Open the Brave Gate Championship

The Open the Brave Gate Championship is a professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion Dragon Gate; it has a weight limit of 83 kg (183 lb), though it has been defended against heavier wrestlers in the past. It can be considered the secondary singles title in Dragon Gate and is more of a light heavyweight championship.[1]

Open the Brave Gate
Current design of the Open the Brave Gate Championship (2019 – present)
Details
PromotionDragon Gate
Date establishedMarch 13, 2005
Current champion(s)Hyo
Date wonDecember 14, 2023
Statistics
First champion(s)Naruki Doi
Most reignsMasato Yoshino (6 reigns)
Longest reignPac (447 days)
Shortest reignAnthony W. Mori and Masato Yoshino/Dr. Muscle (<1 day)
Oldest championDragon Kid (42 years, 234 days)
Youngest championFlamita (19 years, 106 days)
Heaviest championPac (194 lbs)
Lightest championKotoka (145 lbs)

Title history

Eita with the (2005–2019) design of the title in November 2016.
Jason Lee with the current design of the title.

The championship was created on March 13, 2005 when Naruki Doi defeated Yossino in a tournament final.[2] In the case of the first belt design from 2005 to 2019, the faceplate logo of it was divided into eight pieces, each of them representing the eight wrestlers who fought in the tournament to determine the inaugural champion. During Gamma's reign, he threw away all eight pieces of the faceplate and replaced it with his own plate, renaming it Open the Gamma Gate, dictating and often changing the rules of his title defenses. This ended when Masato Yoshino, wrestling as the masked Dr. Muscle, defeated Gamma and restored it to the Brave Gate title, vacating it soon afterwards.

There have been a total of 51 reigns shared between 32 different champions. The current champion is Hyo who is in his second reign.[3]

