Dick Togo's 1st KO-D Openweight Title Reign

KO-D Openweight Title Match: MIKAMI (c) vs. Dick Togo - DDT Into The Fight 2005 - 30/01/2005

The DDT Dramatic Fantasia version joins in progress (5-6 minutes approx). Togo is beating on MIKAMI with punches but first misses with a baseball slide into the post and then he gets launched into the ring post on the apron and then once more which causes Dick Togo to start bleeding. MIKAMI hits a magnificent moonsault to the floor in the follow up. The match goes back into the ring where MIKAMI hits a punch to the head and throws Togo into a ladder, MIKAMI’s favourite weapon. MIKAMI puts extra emphasis on his punches, making sure that they target the wound of Togo. MIKAMI even throws a downward elbow that thankfully missed for Togo’s sake. Togo cuts off MIKAMI with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but MIKAMI, quick as a cat, rolls Togo up and locks in the figure four leg lock. Togo reverses the hold and then hits a dropkick to MIKAMI’s injured ribs, turning the tide. I didn’t love how little MIKAMI kicking out of the Pedigree from the top rope meant. It was more of a lead-in to Togo attempting it off a ladder, which is nuts. MIKAMI backdrops him and hits a dive off the ladder. Togo shrugs it off though as they trade more roll ups. MIKAMI then sets up a Swanton Bomb off the ladder, and it looks absoltuely gorgous when he hits it, but he doesn’t go for the pin, instead hitting a 450! Togo kicks out of it and is staggering but he hits a last gasp powerbomb for a nearfall. Togo hits mean lariats, then pedigree and finally the senton to win his first KO-D Openweight title. Cue Cypress Hill. The match is really good offensively but the selling isn’t all that good. Super moves were brushed aside too easily for the next sequence but the sequences were usually cool enough to keep the match on track. Dick Togo is met with challengers, including Sanshiro Takagi. MIKAMI is out until May, most likely due to injury as well. ***1/2

 

KO-D Openweight Title Match: Dick Togo (c) vs. Sanshiro Takagi - DDT Don't Try This At Home 2005 - 25/02/2005

Sanshiro Takagi had beaten KUDO in a mini tournament to get this title match. I like the older version of Takagi. The funny president who does Weapons Rumbles. But this version of Sanshiro Takagi is an absolute baller. He is a total Austin fanboy and it shows but the imitation is a good one. He opens the match with some awesome punches and this awesome energy that sucked you right in. The match spills into the crowd where Takagi hits a running lariat, causing himself to almost fall down the chairs. The match comes back to the ring where Togo puts Takagi through a table and busts him open. Togo goes to work on the cut with nasty elbows and stomps. Togo goes for a springboard dropkick but he slipped on the ropes and sold his leg (like a pro). I could tell it was a botch because after Takagi attacked the leg, Togo cut him off and resumed control. The blood begins to pour a bit more when Takagi fires up. Takagi hits an awesome lariat and does a few other things like a back diving elbow to Togo. The referee takes a bump after Togo pushes Takagi into her and Togo’s goons, some dude who looks like George Banks from Mary Poppins, Nobutaka Moribe and Tomohiko Hashimoto (who are the KO-D Tag Team Champions), attempt to interfere. Takagi thankfully gets rid of them quickly as they head into the closing stretch. Takagi escapes the Pedigree but gets caught in the Crossface. Takagi gets a few nearfalls on Togo,, including a DDT off the top rope. Dick Togo hits the pedigree but Takagi no-sells it. Awful. Dick Togo has his hands on knuckle dusters and uses it to block a powerbomb. The usual combo of the pedigree and senton follow and Dick Togo retains. I do realise that Takagi is likely parodying the fighting spirit spot but it still annoyed me and came across as gratiotius. It marred what was a really good showing from him. Togo kicks ass in this cheating heel role and he lives to fight another day. ***1/2

