The Single File #16
Posted: 07/27/01

Yikes, I just got digital cable installed at Casa Gagne. Better wrap this up before I immerse myself in the 700 new music channels now at my disposal.

We head back to Japan this time to Osaka Pro, an indy fed owned and operated by Super Delfin. You've probably heard of Delfin, even though he (to the best of my knowledge) has never worked in the States. Delfin's has made quite a name for himself competing in the '94 Super J Cup and participating in a million classic Michinoku Pro 6 and 10 man tags. He also tends to wear outfits with seemingly drug-induced color schemes.

Anyway, in '98 Delfin had a falling out with MPro head honcho Great Sasuke (probably over $$$), so he took off and started his own group, Osaka Pro. The only show I've managed to track down is the 1/4/00 outing, which was a great card for 2 reasons. (1) the huge variety of match styles (they had a Joshi match, a shoot fight, a not-as-stellar-as-MPro-but-still-quite-good six man tag, and the straight up main event), and (2) the sheer goofiness of the other matches. I'm talkin' clowns, super heroes, and bug eyed monsters in the ring. If you've ever watch MPro and said "This just isn't bizarre enough for me," then by all means track down this show.

Of course, when Delfin jumped ship, a few others joined him, namely Dick Togo. Now chances are you've seen Togo wrestle before. He was part of the 6 man match at Barely Legal, and was also a member of the Kaientai DX in both MPro and the WWF (the latter saw him performing jobs to the almighty Kurrgan). Anyway, Togo quickly became Osaka's top heel, and soon put together his own awesome Satan worshipping (1) and comically dressed stable, the Legion of Violence.

L.O.V. Roll Call
Dick Togo: Described above.
Black Buffalo: Wears the greatest mask ever, with horns on the side and a baseball cap attached on top.
Policem-en: A close second in the mask contest, resembling a police helmet, with a receiver mouthpiece taped on the side for authenticity.
Daio QUAALT: Picture Kane with no mask and an afro, and there ya go.
Big Dick 269: Just handles intros. Kinda like Joel Gertner. Resembles a Japanese Rocco Rock.

Anyhoo, this match is from the 1/4/00 show, and is for the newly created Osaka Pro Title.

Who: Super Delfin vs. Dick Togo [Match to determine first Osaka Pro Champion]
When: 1/4/00
Where: Osaka, Japan

Backstory: There was not tournament or round robin or whatever to determine the first champ. Delfin probably just said "Hey, me and Togo are the two biggest stars, we'll just cut to the chase." These two actually have quite a history-including a memorable feud 6 years back when Togo was known as SATO and was a face, while Delfin actually played the heel. Plus they were on opposite teams in a billion classic MPro tag matches.

We get a video package of some runs-ins between the L.O.V. and Delfin, but I don't speak Japanese so I don't know what's going on. Sorry. 

The Match: Togo and the L.O.V. come out first to some hip-hop song. Words can't describe how awesome it is for a Japanese wrestler to come out to a Gangsta rap tune. Dick's dumped the blue tights and now wears denim shorts and a sleeveless tee that looks like it was stolen from Mikey Whipwreck's closet. Delfin comes out to some bombastic organ theme. I have to say, Delfin is dressed pretty sedately tonight. Other Osaka Pro wrestlers are at ringside to watch the match and add an air of importance. 

They play…the Japanese national anthem, I guess, because everyone stands at attention. Some guy reads something, then everyone poses for pictures. Some guy in a pink robe does introductions, but Big Dick 269 steals the mic and does the introduction for Togo. Pink robe guy then finishes the intro for Delfin, and we're ready to go.

The crowd yells for Delfin, and Togo seems genuinely baffled by the response. Anyway, they tie up, and Togo pushes Delfin back into the ropes, then backs off for the surprising clean break. They tie up again, and Delfin hits a quick armdrag and applies an armbar. Togo manages to get to his feet, tackle Delfin, and lock on a leglock, but Delfin quickly reverses to a cross armbreaker. Togo reverses *that* and wraps up the legs, then spinning and applying a quick front chancery, but Delfin counters again and applies a wristlock. Delfin wrenches the arm, but Togo manages to get to his feet, reverse the wristlock and apply a front chancery. Delfin reverses again (wow, I've typed that a lot so far), applies an armbar, trips up Dick and wraps up his legs. Togo manages to escape and slaps on another front chancery. Delfin escapes and applies an leglock. Delfin cautiously gets to his feet and stomps on the leg, then slaps on a modified single leg Boston Crab. Dick manages to escape by kicking Delfin in the back of the head. Dick then manages to slap on a headscissors, but Delfin…yup, reverses and manages a front chancery, only to have Togo reverse and slap on a wristlock of his own. But, Delfin manages to flip out and armdrag Togo to the mat. Crowd applauds and Dick's all "Hmmm."