Reigns

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
DefensesNumber of successful defenses
<1Reign lasted less than a day
+Current reign is changing daily
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDaysDefenses
1Naruki DoiMarch 13, 2005The Brave Gate 2005Nagoya, Japan12455Doi defeated Yossino in a tournament final to become the inaugural champion.[4]
2Dragon KidNovember 13, 2005Crown Gate 2005Nagoya, Japan1841[4]
VacatedFebruary 5, 2006Primal Gate 2006Fukuoka, JapanThe championship was vacated due to a title defense against Masato Yoshino ending in a no contest after outside interference from both men's factions.[4]
3Masato YoshinoMarch 19, 2006Brave Gate 2006Kawagoe, Japan13304Yoshino defeated Dragon Kid and Naoki Tanisaki in a three-way elimination tournament final to win the vacant championship.[4]
4Matt SydalFebruary 12, 2007Truth Gate 2007Kobe, Japan1411[4][5]
5Genki HoriguchiMarch 25, 2007Memorial Gate 2007Tsu, Japan1982[4]
6Yasushi KandaJuly 1, 2007Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival 2007Kobe, Japan1832[6]
7Masato YoshinoSeptember 22, 2007Storm Gate 2007: Dragon StormTokyo, Japan22046[4]
8Anthony W. MoriApril 13, 2008The Gate of Passion 2008Nagoya, Japan1<10
VacatedApril 13, 2008The Gate of Passion 2008Nagoya, JapanThe championship was vacated voluntarily by Anthony W. Mori due to Yasushi Kanda interfering in his title win.
9 GammaApril 27, 2008The Gate of Passion 2008Fukuoka, Japan1630Gamma defeated Anthony W. Mori in a tournament final to win the vacant championship. The title was renamed "Open the Gamma Gate" during his reign. Gamma successfully defended his Open the Gamma Gate six times but none of the defenses were not counted as part of the official Brave Gate lineage.
10Dr. MuscleJune 29, 2008The Gate of Maximum 2008Osaka, Japan3<10The championship was Renamed back to "Open the Brave Gate". This was Masato Yoshino disguised as Dr. Muscle but the reign is recognized as a Dr. Muscle reign.
VacatedJune 29, 2008The Gate of Maximum 2008Osaka, JapanMasato Yoshino vacated the championship.
11Genki HoriguchiJuly 27, 2008Kobe World Pro Wrestling Festival 2008Kobe, Japan2772Horiguchi defeated m.c.KZ to win the vacant championship.
12Masato YoshinoOctober 12, 2008The Gate of Victory 2008Nagoya, Japan41612
13 CimaMarch 22, 2009The Gate of AnniversaryTokyo, Japan11193
14Naruki DoiJuly 19, 2009Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival 2009Kobe, Japan290This was a title vs. title match in which Doi also defended the Open the Dream Gate Championship.
VacatedJuly 28, 2009The championship was vacated due to Naruki Doi also holding the Open the Dream Gate Championship.
15Naoki TanizakiAugust 30, 2009Storm Gate 2009Fukuoka, Japan11346Tanizaki defeated Kagetora in a tournament final for the vacant championship.
16 K-nessJanuary 11, 2010Primal Gate 2010Nagoya, Japan1471[4]
17Super ShisaFebruary 27, 2010Truth Gate 2010Nagoya, Japan1501[4]
18Tigers MaskApril 18, 2010The Gate of Passion 2010Osaka, Japan11183[4][7]
19Masato YoshinoAugust 14, 2010Summer Adventure Tag League IVKobe, Japan5<10[4][8]
VacatedAugust 14, 2010Summer Adventure Tag League IVKobe, JapanThe championship was vacated due to Masato Yoshino also holding the Open the Dream Gate Championship.[8]
20 PacAugust 29, 2010Storm Gate 2010Fukuoka, Japan144711Pac defeated Susumu Yokosuka in a tournament final to win the vacant championship.[9]
21 RicochetNovember 19, 2011Crown Gate 2011Osaka, Japan11693[4]
22Dragon KidMay 6, 2012Dead or Alive 2012Nagoya, Japan23649[4]
23Masato YoshinoMay 5, 2013Dead or Alive 2013Nagoya, Japan61174[4]
VacatedAugust 30, 2013The Gate of Generation 2013Kobe, JapanMasato Yoshino vacated the championship, feeling it belonged to the younger generation.
24Genki Horiguchi H.A.Gee.Mee!!September 29, 2013Summer Adventure Tag League 2013Kobe, Japan31684H.A.Gee.Mee!! defeated Kzy in the finals of a tournament to win the vacant championship.[4]
25 FlamitaMarch 16, 2014Memorial Gate 2014 in WakayamaWakayama, Japan12909[1]
VacatedDecember 31, 2014The championship was declared vacant three days after Flamita left the belt in the ring in protest, following his ninth defense ending in a disqualification.[10]
26 KzyJanuary 12, 2015Open the New Year Gate 2015Kobe, Japan1471Kzy, as the masked Dr. Muscle, defeated Eita in the finals of a tournament to win the vacant championship. Kzy was unmasked on January 16, 2015.
27Akira TozawaFebruary 28, 2015Champion Gate 2015 in OsakaOsaka, Japan12466
28KotokaNovember 1, 2015 Gate of Destiny 2015Osaka, Japan11251[11]
29Yosuke♥Santa MariaMarch 5, 2016Champion Gate 2016 in Osaka: Sumoz Osaka BashoOsaka, Japan11412
30 EitaJuly 24, 2016Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival 2016Kobe, Japan12234[12]
VacatedMarch 4, 2017Champion Gate 2017 in OsakaOsaka, JapanThe championship was vacated due to a match between Eita and El Lindaman being declared as no contest, due to multiple interference.
31Jimmy KagetoraMarch 20, 2017Memorial Gate 2017 in WakayamaWakayama, Japan12784Kagetora defeated El Lindaman in a tournament final to win the vacant championship.
32Yasushi KandaDecember 23, 2017The Final Gate 2017Fukuoka, Japan2700[13]
33Punch TominagaMarch 3, 2018Champion Gate in Osaka 2018Osaka, Japan1180[14]
VacatedMarch 21, 2018The championship was vacated after a Punch Tominaga's title defense against Yasushi Kanda ended in no contest.
34Dragon KidApril 6, 2018The Gate of Passion 2018Tokyo, Japan31071Dragon Kid defeated Kagetora to win the vacant championship.[15]
35 EitaJuly 22, 2018Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival 2018Kobe, Japan2641[16]
36Dragon KidSeptember 24, 2018Dangerous Gate 2018Tokyo, Japan41782[17]
37Susumu YokosukaMarch 21, 2019Memorial Gate in Wakayama 2019Wakayama, Japan12284[18]
38Kaito IshidaNovember 4, 2019Gate of Destiny 2019Osaka, Japan13654[19]
39Keisuke OkudaNovember 3, 2020Gate of Destiny 2020Osaka, Japan12705[20]
40Genki HoriguchiJuly 31, 2021Kobe Pro Wrestling Festival 2021Kobe, Japan410[21]
41KagetoraAugust 1, 2021Speed Star Final 2021Kobe, Japan270[22]
42SB KentoAugust 8, 2021The Gate Of Adventure 2021Nagoya, Japan110[23]
VacatedAugust 9, 2021The championship was vacated after a title defense against Keisuke Okuda ended in a no-contest.
43SB KentoSeptember 11, 2021Storm Gate 2021Osaka, Japan21234Defeated Keisuke Okuda to win the vacant title.[24]
44Dragon DiaJanuary 12, 2022Open the New Year Gate 2022Tokyo, Japan11993[25]
45H.Y.OJuly 30, 2022Kobe World 2022 - Ultimo Dragon Debut 35th AnniversaryKobe, Japan11484[26]
46MinoritaDecember 25, 2022Final Gate 2022Fukuoka, Japan1690[27]
47Jason LeeMarch 4, 2023Champion Gate in Osaka 2023 - Night 1Osaka, Japan11201[28]
48IshinJuly 2, 2023Kobe Festival 2023Kobe, Japan1991[29]
49KzyOctober 9, 2023Gate Of Origin 2023Sendai, Japan250[30]
50IshinOctober 14, 2023Gate Of Victory 2023Kobe, Japan2521[31]
51HyoDecember 5, 2023Fantastic Gate 2023Tokyo, Japan2179+5[32]

