The Open the Owarai Gate Championship (オープン・ザ・お笑いゲート王座, Ōpun Za Owarai Gēto Ōza) is a professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion Dragon Gate. The word owarai in the title's name is the Japanese word for comedy.
| Open the Owarai Gate | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Former design of the title (2007–2018) | |||||||||||||||
| Details | |||||||||||||||
| Promotion | Dragon Gate | ||||||||||||||
| Date established | May 4, 2007 | ||||||||||||||
| Current champion(s) | Lingerie Muto | ||||||||||||||
| Date won | October 5, 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
The championship was first conceived during Stalker Ichikawa's first United States tour, joining fellow Dragon Gate wrestlers Cima, Naruki Doi, Masato Yoshino and Don Fujii during the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla two-night event Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament on May 19 and May 20, 2007, in Burbank, California.[1] In addition to changing his name to "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa, he also gave birth to the Open the Owarai Gate Championship which he wore during the second night of the event against Top Gun Talwar. The name change and the introduction of the belt was made official on May 25.[2] The championship was deactivated at Dead or Alive 2018, when Shingo Takagi, per stipulation, was the last person to escape the cage in the Hair vs. Hair Steel Cage Survival seven-way match.
The championship is both unique and very unusual. The title is not necessarily defended by traditional methods of simply beating the champion by pinfalls or submission. While such a situation can still happen, the title also has a stipulation regarding audience approval during the match. This means that while the champion could still technically lose the match, he could retain the belt simply by having earning more applause and/or laughter from the audience.[3]
The championship was defended for the first time on June 10 at Hakata Star Lanes in Fukuoka, Fukuoka. In addition, Ichikawa also began by having ten "Free Defense" tickets that would ensure he would always retain the title regardless. However, before his defense against Kikutaro on September 22 at the Ota-ku Gymnasium in Tokyo, the tickets were destroyed and he was forced to defend the belt on his own merit. He was able to successfully retain due to unusual circumstances since, such as his mother appealing to the crowd and later his opponent feeling sorry.
On June 3, 2023, at their Korakuen Hall show, the company announced the belt would be returning. They made Konomama Ichikawa the interim champion, and announced the new official champion would be decided at the Buyuden Zero vol.2 event on July 8, 2023. At the event, Kikutaro defeated Ichikawa to become the lineal champion.[4]
Title history
edit| No. | Overall reign number |
|---|---|
| Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
| Days | Number of days held |
| Defenses | Number of successful defenses |
| <1 | Reign lasted less than a day |
| No. | Champion | Championship change | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Defenses | ||||
| 1 | Stalker Ichikawa | May 25, 2007 | The Gate of Maximum | Burbank, California | 1 | 136 | 7 | Conceived during a visit to Pro Wrestling Guerrilla; officially defended on June 10 in Fukuoka. | [5] |
| 2 | Cima | October 8, 2007 | The Gate of Victory | Shizuoka, Japan | 1 | <1 | 0 | Defeated Ichikawa and K-Ness in a three-way match. Ichikawa failed to gain approval from the crowd, so CIMA, as the match winner, won the title. | [6] |
| 3 | Jackson Florida | October 17, 2007 | The Gate of Victory | Hyogo, Japan | 1 | 94 | 1 | Cima fails his first defense for various purposes against Stalker Ichikawa. Jackson Florida becomes champion since he was sitting at ring | [6] |
| 4 | Masaaki Mochizuki | January 19, 2008 | Wrestle Jam 3rd Season | Nagoya, Japan | 1 | 14 | 0 | Mochizuki won the title by disqualification and fan support. | [7] |
| 5 | Jackson Florida | February 2, 2008 | Truth Gate | Hakata, Japan | 2 | 160 | 5 | [8] | |
| 6 | Johnson Florida | July 11, 2008 | Nex 2nd Anniversary Show | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 7 | Ichikawa | July 21, 2008 | Rainbow Gate | Kumamoto, Japan | 2 | 26 | 0 | Ichikawa stole title belt from Johnson after beating him in three way match with K-Ness. Repeated attempts to contact the title belt commissioner were met with only his voicemail, so ICHIKAWA was just named the 7th champion. | |
| 8 | Jackson Florida | August 16, 2008 | Summer Adventure Tag League | Toyama, Japan | 3 | 212 | 4 | ||
| 9 | "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa | March 16, 2009 | Glorious Gate | Kumamoto, Japan | 3 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 10 | Kinta Tamaoka | March 20, 2009 | Glorious Gate | Kobe, Japan | 1 | <1 | 0 | The title match was between Stalker and Masaaki Mochizuki, but Kinta - the referee - received more fan support than either of them, so he became champion. | |
