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Toryumon (Último Dragón)

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Toryumon
FoundedMay 11, 1997 (Toryumon Mexico)[1]
January 31, 1999 (Toryumon Japan)[1]
November 13, 2001 (Toryumon 2000 Project)
August 22, 2003 (Toryumon X)
DefunctJanuary 27, 2003 (Toryumon 2000 Project)
July 4, 2004 (Toryumon Japan)
September 9, 2004 (Toryumon X)
March 2020 (Toryumon Mexico)
StyleLucha libre[1]
Puroresu[1]
Sports entertainment[1]
HeadquartersTokyo, Japan[1]
Naucalpan, Mexico[1]
Founder(s)Último Dragón[1]
Owner(s)Último Dragón
ParentÚltimo Dragón Gym[1]
SuccessorTo Toryumon Japan:
Dragon Gate
Dragondoor
To Toryumon Mexico:
Toryumon Casa

Toryumon (闘龍門, Tōryūmon) is the name of several professional wrestling promotions that have operated in Japan and Mexico. The promotions were owned and operated by Yoshihiro Asai, who is best known under the ring name Último Dragón. Toryumon is a coined word that means Fighting Dragon Gate. The word was derived from the homonym Tōryūmon (登龍門) that literally means climbing up the dragon gate (or less literally climbing up the gateway to success). The Toryumon Mexico promotion was originally created to give graduates of the Último Dragón Gym a promotion to gain their initial in-ring experience in. Its Japan-based sister promotion Toryumon Japan developed a major cult following and grew into becoming one of the hottest independent promotions in the country. The promotion would run for five years. On July 4, 2004, Último Dragón left the promotion and took the name and trademarks with him. Toryumon Japan's wrestlers and officials decided to form a new promotion, adopting the name Dragon Gate (later Dragongate) and continuing in the traditions of Toryumon. Since then Último Dragón would continue to promote Toryumon events mainly in Mexico but also has occasionally held shows in Japan until 2020 when he signed with Dragongate.

History

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During his time working for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the United States Japanese wrestler Último Dragón decided to open up a wrestling school in Naucalpan, Mexico to give Japanese hopefuls the chance to learn the Mexican lucha libre style like Dragón had.[1] 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 Ultimo Dragon Gym's first graduating term consisted of Cima, Don Fujii, Dragon Kid, Magnum Tokyo and Suwa who collectively became known as Toryumon Japan (a name that would be used for the first four terms).[1] Toryumon promoted their first show on May 11, 1997, in Naucalpan, Mexico on a show that was co-promoted with International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG).[1] Toryumon and IWRG would co-promote shows in Japan from 1997 until 2001, allowing the Ultimo Dragon Gym graduates to work on IWRG shows and even saw several graduates wrestlers win IWRG Championship.[2] Through his contacts with WCW Último Dragón also arranged for some of his first term graduates to wrestle on World Championship Wrestling shows.[3] On January 1, 1999, Toryumon held its first show in Japan and from that point forward began promoting regular shows in Japan.[1] Toryumon's combination of traditional Japanese Puroresu, Mexican Lucha Libre and elements of Sports Entertainment that Último Dragón had observed while working for WCW such as outside interference and referee's being knocked out, something that at the time was not traditionally used in Japanese wrestling.[1] The second class of Último Dragón Gym graduates began their own promotion, called the Toryumon 2000 Project, or T2P for short. The T2P promotion debuted on November 13, 2001, and became known for their use of the six-sided wrestling ring, the first promotion to regularly use such a ring shape.[1] T2P wrestlers primarily used a submission based style called Llave (Spanish for "Key" the lucha libre term for submission locks).[1] T2P ran until January 27, 2003, when the roster was absorbed into Toryumon.[1] The third graduating class was known as "Toryumon X" and like T2P also started their own promotion under their class name. Toryumon X made its debut on August 22, 2003, and lasted until early 2004.

