Voodoo Murders

Voodoo Murders (or VDM) is a stable, best known as the main heel group in All Japan Pro Wrestling between 2005 and 2011. In 2013, the group was reformed in Diamond Ring. They are famous for their violent actions and lack of respect for their opponents.

2005–2007
Although the phrase Voodoo Murders is thought to be Engrish by some fans, it seems to be a tribute to a pulp magazine called The Voodoo Murders. Voodoo Murders were previously in a heated feud against RO&D which ended on September 17, 2006 when RO&D were forced to disband after losing to the Voodoo Murders. Shuji Kondo & "brother" YASSHI were the All Asia Tag Team Champions before recently losing their title to Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima. Kondo also held the World Junior Heavyweight Championship for over a year before losing it on February 17 to Katsuhiko Nakajima. On June 24, 2007, after months of TARU attempting to recruit him, Satoshi Kojima finally joined the Voodoo Murders; following the main event match pitting Shuji Kondo against Kensuke Office member Katsuhiko Nakajima, the group attacked Nakajima and Kensuke Sasaki, but were aided when Kojima jumped off the turnbuckle and attacked Sasaki. The group continued to beat on Sasaki and everyone that attempted to help him, including Keiji Mutoh. Suwama was sent by the group to Orlando, Florida on July 2, 2007, in order to secure TNA Wrestling star "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner for All Japan's Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku, Vol. 3 event in Sumo Hall on August 26, 2007; Suwama had observed Steiner's match and shortly afterwards came to an agreement with Steiner to team with him and face the team of The Great Muta and Tajiri, at the same show Kojima and TARU won World Tag Team Championship from Taiyo Kea and Toshiaki Kawada. In November 2007, TARU brought in Zodiac to All Japan, but around the same time they're were dissention between VDM and Suwama who was slowly breaking away from the group.

2008
On January 3, 2008, TARU and Kojima lost the Tag Titles to Keiji Mutoh and Joe Doering, at the same show, Suwama finally broke away from Voodoo Murders and returned the All Japan Seikigun. On March 1, 2008, TARU took on Suwama but came up short, while Kojima failed to win the Triple Crown from Kensuke Sasaki. After Sumo Hall, the group entered a slump as Kojima took time off due to an injury, around the same time, Voodoo Murders acquired Silver King who had just won the World Junior Heavyweight Championship and Shawn Daivari who became Al Daivari but neither lasted long as Silver King dropped the Jr. Title to Ryuji Hijikata and both left by the summer. Things continued to get worse as Kojima returned from injury and decided not to return to the Voodoo Murders and from there would form his own stable: F4 with KAI and Hiroshi Yamato and in the fall, Shuji Kondo decided to leave the group and return to the All Japan Seikigun. Despite these setbacks, TARU would rebuild. In the fall of 2008, to the shock of All Japan, TARU was able recruit All Japan's gaijin ace: Joe Doering and veteran wrestler: Nobukazu Hirai. After joining, Doering would be paired with ZODIAC as the two formed the tag team: Voodoo Towers, while Hirai was renamed: Hate.

2009
In February 2009, "brother" YASSHI left All Japan and the Voodoo Murders after the EXCITE SERIES 2009 Tour, at the same tour, VDM brought in American wrestlers: Lance Hoyt and Michael Faith in but both left All Japan after the tour. Around the same time, the Voodoo Murders added two new full-time members in former New Japan wrestler: Minoru & Ryuji Hijikata who once again began used his old Toshizo gimmick. In the spring of 2009, Minoru and Toshizo enter the 2009 Junior Tag League and would go on and win the tournament, both also received shots at the Jr. Title against Kaz Hayashi but both failed to win the title. In the fall of 2009, ZODIAC began to have dissention with VDM and before long was being courted by Satoshi Kojima for his F4 stable, after losing a six man tag at Pro Wrestling LOVE in Ryogoku Vol. 8 on August 30, 2009, ZODIAC finally left VDM in September and accepted Kojima offer to join F4 becoming a fan favorite. After ZODIAC's departure, the group would have a slump for the rest of the year as they lost to F4 in a Captain's Fall Elimination Match on September 23, 2009, TARU and Doering then failed to win the All Asia Tag Team Championship on October 24, Hate failed to win the Jr. Heavyweight Title on October 25, and TARU and Doering placed last at the World's Strongest Tag Determination League due to Doering suffering from the flu.

2010
Beginning in 2010, the Voodoo Murders lost Joe Doering who signed with the WWE. Despite the loss, VDM would afterward have one of their best years, they first recruited Rene Dupree to replace Doering, On February 7, 2010, they defeated F4 in another Captain's Fall Elimination match with the losing team being forced to disband, TARU would win the match after pinning Kojima. Over the next few months, VDM would recruit Big Daddy Voodoo who along with TARU would win the All-Asia Tag Team Championships on April 29, Mazada, Lance Cade, & Kenzo Suzuki who would be renamed: KENSO. Despite the success, the group would suffer a few setbacks. In August 2010, Toshizo left the Voodoo Murders and All Japan, then tragedy struck on August 13, 2010 when Lance Cade died as the age of 29 due to Heart Failure. On August 29 TARU and Big Daddy Voodoo lost the All-Asia Tag Team Championship to Manabu Soya and Seiya Sanada. On October 10, 2010, Hate lost a match to Shuji Kondo and as a result he must retire. Later in the show, Charlie Haas debuted for All Japan and joined the Voodoo Murders. In his debut match, Haas teamed with TARU and Big Daddy Voodoo to defeat Minoru Suzuki, Akebono, & Taiyo Kea. Afterwards, Masayuki Kono joined the Voodoo Murders after KENSO helped him defeat Ryota Hama, after joining Kono became KONO. On December 7 KENSO and KONO defeated Hama and Suwama in the finals to win the 2010 World's Strongest Tag Determination League.