| — | Vacated | March 20, 2009 | Glorious Gate | Kobe, Japan | — | — | — | Vacated immediately after winning it. | |
| 11 | "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa | March 29, 2009 | Glorious Gate | Fukui, Japan | 4 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 12 | Anthony W. Mori | April 4, 2009 | Yokozuna Impact! | Nagoya, Japan | 1 | 41 | 1 | ||
| 13 | Kikutaro | May 15, 2009 | Aggressive Gate | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 695 | 3 | Kikutaro becomes 13th Champion via fan support | |
| 14 | Don Fujii | April 10, 2011 | Don Fujii Triumphant Hometown Return | Tsu, Japan | 1 | 133 | 0 | Don Fujii becomes 14th Champion via fan support | |
| 15 | "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa | August 21, 2011 | Storm Gate 2011 | Hakata, Japan | 5 | 76 | 4 | "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa becomes 15th Champion via fan support. CIMA refuses the title on September 24, 2011, despite getting fan support. | |
| 16 | Rich Swann | November 5, 2011 | Crown Gate 2011 | Gifu, Japan | 1 | 50 | 0 | Swann became the 16th Champion via fan support. | |
| — | Vacated | December 25, 2011 | N/A | Fukuoka, Japan | — | — | — | Vacated after Naoki Tanizaki stole the title belt from Swann. | |
| 17 | Kenichiro Arai | August 2, 2012 | Summer Adventure Tag League 2012 | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 140 | 1 | Arai defeated "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa via fan support to become the 17th Champion. | |
| 18 | Kikutaro | December 20, 2012 | Fantastic Gate 2012 | Tokyo, Japan | 2 | 77 | 2 | Kikutaro became the 18th Champion via fan support. | |
| 19 | Ryo "Jimmy" Saito | March 7, 2013 | Glorious Gate 2013 | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 626 | 7 | Saito became the 19th Champion via fan support. | |
| 20 | Jimmy Kanda | November 23, 2014 | Crown Gate 2014 | Saga, Japan | 1 | 73 | 1 | Kanda became the 20th Champion via fan support. | |
| 21 | Yosuke ♥ Santa Maria | February 4, 2015 | Truth Gate 2015 | Kasukabe, Japan | 1 | 53 | 2 | Santa Maria became the 21st Champion via fan support. | |
| 22 | Akira Tozawa | March 29, 2015 | Glorious Gate 2015 | Saga, Japan | 1 | 230 | 1 | Tozawa became the 22nd Champion via fan support. | |
| 23 | Mr. Nakagawa | November 14, 2015 | Crown Gate 2015 | Fukuoka, Japan | 1 | 9 | 2 | The title match was between "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa and Akira Tozawa, the reigning champion, but Nakagawa - the referee - received more fan support than either of them, so he became champion. | |
| 24 | Masato Yoshino | November 23, 2015 | Crown Gate 2015 | Okayama, Japan | 1 | 132 | 0 | Yoshino became the 23rd champion via fan support. | |
| — | Vacated | April 3, 2016 | N/A | Kobe, Japan | — | — | — | Yoshino was stripped of the title after failing to defend it within the previous three months. | |
| 25 | Cima | April 10, 2016 | The Gate of Passion 2016 | Tsu, Japan | 2 | <1 | 0 | Defeated "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa for the vacated title. | |
| 26 | "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa | April 10, 2016 | The Gate of Passion 2016 | Tsu, Japan | 6 | 97 | 2 | Since CIMA did not want the title, his opponent Ichikawa was awarded the championship. | |
| 27 | Masaaki Mochizuki | July 16, 2016 | Rainbow Gate 2016 | Tsu, Japan | 2 | <1 | 0 | ||
| 28 | "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa | July 16, 2016 | Rainbow Gate 2016 | Tsu, Japan | 7 | 491 | 1 | Mochizuki returned the title immediately after. | |
| 29 | Cima | November 19, 2017 | The Gate of Evolution 2017 – Day 10 | Nobeoka, Japan | 3 | 7 | 0 | ||
| — | Vacated | November 26, 2017 | Memorial Gate in Sendai 2017 | Sendai, Japan | — | — | — | [9] | |
| 30 | Ryo Saito | November 26, 2017 | Memorial Gate in Sendai 2017 | Sendai, Japan | 2 | 100 | 0 | Defeated "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa for the vacant title. | [10] |
| 31 | Shingo Takagi | March 6, 2018 | Kotoka Road To Final - The Ending | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 61 | 1 | [11] | |
| — | Deactivated | May 6, 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 32 | Kikutaro | July 8, 2023 | DG/Masaaki Mochizuki Produce Buyuden Rei ~ Zero ~ Vol. 2 | Tokyo, Japan | 3 | 89 | 0 | Defeated Kono Mama Ichikawa to win the reactivated title. | [4] |
| 33 | Lingerie Muto | October 5, 2023 | DG/Masaaki Mochizuki Produce Buyuden Rei ~ Zero ~ Vol. 3 | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 443+ | 1 | Match ended in a double knockout but was ruled as a win for Muto. | [12] |
Combined reigns
edit
As of December 21, 2024.
