BxB Hulk will walk into Dragon Gate USA's 1st Anniversary Celebration on July 24th in Philadelphia as the Open The Freedom Gate Champion. He is the only man to ever hold the title. However, many think his challenger that night, Masaaki Mochizuki, will change that.
 
Hulk has proved to be wrestling's most charismatic and exciting new star with a series of tough defenses against formidable challengers. None bring to the table what the veteran Mochizuki does. Let's start with a tale of the tape:
 
Champion: BxB Hulk
Height: 5'10
Weight: 170 lbs
Years Pro: 5
Training: 2nd graduate of Dragon Gate dojo
Promotions: Dragon Gate
 
Challenger: Masaaki Mochizuki
Height: 5'9
Weight: 190 lbs
Years Pro: 16
Training: Buko Dojo, trained by legendary sumo wrestler Koji Kitao
Promotions: WAR, BattlARTS, Toryumon, Dragon Gate plus others
 
Height and weight match up evenly, but when you look past that it is obvious that Mochizuki has the advantage in one key area- experience. Hulk, despite his success, is still maturing. He's a raw, athletic talent that learned solely in the Dragon Gate system and has very limited time outside of Dragon Gate rings. His best years are still ahead of him. He is just learning now what it means to be a champion.
 
Meanwhile, Mochizuki is an accomplished veteran with title experience and a diverse background of skills. It starts with his training under Koji Kitao, a heralded sumo wrestler. From there, Mochizuki wrestled for the shoot style BattlArts promotion. Then, Mochizuki became an "ace" for Toryumon, which is where the Dragon Gate style was first developed. Mochizuki's storied, diverse career means that he knows everything Hulk does, and that he can probably teach the DGUSA Champion some lessons.
 
Mochizuki adds to his resume an 11 month Open The Dream Gate Title reign as well as single title reigns in FIP, Michinoku Pro, Pro Wrestling Zero-One Max and WAR. This means that he knows what it takes to be a champion and how to win the big match. When you combine these factors, Mochizuki trumps Hulk.
 
In the ring, the two are very similar with their kick based offense. Both are very proficient at using their feet as weapons, although Mochizuki does have an edge due to his history of KO victories. Mochizuki holds a distinct advantage when it comes to submissions. However, Hulk can counter that with his more spectacular high-flying skills, although Mochizuki has been known to take to the air. This match could come down to who lands the most potent kick or who wins the battle of submission vs. aerial attack. Both athletes are in tremendous condition. Once again, we look to Mochizuki's experience and background to make him the favorite.
 
Hulk vs. Mochizuki will be a battle on July 24th in Philadelphia. It will definitely be Hulk's toughest test yet. It is hard to pick a winner in this one. Who do you think will be victorious? Give us your prediction and tell us why in the comments section below.