The Dead or Alive (2024) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and GAORA TV event promoted by Dragon Gate. The event took place on May 5, 2024, in Aichi at the Aichi Prefectural Gym and was the fifteenth annual event under the Dead or Alive name. The event was also available at Dragon Gate's streaming website, Dragon Gate Network.
Production[]
Background[]
The Dead or Alive (2024) 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.
Storylines[]
The Dead or Alive (2024) 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.
Kzy, who took part in the Mask vs. Hair steel cage survival match at the main event
The Dead or Alive (2024) was main evented by Kzy, Jacky "Funky" Kamei, Hyo, Jason Lee and Shun Skywalker facing each other in a Mask vs. Hair steel cage survival match. The storylines dates back to December 2023, Z-Brats, Big Hug and D'Courage began trying to convince Jacky "Funky" Kamei to join their stable. On January 27, a mysterious wrestler Mask de Z appeared wearing Kamei's attire, helping Z-Brats retain the Open The Triangle Gate Championship against Natural Vibes. Afterwards, both sides agree to a five-on-five match. Shortly after, Shun Skywalker planted the idea that a traitor was among Natural Vibes. On February 7, Z-Brats faced Natural Vibes in a winning effort after a missed communication within Natural Vibes. Following the match, Strong Machine J, who was involved in a altercation with Natural Vibes stablemate U-T, leading him to announce that he was done with all the lack of communication, and left the arena furious with the rest of the members of the stable. The issues within Natural Vibes continued through the following months, due to frustration over the stable's results. Machine was promised by the other members that the group was on the same page and working towards winning the 2024 Rey de Parejas and only focused on the remaining league matches. However on March 30, Jason Lee who was fed up with the stable's antics and lack of results, decided to turn on Kamei during their league match against Shun Skywalker and ISHIN and join Z-Brats, revealing himself to be Mask de Z. Shortly after, Lee began going after Kamei's hair, leading Kamei to do the same to Lee on April 10. Afterwards, Hyo saved Natural Vibes from an attack by Z-Brats, before stating that he sided with Natural Vibes with the goal of "protecting Kamei", leading Dragon Gate's General Manager Ryo Saito to set up a five-way Mask vs. Hair steel cage survival match at Dead or Alive. On April 14, after Natural Vibes lost a Captain's Fall Elimination match against Z-Brats, Kzy decided to put his Natural Vibes membership on the line, where If he loses, he’s out of the stable. On April 20, after being defeated by Z-Brats' KAI in a match, U-T challenged Machine to a match at Dead or Alive to help get them on the same page so they can provide support together during the cage match, with KAI soliciting Machine to join Z-Brats.
Luís Mante, who defendec the Open The Dream Gate Championship at the event
The event also included a title match for the Open The Dream Gate Championship, with Luís Mante making his third title defense against HipHop Kikuta. On April 10, Mante saved former rival Último Dragón from an attack by Z-Brats' Gianni Valletta, after latter ripped Dragón's mask. Afterwards, Valletta challenged Mante to a title match for the Open The Dream Gate Championship at Dead or Alive, which he accepted.
On April 10, Naruki Doi and Dragon Kid defeated Big Boss Shimizu and Strong Machine J and then YAMATO and Susumu Yokosuka, in the semifinals and finals to win the 2024 Rey de Parejas. Traditionally, the winners of the tournament have earned a shot at the Open The Twin Gate Championship and following the win, Doi and Kid called out reigning champions, Alejandro and Kaito Kiyomiya, and were told by Doi how bad champions they were because they did not appear at Dragon Gate or carry their titles at Pro Wrestling NOAH and challenged them to a title match at Dead or Alive, which they accepted.
Matches[]
| # | Matches | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | YAMATO, Susumu Yokosuka and Kagetora defeated Gold Class (Kota Minoura, Ben-K and BxB Hulk) | Six-man tag team match | 8:58 |
| 2 | Big Boss Shimizu and Toru Owashi defeated Z-Brats (KAI and ISHIN) | Tag team match | 5:05 |
| 3 | Dragon Dia, Madoka Kikuta, Ryoya Tanaka and Último Dragón defeated Masaaki Mochizuki, Don Fujii, Mondai Ryu and Yasushi Kanda | Eight-man tag team match | 6:23 |
| 4 | U-T defeated Strong Machine J | Singles match | 13:51 |
| 5 | Dragon Kid and Naruki Doi defeated Alejandro and Kaito Kiyomiya (c) | Tag team match for the Open The Twin Gate Championship | 17:27 |
| 6 | Luís Mante (c) defeated Gianni Valletta | Singles match for the Open The Dream Gate Championship | 14:58 |
| 7 | Jacky "Funky" Kamei, Shun Skywalker, Kzy, and Jason Lee defeated Hyo | Five-way Mask vs. Hair steel cage survival match | 37:19 |
| |||
Order of Escape[]
| Number | Wrestler | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacky "Funky" Kamei | |||||
| 2 | Shun Skywalker | |||||
| 3 | Kzy | |||||
| 4 | Jason Lee | |||||
| Loser: | Hyo (Hyo losses his hair) | |||||