Dragongate Dead Or Alive 2022 - 05/05/2022

Open The Twin Gate Title Match: D'courage (Dragon Dia & Yuki Yoshioka) (c) vs. Z-Brats (Diamante & Shun Skywalker)

Solid opener to the big show. D’courage lose the titles but their title reign has definitely being a success to establish both of them after the hot angle on the January Korakuen Hall. They’ve had some good matches and seem to have set the stages for what will no doubt be a top team in Dragongate for years to come. This match was set on establishing Z-Brats as a strong team. Diamante and Shun’s teamwork outshone D’courage’s, as did their size. Dragon Dia was the FIP while Yoshioka only had brief spells in the ring. Z-Brats double teamed (and even triple teamed) up on Dia, intent on hurting Dia before his Brave Gate title match later. Yoshioka looked really good when he got in the ring. He was good at working the crowd and had a great energy to him when he was on offence. SB KENTo got involved in the finish, using a chair to attack Dia, stop D’courage’s momenum and that helped Z-Brats pick up the win and the titles. ***3/4

Twin Ryuo Tag Team Title Match: Natural Vibes (Kzy & U-T) (c) vs. HIGH-END (Dragon Kid & YAMATO)

I do like it when these regional promotion’s titles end up on these shows. It adds a little spice to the matches. I don’t think this was better than the opening tag match but it was a well worked tag team match. It has bonus points with U-T getting the final victory, with K-Ness’ pin no less. There were no real stand-out moments of the match except YAMATO and Kzy hitting each other with elbows but the action never lulled. They found a solid medium and stuck to it. ***1/4

Open The Brave Gate Title Match: Dragon Dia (c) vs. SB KENTo

I will perhaps be the outlier on this in saying that I didn’t think that this was all that good. It was good in crucial parts, such as the finish, and I thought Dia’s performance was very good. But SBK’s heat section was so lacking. I do believe that comes down to his lack of experience. He has a lot of charisma and personality but he came off very generic and basic on offence. It was very boring to sit through. Where SBK shone more was when Dia had more of a foothold in the match and they could bounce off each other, but otherwise watching SBK stomp and clumsy get through a big portion of the match provided a not so desirable result. Dia retains the belt, after losing the Twin Gate title earlier. The push of Dia continues! **3/4

Open The Triangle Gate Title Match: GOLD CLASS (Kaito Ishida, Kota Minoura & Naruki Doi) (c) vs. Los Perros del Mal de Japon (Eita, Kotaro Suzuki & NOSAWA Rongai)

Eita in Perros (in DG anyway) isn’t exactly what I wanted to see but judging from this match, that won’t be a bad idea after all. The team works well together, Eita is in a high spot within the group and he gets to be doing exactly what he wants to. But looking at his teammates, NOSAWA is a bundle of personality and charisma which makes up for his lack of high level skill in the ring. His spots with Minorita were highly amusing to watch. Suzuki is a solid enough worker, even now, and he felt like the glue in some parts of the match. GOLD CLASS worked on top for the most part but they eventually fell to Perros, showing themselves to be transitional champions. Interesting developments, indeed. ***1/4

Open The Dream Gate Title Match: KAI (c) vs. Susumu Yokosuka

Excellent main event. With the name on the line and group membership, there was a slight doubt on KAI winning this match, turning what would be a filler title defence into a proper and true match with stakes, and all of that was shown. KAI was excellent in the match. He doesn’t always put in great performances - KAI rarely has bad ones either - but his selling was really good. His vulnerability in the closing stretch really brought home the drama of the match. Although his beatdown early in the match, particularly when attacking Susumu’s arm, was a let down. Not so dis-similar to SB KENTo’s earlier. Susumu laid it all on the line considering the stakes involved. This might also be his last Dream Gate Title match. And he did pretty much everything for the occasion. Despite his stoic, pain-faced ways, there is something oddly expressive about him that can’t fully be explained. The match ended with the classic DG formula, with some really big pinfalls and a standout moment of KAI ripping Susumu’s bracelet. Susumu Yokosuka is no more. Susumu Mochizuki is here. ****