The Dead or Alive (2025) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and GAORA TV event promoted by Dragon Gate. The event took place on May 5, 2025, in Aichi at the Aichi Prefectural Gym and is the sixteenth 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 (2025) 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 (2025) 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 took part in the Mask vs. Hair steel cage survival match at the main event
The Dead or Alive (2025) was main evented by Shun Skywalker, Kota Minoura, ISHIN, Madoka Kikuta, Yuki Yoshioka and Dragon Dia facing each other in a Mask vs. Hair steel cage survival match. When Yuki Yoshioka, who used to work as Dia Inferno, returned, Skywalker persistently demanded that he become a masked man again, but Kota Minoura strongly opposed. There were also misfires during the Rey de Parejas, and the situation became even worse. Upon Yoshioka's absence, Kikuta teamed with Dia in the Rey de Parejas, but they only managed one win. Then Skywalker brought in the mysterious Dia Inferno, which caused suspicion within the unit. After multiple false hits, Kikuta and Dia started fighting with each other, bringing the D'Courage to the brink of collapse. On March 30, Shun Skywalker was confronted by Dragon Dia and Ryoya Tanaka as they were watched over by a disgruntled Madoka Kikuta, who were in a midst of a faction infighting due to the identity of the new Dia Inferno throughout March. This led to on March 30, Skywalker to proposed a match between him, Minoura and the new Dia Inferno, against Dragon Dia, Ryoya Tanaka, and Madoka Kikuta. On April 7, Z-Brats defeated D'Courage, after Inferno dodged a box attack and hit Dia. Afterwards, Kikuta began blaming Yoshioka for their failure in the Rey de Parejas. Despite Dragon Dia's efforts to calm him down, even claiming that "Dia Inferno" was Skywalker manipulating them, Kikuta was not convinced, claiming he did not trust Dia. Dia Inferno was revealed to be ISHIN. Dia subsquently asked if that chaos was what Minoura wanted, which Minoura surprisingly side against Skywalker. Kikuta would accuse Dia of excluding him in the past, claiming that he had no right to talk about bonds and friendships. In a twist, Skywalker invited Kikuta to join Z-Brats, but Minoura fiercely opposed. This led to Dragon Gate General Manager Ryo Saito to schedule a mask vs. hair steel cage match for the event.
YAMATO, who defended the Open The Dream Gate Championship at the event
Also on April 7, YAMATO decided to vacate the Open The Brave Gate Championship, leading Hyo, U-T, Ryu Fuda, and Jacky Kamei expressing direct interest in the vacant title. Ryo Saito then announced a tournament to crown a new champion, with the final being at Dead or Alive.
On April 13, Luís Mante challenged YAMATO to a title match for the Open The Dream Gate Championship, but Jason Lee intervened and also challenged YAMATO to a title match. This led to a decision match between the Lee and Mante on April 19 to decide YAMATO next challenger, which Lee won, setting up their title match for Dead or Alive.
Also on April 19, after Strong Machine J won a Royal Sambo match, he proposed his Natural Vibes stablemates Kzy and Flamita to challenge PARADOX (BxB Hulk, Kagetora and Susumu Yokosuka) to a title match for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship, setting up the Triangle Gate title match at the event.
Results[]
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1P | Takashi Yoshida and Mondai Ryu defeated Genki Horiguchi and Shachihoko Machine | Tag team match | 3:09 |
| 2 | Ryoya Tanaka defeated Hyo | Singles match | 6:44 |
| 3 | Z-Brats (KAI, Gianni Valletta and Yoshiki Kato) defeated Mochizuki Dojo (Masaaki Mochizuki, Ryu Fuda and Daiki Yanagiuchi) | Six-man tag team match | 3:24 |
| 4 | Gold Class (Ben-K, Riiita, Jacky Kamei, Mochizuki Junior and El Bendito) defeated Último Dragón, Dragon Kid, Naruki Doi, Don Fujii and Luís Mante | Ten-man tag team match | 8:08 |
| 5 | Natural Vibes (Strong Machine J, Kzy and Flamita) defeated PARADOX (BxB Hulk, Susumu Yokosuka and Kagetora) (c) | Six-man tag team match for the Open The Triangle Gate Championship | 14:58 |
| 6 | U-T defeated Homare | Tournament final for the vacant Open the Brave Gate Championship | 11:38 |
| 7 | YAMATO (c) defeated Jason Lee | Singles match for the Open The Dream Gate Championship | 22:10 |
| 8 | Shun Skywalker, Kota Minoura, ISHIN, Madoka Kikuta, and Dragon Dia defeated Yuki Yoshioka | Six-way Mask vs. Hair steel cage survival match Yuki Yoshioka was the last to fail to escape, thus losing his hair. |
27:00 |
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