D'Courage (ディーカレッジ Dīkarejji) is a professional wrestling group, primarily appearing in the Japanese promotion Dragon Gate (DG). The group was formed in January 2022, by Dragon Dia and Yuki Yoshioka as a duo.
Following the conclusion of a feud between Dia and Dia Inferno, who was later revealed to be Yoshioka after forcing Dia unmask, both decided to form a team achieving imediate success, after quickly winning the Open The Twin Gate Championship. Following the result of a fan vote, their team was named "D'Courage". They became a stable, following the addition of Madoka Kikuta in October 2022, who quickly brought the Open The Dream Gate Championship to the stable, before D'Courage was joined by a fourth member Ryoya Tanaka in November 2023.
History[]
Background (2019-2021)[]
In December 2019, Dragon Dia and Yuki Yoshioka joined the Dragon Gate Generation stable in order to unite all wrestlers of the Dragon Gate generation against Toryumon and R.E.D in a "Generation War". On March 3, 2019, Yoshioka announced that he was going on a learning excursion to Mexico.
Meanwhile over the following months, Dia began feuding with R.E.D, with Eita teasing a "secret weapon", which was later revealed to be "Dia Inferno", before ripping Dia's mask, interrupting a match between him and Takashi Yoshida, with Eita citing (on Inferno's behalf) his ambition to end Dia. On November 15, at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, Dragon Gate's biggest show of the year, Dia faced Inferno in a winning effort, after Inferno removed his mask causing the referee to award Dia the win. This outcome of the match led Dragon Gate to announce that Dia would face Inferno in a Lucha de Apuestas ("Bet Match"), Mask vs. Mask match at Final Gate; however, the match was changed before the event, continuing the feud.
In October 2020, as part of the feud between Masquerade and R.E.D, Dia reignited his feud with Inferno, which culminated to a Lucha de Apuestas match, where Dia was forced to unmask. Following the match, after achieving his goal, Inferno revealed himself to be the returning Yuki Yoshioka, ending his association with R.E.D.
Formation and championship success (2022–Present)[]
On January 12, 2022, Dia made his return to Dragon Gate, repackaged with a skater gimmick, before Yoshioka making his return as Dia Inferno, to help Dia defeating SB KENTo to win the Open The Brave Gate Championship in 90 seconds, following the the interference from H.Y.O. Afterwards, Dia and Yoshioka challenged KENTo and H.Y.O to a title match for the Open The Twin Gate Championship. The following day, Dia and Yoshioka defeated KENTo and H.Y.O to win the Open The Twin Gate Championship, with Dia becoming a double champion in the process. On February 4, Dia proprosed a fan vote to decide the name for his team with Yoshioka. Following the result of the fan vote, their team was named "D'Courage", a combination of the D from Dia and the Japanese word for courage (勇気 yūki), of which an alternate spelling from Yoshioka's first name, Yuki (有紀). After failling to regain the Open The Twin Gate Championship alongside H.Y.O on March 23, KENTo challenged Dia to a rematch for the Open The Brave Gate Championship at Dead or Alive, which he accepted. On April 21, KENTo challenged Dia to a rematch for the Open The Twin Gate Championship, but he refused. Afterwards, Skywalker began manipulating Dia into accepting a title match, after remiding him on how he cost his mask, leading Dia to accept. Despite General Manager Ryo Saito's reservations, Dia persisted and both title matches were scheduled for the event. On May 5, at Dead or Alive, Dia and Yoshioka lost the Open The Twin Gate Championship to Z-Brats (Diamante and Shun Skywalker). Later that night, Dia successfully retained the Open The Brave Gate Championship against SB KENTo. Later that month, Dia and Yoshioka took part in the 2022 King of Gate. Dia was eliminated in the first round. Meanwhile, Yoshioka ended up winning the tournament, after defeating Kota Minoura in the final on June 2. On July 30 at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, Dia lost the Open The Brave Gate Championship to H.Y.O. Later that night, Yoshioka defeated KAI to win the Open The Dream Gate Championship. Shortly after, Dia began teaming with Madoka Kikuta, with the duo winning the Open The Twin Gate Championship, after being joined by Yoshioka, leading Kikuta eventually to be accepted into D'Courage on October 15, turning the team into a stable. On December 2, Dia and Kikuta lost the Open The Twin Gate Championship to BxB Hulk and KAI.
On January 11, 2023, Yoshioka lost the Open The Dream Gate Championship to Shun Skywalker. The following month, Yoshioka and Kikuta took part in the 2023 Rey De Parejas, finishing the tournament with a record of two wins, two draws and one loss, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament. On March 2, Yoshioka and Kikuta defeated Z-Brats (KAI and Shun Skywalker) and then M3K (Susumu Mochizuki and Yasushi Kanda), in the semifinals and finals to win the 2023 Rey de Parejas. Traditionally, the winners of the tournament have earned a shot at the Open The Twin Gate Championship and following the win, Yoshioka and Kikuta called out reigning champions, Natural Vibes (Big Boss Shimizu and Kzy), and challenged them to a title match, which they accepted. On March 5, at Champion Gate in Osaka, Yoshioka and Kikuta unsuccessfully challenged Kzy and Shimizu for the Open The Twin Gate Championship. On May 5, at Dead or Alive, Kikuta defeated Shun Skywalker to win the Open The Dream Gate Championship. On July 2 at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, Kikuta successfully defended the Open The Dream Gate Championship Yoshioka. On November 5 at Gate of Destiny, Dia and Yoshioka defeated M3K (Susumu Mochizuki and Yasushi Kanda) to win Open The Twin Gate Championship. Four days later, Ryoya Tanaka became the newest member of the stable. On December 20, Dia and Yoshioka relinquished the Open The Twin Gate Championship, after Yoshioka was sidelined with a detached retina. Four days later, at Final Gate, Kikuta lost the Open The Dream Gate Championship to Luís Mante in a three-way match also involving Shun Skywalker.