I'd like to add that we're three minutes into the match and this is some of the best mat wrestling I've seen in a while. 

Now both men circle each other again, and Dick yells "Come on!" Delfin slaps Togo in the chest hard. Togo steps back and then nails Delfin with a chop of his own, sending the Super one down to the mat. Delfin gets to his feet and knocks Togo down with a quick shoulderblock, then bounces off the ropes. Togo ducks down and sidesteps Delfin, only to be caught with a satellite headscissors. Delfin charges again and Togo nimbly leapfrogs him, only to turn around and be crushed by a Delfin clothesline. Togo bails to the outside and Delfin slides out after him. The camera pulls back to a wide shot, but we do see Delfin hit another satellite headscissors on the parquet floor. Delfin gets back in the ring to applause while Togo and the L.O.V. confer on the floor. 

Togo grabs a chair, but quickly hands it off to Big Dick. We see Buffalo distracting the ref as Togo gets on the apron. Delfin comes over and tries to slap him, but Dick ducks and slaps on a full nelson (while still on the apron). Policem-en comes over and trips up Delfin, and Togo grabs the chair and waffles Delfin in the leg. The ref comes over and acts all indignant, but he's distracted again by someone else mere moments later. Good officiating! Anyway, Dick uses the opportunity to stick Delfin's leg in the chair, then jumps off the apron and stomps the chair in a nasty looking Pillmanization. Togo slams the chair on the leg again for good measure, then tosses Delfin back into the ring. 

Togo lays in some stomps to the leg, then slams the knee into the mat a few times. Togo slaps on a knee bar while taunting Delfin to hit him. Dick then drags Delfin over to the ropes and does the old butt-drop onto the leg. Togo slaps on another leglock, but Delfin reaches the ropes. Togo stomps on Delfin, who then bails outside. Notices that when Delfin went to the high flying, Togo immediately started cheating and went to work on the knee. Nice psychology. The L.O.V. will have no resting, as they dump Delfin back into the ring. Togo with some more stomps and taunting, then goes to work with another leglock, but Delfin reaches the ropes. 

Togo backs up and tries a clothesline, but Delfin ducks and tries a 'rana. "Tries" is the key word here, as Togo blocks it and turns it into a weird-looking Boston Crab, then transitions into a hurty STF. Delfin has to pretty much carry Togo on his back as he crawls and reaches the ropes. So Togo picks up Delfin and hits a Dragon Screw leg whip. Togo gives the high sign and applies the standing figure four in the middle of the ring. And again Delfin has to practically drag Togo as he crawls to the ropes, which he does manage to do. Togo pounds the mat in frustration.

Dick picks up Delfin again and tries another Dragon Screw, but Delfin counters with the enziguiri. Both men are down on the mat and slowly get to their feet. Delfin tries a German Suplex, but Togo lays in some elbows. Delfin counters with a forearm shot to the back, and this time attempts a Tiger Suplex. So Togo counters with a mule kick, not to the groin, but to Delfin's injured leg. Then Dick reaches between his legs and grabs Delfin's foot, and rolls forward and applies another leglock. Beautiful. Delfin again has to drag Togo to the ropes. Togo grabs Delfin and shoves him into the corner, then sets him up Shattered Dreams-style. Dick lays in a chop and tries a corner charge, but Delfin manages to free himself and dodge at the last second. Delfin nails Togo with a kick to the face that sends the evil one outside the ring. Delfin goes up top but gets nailed with a chair thrown (presumably) by a L.O.V. member. After Delfin crashes to the floor, Togo picks him up and slams his head into the apron. Policem-en grabs the ref as Togo grabs and a table from under the ring and sets it up at ringside. Togo tosses Delfin into the ring and tries to suplex him from the ring through the table outside, but Delfin manages to block and hits a shotay (2) that sends Dick headfirst onto the table. Togo turns around, only to be hit with a Delfin cross body from the top to the floor! 

Both men play dead for a while, but Delfin gets to his feet and manages to whip Togo into the pole. We go to a quick crowd shot, then we see Delfin back in the ring. Togo stalls on the outside, so Delfin gets fed up and goes after him. Amazingly, this doesn't backfire as Delfin tosses Togo in the ring and covers for a 2 count. Delfin picks up Togo and hits a nasty DDT, then covers for another 2 count. I will note that for storyline purposes, Delfin is hitting big moves to out Togo away. He isn't selling the knee as much as I'd like, but that's nothing new (3). 

