Dead or Alive (2021)

Promotional poster featuring the Dragon Gate roster

The **Dead or Alive (2021)** was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and GAORA TV event promoted by Dragon Gate. The event took place on May 5, 2021, in Aichi at the Aichi Prefectural Gym and was the twelveth annual event under the Dead or Alive name. The event was also available at Dragon Gate's streaming website, Dragon Gate Network.

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the tour had some restrictions in the attendance, after the Japanese Government lifted the State of Emergency. The event was main event by KAI and YAMATO facing Dragon Kid and SB KENTo in a *Mask vs. Hair* steel cage survival tag team match.

## Production

### Background

The Dead or Alive (2021) aired in Japan through Dragon Gate's internet streaming site, Niconico, with Japanese language commentaries. The Japanese commentary was provided by Katsuya Ichikawa. The event also aired on tape delay on Japanese TV Gaora Sports to be launched in Dragon Gate's ~ Infinity ~ Series. The event aired worldwide on Dragon Gate's internet streaming website, Dragon Gate Network. The event will also feature English commentary provided by Jae Church and Larry Dallas.

#### Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, other wrestling promotions began to cancel or postpone their shows in an attempt to prevent further spreading of the COVID-19 virus. On March 1, Dragon Gate began canceling events starting with the Glorious Gate tour between March 3 and March 8 and the March 13th show, including a show on March 5 in the Korakuen Hall. Initially, it was announced that the Glorious Gate would be resumed on March 14, however, the tour ended up being canceled, following the recommendations by the Japanese Ministry of Health regarding the coronavirus pandemic. On March 11, it was announced that the Memorial Gate in Wakayama would be postponed, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 22, Dragon Gate began holding shows behind closed doors with no audience and only essential staff present. Four days later, Dragon Gate canceled more events from March 28 through March 31. This led to on March 30, Dragon Gate canceling more events from April 4 through April 8. On April 8, Dragon Gate canceled more events including 2020 Dead or Alive, following Japan's declaration State of Emergency. On May 11, Dragon Gate canceled more events from June 2 through June 10. From May 15 to June 7, Dragon Gate held the entire 2020 King of Gate behind closed doors with no audience and only essential staff present, leading all Dragon Gate programming being relocated to the Kobe Lapis Hall.

### Storylines

The Dead or Alive (2021) featured professional wrestling matches that involved wrestlers from pre-existing feuds and storylines that played out on the Dragon Gate's television program. Wrestlers portrayed heroes or villains as they followed a series of events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

The Dead or Alive (2021) was main evented by KAI and YAMATO facing Dragon Kid and SB KENTo in a *Mask vs. Hair* steel cage survival tag team match. The storyline behind the match dates back to on September 21, at Dangerous Gate, during the six-way steel cage survival match, where KAI, who was part of the Dragon Gate Generation stable alongside YAMATO, turned on him, before retrieving the first flag of the match, leading him to join R.E.D as part of the match's stipulation. Meanwhile, Kid began feuding with KENTo during 2020 Final Gate on December 20, as part of the No Disqualification Losing Unit Disbands match between R.E.D and Toryumon Generation stable, which R.E.D won.

