Final Gate (2020)

Promotional poster featuring the Dragon Gate roster

The **Final Gate (2020)** was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and GAORA TV event promoted by Dragon Gate. The event took place on December 20, 2020, in Fukuoka at the Fukuoka International Center and it was the fourteenth annual event under the Final Gate. The event aired on GAORA and Dragon Gate Network streaming service in both English and Japanese commentaries and was broadcasted live at SKY PerfecTV! as pay-per-view (PPV). The event was main evented by Shun Skywalker defending the Open The Dream Gate Championship against Ben-K.

The event included two championship matches with Keisuke Okuda defending the Open The Triangle Gate Championship against Kagetora and R.E.D (BxB Hulk and KAI) defending the Open The Twin Gate Championship against Don Fujii and Masaaki Mochizuki. The event also featured a No Disqualification Losing Unit Disbands match between with R.E.D (Eita, H.Y.O, HipHop Kikuta, Kaito Ishida and SB KENTo) facing Toryumon Generation (Dragon Kid, Genki Horiguchi, Masato Yoshino, Naruki Doi and Susumu Yokosuka).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event had some restrictions in the attendance, after the Japanese Government lifted the State of Emergency.

## Production

### Background

The Final Gate (2020) aired live through Dragon Gate's internet streaming site, Dragon Gate Network, 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 also featured English commentary provided by Jae Church and Larry Dallas. On December 20, it was announced that due to an on-mechanical complication at the venue, that the English commentary for the event would be tapped in the comming days.

### Storylines

The Final Gate (2020) featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

The Final Gate (2020) was main evented by Shun Skywalker making his first title defense of the Open The Dream Gate Championship against Ben-K. In April 2016, Futa Nakamura and Shun Watanabe joined the Dragon Gate dojo, before undergoing to a gimmick change in November, renaming themselves to "Ben-K" and "Shun Skywalker" respectively. While Ben-K managed to break out in singles competition, Skywalker continued to wrestle on the undercard alongside Hyou Watanabe and Yuki Yoshioka forming Mochizuki Dojo with Masaaki Mochizuki. The formation of Mochizuki Dojo allowed Skywalker to relaunch his career, leading him to being promoted on the card, while Ben-K went on to win the Open The Dream Gate Championship. In June 2019, Ben-K and Skywalker formed a team, before entering a losing streak, after losing to Naruki Doi and Masato Yoshino, culminating in Skywalker challenging Ben-K to match. On December 4, Skywalker was defeated by Ben-K. Afterwars, Ben-K went for a handshake but Skywalker refused it, ending their partnership, marking his last appearance. Afterwards, Skywalker was sent on a learning excursion to Mexico working in various Mexican promotions most notably, Desastre Total Ultraviolento (DTU) and International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), before returning to Dragon Gate in November 2020. On November 15 at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, Skywalker defeated Eita to win the Open The Dream Gate Championship. After the match, Ben-K challenged Skywalker to a title match. On December 2, Skywalker alongside Ben-K's former Dragon Gate Generation stablemates Dragon Dia, Jason Lee and Kota Minoura announced the creation of their own stable, which would be joined by a mysterious member on December 15. At the December 15 event, it was announced that the stable would be named Masquerade, with the new member being revealed to be La Estrella.

On December 2, Don Fujii and Masaaki Mochizuki faced Dragon Gate Generation (Ben-K and Kzy) and Dragon Gate Generation (Yosuke♡Santa Maria and Strong Machine J), Toryumon Generation (Kagetora and Último Dragón), Gamma and Taketo Kamei, Dragon Gate Generation (Keisuke Okuda and YAMATO and R.E.D (BxB Hulk and KAI), The match ended with Fujii pinning Hulk. Afterwards, Fujii and Mochizuki challenged KAI and KAI to a title match for Open The Twin Gate Championship match, leading R.E.D to accept. On December 15, Mochizuki pinned Hulk during a ten-man tag team match. Afterwards, Mochizuki teased Hul, before their match.

On November 19, Toryumon Generation (Kagetora and Susumu Yokosuka) faced Dragon Gate Generation (Ben-K and Keisuke Okuda) in a winning effort, after Kagetora pinned Okuda. Afterwards, Kagetora challenged Okuda to a title match at Fianl Gate for the Open The Brave Gate Championship, with Okuda accepting the challenge. The event also included a a No Disqualification Losing Unit Disbands match between with R.E.D and Toryumon Generation. On November 15, at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, H.Y.O won a battle royal to earn the right to ask for the in-ring related wish of their his choosing. On December 2, R.E.D (Eita, Kaito Ishida, SB KENTo and H.Y.O) faced Toryumon Generation (Naruki Doi, Masato Yoshino, Dragon Kid and Shuji Kondo. The match ended by disqualification, after KENTo removed Kid's mask, before putting back on. Afterwards, Madoka Kikuta and Taketo Kamei made the save, but instead Kikuta turned heel, removing Dragon Kid's mask, before turning on Kamei, revealing himself to be R.E.D's newest member. Eita, Kaito Ishida, KENTo, H.Y.O and Kikuta then faced Doi, Yoshino, Kid, Kondo and Kamei in a winning effort after Kikuta pinned Yoshino. After the match, H.Y.O revealed his in-ring wish, which he won at Kobe Pro-Wrestling Festival, challenging Toryumon to a No Disqualification Losing Unit Disbands match at Final Gate.

## Aftermath

Following the event, it was announced that Ben-K had suffured a concussion during his match against Shun Skywalker, leading him to not competing for the time being. Ben-K made his return on January 21 teaming with on January 31 taking part of the Open the Twin Gate #1 Contender's One Night Tournament alongside Shuji Kondo. Seven days later, after the event, YAMATO decided to eventually disband the stable ending the "Generation War", leading R.E.D to stand victorious. Afterwards, Kzy was joined by Genki Horiguchi and Susumu Yokosuka, who then proceded to reform Natural Vibes.