Put a fork in um

[BusaLiger Dragon]

Nikkan Sports reported today that 8 of Osaka's 18 wrestlers have left the company. As of the 25th, Ebessan, Takehiro Murahama and Gamma have left to freelance, while Yutaka, MA-G-MA, Perro, QUALLT and Masato Matoba have retired from wrestling entirely. No word on referee Yukinori Matsui's plans.

The remaining wrestlers are due to be resigned to one year contracts in April, assuming there is a company left to be contracted to. At this point, it's hard to imagine that Osaka Pro has a future.

This is horrible....what do all of you think?

[kwilson83]

I have mixed feelings.

Part of me, naturally, is sad to see a company go under. I enjoy Osaka Pro tremendously, and think they put on a good show. Delfin put so much into it, its a shame to see that happen.

Another part of me (the selfish part) is happy that it happened. There are so many Osaka Pro wrestlers that I have said "I would love to see so-and-so in All Japan," or "I would love to see so-and-so in New Japan," and now it could happen.

With puroresu losing some of its popularity over the years, it isn't necessarily a bad thing that one of the promotions with the better wrestlers might be folding. The talent was spread thin once NOAH formed, and now the Osaka Pro wrestlers can spread out to the big three. Still though, I have a lot of respect for what Delfin did, and I hope that it doesn't go under completely.

[Luds]

Sad day if this is true.

I hope that NJ signs Kamen, Ebessan, and Murahama.

[jobsquad]

personally i woude hope ebessan and kamen woude go to all japan(if they settle anywhere). muto has atleast used ebessan decently in the past.

also i would like to see ebessan go the true freelancer route ebessan Vs stalker ichikawa(sp) in dragongate or ebesan Vs kasai in zero one woude get me to buy a tape.

[Tradewynd]

Ebessan has been a good fit for All Japan, and should be cheap enough that Mutoh won't have any problems signing him to a deal. A large group of guys leaving a company usually leads to an exciting couple of months in their careers, so it will be interesting to see where this takes them.

I would be tempted to say that Osaka Pro is pretty much doomed, but then again, All Japan survived the split. That proved anything is possible in wrestling. Considering that the Osaka market has been good to them, they should be able to stick around, even if Delphin needs to bring in a lot freelancers until more new talent are trained. This would also seem to open up spots for all of the guys who DG fired not too long ago.

[BadNews]

didn't Michinoku survive a similar situation once (around '98)? I think they had like 7 wrestlers left.

[Kinnikuman131]

Ah man, this is bad. I only watch osaka pro. Man im gonna have to speed up my trip, gotta make it before osaka pro folds, they might hold on, but who knows. I cant believe some of the guys they lost. I might have to learn to wrestle real fast and go save the day for them, lol yeah i wish.

[jobsquad]

as far as osaka pro dyeing remember this is japan. Feds never die they just have an endless series of reunion shows. Remember world japan schould of died years ago but they still manage to survive as a faction at least

[OrangeCrush51]

I think they should survive, if only for the fact that they're pretty unique. It would be nice to see some of those guys go to Dragon's Gate, but I'm not sure they would quit fit in there. They would be a welcome addition to All Japan, which picked up some of the juniors dismissed from DG recently.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

Either All Japan or NOAH, they need juniors badly.

I hope Delfin can pull through this, if not he can always merge with Michinoku Pro or just shut it down and join another fed.

[Supah Indy]

I just hope Kamen doesnt go on tour with the Insane Clown Posse now