The Champion Gate in Osaka (2021) was a two-day professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event and GAORA TV event promoted by Dragon Gate. The shows took place on March 6 and on March 7, 2021, in Osaka at the Edion Arena Osaka #2 and is the eleventh event under the Champion Gate. The event aired on GAORA and Dragon Gate Network streaming service.
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 Champion Gate in Osaka (2021) 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 Larry Dallas and Jae Church.
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 Champion Gate in Osaka (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.
Shun Skywalker, who made his second defense of the Open The Dream Gate Championship at the Champion Gate in Osaka in the second night
The second night was main evented by Shun Skywalker making his second defense of the Open The Dream Gate Championship against Kaito Ishida. In January 2021, through R.E.D's rivalry with the Masquerade stable, Ishida began feuding with Shun Skywalker. After working exclusively against each other in multi-man tag team matches for the last part of January, on January 31, Ishida announced that he wouldn't compete in the Open the Twin Gate #1 Contender's One Night Tournament in order to focuss his sights on the Open The Dream Gate Championship. Later that night, following a six-man tag team match between Masquerade and R.E.D, Ishida challenged Skywalker to a title match, dubbing him as a "Paper champion". Afterwards, Dragon Gate's General Manager Takayuki Yagi announced that the title match would take place on March 7 at Champion Gate in Osaka. On February 5, Masquerade faced R.E.D in a losing effort. Afterwards, Ishida reminded his intentions of proving that Skywalker was a fake champion.
Masaaki Mochizuki, who teamed with Takashi Yoshida in the second night
On January 13, 2021, after Takashi Yoshida, Kazma Sakamoto and SB KENTo lost the Open The Triangle Gate Championship, Yoshida tried to kick KENTo out of R.E.D, before being the one to be kicked out of stable. Afterwards, Yoshida tried to allign himself with Masaaki Mochizuki, asking him to teach him professional wrestling, but Mochizuki reminded him that he had been wrestling for nearly 17 years and had turned on him twice. However, Mochizuki decided to form a team with Yoshida. On Janaury 31, Yoshida and Mochizuki defeated Ben-K and Shuji Kondo in the finals of a tournament to become the #1 contenders to the Open The Twin Gate Championship. Following the win, Mochizuki and Yoshida called out the reigning champions, BxB Hulk and KAI.
Keisuke Okuda, who defended the Open The Brave Gate Championship at the Champion Gate in Osaka in the first night
The event also featured a title defense of the Open The Brave Gate Championship between champion Keisuke Okuda and H.Y.O. Since February, Okuda began a heated feud with H.Y.O, following a six-man tag team match between the two, which Okuda's team won. This led to on February 21, H.Y.O costing Okuda a match against H.Y.O's R.E.D stablemates Kaito Ishida and SB KENTo. Afterwards, H.Y.O challenged Okuda to a title match for the Open The Brave Gate Championship, which he accepted.
On February 23, 2021, Kikuta, and his R.E.D stablemates Diamante and Dia Inferno defeated Team Boku (Bokutimo Dragon, Punch Tominaga and Ryo Saito) in the finals to win the Open The Triangle Gate Championship Next Challenger Team Decision Tournament. The winners of the tournament, R.E.D earned a shot at the Open The Triangle Gate Championship at the Champion Gate in Osaka and following the win, R.E.D called out the reigning champions, Natural Vibes (Genki Horiguchi, Kzy and Susumu Yokosuka), and challenged them to a title match, which was accepted. The match was officially announced the following day.
Results[]
Night 1[]
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R.E.D (Eita, Kaito Ishida and Kazma Sakamoto) defeated Masquerade (Shun Skywalker, Jason Lee and La Estrella) | Six-man tag team match | 10:10 |
| 2 | Punch Tominaga and Shuji Kondo defeated Gamma and Último Dragón | Tag team match | 8:37 |
| 3 | Masaaki Mochizuki and Takashi Yoshida defeated Don Fujii and U-T and Bokutimo Dragon and Kota Minoura | Three-way tag team match | 10:05 |
| 4 | High-End (Ben-K, Dragon Kid and YAMATO) defeated R.E.D (BxB Hulk, KAI and SB KENTo) | Six-man tag team match | 10:53 |
| 5 | Keisuke Okuda (c) defeated H.Y.O | Singles match for the Open The Brave Gate Championship | 15:52 |
| 6 | Natural Vibes (Kzy, Genki Horiguchi and Susumu Yokosuka) (c) defeated R.E.D (Diamante, HipHop Kikuta and Dia Inferno) | Six-man tag team match for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship | 15:16 |
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Night 2[]
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Masquerade (Kota Minoura, Jason Lee and La Estrella) defeated Kzy, U-T and Don Fujii | Six-man tag team match | 11:42 |
| 2 | R.E.D (Diamante, H.Y.O and Dia Inferno) defeated Último Dragón, Bokutimo Dragon and Ryo Saito | Six-man tag team match | 11:38 |
| 3 | Gamma and Shuji Kondo defeated Kagetora and Yosuke♥Santa Maria | Tag team match | 7:00 |
| 4 | High-End (Ben-K, Dragon Kid, Keisuke Okuda and YAMATO) defeated R.E.D (Eita, Kazma Sakamoto, HipHop Kikuta and SB KENTo) | Eight-man tag team match | 11:30 |
| 5 | Masaaki Mochizuki and Takashi Yoshida defeated R.E.D (BxB Hulk and KAI) (c) | Tag team match for the Open The Twin Gate Championship | 14:05 |
| 6 | Shun Skywalker (c) defeated Kaito Ishida | Singles match for the Open The Dream Gate Championship | 29:33 |
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