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Toryumon is a professional wrestling promotion that operates both in Japan and in Mexico, where it's called Toryumon Mexico. The promotion is owned and operated by Yoshihiro Asai, who is best known under the name Último Dragón. Tōryūmon is a coined word that means Fighting Dragon Gate. The word is coined after the homonym Tōryūmon that literally means climbing up dragon gate and means gateway to success. The promotion was originally created to give graduates of the Último Dragón Gym a promotion to gain their initial in-ring experience in. In 2004 Último Dragón left the promotion and took the name and trademarks with him. The wrestlers and officials decided to adopt the name Dragon Gate and continue in the traditions of Toryumon. Since then Último Dragón has promoted Toryumon mainly in Mexico but also holds occasional shows in Japan.

History[]

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. 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 consistede 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). 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). 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. Through his contacts with WCW Último Dragón also arranged for some of his first term graduates to wrestle on World Championship Wrestling shows. On January 1, 1999 Toryumon held its first show in Japan and from that point forward began promoting regular shows in Japan. 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. 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. T2P wrestlers primarily used a submission based style called Llave (Spanish for "Key" the lucha libre term for submission locks). T2P ran until January 27, 2003 when the roster was absorbed into Toryumon. 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 casued nerve damage. In 2001 Dragón had another round of surgery on his elbow, restoring the mobility and feeling that the original operation had robbed him off. Following his rehabilitation Último Dragón made his return to active wrestling on a Toryumon / T2P co-promoted Pay-Per-View on September 8, 2002. 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. 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.

Shows and events[]

Toryumon Japan ran a series of PPVs under the names Vamonos Amigos ("Let's go pal" 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. Since the split in 2004 Toryumon has not promoted any major shows or PPVs, focusing their promotional efforts on Toryumon Mexico. In Mexico Dragón promotes an annual DragonMania show, with the last being DragonMania IV held on August 22, 2009.

Championships promoted[]

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 Date won Notes
British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship 2001–2003 Jun Ogawauchi 02003-11-10November 10, 2003


Title currently inactive.
NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship 2008–2009 Hajime Ohara 02008-12-14December 14, 2008


Currently promoted by Dradition
NWA International Light Heavyweight Championship 2002 CIMA 02002-12-26December 26, 2002


Inactive
NWA World Welterweight Championship 1999–2007 Hajime Ohara 02007-02-10February 10, 2007


Promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre since 2007.
Último Dragón Gym Championship 2003–2004 CIMA 02004-07-04July 4, 2004


Inactive after the Dragon Gate split.
UWA World Trios Championship 2001–2004 Keni'chiro Arai, Dragon Kid Second Doi 02004-05-09May 9, 2004


Currently promoted by El Dorado
UWA World Welterweight Championship 2003 Taiji Ishimori 02003-05-11May 11, 2003


Promoted by Michinoku Pro

Annual tournaments[]

Young Dragons Cup[]

Every year Toryumon Mexico holds the Young Dragons Cup, an annual tournament that began in 1997. The tournament is used to showcas 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[]

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).

Ultimo Dragon Gym students[]

Class Term Name Currently working
Toryumon Japan (1st Class)


1st Term


CIMA


Dragon Gate
Toryumon Japan (1st Class)


1st Term


Fujii, DonDon Fujii


Dragon Gate
Toryumon Japan (1st Class)


1st Term


Dragon Kid Dragon Gate
Toryumon Japan (1st Class)


1st Term


Tokyo, MagnumMagnum Tokyo


HUSTLE
Toryumon Japan (1st Class)


1st Term


SUWA


Retired
Toryumon Japan (1st Class)


2nd Term


Horiguchi, GenkiGenki Horiguchi


Dragon Gate
Toryumon Japan (1st Class)


2nd Term


Arai, Keni'chiroKeni'chiro Arai


Dragon Gate
Toryumon Japan (1st Class)


2nd Term


Stalker Ichikawa


Dragon Gate
Toryumon Japan (1st Class)


2nd Term


Kanda, YasushiYasushi Kanda


Dragon Gate
Toryumon Japan (1st Class)


3rd Term


Yokosuka, SusumuSusumu Yokosuka


Dragon Gate
Toryumon Japan (1st Class)


3rd Term


Shimizu, MototsuguMototsugu Shimizu


El Dorado
Toryumon Japan (1st Class)


4th Term


Saito, RyoRyo Saito


Dragon Gate
Toryumon Japan (1st Class)


4th Term


Tamaoka, KintaKinta Tamaoka


Did not graduate - Dragon Gate
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


5th Term


Mori, Anthony W.Anthony W. Mori


Retired
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


5th Term


Mishima, RaimuRaimu Mishima


Retired due to injuries.
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


5th Term


Doi, NarukiNaruki Doi


Dragon Gate
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


5th Term


Iwasa, TakuTaku Iwasa


Dragon Gate
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


6th Term


Milano Collection AT Retired due to eye injury
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