From March 6 to April 7, Dia and Kikuta took part in the 2024 Rey de Parejas, finishing the tournament with a record of one win, two draws and one loss, failing to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. In May, Dia entered New Japan Pro Wrestling's month-long 2024 Best of the Super Juniors, becoming the third Dragon Gate wrestler, after PAC and Ricochet to take part in the tournament. The tournament itself proved to be a major failure for Dia, losing seven consecutive league matches, before defeating KUSHIDA on the final day, failing to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. On July 21 at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, Dia defeated Hyo to win the Open The Brave Gate Championship for the second time. From November 7 until December 3, Dia and Kikuta took part in the 2024 King of Gate. Only Dia advanced to the semifinals of the tournament. On December 3, Dia defeated Masaaki Mochizuki and then Kota Minoura, in the semifinals and finals, respectively, to win the 2024 King of Gate. Following the match, Dia who had challenged YAMATO to a title match for the Open The Dream Gate Championship, was challenged by YAMATO to a title match for his the Open The Brave Gate Championship. He lost the Open The Brave Gate Championship and failed to win the Open The Dream Gate Championship, after losing to YAMATO in a Winner Takes All match for both titles on December 15 at Final Gate.
From March 6 to April 7, Dia and Madoka Kikuta took part in the 2025 Rey de Parejas, finishing the tournament with a record of one win, two draws and one loss, failing to advance to the semifinals. During the tournament, Shun Skywalker brought in the mysterious Dia Inferno, which caused suspicion within the D'Courage. After multiple false hits, Dia and Kikuta started fighting with each other, bringing the D'Courage to the brink of collapse. On March 30, Skywalker was confronted by Dia and Tanaka as they were watched over by a disgruntled Kikuta, who were in a midst of a faction infighting due to the identity of the new Dia Inferno throughout March. On April 7, D'Courage were defeated by Z-Brats, after Inferno dodged a box attack and hit Dia. Afterwards, Kikuta began blaming Yoshioka for their failure in the Rey de Parejas. Despite Dragon Dia's efforts to calm him down, even claiming that "Dia Inferno" was Skywalker manipulating them, Kikuta was not convinced, claiming he did not trust Dia. Kikuta would accuse Dia of excluding him in the past, claiming that he had no right to talk about bonds and friendships. In a twist, Skywalker invited Kikuta to join Z-Brats, but Minoura fiercely opposed. This led to Dragon Gate General Manager Ryo Saito to schedule a mask vs. hair steel cage match for the event. At the match, Dia, despite suffering an arm injury during a fall from the cage, was assisted by Yoshioka and Kikuta in climbing up and became the second man to escape the match. However, later in the match, Kikuta turned on Yoshioka to join Z-Brats, causing him to lose the match and have his hair shaved.
Members[]
| * | Founding member |
|---|
| Member | Duration | |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon Dia | * | January 12, 2022 – Present |
| Yuki Yoshioka | * | January 12, 2022 – Present |
| Madoka Kikuta | October 15, 2022 – Present | |
| Ryoya Tanaka | November 9, 2023 – Present | |
Sub-groups[]
| Affiliate | Members | Tenure | Type | Promotion(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Dia and Yuki Yoshioka | Dragon Dia Yuki Yoshioka |
2022–present | Tag team | Dragon Gate |
Timeline[]
In wrestling[]
- Double-team finishing moves
- Dia and Yoshioka
- Firebird splash (Dia) followed by a Frog splash (Yoshioka)
- Dia and Yoshioka
- Double-team signature moves
- Dia and Yoshioka
- Assisted standing moonsault (Dia)
- Assisted wheelbarrow facebuster (Yoshioka)
- Rocking horse (Dia) / Basement dropkick (Yoshioka)
- Running back elbow (Yoshioka) followed by a handstand back elbow smash (Dia)
- Double knee facebreaker (Yoshioka) followed by a step-up enziguiri (Dia)
- Dia and Yoshioka
- Entrance themes
- "Courage and Diamond" by Okinawa Electric Girl Saya
Championships and Accomplishments[]
- Dragon Gate
- Open The Dream Gate Championship (2 times) – Yoshioka (1) and Kikuta (1)
- Open The Brave Gate Championship (2 times) – Dia
- Open The Twin Gate Championship (3 times) – Dia and Yoshioka (1) and Dia and Kikuta (2)
- King of Gate (2022) – Yoshioka
- Rey De Parejas (2023) – Yoshioka and Kikuta
- King of Gate (2024) – Dia
Gallery[]