Último Dragón had been forced to retire from active competition in 1998 after a mistake during an elbow surgery that caused nerve damage.[3] In 2001 Dragón had another round of surgery on his elbow, restoring mobility and feeling. Following his rehabilitation Último Dragón made his return to active wrestling on a Toryumon / T2P co-promoted pay-per-view on September 8, 2002.[3] In the following months Dragón wrestled regularly for Toryumon and various companies around the world. Because of his active scheduled Último Dragón stepped down as the director of Toryumon leaving the job to Takashi Okamura. Okamura handled the job while Dragón began working full-time for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in the United States.[3] After his run with WWE ended Dragón returned to Japan and announced that he was leaving Toryumon and taking all the trademarks he owned with him. Toryumon Japan changed its name to Dragon Gate as a result of this, continuing the traditions of Toryumon Japan including references to Último Dragón. Since the break Toryumon has primarily promoted shows in Mexico, featuring students trained by Dragón and Jorge "Skayde" Rivera and a number of wrestlers from various Mexican and American promotions.

In Japan a group of remaining Toryumon students, including ousted members of Dragon Gate, joined with the internet-firm Livedoor to create the promotion dragondoor, a promotion that only ran six shows. The group launched another wrestling venture in 2006 called El Dorado: Next Door Project.

In 2020, Toryumon Mexico would quietly close its doors with Dragón later founding Toryumon Casa in 2022, as base to serve as the home promotion for Japanese wrestlers from Dragongate and Pro Wrestling Noah who had been sent on learning excursions in Mexico.[4]

Shows and events

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Toryumon Japan ran a series of PPVs under the names Vamonos Amigos ("Let's go friends" in Spanish) and "Revolucion" ("Revolution") as well as an annual anniversary show. They also held an annual Numero Uno League that became one of the highlights of the promotional year.[1] Since the split in 2004 Toryumon has not promoted any major shows or PPVs, focusing their promotional efforts on Toryumon Mexico. In Mexico Dragón promoted an annual DragonMania show, with the last being DragonMania XI held on May 28, 2016.[5] In August 2017 Toryumon Mexico started working with All Japan Pro Wrestling in with a collaborated event tour called Lucha Fiesta.[6]

Championships promoted

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Before the Dragon Gate split in 2004 Toryumon Japan promoted a series of championships, only one of which originated in the promotion, Último Dragón Gym Championship, the rest were either bought from its previous owner or acquired after promotions closed. When the promotion turned to Dragon Gate all its championships were vacated, leaving only the Toryumon Mexico promoted titles.

Name Promoted in Last champion(s) Date won Notes
British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship 2001–2003 Jun Ogawauchi November 10, 2003 Title currently inactive.[7]
NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship 2008–2009 Hajime Ohara December 14, 2008 Currently promoted by Dradition[8]
NWA International Light Heavyweight Championship 2002 Cima December 26, 2002 Inactive[9]
NWA World Welterweight Championship 1999–2007 Hajime Ohara February 10, 2007 Promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre since 2007.[10]
Último Dragón Gym Championship 2003–2004 Cima July 4, 2004 Inactive after the Dragon Gate split.[11]
UWA World Trios Championship 2001–2004 Kenichiro Arai, Dragon Kid Second Doi May 9, 2004 Currently promoted by DDT Pro-Wrestling[12]
UWA World Welterweight Championship 2003 Taiji Ishimori May 11, 2003 Promoted by Michinoku Pro[13]

Annual tournaments

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Suzuki Cup

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Suzuki Cup is a Team Tournament that began in 2007

Young Dragons Cup

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Every year Toryumon Mexico holds the Young Dragons Cup, an annual tournament that began in 1997. The tournament is used to showcase Dragon Gym students. Originally it was a traditional single-elimination tournament, in 2006 it was changed into a torneo cibernetico and has had that format ever since. Rocky Romero, Kota Ibushi, Ryuji Yamaguchi and Trauma II are the only tournament winners who were not actually trained by Último Dragón.

Yamaha Cup

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Toryumon Mexico holds the Yamaha Cup about once a year, although there have been years without a Cup. The Yamaha Cup is a tag team tournament that features a mixture of Último Dragón trainees and a combination of wrestlers from the Mexican Independent circuit, IWRG and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL).

