Puroresu System Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
Puroresu System Wiki
Puroresu System Wiki
2,214
pages
in: Promotions, Independent Promotions, Stubs

Changes: Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling-Explosion

Back to page
Edit
No edit summary
Tag: Visual edit
No edit summary
Tag: Visual edit
(10 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
[[File:1612536_1.jpg|thumb]]
  
[[File:1612536_1.jpg|thumb]]
−
'''Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW''' is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded on July 28, 1989, by Atsushi Onita as Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW). The promotion specializes in hardcore wrestling involving weapons such as barbed wire and fire. They held their first show on October 6, 1989. In the late 1990s, FMW had a brief working agreement with Extreme Championship Wrestling, and as well had 14 DVDs released in the U.S. by Tokyopop. On March 4, 2015, FMW was resurrected under the name Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW.
 +
'''Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW''' is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded on July 28, 1989, by [[Atsushi Onita]] as Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW). The promotion specializes in hardcore wrestling involving weapons such as barbed wire and fire. They held their first show on October 6, 1989. In the late 1990s, FMW had a brief working agreement with Extreme Championship Wrestling, and as well had 14 DVDs released in the U.S. by Tokyopop. On March 4, 2015, FMW was resurrected under the name Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW.
   
 
==History==
  
==History==
Line 7: Line 7:
 
In August 1990, Onita wrestled in the first ever exploding barbed wire match with Tarzan Goto. This match started a revolution amongst the small "garbage wrestling" organizations of Japan. From there, Onita recruited some of hardcore wrestling's most notable names, like [[Mr. Pogo]], [[Mitsuhiro Matsunaga]], Super Leather (Leatherface) and [[Kintaro Kanemura|Kintaro W*ING Kanemura]]. In October 1990, they held Japan's first mixed tag team match.
  
In August 1990, Onita wrestled in the first ever exploding barbed wire match with Tarzan Goto. This match started a revolution amongst the small "garbage wrestling" organizations of Japan. From there, Onita recruited some of hardcore wrestling's most notable names, like [[Mr. Pogo]], [[Mitsuhiro Matsunaga]], Super Leather (Leatherface) and [[Kintaro Kanemura|Kintaro W*ING Kanemura]]. In October 1990, they held Japan's first mixed tag team match.
   
−
In 1995, Onita wrestled his retirement match with young talent Hayabusa in an exploding ring, barbed wire steel cage match. Hayabusa became the central star of the promotion winning its belt several times and battling most of the FMW roster. FMW also had a thriving women's wrestling division, led by Megumi Kudo who was one of FMW's biggest stars in her heyday.
 +
In 1995, Onita wrestled his retirement match with young talent [[Hayabusa]] in an exploding ring, barbed wire steel cage match. Hayabusa became the central star of the promotion winning its belt several times and battling most of the FMW roster. FMW also had a thriving women's wrestling division, led by [[Megumi Kudo]] who was one of FMW's biggest stars in her heyday.
−  
−
On December 21, 1995 at FMW Yokohama End of the Year Special: W*ING Terrorist members (Kanemura, Matsunaga, Jason "The Terrible X" Voohries, Leatherface, Hideki "Grunge Boy" Hosaka, & "Bad Boy" Hideo) calls out to Hayabusa & FMW Team to show what W*ING Terrorist Deathmatch style is all about also had feuding promotional organization problems, before 6 men team Glass Barbed Wire Board Deathmatch started beating each other & showing off like "Scary Juvenile Delinquents" in front the fans of FMW, including FMW Superstars members about prideful deathmatch battlefield challenge what the best they made of in Japan.
  
   
 
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling talent feared them so much that they rarely had inter-promotional matches against each other, but the FMW women were successful in other feuds with LLPW and JWP. During this time FMW signed a contract to hold a major event every May 5 in the Kawasaki Stadium.
  
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling talent feared them so much that they rarely had inter-promotional matches against each other, but the FMW women were successful in other feuds with LLPW and JWP. During this time FMW signed a contract to hold a major event every May 5 in the Kawasaki Stadium.
Line 15: Line 13:
 
===FMW under Shoichi Arai and Hiromichi Fuyuki (1995–2002)===
  
===FMW under Shoichi Arai and Hiromichi Fuyuki (1995–2002)===
   
−
Under new FMW president Shoichi Arai, the promotion began to falter. Arai brought in former International Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and Super World of Sports jobber Kodo Fuyuki as the new booker and in 1998 he brought an end to the garbage/death matches in favor of an entertainment-oriented style based on that of the WWE. Although this saved the roster from further potential injury, it called into question the essence of FMW's wrestling. Onita began withdrawing further into the background, eventually leaving the promotion altogether to create his own deathmatch ventures and to go back to high school to earn his diploma.
 +
Under new FMW president Shoichi Arai, the promotion began to falter. Arai brought in former International Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and Super World of Sports jobber [[Kodo Fuyuki]] as the new booker and in 1998 he brought an end to the garbage/death matches in favor of an entertainment-oriented style based on that of the WWE. Although this saved the roster from further potential injury, it called into question the essence of FMW's wrestling. Onita began withdrawing further into the background, eventually leaving the promotion altogether to create his own deathmatch ventures and to go back to high school to earn his diploma.
   