6th Term


Oyanagei, KinyaKinya Oyanagei


El Dorado
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


6th Term


Phillip J. Fukumasa Retired
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


6th Term


Iwasa, TakuTaku Iwasa


Dragon Gate
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


6th Term


TARUcito Retired
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


6th Term


Murakami, TakuyaTakuya Murakami


Michinoku Pro
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


7th Term


Toru Owashi


Dramatic Dream Team
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


7th Term


Yoshino, MasatoMasato Yoshino


Dragon Gate
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


7th Term


Brother YASSHI


All Japan Pro Wrestling
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


7th Term


Yagi, TakayukiTakayuki Yagi


(Bakery Yagi/Pescatore Yagi)

Dragon Gate
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


8th Term


Kondo, ShujiShuji Kondo


All Japan Pro Wrestling
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


8th Term


Ogawauchi, JunJun Ogawauchi
(JUN)
Retired
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


8th Term


Takagi, ShogoShogo Takagi


Semi-Retired
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


8th Term


Sugawara, TakuyaTakuya Sugawara


Pro Wrestling Zero1 / Dragon Gate
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


8th Term


Tajima, HisamaruHisamaru Tajima


Dradition
Toryumon 2000 Project (2nd Class)


8th Term


Flash Moon / Murcielago / Inoue 110 Taiien Freelancer
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


9th Term


Ishimori, TaijiTaiji Ishimori


Pro Wrestling NOAH
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


9th Term


Shu Sato / Brahman Shu Michinoku Pro/El Dorado
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


9th Term


Kei Sato / Brahman Kei Michinoku Pro/El Dorado
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


9th Term


Ooma


Michinoku Pro
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


9th Term


Nohashi, ShinjitsuShinjitsu Nohashi
/ Koichiro Arai
Michinoku Pro
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


9th Term


Minaminno, TakeshiTakeshi Minaminno


Michinoku Pro
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


9th Term


Hanai, PineapplePineapple Hanai
/ Ken45°
Michinoku Pro/El Dorado
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


9th Term


SUWAcito / KAGETORA


Michinoku Pro/El Dorado
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


9th Term


Rasse / Jumping Kid Okimoto


Michinoku Pro/El Dorado
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


9th Term


Lambo Miura / Dynamite Tohoku Retired
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


9th Term


Takanashi, MasahiroMasahiro Takanashi


(Did not graduate) Dramatic Dream Team
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


10th Term


Tanisaki, NaokiNaoki Tanisaki


Dragon Gate
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


10th Term


Fukuda, MangoMango Fukuda
Bear Fukuda
El Dorado
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


11th Term


Sugi, TakuyaTakuya Sugi


Michinoku Pro / Freelance
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


11th Term


Saito Masuda


Never made his debut
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


11th Term


Suzuki, AmigoAmigo Suzuki
/ Chuuichiro Arai/Amigo Suzuki
Toryumon Mexico / Dradition
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


11th Term


Hasegawa, PassionPassion Hasegawa


Toryumon Mexico
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


12th Term


Aoki, YousukeYousuke Aoki
/ Spark Aoki
El Dorado
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


12th Term


GALLARDO / 119 Katayama Taiin Retired
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


12th Term


Kondo and Co Retired
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


12th Term


TARUcito 2 Never made his debut
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


13th Term


Horiguchi, HiromiHiromi Horiguchi


Toryumon Mexico / Dradition
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


13th Term


Tsutomu Oosugi / Milanito Collection a.t. / Rei


Michinoku Pro/El Dorado
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


13th Term


Senga, BananaBanana Senga
/ Hercules Oosenga
Michinoku Pro/El Dorado
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


13th Term


Matsuyama, KanjyuuroKanjyuuro Matsuyama


Michinoku Pro / Osaka Pro
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


13th Term


Ohara, HajimeHajime Ohara


Pro Wrestling Zero1 / Kensuke Office
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


13th Term


Okada, KazuchikaKazuchika Okada


New Japan Pro Wrestling / Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Toryumon X (3rd Class)


13th Term


Akiba, GuillermoGuillermo Akiba
/ CHANGO
El Dorado
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class)


14th Term


Matsuzaki, ToshiyaToshiya Matsuzaki
/ Rascal Matsuzaki / Pequeno Ninja
Toryumon Mexico / Dradition
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class)


14th Term


Hanaoka, DaisukeDaisuke Hanaoka
/ Oscar Hanoka
Toryumon Mexico / Dradition
Toryumon Mexico (4th Class)


14th Term


Kajiwara, SatoshiSatoshi Kajiwara


Toryumon Mexico / Dradition / Kensuke Office

External links[]

Professional wrestling in Mexico
Asistencia Asesoría y AdministraciónComisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F.Consejo Mundial de Lucha LibreFederacion Internacional de Lucha LibreInternational Wrestling LeagueInternational Wrestling Revolution GroupPerros del MalUniversal Wrestling Entertainment World Wrestling AssociationOther promotions
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