Dangerous Gate (2021)

Promotional poster for the event, featuring the Dragon Gate roster

The **Dangerous Gate (2021)** was a professional wrestling event promoted by Dragon Gate (DG). The event took place on September 20, 2021, in Tokyo at the Ota Ward General Gymnasium and it was the eighteeth annual event under the Dangerous Gate name.

The event was main event by YAMATO defending the Open The Dream Gate Championship against Kota Minoura. The event aired on GAORA and the Dragon Gate Network streaming service. Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the event had some restrictions in the attendance, after the Japanese Government lifted the State of Emergency.

## Production

### Background

The Dangerous Gate 2021 was officially announced in August 2021. The aired live through Dragon Gate's internet streaming site, Dragon Gate Network, with Japanese and English language commentaries. The Japanese commentary was provided by Katsuya Ichikawa, while the English commentary was provided by Jae Church. The event also aired on tape delay on Japanese TV Gaora Sports that was launched in Dragon Gate's ~ Infinity ~ Series.

#### 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. The format of the tournament was changed to a singles elimination tournament for the first time in four years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 12, Dragon Gate announced the rules and regulations for fans who attend Dragon Gate events. On June 17, it was announced that starting on July 4, Dragon Gate would be resuming shows with fans after the Japanese Government lifted the State of Emergency.

### Storylines

The Dangerous Gate (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 Dangerous Gate (2021) was main evented by YAMATO defending the Open The Dream Gate Championship against Kota Minoura. On September 8, following a tag team match, Minoura requested to be included in the main event match to determine the 1º contender to the Open The Dream Gate Championship, which Dragon Gate's General Manager Ryo Saito initially refused, but ended up accepting due to crowd support. Later that night, Minoura went on to win the four-way 1º contenders match, after eliminating Ben-K and Masaaki Mochizuki in a match that also included KAI. Afterwards, Minoura challenged YAMATO to a title match at Dangerous Gate, which he accepted. Prior to the match, Minoura had defeaten former Open The Dream Gate Champions Eita, Masaaki Mochizuki and YAMATO on two different occasions.

Also on September 8, Strong Machine J announced the return of the Strong Machines following the reativation of Strong Machine K and Strong Machine G, as previously teased by Machine J. Afterwards, the Strong Machines defeated Natural Vibes (Genki Horiguchi, King Shimizu and Susumu Yokosuka) with Machine K pinning Shimizu. Following the match, Machine J challenged Shimizu and Yokosuka to a title match for the Open The Twin Gate Championship at Dangerous Gate, which Dragon Gate's General Manager Ryo Saito accepted, leading Yokosuka to be suspicious of Saito being Machine K.

Since December 2020, R.E.D began feuding with Masquerade, leading on August 28, 2021, after R.E.D's (Diamante, Eita, and H.Y.O) defeated Masquerade's Dragon Dia, La Estrella and Shun Skywalker. Afterwards, Eita, H.Y.O and Kaito Ishida challenged Dia, Estrella and Jason Lee to a title match for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship, which Masquerade accepted. During the *Storm Gate*, R.E.D stole the Open The Triangle Gate Championship belts from Masquerade, before reganning possession on September 11. The angle between R.E.D and Masquerade also included a singles math between Diamante and Shun Skywalker. Prior to the match, Diamante began pursuing other wrestlers match most notably Bokutimo Dragon, which led to a *Lucha de Apuestas Mask vs. Mask* match, which Diamante was victorious.