Kota Minoura (箕浦康太 Minoura Kota, born September 30, 1998 in Gifu, Japan) is a Japanese professional wrestler working for Dragon Gate (DG).
Minoura was trained by the Dragon Gate Dojo and made his debut in July 2018. Initially, Minoura didn't achieved much success, working mostly on the undercard, losing most of his matches to other, more experienced wrestlers to give him some in-ring, televised, experience. Soon after, Minoura formed the Mochizuki Dojo stable with fellow Dragon Gate wrestlers Hyou Watanabe, Shun Skywalker and Masaaki Mochizuki, in order to progress his career, before forming the Dragon Gate Generation, with several wrestlers, who were trained in the Dragon Gate dojo as part of a feud with their counterparts Toryumon and R.E.D in a "Generation War". Afterwards, Minoura started his breakthrough and began being pushed up in the card, winning more consistently, leading him to win the Open The Twin Gate Championship in August 2020. In December, Minoura left the Dragon Gate stable to form his own stable with Shun Skywalker and his former Dragon Gate stablemates Dragon Dia and Jason Lee, before reaching the finals of the 2021 King of Gate in June.
Contents
Professional Wrestling Career[]
Dragon Gate (2018–Present)[]
Minoura trained for his professional wrestling career in the Japanese promotion Dragon Gate's wrestling school called "Dragon Gate Nex". He would make an exhibition match against Hyou Watanabe on June 11, 2018. After almost one month later, Minoura made his official debut on July 5, teaming with "brother" YASSHI and Punch Tominaga in a losing effort against MaxiMuM (Ben-K, Jason Lee and Masato Yoshino). Minoura would make his pay-per-view debut at Dragon Gate's most important pay-per-view at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival on July 22, facing Oji Shiiba in a time limit draw at the pre-show. As is customary for most professional wrestlers, Minoura spent most of his matches losing to other, more experienced wrestlers, which would help put over other wrestlers while at the same time give Minoura some in-ring, televised, experience.
On November 6, Minoura faced Masaaki Mochizuki. Before the match, Mochizuki offered a handshake to Minoura, but he slapped him. Minoura would lose to Mochizuki. Following the match, Mochizuki asked him, why he slapped him and Minoura revealed that he wanted to join the Mochizuki Dojo. Mochizuki would praise him for his effort and accepted him to his stable. In December 2019, after Mochizuki Dojo was temporarily suspended, he entered the Dragon Gate stable in order to unite all Dragon Gate generation of wrestlers against Toryumon and R.E.D in a "Generation War". On August 2, 2020, at Memorial Gate in Wakayama, Minoura and Dragon Gate stablemate Jason Lee defeated R.E.D (Kazma Sakamoto and BxB Hulk) to win the Open The Twin Gate Championship. The titles were vacated on November 14, due to Lee missing the 2020 Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival as a precautionary measure for the COVID-19 after registering a high fever. The following day, at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, Minoura and his Dragon Gate stablemate YAMATO failed to defeat R.E.D (BxB Hulk and KAI) for the vacant titles.
On December 2, Minoura alongside Dragon Dia and Jason Lee left Dragon Gate to form their own stable with Shun Skywalker, which would be joined by a mysterious member on December 15. At the December 15 event, it was announced that the stable would be named Masquerade, with the new member being revealed to be La Estrella. In May 2021, Minoura took part in the 2021 King of Gate, where he won his block with a clean record of five wins, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament. On June 3, Minoura defeated YAMATO in the semifinals and then was defeated by Kzy, in the finals of the 2021 King of Gate.
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- Bevel Gear (Fireman's carry transitioned into a cradle)
- Bridging high-angle German suplex transitioned into a butterfly lock
- Gang (Sitout package powerbomb)
- Engranaje (Crossface, usually preceded by a fireman's carry bulldog) – 2021–present
- Signature moves
- Arm drag
- Boston crab
- Forearm smash
- Hip toss
- Knife edge chop
- Multiple suplex variations
- Back to belly
- Double underhook
- Exploder
- German, sometimes while bridging
- Northern lights
- Shoulder tackle
- Sol Naciente (Straight jacket triangle choke) – adopted from Masato Yoshino
- Suisha otoshi
- Swinging side slam backbreaker
- Entrance themes
- "Rise in Grace" by YO-HEI
Championships and Accomplishments[]
- Dragon Gate
- Open The Twin Gate Championship (1 time) – with Jason Lee
- Rookie Ranking Tournament: Sixth place