Combined reigns

As of June 1, 2024.

Record six-time champion Masato Yoshino/Dr. Muscle.
Two-time and current champion, H.Y.O.
Indicates the current champion
RankWrestlerNo. of
Reigns
Combined
defenses
Combined
days
1Masato Yoshino/Dr. Muscle616813
2Dragon Kid413733
3 Pac111447
4Kaito Ishida14365
5Genki Horiguchi/H.A.Gee.Mee!!48344
6H.Y.O/Hyo29327+
7 Flamita19290
8 Eita25287
9Jimmy Kagetora/Kagetora25286
10Keisuke Okuda15270
11Naruki Doi25254
12Akira Tozawa16246
13Susumu Yokosuka14228
14Dragon Dia13199
15 Ricochet13169
16Yasushi Kanda21153
17Ishin22151
18Yosuke ♥ Santa Maria 12141
19Naoki Tanizaki16134
20Kotoka11125
21SB Kento24124
22Jason Lee11120
23 Cima13119
24Tigers Mask13118
25Minorita1069
26 Gamma1063
27 Kzy2152
28Super Shisa1150
29 K-ness1147
30Matt Sydal1141
31Punch Tominaga1018
32Anthony W. Mori10<1

Notes

1.^On May 20, 2014, Flamita successfully defended the title against Drastik Boy, Kaleth and Shane Strickland at a Desastre Total Ultraviolento (DTU) event in Pachuca, Mexico. Although Dragon Gate has not recognized the defense, it is included here.[33]

See also

References

External links