[2000-11-06-Osaka Pro] Super Delphin vs Takehiro Murahama

[superkix]

A pretty good back-and-forth contest and the most dominant Murahama has looked against, not only Delphin, but in general. The opening mat exchange was neat before Murahama takes over on offense and works the arm for a spell. It's a wash as they flip-flop on offense, Murahama fucks up a dive attempt and has to rewind and repeat, and then they bust out the big signatures for some nearfalls. Murahama tries attacking the arm again late in the match but Delphin blows it off, hits a few DDTs and the Delphin Special for the pinfall. Definitely preferred their "shoot" match to this. This was fine but just a exhibition-y match with Murahama getting more control.

[soup23]

Osaka Pro has arrived in Korakuen and to say I was geeked for this match would be an understatement. This was worked in a much more traditional junior wrestling style than the shoot style their first two matches were competed under but the strikes they do throw throughout the match here are crisp and accurate. Murahama has refined himself which in one degree makes him slightly less dynamic but he shows the quickness and spark and now has MOSTLY better execution. I say mostly because he completely wipes out on a first tope con hilo attempt before retrying one in reckless manner a minute later. The match works to establish Murahama as someone that is for sure a threat as the opening feels like it may be Delphin working as the dominant, grizzly veteran but the match plays out with Delphin working from underneath a lot. They also don’t make that feel like a fluke but rather an inevitable occurrence. Delphin isn’t going to go quietly and responds by really working over the head of Murahama with high impact brainbusters and DDT’s right towards it. Murahama does a nice counter into a slick cattle mutilation > camel clutch > cross armbreaker combo in 20 seconds. The arm of Delphin is in extreme danger and he throws another quick desperation DDT to gain some breathing room. Knowing this is his opening, he delivers a huge saito suplex and then a palm strike with the good arm and hand after a fake out for a nearfall. Really great stuff now. A tornado DDT has Murahama out of sorts and the German finishes him off. This didn’t reach my lofty ambition of MOTY but that is a victim of expectations and if this was some random pool match in the BOSJ, it would feel more satisfying. Objectively, I still thought it was a very good match and smartly worked minus the bad botch of Murahama’s tope. ***3/4 (7.5)

[ohtani's jacket]

Osaka Pro in Tokyo? Say it ain't so! This lacked the familiar atmosphere of their Osaka matches but it was still a pretty good wrestling match even if it did feel like a tour match at times. There was a difference in quality depending on who was in control since Delfin was masterful at this stage of his career and Murahama was still a bit raw, but Murahama has so many cool moves that you can forgive him for not passing his offense that well. The botched dive was bad and the stench lingered for a while afterward (Murahama's nervy response not helping matters) but they put it behind them and finished well. An exhibition match at heart but Delfin looked great. It will be hard for anyone to topple him as the year's best Japanese worker.