Gate of Destiny (2020)

Promotional poster featuring the Dragon Gate roster

The **Gate of Destiny (2020)** was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and GAORA TV event promoted by Dragon Gate. The event took place on November 4, 2020, in Osaka at the Edion Arena Osaka and it was the forteenth annual event under the Gate of Destiny. The event was also available in their streaming service Dragon Gate Network in both English and Japanese commentaries and was broadcasted live at SKY PerfecTV! as pay-per-view (PPV).

The event was main event by Eita defending the Open The Dream Gate Championship against Kzy. 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 Gate of Destiny 2020 was officially announced in September 16, 2020.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 Gate of Destiny 2020 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.

    In December 2019, R.E.D began a "Generation War" against Toryumon and Dragon Gate. As part of the "Generation War", Eita and Kzy were involved in the six-way steel cage survival match at Dangerous Gate), on August 8, it was agreed that if Eita didn't escape first in the cage match, he would have to defend the Open The Dream Gate Championship against a member of Dragon Gate and if he had lost the match, Eita would have been forced to join Dragon Gate. On September 21, at Dangerous Gate, Kzy defeated former Open The Dream Gate Champion Naruki Doi. Afterwards, Kzy proclaimed himself to be the next challenger for the title. This led to on September 26, Kzy challenging Eita to a title match. Eita refused, but Kzy asked Dragon Gate's General Manager Takayuki Yagi to officialize the match, leading the match to be official at Gate of Destiny. Prior to the match, Eita revealed that wanted takeover Dragon Gate Inc. and renamed it to R.E.D Inc. On October 7, Eita and Kzy faced each other in a eight-man tag team match, which Kzy teamed with his Dragon Gate stablemates Ben-K, Kota Minoura, and YAMATO) and Eita with his R.E.D stablemates BxB Hulk, KAI and Kaito Ishida. The match ended, with Dragon Gate winning the match.

    On August 12, R.E.D began teasing a new member, with his identity being kept in secret under the disguise of Dr. Muscle, known as the Yellow Masked Demon, respectively. Afterwards, Dragon Gate members began suspenting Keisuke Okuda, especially his best friend Ben-K to be traitor within them, despite Okuda denying it. On September 9, R.E.D teased that they would reveal the Yellow Masked Demon on October 7. At the October 7 event, Dragon Gate (Ben-K, Kota Minoura, Kzy and YAMATO) faced R.E.D (BxB Hulk, Eita, KAI and Kaito Ishida). Keisuke Okuda interfered during the match, revealing himself to be Yellow Masked Demon. Afterwards, Kaito Ishida urged Okuda to attack Ben-K, leading Okuda to turn on Ishida instead, causing Dragon Gate to win the match. Following the match, Okuda revealed to be on Dragon Gate's side and challenged Ishida to a match for the Open The Brave Gate Championship.

In Janaury 2020, KAI began feuding with BxB Hulk, after he deffected Tribe Vanguard and joined R.E.D. In June, KAI and YAMATO reingnited their feud with Hulk and R.E.D as part of the six-way steel cage survival match, during which was agreed that KAI would be forced to leave Dragon Gate if he lost, and join R.E.D if he escaped first. On September 21 at Dangerous Gate, KAI turned on YAMATO, before retrieving the first flag of the match, leading him to join R.E.D as part of the match's stipulation. Afterwards, YAMATO and KAI had a confrontation leading to general manager Takayuki Yagi making the match official.

On October 4, Toryumon (Genki Horiguchi and Susumu Yokosuka) successfully defended the Kyushu Pro Tag Team Championship against Kyushu Pro Wrestling's Kodai Nozaki and Mentai Kid. Afterwards, Horiguchi and Yokosuka called out Jason Lee and Kota Minoura, challenging them to a match for the Open The Twin Gate Championship, stating their ambition of being double champions. This led to Minoura accepting the title match on their behalf.

On October 17, Team Boku (Naruki Doi, Punch Tominaga, and Ryotsu Shimizu defeated the R.E.D trio of (BxB Hulk, Diamante, and Takashi Yoshida), after Shimizu pinned Yoshida. Afterwards, Doi, Tominaga and Shimuzu challenged R.E.D to a title for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship, which was made official by the Dragon Gate General Manager Takayuki Yagi, under the condition that if Team Boku lost, Shimizu would have to abandon the Ryotsu Shimzu gimmick.