Delfin goes for a Tornado DDT (part of his finishing sequence), but Togo actually manages to counter by flipping over before his head hits the mat, something I've never seen before. Togo grabs the unsuspecting Delfin and hits an economy sized Liger bomb for a very long 2. Dick slams Delfin and goes for the Senton Splash, but Delfin gets up and lays in some punches while Togo's on the top rope. Delfin goes for a 'rana, but Togo shoves him off and tries a double axe-handle, only to be met with a dropkick to the gut. Both men play dead for a few minutes, then manage to get to their feet. Delfin tries an Irish Whip, reversed by Togo. Dick tries a flapjack, but Delfin turns it into a nifty spinning DDT in mid air. Delfin covers for a long 2 count. Delfin gives the "it's over" signal and tries the Osaka Stunner (4), but Togo counters with a mule kick to the nuts. Too bounces off the ropes and nails Delfin with a clothesline. He covers for another long 2 count. 

Togo picks up Delfin and nails a Pedigree (!), then heads up top and it's…yup, it's the Senton Splash (5). Togo covers for the sure three, but Delfin kicks out at the last possible instant! The L.O.V. protests, but Togo merely heads up top and tries another senton, but (of course) Delfin moves and Togo crashes to the mat. Both men get to their feet, Delfin tries an Irish Whip, but Togo again reverses. Delfin actually manages to counter with a running small package for another long 2 count. Delfin picks up Togo and hits the Impaler/Buzzkiller/Implant DDT. He covers for another long 2 count. Delfin tosses Dick into the corner and hits the Tornado DDT and locks in the Delfin Clutch (6), and again Togo kicks out at 2! Dick slowly crawls to his feet, only to be met with a running shotay from Delfin that knocks him back to the mat. Delfin covers, but it's another 2 count. Delfin hits another shotay, and again Togo kicks out at 2! Delfin tries a third running shotay, Togo ducks, so Delfin counters with a Stunner (!!), then hits the shotay! Delfin covers, and finally gets the 1-2-3 to win the belt (21:04).

The L.O.V. grab Togo and quickly make a quick escape. Delfin is awarded the belt and says some words on the mic, probably thanking the crowd. Delfin gets hoisted on the shoulders of some other Osaka folks and we call it a day.

Yeah, Delfin put himself over. Big surprise. Hey, it's his fed and his money, he can do what he wants.

Match was superb, smartly told and featuring mat wrestling, high flying, and wonderful execution and effort. In my opinion it really got shafted in the 2000 MOTY voting, probably because it took place so early in the year. No matter. If Delfin has to ever close up shop, he can take pride in putting on one of the best matches of the new millennium. 

Fallout: Delfin lost the belt to Takehiro Murahama on 5/7/00, but won it back on 6/18/00 and held it for nearly a year.

Togo actually had a falling out with Delfin and ended up leaving and taking a good chunk of the roster with him, including Big Dick 269 and Policem-en. Since then, Black Buffalo has turned face and the L.O.V now consists only of QUAALT and Yoshito Sugamoto's new heel persona Gamma (the current OPro champ) (7). The talent defection has hurt the fed, but hopefully they'll bring the goofiness soon. Meanwhile, check out the 1/4/00 show (try www.wrestleholicsvideos.com-they have all the matches in their entirety).

I'm gone 'til a later time period. I should have another SF (maybe 2) up before Summerslam. In the meantime, check out the archives for past goodness. Good night, God bless.

Joe Gagne
bwo@telegram.infi.net

Endnotes:
(1) No, really. The 7/24/99 show had a clip of the L.O.V. apparently partaking in devil worship.
(2) A shotay is just a palm thrust, also frequently used by Jushin Liger. I'm not a real big fan of the move, personally.
(3) Delfin barely sold the attacks on his knee by Shinjiro Ohtani during his first round '94 J-Cup match.
(4) An inverted suplex into a Stunner. Also used by Mikey Whipwreck.
(5) You leap off the top rope and land back-first on your opponent. Not fancy, but it still looks great.
(6) Your opponent is on their back. You tie up their arms with your right leg and wrap up their legs with one arm so they're in a pinning position. As seen in every THQ N64 game.
(7) Thanks to CanJUGG and Ryan Faulconer on the DVDVR board for helping me straighten this out. 

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