Dead or Alive (2022)

Promotional poster featuring the Dragon Gate roster

### Tagline(s)

"I am the survivor." (Japanese: 生き残るのは、俺だ。, Hepburn: *Ikinokoru no wa, ore da.*)

## Information

### Sponsor(s)

GAORA
GrooVer
go baan
HCK
HATANO
MARUKA

### City

Aichi, Japan

The **Dead or Alive (2022)** was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and GAORA TV event promoted by Dragon Gate. The event took place on May 5, 2022, in Aichi at the Aichi Prefectural Gym and is the thirteenth annual event under the Dead or Alive name. The event was also be 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 defending the Open The Dream Gate Championship against Susumu Yokosuka.

## Production

### Background

The Dead or Alive (2022) 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 Ho Ho Lun.

#### 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 (2022) was main evented by KAI defending the Open The Dream Gate Championship against Susumu Yokosuka. On April 8, KAI and Yokosuka faced off in a tag team match, where KAI teamed with Z-Brats stablemate SB KENTo and Yokosuka with his Natural Vibes stablemates Jacky "Funky" Kamei. Yokosuka won the match for his team by scoring a direct pinfall over KAI and afterwards challenged KAI to a title match. KAI only accepted the challenge under a stipulation of his choosing, which Yokosuka accepted. Afterwards, General Manager Ryo Saito made the title match official for the event. On April 25, KAI announced that if Yokosuka lost he would be forced to leave Natural Vibes and change his name back to his real name Susumu Mochizuki.

In October, as part of the feud between Masquerade and R.E.D, Dragon Dia reignited his feud with Dia Inferno. This led to a *Lucha de Apuestas* match, on December 1, where Dia was forced to unmask, after Shun Skywalker pushed him into Diamante. On January 12, 2022, Dia made his return to Dragon Gate, defeating SB KENTo to win the Open The Brave Gate Championship in 90 seconds. The following day, Dia and Yuki Yoshioka defeated KENTo and H.Y.O to win the Open The Twin Gate Championship, thus becoming a double champion in the process. After failling to regain the Open The Twin Gate Championship alongside H.Y.O on March 23, KENTo challenged Dia to a rematch for the Open The Brave Gate Championship at Dead or Alive, which he accepted. On April 21, KENTo challenged Dia to a rematch for the Open The Twin Gate Championship, but he refused. Afterwards, Skywalker began manipulating Dia into accepting a title match, after remiding him on how he cost his mask, leading Dia to accept. Despite General Manager Ryo Saito's reservations, Dia persisted and both title matches were scheduled for the event.

On April 7, a trio Metal Warriors appeared in Dragon Gate, kidnapping Gold Class' Minorita, leading to a match between Minorita and one of the three Metal Warriors. On April 25, one of the three Metal Warriors faced Minorita in a winning effort. After the match, the trio was revealed to be Los Perros del Mal de Japón (Eita, Kotaro Suzuki and Nosawa Rongai), who challenged Gold Class (Naruki Doi, Kaito Ishida, Kota Minoura) to a title match for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship at Dead or Alive.

The event also included a title match for Ryukyu Dragon Pro Wrestling's Twin Ryuo Tag Team Championship, after on April 25, High-End's (Dragon Kid and YAMATO) challenged Natural Vibes' (Kzy and U-T), following a post-match interview, and Madoka Kikuta's return match. On April 2, Jacky "Funky" Kamei faced Jason Lee in a losing effort. After the match, H.Y.O, SB KENTo and Shun Skywalker began attacking Kamei, until Kanazawa City native HipHop Kikuta made his return saving Kamei from his former stablemates, before announcing his intentions to start over from scratch in order to reach his true potential and his in-ring return. Prior to the event, Kikuta reverted to his real name, as part of his quest to reset and restart his career upon his comeback.