Dick Togo

{{Infobox professional wrestler

| name = Dick Togo

| birthname = {{nihongo|Shigeki Sato|佐藤茂樹|Satō Shigeki}}

| image = ディック東郷2020.jpg

| caption = Togo in March 2020

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|8|17}}

| birth_place = Odate, Akita, Japan

| names = Cancun{{cite web|url=http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=1100&bild=1|title=Dick Togo|publisher=wrestlingdata.com|access-date=2016-11-05}}
Dickmoto
Dick Sato{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=2204&name=|title=Dick Togo "Wrestlers Database"|publisher=cagematch.net|access-date=2016-11-06}}
Dick Togo
Duke Togo
Flash Dick{{cite web|url=http://battle-news.com/?p=35486|title=【試合結果】12･15 みちのくプロレス後楽園ホール大会ザ・グレート・サスケ＆バラモンシュウ＆バラモンケイ＆フラッシュディック＆高橋奈七永 with ミニマスターvsレックスルーサー１号＆ステッペンウルフ２号＆ドクターポイズン３号＆ダークサイドGAINA＆火星ＯＫ号|date=2017-12-16|access-date=2017-12-15|work=Battle News|language=ja}}
Francesco Togo
Francis Togo
Gantetsu
Gantetsu Sakigake
Kintaro Inferno
Ninja Warrior
P. Togo
Prince Togo
Revolucion
Rey Cubano
Roshi Togo
Sato
The Suiter
El Tigre de Tokyo
Togo

|height = {{convert|1.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|90|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

| billed =

| trainer = Gran Hamada

| debut = June 5, 1991

| retired =

}}

{{nihongo|Shigeki Sato|佐藤茂樹|Satō Shigeki|born August 17, 1969}}, better known by his ring name {{nihongo|Dick Togo|ディック東郷|Dikku Tōgō}}, is a Japanese professional wrestler. Togo is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of House of Torture and a former member of Bullet Club.

Togo has spent the majority of his career as a freelancer, wrestling most notably for Michinoku Pro Wrestling and DDT Pro-Wrestling. Sato has wrestled under various ring names such as Francesco Togo, Rey Cubano and Prince Togo. Togo retired in September 2012, but returned to the ring in July 2016.

Togo has held the KO-D Openweight Championship four times, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship once with Taka Michinoku and the British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship once.

Professional wrestling career

Sato has performed for numerous Japanese promotions as well as American promotions such as Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and Ring of Honor (ROH).

While in Michinoku Pro Wrestling,{{cite news|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2009/08/26/10615476.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714164427/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2009/08/26/10615476.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 14, 2012|title=Val Venis talks wrestling again and politics|publisher=CANOE|access-date=26 October 2010}} he formed a stable called Kai En Tai DX with Taka Michinoku, Shoichi Funaki, Men's Teioh and Shiryu; Togo, along with some of his Kai En Tai teammates, was briefly a member of The Blue World Order in ECW. Throughout his career, Togo has been a part of several stables in the Japanese independent circuit: most famously the original Kai En Tai in Michinoku Pro Wrestling, but also the Legion of Violence (LOV) in Osaka Pro Wrestling, with Black Buffalo and Daioh Quallt, the Far East Connection with Gedo, Jado, Masao Orihara, and Ikuto Hidaka in various promotions; and most recently New Wrestling Aidoru (NωA) with Makoto Oishi, Mao and Shunma Katsumata in DDT.

In 2008, he debuted in the Argentinian promotion 100% Lucha, defeating Hip Hop Man. Then, he challenged Vicente Viloni for the 100% Lucha championship, winning the match. One week later, Viloni had a rematch and defeated Sato, retrieving the title {{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=2204&name=|title=Dick Togo "Wrestlers Database"|publisher=cagematch.net|access-date=2016-11-06}}

File:Team Michinoku Pro Chikara KoT 2011.jpg and Jinsei Shinzaki at Chikara King of Trios in April 2011.]]

