The Champion Gate in Osaka (2022) 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 5 and on March 6, 2022, in Osaka at the Edion Arena Osaka #2 and was the twelveth 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 (2022) 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 (2022) 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.
KAI, 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 KAI making his second defense of the Open The Dream Gate Championship against Big Boss Shimizu. On February 4, KAI successfully defended the Open The Dream Gate Championship against Takashi Yoshida. Afterwards, Dragon Gate's General Manager Ryo Saito suggested Big Boss Shimizu to be his next challenger. However, KAI dismissed, suggesting his mentor Keiji Mutoh as his next challenger, but changed his mind and accepted Shimizu's challenge, before sarcastically stating that he would become a "small boss Shimizu".
On February 20, General Manager Ryo Saito announced that the rookies of class of 2021 would be facing each other at Memorial Gate in Wakayama in a five-way elimination match, with the winner receiving a title match for the Open The Brave Gate Championship against Dragon Dia on March 5 at Champion Gate in Osaka. At the event on February 23, Takuma Fujiwara, won the five-way elimination match to become the number one contender to the Open The Brave Gate Championship, setting up the title match.
Dragon Dia and Yuki Yoshioka, who defended the Open The Twin Gate Championship at the Champion Gate in Osaka in the second night
Also on February 20, Natural Vibes' Kzy, U-T and Jacky "Funky" Kamei defeated Z-Brats' BxB Hulk, H.Y.O and Shun Skywalker in a tournament final to win the vacant Open The Triangle Gate Championship. Afterwards, Kaito Ishida, Kota Minoura and Naruki Doi challenged them to a title match, which they accepted. Afterwards, Natural Vibes questioned the timing of their challenge, leading to reveal that they did not want to enter in the tournament for the vacant Open The Triangle Gate Champions.
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, before revealed himself to be the returning Yuki Yoshioka, having achieving his goal. On January 12, 2022, Dia made his return to Dragon Gate, forming a team with Yoshioka to challenge SB KENTo and H.Y.O to a title match for the Open The Twin Gate Championship. The following day, Dia and Yoshioka defeated KENTo and H.Y.O to win the Open The Twin Gate Championship. At Memorial Gate in Wakayama, after Dia and Yoshioka successfully defended the Open The Twin Gate Championship, KENTo and H.Y.O challenged them to a rematch, which they accepted. Meanwhile, KENTo and H.Y.O had also been feuding with Eita and Yosuke♡Santa Maria, after H.Y.O and KENTo kicked Eita out of R.E.D. On March 3, Eita and Maria defeated H.Y.O and KENTo. Afterwards, Maria attacked by H.Y.O and KENTo, before Eita made the save. Maria then persuaded Eita to form a team, before also challenging for the Open The Twin Gate Championship, setting up a title match at the event.
Results[]
Night 1[]
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dragon Dia (c) defeated Takuma Fujiwara | Singles match for the Open The Brave Gate Championship | 11:00 |
| 2 | Masaaki Mochizuki, Gamma, Shuji Kondo and Churaumi Saver defeated Dragon Kid, Ben-K, La Estrella and Gurukun Mask | Eight-man tag team match | 10:13 |
| 3 | Yuki Yoshioka defeated SB KENTo by disqualification | Tag team match | 8:31 |
| 4 | Z-Brats (H.Y.O and Diamante) defeated Eita and Yosuke♥Santa Maria | Tag team match | 4:17 |
| 5 | High-End (YAMATO, Kagetora and Keisuke Okuda) defeated Don Fujii, Takashi Yoshida and Jason Lee | Six-man tag team match | 11:21 |
| 6 | Natural Vibes (Big Boss Shimizu, Genki Horiguchi and Susumu Yokosuka) defeated Z-Brats (BxB Hulk, KAI and Shun Skywalker) | Six-man tag team match | 9:29 |
| 7 | Gold Class (Naruki Doi, Kaito Ishida and Kota Minoura) (with Minorita) defeated Natural Vibes (Jacky "Funky" Kamei, Kzy, and U-T) (c) | Six-man tag team match for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship | 14:30 |
| |||
Night 2[]
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gold Class (Naruki Doi, Kaito Ishida and Kota Minoura) (with Minorita) defeated Z-Brats (BxB Hulk, Diamante and Shun Skywalker) | Six-man tag team match | 10:35 |
| 2 | Masaaki Mochizuki and Ho Ho Lun defeated Ryu Fuda and Shuji Kondo | Tag team match | 6:59 |
| 3 | Gurukun Mask, Strong Machine J and Takashi Yoshida defeated Churaumi Saver, Don Fujii and Gamma | Six-man tag team match | 8:43 |
| 4 | Ben-K vs. Jason Lee ended in a no contest | Singles match | 10:15 |
| 5 | Natural Vibes (Jacky "Funky" Kamei, Kzy, Susumu Yokosuka and U-T) defeated High-End (Dragon Kid, Kagetora, Keisuke Okuda and YAMATO) | Eight-man tag team match | 10:08 |
| 6 | D'Courage (Dragon Dia and Yuki Yoshioka) (c) defeated Eita and Yosuke♡Santa Maria and Z-Brats (H.Y.O and SB KENTo) | Three-way elimination tag team match for the Open The Twin Gate Championship | 16:27 |
| 7 | KAI (c) defeated Big Boss Shimizu | Singles match for the Open The Dream Gate Championship | 18:23 |
| |||
Three-way elimination tag team match[]
| Elimination | Wrestler | Team | Eliminated by | Elimination move | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SB KENTo | Z-Brats | Yosuke♡Santa Maria | Pinned after an Inside Cradle | 14:12 | |
| 2 | Eita | Eita and Yosuke♡Santa Maria | Yuki Yoshioka | Pinned after a cradle | 16:27 | |
| Winners: | D'Courage (Dragon Dia and Yuki Yoshioka) (still Open The Twin Gate Champions) | |||||