Joseph and Colette Discuss Dragon Kid vs. Darkness Dragon

This week, we watched two of the flippy boys of Toryumon — Dragon Kid and Darkness Dragon — battle it out over their very identity in a bloody apuesta that both of us found somewhat underwhelming, though not for lack of effort! Check the essays, then dig into our conversation below!

Joseph: Dragon Kid vs. Darkness Dragon Is More Mexican Apuesta Than I Expected
Colette: Dragon Kid vs. Darkness Dragon Is Great Spectacle, But Not a Great Match

Next Up: Two generations of cutting edge pro wrestlers collide next week on BIG EGG. One of the true dream matches possible in the 2010s comes to life as Low Ki takes on Rey Mysterio in JAPW. We're talking all about it next week so be sure to subscribe!

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Joseph Anthony Montecillo
This week's match is a fascinating evolution of the stylistic hybrid that was on display in the 1994 Super J Cup, and much of 90s junior heavyweight wrestling in general. That particular style in Japan owes so much to the influences from Mexico crossing the Pacific and becoming something entirely new on its own. Toryumon, under Ultimo Dragon's influence, is sort of the next step in the style of what many people call "lucharesu." What's your experience been in the past with that style?

Colette Arrand
Unsurprisingly not a ton! Ultimo Dragon was one of my favorite wrestlers when I was a kid and I kind of knew about Toryumon through Mike Tenay’s commentary, as presenting light heavyweight wrestling as a kind of feast of international styles was a project of his, but when I got smart enough to start digging for things beyond what I was comfortable with, I didn’t look this way, even at its must accessible via the ROH six man tags or DGUSA. It is a major blindspot for me. One of the biggest! You?

Joseph Anthony Montecillo
My biggest experience with it is through modern day Dragongate which, of course traces its history to Toryumon. But also, I've seen a not insignificant amount of Michinoku Pro and Osaka Pro which share a heritage with Ultimo's vision but I don't believe he had any direct connection with either promotion. It's an interesting style in that one can definitely see the connections to Mexican lucha but with the emphasis on pacing and escalating action more closely associated with Japan.