In early 2011, Togo announced the start of his retirement tour as part of which he returned to the United States in April to take part in Chikara's 2011 King of Trios tournament, where he would team with The Great Sasuke and Jinsei Shinzaki as Team Michinoku Pro. On April 15, Team Michinoku Pro defeated Team Minnesota (1-2-3 Kid, Arik Cannon and Darin Corbin) in their first round match and followed that up by defeating Jigsaw, Manami Toyota and Mike Quackenbush in the following day's quarterfinals.{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/DVDs_-_VGames_-_Books_25/article_49808.shtml|title=Radican's Chikara KoT Night 1 DVD Review 4/15 - Team Michinoku Pro vs. Team 1-2-3 Kid, Quackenbush & Toyota & Jigsaw vs. SAT's|last=Radican|first=Sean|date=2011-05-04|access-date=2011-05-14|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/DVDs_-_VGames_-_Books_25/article_50050.shtml|title=Radican's Chikara DVD review series - "King of Trios 2011 Night 2" 4/16: F.I.S.T. vs. Osaka Pro, RDV tournament, Quackenbush & Toyota & Jigsaw vs. Michinoku Pro|last=Radican|first=Sean|date=2011-05-13|access-date=2011-05-14|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}} On April 17, Team Michinoku Pro was eliminated from the tournament in the semifinal stage by F.I.S.T. (Chuck Taylor, Icarus and Johnny Gargano).{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/DVDs_-_VGames_-_Books_25/article_50557.shtml|title=Radican's Chikara DVD review series: "KOT 2011: Night 3 4/17 - Kid vs. Generico, Toyota vs. Eagles, KOT tournament Finals|last=Radican|first=Sean|date=2011-06-05|access-date=2011-06-05|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}

DDT held the Dick Togo Japanese Retirement Show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on June 30, 2011. In the main event Togo defeated Gedo in his final match in Japan.{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/?p=2965|title=Dick Togo retires against New Japan's Gedo|work=Strong Style Spirit|date=2011-07-01|access-date=2011-07-01}} Afterwards he embarked on a retirement world tour, wrestling in countries such as Australia,{{cite web|url=http://nwaaustralia.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/results-for-bbbii-feat-dick-togo-jpn-vs-robby-heart-aus/ |title=Results for BBBII feat. Dick Togo (JPN) vs Robby Heart (AUS) |work=NWA Australia |date=2011-08-22 |access-date=2011-10-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822051514/http://nwaaustralia.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/results-for-bbbii-feat-dick-togo-jpn-vs-robby-heart-aus/ |archive-date=2011-08-22 }} Finland (Fight Club Finland),{{cite web|url=http://www.fightclubfinland.fi/index.php?news=427&all=1|title=Kristian Kurki vastaan Dick Togo DOMination 3:ssa.|work=Fight Club Finland|date=2011-09-07|access-date=2011-10-07|language=fi}} Germany,{{cite web|url=http://www.wxw-wrestling.com/index2.php?content=show_news&id=1763 |title=wXw & CZW & BJW in Deutschland - 30.9. - 3.10. - Results |work=Westside Xtreme Wrestling |date=2011-10-04 |access-date=2011-10-07 |language=de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005061732/http://www.wxw-wrestling.com/index2.php?content=show_news&id=1763 |archive-date=2011-10-05 }} Belgium,Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/WTQ3l1crvsk Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160507033147/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTQ3l1crvsk Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTQ3l1crvsk| title = Dick Togo in BCWF Wrestling | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1318707336 |title=Indy News #2: Dick Togo, NWA Smoky Mountain |date=2011-10-15 |last=Martin |first=Adam |work=WrestleView |access-date=2011-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025130349/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1318707336 |archive-date=2011-10-25 }} England,{{cite web|url=http://www.4fw-online.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29&Itemid=55|title=4FW Halloween Spectacular 2011|work=4 Front Wrestling|access-date=2011-10-07}} Spain,{{cite web|url=http://superluchas.net/2011/11/06/super-wrestling-alliance-6112011-desde-el-city-hall-de-barcelona-%C2%A1dick-togo-se-despide/|title=Super Wrestling Alliance (6/11/2011) desde el City Hall de Barcelona. ¡Dick Togo se despide!|author=RealMiguel|date=2011-11-06|work=SuperLuchas|access-date=2011-12-05|language=es}} and Italy.{{cite web|url=http://www.icwwrestling.it/2011/11/icw-wrestling-pandemonium-dick-togo/|title=ICW Pandemonium X: è già Leggenda! Tutti i risultati!|last=Milani|first=Emmanuele|date=2011-11-13|work=Italian Championship Wrestling|access-date=2011-12-05|language=it}} On December 3, Togo returned to the United States for the final leg of his tour,{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2011/11/04/18923671.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715073725/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2011/11/04/18923671.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 15, 2012|title=After 20 years, Dick Togo calling it quits|last=Wood|first=Darren|date=2011-11-04|work=Slam! Sports|access-date=2011-12-05|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer}} losing to Kudo in a three-way match, which also included Masahiro Takanashi at Combat Zone Wrestling's (CZW) Indie Summit event.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1323082659 |title=As I See It 12/5: Cage of Death 13 weekend |last=Magee |first=Bob |date=2011-12-05 |work=WrestleView |access-date=2011-12-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208120517/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1323082659 |archive-date=2011-12-08 }} On December 10, Togo wrestled for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) in Reseda, Los Angeles, losing to PWG World Champion El Generico in a non-title match.{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Arena_Reports_10/article_55896.shtml|title=12/10 PWG "Fear" results Reseda, Calif.: Hero surprise return, new PWG tag champs, Generico vs. Dick Togo, American Wolves|date=2011-12-11|access-date=2011-12-11|last=Massingham|first=Matt|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}} On January 1, 2012, Togo returned to Mexico, wrestling at an independent event in Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, where he, El Alebrije and El Hijo de Dr. Wagner, Jr. defeated Golden Bull, Histeria II and Puma in a six-man tag team match.{{cite web|url=http://www.thegladiatores.com/?p=7288|title=Oriental pierde la cabellera por el Tirantes|date=2012-01-02|access-date=2012-01-02|last=Lázaro Rodríguez|first=José|work=The Gladiatores|language=es}} The following July, Togo took his retirement tour to Bolivia.{{cite web|url=http://www.luchalibrebol.com/2012/07/dick-togo-en-bolivia-2012.html|title=Dick Togo en Bolivia - 2012|date=2012-07-04|access-date=2012-07-05|work=Lucha Libre Boliviana|language=es|archive-date=2012-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823071044/http://www.luchalibrebol.com/2012/07/dick-togo-en-bolivia-2012.html|url-status=dead}} While working in Bolivia, Togo found his way back into a DDT storyline, when Yuki Sato arrived in the country with the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, which he then proceeded to lose to Togo. During the following week, Togo first lost the title to local wrestler Ajayu, before regaining it from a Bolivian child and then finally losing it back to Sato. Togo finished his retirement tour on September 9, 2012, in La Paz, Bolivia. In the final match of his career, Togo teamed with Antonio Honda, Daisuke Sasaki and Yasu Urano in an eight-man elimination tag team match, where they were defeated by Ajayu, Apocalipsis, Guerrero Ayar and Halcon Dorado, with Ajayu pinning Togo for the win.{{cite web|url=http://www.luchalibrebol.com/2012/09/dick-togo-se-despidio-de-bolivia-con.html|title=Dick Togo se despidió de Bolivia con lágrimas en los ojos|date=2012-09-11|access-date=2012-09-11|work=Lucha Libre Boliviana|language=es|archive-date=2012-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913121938/http://www.luchalibrebol.com/2012/09/dick-togo-se-despidio-de-bolivia-con.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ddtpro.com/release/ddt/article/1347347814/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121191907/http://www.ddtpro.com/release/ddt/article/1347347814/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-21 |script-title=ja:ボリビアの地に沈む…ディック東郷引退試合興行詳報 |date=2012-09-11 |access-date=2012-09-11 |work=Dramatic Dream Team |language=ja }}

