M3K was a professional wrestling stable, in the Dragon Gate (DG) promotion. It was formed on June 3, 2022, by the former M2K members Susumu Mochizuki, Yasushi Kanda, Masaaki Mochizuki, and his Mochizuki Junior. The name behind the stable comes as tribute to the legendary M2K, which Susumu, Kanda and Masaaki were part of, where the stable was named based on their surnames. The stable was disbanded in February 2024.
History[]
Background[]
In April 2000, in Toryumon Japan, Masaaki Mochizuki, Susumu Mochizuki, Yasushi Kanda, and Darkness Dragon (later K-ness) formed the M2K stable, being named on the ring names of Masaaki, Susumu and Kanda's surnames. Despite being portrayed as heels, M2K became "fan favorites" for their antics of constant interference in matches, either forcing a no contest or double-countouts. The stable subsquently became one of the prominent heel stables in the Dragon System's history. Despite being disbanded in October 2002, M2K had two more incarnations in the form of Shin M2K formed in January 2003 and Final M2K formed in July 2004 and some occasional reunions such as in June 2013, when Susumu, K-ness and Masaaki won the Open the Triangle Gate Championship and in April 2022 as part of K-ness retirement series.
Stable and disbandment[]
On May 5, 2022, at Dead or Alive, Susumu Yokosuka unsuccessfully challenged KAI for the Open The Dream Gate Championship, as a result he was forced to leave Natural Vibes and rename himself to his original ring name "Susumu Mochizuki". On May 11, Masaharu Eto, saved Masaaki Mochizuki from a pre-match assault from H.Y.O, along with the other members of Z-Brats, BxB Hulk and Diamante. After the match, Eto was called out by Mochizuki, who wished to reform M2K along with his former partners for the Toryumon Reunion Vol 2. show. However, with K-ness being retired, a space was left in blank, leading to Eto fill the gap.
On June 3, Mochizuki confessed that Eto was promised to be a big rookie, due to him being his own son "Ryoto Mochizuki" who had just recently turned 20 years, for much surprise. Shortly after, Mochizuki, his father, Susumu Mochizuki and Yasushi Kanda, defeated the returning Aagan Iisou (Shuji Kondo, "brother" YASSHI, Toru Owashi and Shogo Takagi). Afterwards, Masaaki Mochizuki announced the formation of "M3K", with the former members of M2K Kanda, Susumu and Ryoto, who replaced K-ness. The stable was named in correlation with the M2K name consisting of the three Mochizuki's (Masaaki, Susumu and Ryoto) and Kanda's surnames. Shortly after, Último Dragón, then congratulated Mochizuki on his son's debut, before questioning the concept of M3K. This led to Mochizuki chosing the "Mochizuki Junior" ring name to his son, which he agreed. On July 21, Masaaki, Junior and Susumu challenged Los Perros del Mal de Japón (Eita, Kotaro Suzuki and Nosawa Rongai) to a title match for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, which they accepted. At the event, on July 30, Masaaki, Junior and Susumu defeated Eita, Suzuki and Rongai to win the Open The Triangle Gate Championship.
On August 11, Junior faced Ishin Iihashi in a winning effort. Afterwards, both were caught up in a father and son rivalry between Junior and his father Masaaki and Iihashi and his father Ishinriki, following a confrontation between the latters. On September 8, Ishinriki and his son Ishin faced Mochizuki and his son Junior in a winning effort, with Ishin pinning Mochizuki. Afterwards, Ishin challenged him to a title match for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship alongside his father. This led to Mochizuki questioning, who would team with them, as Ishin's brother Riki and their mother Utako Hozumi were retired. Hozumi, who was present at ringside, came into the ring and announced Fujiko, who was Don Fujii in drag, to be her sister and would compete along with her family, setting up the title match at Dangerous Gate. At the event on September 19, Masaaki, Junior and Susumu successfully defended the Open The Triangle Gate Championship against Ishin, Ishinriki and Don Fujii. Following the reconciliation of both families, Ishin was taken under M3K's wing, even using their custom attire, but despite Ishin and Junior being forced to team together, Ishin refused to be associated with M3K, before eventually joining the stable on November 6 at Gate of Destiny. At the event, Masaaki, Junior and Susumu lost the Open The Triangle Gate Championship to KAI, Shun Skywalker and Masked Z. After the match, the mysterious Masked Z was revealed to be Ishin, who turned on the stable to join Z-Brats.
In February 2023, M3K was represented by two teams in separate blocks in the 2023 Rey De Parejas; Masaaki and Junior in block A and Susumu and Kanda in block B. Mochizuki and Junior finished the tournament with a record of one win, two draws and one loss, failing to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. Meanwhile, Susumu and Kanda finished the tournament with a record of three wins, one loss, and one double countout, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament. On March 2, Mochizuki and Kanda defeated Gold Class (BxB Hulk and Kota Minoura) in the semifinals and then were defeated by Yuki Yoshioka and Madoka Kikuta, in the finals of the 2023 Rey de Parejas. Afterwards, in a post-match interview, Masaaki, who was impressed by Susumu and Kanda proposed a title challenge for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship, which led Susumu to nominate Junior as their partner instead. Masaaki was initially reluctant, but ended accepting, following Susumu's persistence. Three days later, at Champion Gate in Osaka, Mochizuki, Junior and Kanda unsuccessfully challenged Gold Class (Ben-K, BxB Hulk and Kota Minoura) for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship. Shortly after, Masaaki began a storyline with his son, where Masaaki insisted that his son Junior needed him, and he was not ready to be on his own in big matches without him yet. Using Junior's failed title challenge alongside Kanda and Susumu on March 4 at Champion Gate in Osaka as proof. Junior on the other hand refused his dad help, as he wanted to get stronger on his own. Masaaki earned the title match for the Open The Twin Gate Championship, following a victory over Natural Vibes, on March 11, with Kzy and Big Boss Shimizu accepting Masaaki's title challenge at Memorial Gate in Wakayama. At the event, on March 18, Masaaki and his son unsuccessfully challenged Kzy and Shimizu for the Open The Twin Gate Championship. Their issues would be settled on April 5, after Masaaki and Junior faced Mochizuki and Kanda in a match that ended in a double ring out. On June 2, Susumu and Kanda defeated Pro Wrestling Noah's KONGOH (Kenoh and Shuji Kondo) to win the Open The Twin Gate Championship. They lost the titles to D'Courage (Dragon Dia and Yuki Yoshioka) on November 5 at Gate of Destiny.
On January 11, 2024, Junior announced that he would make his return from injury on January 27 at Gate of Bayside, before going on learning excursion in February. Afterwards, Junior's father Masaaki announced that M3K would be disbanding with the stable's last match being on February 7. In their last match, Kanda and Susumu faced Mochizuki and Junior in a winning effort.
Members[]
| * | Founding member |
|---|---|
| I | Leader |
| Member | Duration | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ishin Iihashi | November 6, 2022 | ||
| Masaaki Mochizuki | *I | June 3, 2022 – February 7, 2024 | |
| Mochizuki Junior | * | June 3, 2022 – February 7, 2024 | |
| Susumu Mochizuki | * | June 3, 2022 – February 7, 2024 | |
| Yasushi Kanda | * | June 3, 2022 – February 7, 2024 | |
Timeline[]
Championships and Accomplishments[]
- Dragon Gate
- Open The Twin Gate Championship (1 time) – Susumu and Kanda
- Open The Triangle Gate Championship (1 time) – with Susumu, Masaaki and Junior