KO-D Openweight Title Match: Dick Togo (c) vs. Yusuke Inokuma - DDT Judgement 9 8th Anniversary Show - 27/03/2005

Yusuke Inokuma comes out dressed as a transformer type character. Lol. Togo wasted no time in going after Inokuma, easily bestig Inokuma on the mat, then dictating the pace with an armbar and a headlock. Togo and Inokuma exchange punches and there is a bit where Togo sells his hand, leaving him vulnerable for a school boy. Inokuma looks so minor league (it is DDT tbf) but he puts some solid offence together while he could before Togo regained control of the match. Togo antagonises Inokuma’s seconds, which include Muscle Sakai, Danshoku Dino and Yoshihiko. They want to call to throw in the towel but Inokuma stops them. Suddenly the Rocky music plays, which is hilarious, and Inokuma’s hope spot begins. Togo cuts it off but Inokuma kicks out of the pedigree, giving him a minor chance. Soon Yoshihiko interferes in aid of Inokuma but accidently hits a dragon rana instead. Dick Togo gets rid of the rookie and wins with the Pedigree. This was nothing like the matches against MIKAMI and Sanshiro Takagi which were bloody brawls. This was a light match that had some comedy in it. It’s probably worth skipping if you want the former and dislike the comedy aspect of DDT. I happen to enjoy those parts of the promotion so I liked it. Dick Togo and Mr George Banks’ look-alike are bragging after the match when Takagi comes down to the ring and seemingly wants another title match. **1/2

 

KO-D Openweight Title No Rules Match: Dick Togo (c) vs. Sanshiro Takagi - DDT Max Bump 2005 - 04/04/2005

Dick Togo apparently now has my favourite wrestling referee of all time, Yukinori Matsui, in his pocket,  putting another obstacle in the way of Sanashiro Takagi. Takagi is such a wannabe Stone Cold and it’s actually the best thing ever. 

Matsui immediately shows his colours, distracting Takagi before he and Togo can lock up and Togo naturally takes advantage. Matsui’s smug look is gold! He slow-counts Takagi on the pinning attempt, letting everyone know that Takagi is in for a tough time. They establish Takagi as the stronger and better of the two early as Takagi gets the better of him of a few occasions and Togo needs the help of Matsui to best him, such as ignoring an obvious low blow and even taking Takagi’s had off the rope, which should’ve caused a break in the arm hold Togo had on. More interference comes into play as a table is set up and Togo has help planting Takagi through it. The match skipped ahead a bit to Takagi smacking Togo with a broken piece of wood before he launched Togo into the sea of chairs in the crowd. Takagi looks good, despite everything else in the match, as he pretty much kicks Togo’s ass. The distractions are constant though and Togo is crafty enough to make use of them. Matsui’s slow counts benefit later in the match when Takagi hits a powerbomb and Togo is given time to kick out. Soon Matusi even goes as far as to use a steel chair on Takagi but Cherry is having none of it. This prevents Matsui from counting the pin after Togo hits the pedigree. Matsui drags Cherry in the ring and Dick Togo goes to hit a running lariat but hits Matsui instead. Awesome spot. An announcement is made that Cherry is now the referee. Dick Togo attempts to use a chain but Takagi grabs it and gets rid of it, which the crowd cheers. Hashimoto and Moribe interfere once more. Moribe grabs the chair but hits Togo when Takagi ducks! In comes the new KO-D Tag Team champions, Seiya Morohashi and Tanomusaku Toba to even the odds. Takagi and Togo hit the closing stretch. Takagi hits a load of Stunners which Togo kicks out of but Takagi levels Togo with a running lariat to win the KO-Openweight title for the fourth time. While that was an entertaining spectacle. DDT’s version of Stone Cold vs Dude Love, with the referee having a major role to play in the match, so to speak, this wasn’t exactly a match for Dick Togo fans as Takagi basically ate him up and the booking relegated him to a minor role. Sanshiro Takagi came out looking like a star though which was the ultimate goal. ***1/2