On May 29, 2015, Togo announced he was opening a wrestling school in Vietnam, named Vietnam Pro-Wrestling Academy. The school is affiliated with Vietnam's first professional wrestling promotion, New Vietnam Prowrestling (NVP), which held its first event in August 2015.{{cite web | url = http://www.ddtpro.com/etc/24769/ | script-title=ja:【記者会見】ベトナム初のプロレス団体「New Vietnam Prowrestling」設立、現地でディック東郷氏のプロレススクールも開校。「プロレス文化のない国でプロレスをやってみたい」（東郷） | date=2015-05-29 | access-date=2015-05-29 | work=Dramatic Dream Team | language=ja | title=DDT ProWrestling }}

On June 5, 2016, Togo announced he was coming out of retirement.{{cite web | url = https://twitter.com/boliviacuba/status/739421354810736641 | script-title=ja:一年くらい前からもう一度リングに上がりたいと思い始めました | date=2016-06-05 | access-date=2016-06-05 | publisher=Twitter | language=ja}} His return match took place at a DDT show on July 3.{{cite web | url = http://www.ddtpro.com/ddtpro/39217/ | script-title=ja:DDTスーパースターレーン2016 | access-date=2016-07-03 | work=Dramatic Dream Team | language=ja | title=DDT ProWrestling }}

On December 10, 2016, Togo competed in the main event of Evolve Wrestling's Evolve 74 show, defeating Chris Hero.{{cite web | url =http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2016/1211/620228/evolve-74-results/| title=EVOLVE 74 Results, Tonight's EVOLVE 75 Card, ROH Future Of Honor Match (Video)|access-date=2016-12-19 | work=Wrestling Inc| date=11 December 2016}}

On July 12, 2020, at Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall, Togo joined New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), aligning himself with Bullet Club, by helping Evil capture the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships. He debuted eight days later in a 6-man tag team main event, as "The Spoiler". Togo, Evil and Taiji Ishimori defeated Los Ingobernables de Japón's Hiromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito and Bushi.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-20|title=Togo spoils LIJ's revenge at New Japan Road|url=http://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2020/07/20/togo-spoils-lijs-revenge-at-new-japan-road/|access-date=2020-07-21|website=Slam Wrestling|language=en-US}}