| † | Indicates the current champion |
|---|
| Rank | Wrestler | No. of Reigns |
Combined defenses |
Combined days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kikutaro | 3 | 5 | 861 |
| 2 | "Hollywood" Stalker Ichikawa/Ichikawa | 7 | 14 | 836 |
| 3 | Ryo Saito/Ryo "Jimmy" Saito | 2 | 7 | 726 |
| 4 | Jackson Florida | 3 | 10 | 466 |
| 5 | Lingerie Muto † | 1 | 1 | 443+ |
| 6 | Akira Tozawa | 1 | 1 | 230 |
| 7 | Kenichiro Arai | 1 | 1 | 140 |
| 8 | Don Fujii | 1 | 0 | 133 |
| 9 | Masato Yoshino | 1 | 0 | 132 |
| 10 | Jimmy Kanda | 1 | 1 | 73 |
| 11 | Shingo Takagi | 1 | 0 | 61 |
| 12 | Yosuke ♥ Santa Maria | 1 | 2 | 53 |
| 13 | Rich Swann | 1 | 0 | 50 |
| 14 | Anthony W. Mori | 1 | 1 | 41 |
| 15 | Cima | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| 16 | Masaaki Mochizuki | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| 17 | Johnson Florida | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 18 | Mr. Nakagawa | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| 19 | Kinta Tamaoka | 1 | 0 | <1 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Results, 2007". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Archived from the original on 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
- ^ "Dragon Gate USA News Archive, May 2007". Dragon Gate USA. Archived from the original on 2007-10-21. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
- ^ "Open the Owarai Gate". DGUSA. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
- ^ a b Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 8, 2023). "DG/Masaaki Mochizuki Produce Buyuden Rei ~ Zero ~ Vol. 2". cagematch.net. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 10, 2007). "Dragon Gate The Gate Of Maximum 2007 - Tag 5 - TV-Show @ Hakata Starlanes in Fukuoka, Japan". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ^ a b Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 18, 2007). "Dragon Gate Live Gate 2007 Vol. 6 - TV-Show @ Asuta Live Factory Site-Kobe in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 19, 2008). "Dragon Gate Wrestle JAM 3rd Season - Tag 4 - TV-Show @ Nagoya Telepia Hall in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 2, 2008). "Dragon Gate Truth Gate 2008 - Tag 1 - Event @ Ukiha Yoshi Athletic Center in Ukiha, Fukuoka, Japan". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ^ Riba, Michael (November 27, 2017). "Dragon Gate "Memorial Gate 2017" Results – 11/26/17 – Sendai, Japan". gerweck.net. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ Lowe, Case (December 1, 2017). "DRAGON GATE MEMORIAL GATE IN SENDAI (NOVEMBER 26) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ Lowe, Case (March 28, 2018). "DRAGON GATE KOTOKA ROAD TO FINAL: THE ENDING (MARCH 6) REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 5, 2023). "DG/Masaaki Mochizuki Produce Buyuden Rei ~ Zero ~ Vol. 3". cagematch.net. Retrieved October 5, 2023.