Último Dragón Gym students

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Class Term Name Currently working
Toryumon Japan (1st Class) 1st Term Cima Gleat[1]
Toryumon Japan (1st Class) 1st Term Don Fujii Dragon Gate[1]
Toryumon Japan (1st Class) 1st Term Dragon Kid Dragon Gate[1]
Toryumon Japan (1st Class) 1st Term Magnum Tokyo Retired[1]
Toryumon Japan (1st Class) 1st Term Suwa Retired
Toryumon Japan (1st Class) 2nd Term Genki Horiguchi Dragon Gate[1]
Toryumon Japan (1st Class) 2nd Term Kenichiro Arai Dragon Gate[1]
Toryumon Japan (1st Class) 2nd Term Stalker Ichikawa Dragon Gate[1]
Toryumon Japan (1st Class) 2nd Term Yasushi Kanda Dragon Gate[1]
Toryumon Japan (1st Class) 3rd Term Susumu Yokosuka Dragon Gate[1]
Toryumon Japan (1st Class) 3rd Term Mototsugu Shimizu El Dorado[1]
Toryumon Japan (1st Class) 4th Term Ryo Saito Dragon Gate[1]
Toryumon Japan (1st Class) 4th Term Kinta Tamaoka Did not graduate – Dragon Gate[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 5th Term Anthony W. Mori Retired
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 5th Term Raimu Mishima Retired due to injuries.[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 5th Term Naruki Doi Dragon Gate[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 5th Term Taku Iwasa Retired
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 6th Term Milano Collection AT Retired due to eye injury[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 6th Term Kinya Oyanagi Retired
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 6th Term Phillip J. Fukumasa Retired[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 6th Term TARUcito Retired[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 6th Term Takuya Murakami Michinoku Pro[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 7th Term Toru Owashi Dramatic Dream Team[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 7th Term Masato Yoshino Retired[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 7th Term Brother Yasshi Freelancer
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 7th Term Takayuki Yagi
(Bakery Yagi/Pescatore Yagi) 		Dragon Gate[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 8th Term Shuji Kondo Freelancer[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 8th Term Jun Ogawauchi Secret Base[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 8th Term Shogo Takagi Semi-Retired[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 8th Term Takuya Sugawara Freelancer
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 8th Term Hisamaru Tajima Dradition[1]
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class) 8th Term Akihiko Inoue / Flash Moon / Murcielago / Inoue 110 Taiien Freelancer[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 9th Term Taiji Ishimori New Japan Pro-Wrestling[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 9th Term Shu Sato / Brahman Shu Michinoku Pro Wrestling[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 9th Term Kei Sato / Brahman Kei Michinoku Pro Wrestling[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 9th Term Manabu Murakami / Maguro Ooma / Manjimaru Michinoku Pro Wrestling[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 9th Term Taro Nohashi / Shinjitsu Nohashi / Koichiro Arai Michinoku Pro Wrestling[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 9th Term Takeshi Minamino Freelancer[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 9th Term Kenichi Sakai / Ken45° Michinoku Pro[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 9th Term SUWAcito / Kagetora Freelancer[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 9th Term Rasse / Jumping Kid Okimoto Michinoku Pro[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 9th Term Keiji Kogure / Lambo Miura / Dynamite Tohoku / Kogure 110 Taiien Retired[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 9th Term Masahiro Takanashi (Did not graduate) Dramatic Dream Team[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 10th Term Naoki Tanizaki Dragon Gate[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 10th Term Shachihoko Boy Dragon Gate[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 10th Term Takayasu Fukuda Bear Fukuda Secret Base[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 11th Term Takuya Sugi Freelance[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 11th Term Saito Masuda Never made his debut[1]
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 11th Term Amigo Suzuki / Chuuichiro Arai/Amigo Suzuki Freelancer[1]
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 11th Term Passion Hasegawa Toryumon Mexico[1]
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 12th Term Yusuke Aoki / Spark Aoki Secret Base[1]
Toryumon X (3rd Class) 12th Term Manabu Katagami / Gallardo / 119 Katagami Taiin Retired[1]
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 12th Term Kondo and Co Retired[1]
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 12th Term TARUcito 2 Never made his debut[1]
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 13th Term Hiromi Horiguchi Retired[1]
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 13th Term Tsutomu Oosugi / Milanito Collection a.t. / Rei Retired[1]
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 13th Term Hercules Senga / Hercules Oosenga / Banana Senga Freelancer[1]
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 13th Term Kanjyuro Matsuyama Freelancer[1]
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 13th Term Hajime Ohara Pro Wrestling Noah[1]
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 13th Term Kazuchika Okada All Elite Wrestling
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 13th Term Guillermo Akiba / Chango Freelancer[1]
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 14th Term Toshiya Matsuzaki / Rascal Matsuzaki / Pequeno Ninja Toryumon Mexico / Dradition
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 14th Term Daisuke Hanaoka / Oscar Hanoka Toryumon Mexico / Dradition
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class) 14th Term Satoshi Kajiwara Retired

