawara
Takuya Sugawara
is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently wrestling for Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX and Dragon Gate.-Toryumon/Dragon Gate:He debuted in the 9th term of T2P as Henry III Sugawara, a Prince character. He joined with and eventually with Anthony W. Mori and Phillip J. Fukumasa, forming the Royal...
) were fired in controversial fashion from Dragon Gate
Dragon Gate
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion formerly known as Toryumon Japan. Most of Dragon Gate's wrestlers are graduates from Último Dragón's Toryumon Gym, and thus the promotion is based on a Junior Heavyweight style with varying emphasis on high flying maneuvers, flashy technical grappling,...
, and the fans were hot for their return. Aagan Iisou's popularity proved a problem with booking, because while they were supposed to be the heels, they had all the fan support.
There were also issues with Kawabata continuing to book his older Luchador friends on the shows, creating something similar to the situation that killed World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
- older wrestlers taking up the spotlight and keeping it away from the performers the fans wanted to see: despite the few shows the promotion ran, nearly 50 wrestlers were used, thus creating a chaotic situation.
There was also a great amount of focus on Yoshihiro Asai's gimmick related ordeals. With "Dragon Tiger", "Dragon the Great", "Tiger the Great", and numerous imposters, the angle turned out similar to The Undertaker vs Underfaker
Brian Lee
Brian Lee Harris is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "Prime Time" Brian Lee...
and the Kane vs. Impostor Kane
Drew Hankinson
Andrew "Drew" Hankinson is an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment , where he appeared under the ring names Festus and Luke Gallows...
feuds that bombed in World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
.
Bright spots in the promotion included some extremely talented and popular young stars, such as Xtreme Tiger and Joe Lider
Joe Lider
José de Jesús Álvarez is a Mexican professional wrestler, better known by his ringname Joe Líder. He currently competes in Asistencia Asesoría y Administración...
, and the participation of Los Guerreros del Infierno
Los Guerreros del Infierno
Los Guerreros del Infierno is a Lucha Libre stable based in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in Mexico that has existed since 2000...
(Último Guerrero
Último Guerrero
Último Guerrero is a Mexican currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where he is also part of the booking committee and former CMLL World Heavyweight Championship...
and Rey Bucanero
Rey Bucanero
Arturo García Ortiz is a Mexican professional wrestler currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre under the ring name Rey Bucanero . Outside of lucha libre, he has also worked in Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling, Toryumon and Dragondoor...
).
Crowd interest was sparse, with only Aagan Iisou (and, oddly, Maximo) getting reactions from the fans, and the average match quality wasn't as good as the former Toryumon projects.
DragonDoor ceased activity after its February 7, 2006 convention, running all of 6 shows.
Roster
The following names only include wrestlers that were used on a regular basis.- Milano Collection AT
- Touru Owashi
- Shogo Takagi
- Último Dragón
- Gran HamadaGran Hamada, better known by his ring name , is Japanese professional wrestler, the first to adopt the high-flying Mexican lucha libre style. He has wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Universal Wrestling Federation, Michinoku Pro, and All Japan Pro Wrestling, and was the founder of Universal Lucha Libre...
- Solar
- Ultraman
- Último GuerreroÚltimo GuerreroÚltimo Guerrero is a Mexican currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where he is also part of the booking committee and former CMLL World Heavyweight Championship...
- Shuji KondoShuji Kondois a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Prior to becoming a pro wrestler, he played rugby.-Toryumon/Dragon Gate:Kondo was part of the T2P class in Toryumon. At first he was a face in the Toryumon Seikegun....
- Brother YASSHI
- Takuya SugawaraTakuya Sugawarais a Japanese professional wrestler, currently wrestling for Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX and Dragon Gate.-Toryumon/Dragon Gate:He debuted in the 9th term of T2P as Henry III Sugawara, a Prince character. He joined with and eventually with Anthony W. Mori and Phillip J. Fukumasa, forming the Royal...
- Taiji IshimoriTaiji Ishimoriis a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Pro Wrestling NOAH as well as making appearances for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración through a NOAH/AAA working relationship.-Professional wrestling career:...
- Kota Ibushi
- Little DragonTakuya SugiTakuya Sugi is a Japanese professional wrestler from Shizuoka. He currently wrestles as a freelancer in the Japanese independent circuit; he uses many aliases, most commonly Yoshitsune and El Blazer...
- Maximo
- Masao Orihara
- Shachihoko Machines