Following the disbanding of the Dragon Gate Generation, on January 13, YAMATO faced Kid in a match, which ended in a no contest, after KAI attacked YAMATO. Afterwards, KAI reminded that YAMATO was alone, after deciding to disband the Dragon Gate stable. However, Dragon Kid decided to form a team with YAMATO, in order to avenge Toryumon, which R.E.D had forced to disband. This feud with R.E.D led to a match on February 5, where YAMATO and Kid faced R.E.D members KAI and SB KENTo. The match ended by disqualification, however, Kid and YAMATO faced KAI and KENTo in a rematch, which Kid pinned KENTo. Later that night, Kid faced KENTo in a losing effort. Afterwards, YAMATO attacked him, until KAI appeared, which led to YAMATO facing KAI in a losing effort. After the match, YAMATO kept attacking KAI, until Dragon Gate's General Manager Takayuki Yagi announced that YAMATO would be forced to team with KAI against Kid and SB KENTo in a *Mask vs. Hair* Steel cage survival tag team match on May 5, at Dead or Alive. On April 9, KAI, KENTo and their R.E.D stablemate Eita faced Kid, YAMATO and Naruki Doi. Initially the match ended in a double countout, with KAI being furious with KENTo. In a rematch, KENTo costed R.E.D the match, after powdering KAI's face, before mocking him, for losing the match. On April 22, during a six-man tag team match KAI attacked KENTo with a lariat, which caused R.E.D to lose their match to High-End. Leading to the event, it was announced that units would be allowed to be ringside and help their members in the match. Due to the numerical advantage of R.E.D over High-End, on April 29, Dragon Kid appealed to Masquerade and Natural Vibes to help even their teams. Afterwards, it was announced that Masquerade would be aiding Kid and KENTo, while Natural Vibes would be aiding KAI and YAMATO.

The event also included a title match for the Open The Dream Gate Championship, with Shun Skywalker making his fourth title defense against HipHop Kikuta. On March 27 at Memorial Gate in Wakayama, Skywalker defeated Kazma Sakamoto to make his third successful title defense of the Open The Dream Gate Championship. Following the match, Sakamoto's R.E.D stablemate HipHop Kikuta alongside R.E.D attacked Skywalker, before Kikuta challenged him to a title match.

On April 18, Kaito Ishida and Kazma Sakamoto faced Masaaki Mochizuki and Takashi Yoshida in a eight-man tag team match, which Ishida submitted Yoshida. Afterwards, Ishida and Sakamoto challenged Mochizuki and Yoshida to a Open The Twin Gate Championship title match at Dead or Alive. The following day, Dragon Gate announced the title match.

Also on April 22, Jason Lee pinned one third of the Open The Triangle Gate Champions Kzy in a tag team match. Afterwards, Lee challenged Natural Vibes (Genki Horiguchi, Kzy and Susumu Yokosuka) to a Open The Triangle Gate Championship title match at Dead or Alive, before announcing his partners to be Masquerade stablemates La Estrella and Dragon Dia, who made his return from injury since December 2020. In the Open The Brave Gate Championship match, Keisuke Okuda made his fifth title defense against U-T. At the April 22 event, after Okuda successfully defended the Open The Brave Gate Championship against Punch Tominaga, U-T challenged Okuda to a title match at Dead or Alive, before leading to a brawl between the two.

On April 24, at SPEEDSTAR Final Countdown in Higashiosaka, Masato Yoshino, Naruki Doi and YAMATO defeated R.E.D (Eita, BxB Hulk and H.Y.O), after Yoshino submitted H.Y.O. Afterwards, Yoshino requested Eita and Hulk to team with him and Doi in a match at Dead or Alive, as an experience of teaming with wrestlers, whose match wouldn't be possible, before his retirement. Eita and Hulk accepted under the condition that Doi and Yoshino would be wearing red ring gear, which they accepted. Yoshino had previously announced on December 26, 2019, that he would retire in 2020, due to the lingering effects of the neck injury he suffered in 2017. However, his retirement was postponed due to the circuntances created by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 29, Ryo Saito parodying Yoshino's gimmick of the Speed Star, competed in a match as "Masato Higashiosaka", with Saito claiming that the gimmick was specified from a character in Higashiosaka. The following day, it was announced that Doi, Eita, Hulk and Yoshino would be facing Ryo Saito, Kagetora, Kota Minoura, and Yasushi Kanda at Dead or Alive.

## *Mask vs. Hair* steel cage survival tag team match rules

* Three flags were placed at the top of the cage.
* The first team to pull 2 flags win the match.
* The losing team would then immediately face each other in a singles match, with the loser losing their hair or mask.