Match of the Week: Kintaro Kanemura vs Hayabusa (FMW 8/11/01)

Match of the Week: Kintaro Kanemura vs Hayabusa (FMW 8/11/01)

When I got into FMW I was introduce to the exploits of man with many first names in wrestling. He went through Ricky, W*ING, and Yukihiro before settling on Kintaro. What remains the same is his humor in the ring and putting his body through 25 years of hardcore wrestling style. He's calling it a career embarking on retirement tour with his last match scheduled in December. There so many highlights of his career some good, some bad, and few that might have ended his career. He survived and continue on being the unofficial king of Japanese indies. One of his highlights is his match against the late Hayabusa.

In FMW storyline, battle for ownership stakes on the line with Hayabusa putting up his 5% of his stock and WEW World title in 2-out-3 falls team matches on this show against the late Kodo Fuyuki team. On Hayabusa team is him, Tetsuhiro Kuroda, and Biomonster DNA while team Fuyuki consist of Mr. Gannosuke and Kanemura alongside with him. Series tied 1-1 with this being deciding match. In attendance of the show and commentary is Stuart Levy of US-based Tokyo Pop. He's part of the group trying win Hayabusa 5% to become majority owner of FMW.

Kanemura brawling style getting the best of Hayabusa outside the ring. Hayabusa goes on a rise countering Kanemura's offense and set ups putting him through a table with a frankensteiner Kanemura had set up. He dealt with interference from long tine rival Mr. Gannosuke and Mammoth Sasaki who chokeslammed him while warring factions fought outside the ring. End came when Hayabusa went for his trademark Stardust Press, but missed allowing Kanemura to hit three thunder fire bombs to the take WEW World title and Hayabusa 5% of the company making Tokyo Pop as majority owner and Yoshida as FMW president.

FMW would close six months later. Kanemura continued on throughout Japanese feds with shots at Zero One and Big Japan Wrestling and running shows under Apache Army name. He survived bad injuries and scandal that have threaten his career. His continued on til his body can't take no more. Outside the brawler is fun-loving goof who enjoys performing in the ring. Going to miss the guy and his Team No Respect dance.

Match of the Week: Megumi Kudo vs Combat Toyoda (FMW 5/5/95)

Match of the Week: Megumi Kudo vs Combat Toyoda (FMW 5/5/96)

May 5 in Japanese wrestling is unofficially "FMW Day" as the company hosted big shows on this date. They don't care what day it lands on there be a show on that date. Twenty years ago this match stole the show as two women, Megumi Kudo and Combat Toyoda, battle each other in no rope explosive barbwire match. All four sides covered in barbwire while two sides contains electric explosions when touched. A retiring Combat Toyoda head into the match as FMW and WWA women champion hoping leave as champion like Atsushi Onita did on 5/5/95 show. Challenger Megumi Kudo is the face of FMW women division looking add title win no. 5.

These two told story of lifetime as these two put on a wrestling match in middle of a Japanese deathmatch as they out-wrestle and out-power each other while being surrounded by elements of barbwire. When either one landed on exploding barbwire it made Atsushi Onita looking like nervous wreck. These two women gave their heart and spirit out in this entire match caused Onita to break down after the match.

If you thought the matches Bayley, Sasha Banks, Charlotte, and Becky Lynch had in NXT was revolutionary Megumi Kudo and Combat Toyoda were 20 years way ahead of them and pushed the envelope with this amazing brutal match.

Toyoda remain retired til she came back for few one-off matches few years later. Last known match for small FMW revival brand in 2008. Kudo would retire the following year and stay out of ring competition entire time. During that time she broke many of joshi fans hearts when she married Hido.

Hayabusa

Sad Hayabusa passed away. He's one of my all-time favorites to grace the ring. My first Japanese wrestling tape I ever got was FMW 4/30/98 and 5/19/98 shows. He stood out way more and became huge FMW fan as result. His feud with childhood friend and rival Mr. Gannosuke is one of underrated feuds in wrestling. He always brought the best out of everyone he faced such as Masato Tanaka, Tetsuhiro Kuroda, and the late Kodo Fuyuki. A freak ring accident left him paralyzed ending his in-ring career. Despite it all he continued to be in wrestling in some form. The guy loved this business. Being true fighter he worked hard through his paralysis and last year able to walk unaided. Like a phoenix he risen from re-birth from being ace of a company through serious injuries to promoting and have new career in singing. Rest in peace Hayabusa and may you be re-born and rise again.