2011
On January 2, 2011, Minoru defeated Kaz Hayashi to win the World Junior Heavyweight Championship, ending Hayashi's 23 month reign, at the same show Hate returned to the group now known as Super Hate. The following day, KENSO and KONO challenged Akebono and Taiyo Kea for the World Tag Team Championship but lost. Following the January 3rd Korakuen Hall show, TARU fired KENSO from the group. On May 29, 2011, Nobukazu Hirai (Super Hate) suffered a stroke after a backstage fight with TARU. In the aftermath of the event, All Japan suspended not only TARU, but also KONO, Minoru and MAZADA for not attempting to stop the assault, disbanded Voodoo Murders and vacated the titles the stable held.

2013–present
After a nineteen-month break from professional wrestling, TARU returned to the ring on February 11, 2013, at a Diamond Ring event. His return match, where he and Kazunari Murakami faced Kento Miyahara and Taishi Takizawa, ended in a no contest, following run-ins from "brother" YASSHI and Kengo Nishimura. Afterwards, Taru, Murakami, YASSHI and Nishimura, reforming the Voodoo Murders, were defeated in an eight man tag team match by Miyahara, Takizawa, Satoshi Kajiwara and Mitsuhiro Kitamiya. After the match, Miyahara and Takizawa turned on their partners and joined the new Voodoo Murders, with "brother" YASSHI positioned as the leader. Miyahara and the rest of Voodoo Murders announced an amicable split on November 14, 2013. Three days later, YASSHI, Nishimura and Taru made their debuts for Pro Wrestling Zero1, announcing that the Voodoo Murders were taking over the promotion. On February 11, 2014, Zero1 Vice President KAMIKAZE turned on the promotion and aligned his Daemon-gun stable, which also included Daemon Ueda and Takuya Sugawara, with the Voodoo Murders. On February 19, 2016 "brother" YASSHI formally announced that he is withdrawing from Voodoo Murders that he is more concentrated on wrestling Dragon Gate.On November 19 Hartley Jackson joined the stable attacking James Raideen.

Current

 * Kengo (2013–present)
 * TARU (2005–2011, 2013–present)
 * Hartley Jackson (2016–present)

Former

 * "brother" YASSHI (2005–2009, 2013–2016)
 * Giant Bernard (2005)
 * Johnny Stamboli (2005–2006)
 * Chuck Palumbo (2005–2006)
 * Shuji Kondo (2005–2008)
 * Buchanan (2006–2007)
 * D'Lo Brown (2006–2007)
 * RO'Z (2006–2007)
 * Suwama (2006–2008)
 * Satoshi Kojima (2007–2008)
 * Zodiac (2007–2009)
 * Silver King (2008)
 * Al Daivari (2008)
 * Super Hate (2008–2011)
 * Joe Doering (2008–2011)
 * Lance Hoyt (2009)
 * Michael Faith (2009)
 * Ryuji Hijikata (2009–2010)
 * Minoru (2009–2011)
 * Lance Cade (2010)
 * Kono (2010–2011)
 * KENSO (2010–2011)
 * Rene Dupree (2010–2011)
 * Charlie Haas (2010–2011)
 * Big Daddy Voodoo (2010–2011)
 * Mazada (2010–2011)
 * Kento Miyahara (2013)
 * Taishi Takizawa (2013)

Championships and accomplishments

 * All Japan Pro Wrestling
 * All Asia Tag Team Championship (2 times) – TARU and Big Daddy Voodoo (1), Shuji Kondo and "brother" YASSHI (1)
 * World Junior Heavyweight Championship (3 times) – Shuji Kondo (1), Silver King (1), Minoru (1)
 * World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – TARU and Satoshi Kojima (1), Joe Doering and Kono (1)
 * AJPW Junior Tag League (2009) – Minoru and Toshizo
 * January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal (2009) – Zodiac
 * January 3 Korakuen Hall Junior Heavyweight Battle Royal (2006, 2007, 2009) – "brother" YASSHI
 * World's Strongest Tag Determination League (2010) – KENSO and Kono
 * Cho Hanabi
 * Bakuha-ō Championship (1 time) – TARU
 * Tokyo Sports
 * Tag Team of the Year (2006) TARU, Suwama, Shuji Kondo and "brother" YASSHI


 * Pro Wrestling Zero1
 * NWA United National Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current) – Hartley Jackson
 * NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – TARU and Hartley Jackson
 * NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship (2 times) – Takuya Sugawara and "brother" YASSHI