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt Chatra, Mo (March 2005). "Toryumon Uncovered". Power Slam Magazine. Lancaster, Lancashire, England: SW Publishing LTD. pp. 34–35. 116.
  2. ^ Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2006). "(Mexico) Mexico: International Wrestling Revolution Group". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 401–402. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  3. ^ a b c d Chatra, Mo (August 2003). "Enter the Dragon". Power Slam Magazine. Lancaster, Lancashire, England: SW Publishing LTD. pp. 24–25. 109.
  4. ^ "Ultimo Dragon Relaunching Toryumon Mexico Under New Name". 13 April 2022.
  5. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Toryumon Mexico Dragonmania XI « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  6. ^ "AJPW / Toryumon: Results «Wrestling Party 2017» 08/19/2017 Last Dragon celebrated in Japan 30 years as an active fighter, the message of Chris Jericho" (in Spanish). superluchas. July 14, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  7. ^ "British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Title". Title-Match.com. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  8. ^ "International Junior Heavyweight Title". Title-Match.com. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  9. ^ "International Light Heavyweight Title". Title-Match.com. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  10. ^ Súper Luchas staff (December 26, 2007). "2007 Lo Mejor de la Lucha Mexicana". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). issue 244. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
  11. ^ "U.D.G. Title". Wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  12. ^ "Universal Wrestling Association Trios Title". Wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  13. ^ "Universal Wrestling Associations World Welterweight Title". Wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  14. ^ "Suzuki Cup 2007".
  15. ^ "Suzuki Cup 2008".
  16. ^ "Young Lions Cup 1997". ProWrestlingHistory.com. December 6, 1997. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  17. ^ "Young Lions Cup 1998". ProWrestlingHistory.com. December 12, 1998. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  18. ^ "Young Lions Cup 1999". ProWrestlingHistory.com. December 11, 1999. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  19. ^ "Young Lions Cup 2000". ProWrestlingHistory.com. December 9, 2000. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  20. ^ "Young Lions Cup 2001". ProWrestlingHistory.com. December 2, 2001. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  21. ^ "Young Lions Cup 2002". ProWrestlingHistory.com. December 7, 2002. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  22. ^ "Young Lions Cup 2003". ProWrestlingHistory.com. December 7, 2003. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  23. ^ "Young Lions Cup 2004". ProWrestlingHistory.com. December 11, 2004. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  24. ^ "Young Lions Cup 2005". ProWrestlingHistory.com. December 10, 2005. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  25. ^ "Young Lions Cup 2006". ProWrestlingHistory.com. December 10, 2006. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  26. ^ "Young Lions Cup 2007". ProWrestlingHistory.com. December 9, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  27. ^ "Young Lions Cup 2008". ProWrestlingHistory.com. December 14, 2008. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  28. ^ "Young Lions Cup 2009". ProWrestlingHistory.com. December 20, 2009. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  29. ^ "Yamaha Cup 2000". ProWrestlingHistory.com. February 26, 2000. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  30. ^ "Yamaha Cup 2003". ProWrestlingHistory.com. February 22, 2003. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  31. ^ "Yamaha Cup 2004". ProWrestlingHistory.com. February 22, 2004. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  32. ^ "Yamaha Cup 2005". ProWrestlingHistory.com. February 27, 2005. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  33. ^ "Yamaha Cup 2006". ProWrestlingHistory.com. March 4, 2006. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  34. ^ "Yamaha Cup 2008". ProWrestlingHistory.com. March 2, 2008. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  35. ^ "Yamaha Cup 2010". ProWrestlingHistory.com. February 26, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  36. ^ "Ultimo Dragón y Angélico Ganadores de la Copa Toyota". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
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