So the full card for Face The Next, UJPW's latest show, has been announced which means as the resident Dragongate poster I should probably introduce the 6 lovely lads who are representing Dragongate at this show.
These will be brief (my definition of brief) little blurbs on them, but if you want to see more of them I will shamelessly recommend you check out my blog archive as I have posted extensively about all 6 of these guys. The list will go by their appearance on the card.
Click read below to look at the profiles, starting with:
Jiro Shimbashi - 'Pro Wrestling Salaryman'
Debut: 2nd of November 2025
Jiro is sort of the funniest person to start with here because he is undoubtedly going to be the one I need to explain the most about. So you know about the salaryman right? I trust most of you do, because DDT literally just did a match where everyone was a salaryman. Well imagine if that match was an entire wrestler…and they weren't even drunk while doing it! Jiro is an employee of the Sugihara Trading Company, he even has his own business cards! I can't tell you how old he is, or his height or weight because Jiro can't answer questions about that sort of personal information. But what I can tell you is his theme song is sung by himself, he's surprisingly hairy and he's Dragongate's successor to Konomama Ichikawa (comedy icon who is well known for his singles matches against Puro legends).
@Key - 'Passionate Touchdown'
Debut: 29th of September 2024
@Key (pronounced Aki) was born on the 20th of August 2000 in Itami, Hyogo and is one of two latest members of fan favourite, dancing, fun-loving, face unit Natural Vibes (pictured here with fellow member and wrestledad Kzy). Debuting under his real name, Akihiro Sahara, he has stood out on the roster due to his background in American Football (hence, touchdown). He's the Dragongate special: short (168 cm/5'6") but at 87 kg/191 lbs he's not one to throw around. @Key has recently found a much more cute and colourful side of himself through joining Natural Vibes, becoming the dancing dino of the group! (His gear even has back spikes!)
GuC - 'Party Boy'
Debut: 2nd of March 2023
GuC (pronounced Gi-uchi) is our other recent addition to Natural Vibes. A Tokyo native from the Nakano Ward, he was born on the 3rd of July 1998. Formerly known as Daiki Yanagiuchi (yes, a third Daiki), he debuted with the gimmick of 'Korakuen Hall Attendant'. Wearing the uniform you see them wearing and sweeping up on the way to the ring. This is because when GuC originally tried out for Dragongate and did not pass, he got a job as a Korakuen Hall attendant just so he could watch Dragongate shows. Now, he's graduated from that gimmick and become Vibes' fishnet-clad, collared party boy! (A nickname I have given to him myself, originally from an ex-member of Vibes). At 165 cm (5' 5") and 67 kg (147 lbs), he's your local annoying little shit who every veteran in the promotion wants to squash flat. But don't underestimate him! He's a firecracker.
Kazuma Kimura - 'Chimera'
Debut: 5th of August 2025
"Sumi isn't the only Kazuma on this show?" Surprise! This one I actually call Kazuma because I don't call Sumi, Kazuma. Anyway, Kazuma is practically a baby in Dragongate years, he only recently got a theme song of his own and I literally made up his nickname going off the title of his theme song so we're still very much learning about him. What I can tell you is he was born on the 31st of October 2001 in Funabashi, Chiba. He's 170 cm (5'7") tall and weighs 85 kg (187 lbs). Speaking of unique backgrounds: boy does Kazuma have one! His sporting background includes judo and sambo which means his wrestling is a lot of cool throws. I absolutely love the story behind him trying out for Dragongate: he had loved wrestling ever since he was a kid and while at university he dedicated himself to train at judo, sambo and weight-training in the hopes of becoming a wrestler. One day he decides to attend his first Dragongate show since it was nearby. He goes to get an autograph from Ultimo Dragon (the promotion's founder and senior advisor) and Ultimo goes "you have a great physique, are you a wrestler?". Feeling that his effort was recognised for the first time, he tried out for the Dragongate Dojo.
Homare - '?'
Debut: 5th of September 2024
Okay so maybe Jiro won't be the hardest guy to write about here. Homare is hard to write about right now not because his gimmick is out-there but because he's currently at a fork in the road wrestling-wise. Despite what his render and the photo I used might have you think, he does not have this much hair anymore. He doesn't have any hair at all. This is because he was the loser in a hair vs mask unit disbands steel cage match. Not only did he lose his hair, but he had to fight his mentor Shun Skywalker in the final two. Their unit, Psypatra, was disbanded as a result and Homare has been left basically at rock-bottom in the Dragongate hierarchy. This doesn't mean his attitude has changed much, he's still a self-absorbed kid who's a little edgy (sweet eyeliner), sparkly (both his gear and face rhinestones) and cute (pouts and gets his nails did). His full name is Homare Kato and he was born on the 30th of August 2004, making him the youngest member of the whole roster. However he is actually the tallest of this group at 175 cm (5'9") and he weighs 75 kg (165 kg).
Ryoya Tanaka - 'TOP☆GUN'
Debut: 28th of May 2023
Finally, we have the Brave Gate champion in his potentially record-breaking first reign. The Brave Gate is a similar belt to the IWGP Jr title, as it does have a weight limit but it is also a belt typically held by younger talent. I say a potential record breaker as he has currently successfully defended the belt 10 times, second only to Pac's 11 defence reign. It is widely believed he will either tie or break the record. Ryoya was born on the 16th of January 1999 and is from Amagasaki, Hyogo. He's 168 cm (5'6") tall and 70 kg (154 lbs). He's regarded as one of the best wrestlers in Dragongate rn, with the veteran unit Paradox claiming him as the MVP of the promotion in 2025. I would discuss his unit affiliation but it's a bit uncertain atm due to the fact that his unit, D'Courage is down to only two members (Ryoya and Yuki Yoshioka) because of the depature of Dragon Dia from the promotion. Ryoya's a big fan of Kamen Rider, so much so this is his big match entrance look.
Alright! That is everyone, if you have any questions don't be afraid to ask! :D
