The DGUSA.tv staff was approached by an informer with the story on how Johnny Gargano, Chuck Taylor and Rich Swann bonded together as Ronin. We have learned that this source has known Gargano for years, giving his story credibility. He said he would tell us the inside scoop if we kept his identity secret. His motivation: "I want to let everyone know what they are in for."
 
The story, in simple bullet point form, goes like this:
 
-The turning point for Gargano came at the July 24th "Enter The Dragon" event when CIMA refused to shake his hand. "You can call Johnny immature, but you can't call him stupid. He is a very cunning and calculating individual. He definitely has an ego and CIMA shattered it with that gesture."
 
-CIMA's snub began to turn Gargano sour towards the "Dragon Gate Icon" and coupled with how Mochizuki and Doi treated him at "Open The Northern Gate" on May 7th in Windsor, Gargano started to think that he couldn't wait to be accepted into a Dragon Gate stable. He needed to take things into his own hands.
 
-Taylor was a little frustrated after July 24th. He thought he deserved to be made an American Representative at that point. "Chuckie T was still going the conventional route at that point, though. He had a fire developing inside him, but he was willing to give the Dragon Gate stables another chance."
 
-The turning point for Taylor came in the locker room of the September 25th "Untouchable" PPV in Chicago. CIMA needed a partner for his match that night. Right in front of Taylor and Gargano, he picked Ricochet. "Taylor was already on edge at this point. He and Ricochet came up in this business together. You can say there is a little bit of a competitive rivalry there. It wasn't just the fact he was snubbed here, it was that CIMA picked Ricochet right in front of his face."
 
-Taylor and Gargano were both scheduled to be in the Four Way Freestyle that night. They started talking before the match. It is obvious in the bout that some kind of a loose alliance was made, but Gargano quickly broke that by taking the first shot on Taylor. Meanwhile, Taylor got the last laugh by knocking Gargano off the top rope and to the floor towards the end of the bout. "They were both just trying to make the most of an opportunity to get a win there. The trust between them wasn't quite there yet, but it was developing. The seeds were planted and I know for a fact that they talked regularly in the month leading up to the iPPV."
 
-By this time, Gargano already set his own plan in motion to set CIMA up. "He started kissing ass to CIMA, trying to set him up for that moment when he could attack. It was all so insincere." This is evident by Gargano's words to Ricochet at the end of the "Untouchable" PPV taping in Chicago (watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIo5tvDoDYk)
 
-In the month leading up to the October 29th "Bushido: Code Of The Warrior" iPPV, Gargano and Taylor had discussed the possibilities of former a stable. Gargano even told Taylor about his plan to set CIMA up. They also discussed possibilities of a third member. Rich Swann's name was frequently mentioned as they were very impressed with him from the Chicago match and he filled the need for a high-flyer. However, a monkey wrench was thrown in their plans when they were both booked in the same Freestyle Match. The most important thing was still the win, especially on the first live iPPV.
 
-The iPPV was supposed to feature a draft, where each Dragon Gate stable would pick an American Representative. "I'm not sure of the timeline here, but Taylor and Gargano had to have something set leading into the card because Taylor pulled himself out of the draft that afternoon."
 
-This takes us to October 29th in Fall River, MA when everything went into overdrive. Taylor and Gargano opened the card in the Freestyle Match. They had little interaction against each other in the contest. In a moment, it seemed like Taylor and Garagno's plan would fall apart when CIMA actually approached Taylor to join Warriors. However, Taylor was already in deep with Gargano and refused. Gargano then continued his ruse on CIMA.
 
-It is unclear if they approached Swann with the plan before Swann disrespected Austin Aries in Fall River. However, it was clear that action sealed the deal and during the course of the iPPV some backstage maneuvering saw Swann agree to join Ronin. The final piece of the plan came together when Gargano superkicked CIMA while Taylor and Swann jumped Ricochet after the Warriors vs. Kamikaze USA tag team match. However, the newly formed Ronin was not counting on Brodie Lee making the saving and joining Warriors. "That really threw in a monkey wrench in their moment. I know they were pissed."
 
Gargano, Taylor and Swann are now a formidable unit in Dragon Gate USA. Will there be more new members? Are they a threat to the Open The United Gate Titles? How far can these three soar? "I know they have been gotten together to work on their teamwork. They are determined to make an impact and their reputations in Dragon Gate USA."
 
2011 could be the year of Ronin.