−
On October 22, 2001, in a match against Mammoth Sasaki, Hayabusa attempted a springboard moonsault one of his signature moves but slipped on the ropes and fell directly on his neck, breaking it and paralyzing him. He retired, but actually regained some control over his legs a year later. By the end of 2001, Arai owed about a million dollars to influential organizations in Japan, rumored to be connected to the [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakuza Yakuza]. Realizing that the promotion was going nowhere, he decided to finally close its doors. FMW came to an end with a final show on February 4, 2002, and Shoichi Arai declared FMW bankrupt on February 15, 2002. On May 16, 2002, Arai Suicide hanged himself by his tie in a Tokyo park to collect life insurance for his family to pay off his debt to the Yakuza.
 +
On October 22, 2001, in a match against [[Mammoth Sasaki]], Hayabusa attempted a springboard moonsault one of his signature moves but slipped on the ropes and fell directly on his neck, breaking it and paralyzing him. He retired, but actually regained some control over his legs a year later. By the end of 2001, Arai owed about a million dollars to influential organizations in Japan, rumored to be connected to the Yakuza. Realizing that the promotion was going nowhere, he decided to finally close its doors. FMW came to an end with a final show on February 4, 2002, and Shoichi Arai declared FMW bankrupt on February 15, 2002. On May 16, 2002, Arai suicide hanged himself by his tie in a Tokyo park to collect life insurance for his family to pay off his debt to the Yakuza.
   
 
===Closure and aftermath===
  
===Closure and aftermath===
Line 25: Line 23:
 
===Revival (2015–present)===
  
===Revival (2015–present)===
   
−
On April 3, 2015, Hideki Takahashi, Hayabusa and Choden Senshi Battle Ranger held a press conference, announcing they were reviving FMW under the new name "Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW". Takahashi would serve as the president and Hayabusa as the executive producer of the promotion, which would also feature participation from Atsushi Onita. The promotion held its first event on April 21. On October 30, 2015, they announced that they were reviving the FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Championship, as they set a match to determine new champions on December 22.
 +
On April 3, 2015, Hideki Takahashi, Hayabusa and Choden Senshi Battle Ranger held a press conference, announcing they were reviving FMW under the new name "Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW". Takahashi would serve as the president and Hayabusa as the executive producer of the promotion, which would also feature participation from Atsushi Onita. The promotion held its first event on April 21. On October 30, 2015, they announced that they were reviving the [[FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Championship]], as they set a match to determine new champions on December 22.
   
 
In 2016, two tragedies had befallen FMW. On February 17, 2016, Ray announced that she had inoperable stage three brain cancer after being diagnosed with a tumor in December 2015 and undergoing a biopsy on January 21, 2016. She succumbed to the disease in 2018. Over two weeks later on March 3, 2016, Hayabusa died at his home from a brain aneurysm, at the age of 47.
  
In 2016, two tragedies had befallen FMW. On February 17, 2016, Ray announced that she had inoperable stage three brain cancer after being diagnosed with a tumor in December 2015 and undergoing a biopsy on January 21, 2016. She succumbed to the disease in 2018. Over two weeks later on March 3, 2016, Hayabusa died at his home from a brain aneurysm, at the age of 47.
Line 31: Line 29:
 
On October 31, 2017, FMW founder Atsushi Onita retired after 43 years in the ring. The promotion is still in operation.
  
On October 31, 2017, FMW founder Atsushi Onita retired after 43 years in the ring. The promotion is still in operation.
   
  +
==Current FMW roster==
  +
*'''FMW Seikigun'''
  +
**[[Ricky Fuji]] ([[Kaientai Dojo|K-Dojo]])
  +
**[[Masato Tanaka]] ([[Pro Wrestling Zero1|Zero1]])
  +
**[[Hideki Hosaka]]
  +
**Gosaku Goshogawara
  +
**Choden Senshi Battle Ranger
  +
**[[Tomohiko Hashimoto]]
  +
**[[Mammoth Sasaki]]
  +
*'''FMW Joshi Seikigun'''
  +
**Miss Mongol (WPA)
  +
*'''W*ING Monster-gun'''
  +
**[[Nosawa Rongai]] (freelancer)
  +
**[[Kazunari Murakami]]
  +
**Monster Leather
  +
**Monster Freddie
  +
**Super Shooter
  +
*'''UWF Seikigun'''
  +
**[[Masakatsu Funaki]]
  +
**[[Mitsuya Nagai]]
  +
**[[Yoshihiro Takayama]]
  +
  +
==FMW alumni==
  +
{|
  +
| valign="top" |
  +
*[[Aja Kong]]
  +
*[[Atsushi Onita]]
  +
*[[BADBOY Hido]]
  +
*[[Bad Nurse Nakamura]]
  +
*[[Balls Mahoney]]
  +
*[[Big Titan]]
  +
*The Boogie Man
  +
*[[Chigusa Nagayo]]
  +
*[[Chocoball KOBE|Chocoball Mukai]]
  +
*[[Chris Jericho]]
  +
*[[Noriyo Toyoda|Combat Toyoda]]
  +
*Crusher Maedomari
  +
*Crypt the Keeper
  +
*[[Daisuke Ikeda]]
  +
*Damián 666
  +
*[[Magnitude Kishiwada|Dragon Winger]]
  +
*Eddie Fatu
  +
| width="40" | 
  +
| valign="top" |
  +
*Freddie Kruger
  +
*[[Mr. Gannosuke]]
  +
*[[Gedo]]
  +
*[[Genichiro Tenryu]]
  +
*[[The Gladiator]]
  +
*[[The Great Sasuke]]
  +
*[[Grigory Verichev]]
  +
*[[Hayabusa]]
  +
*Haystacks Calhoun Jr.
  +
*The Headhunters
  +
*[[Hisakatsu Oya]]
  +
*Homeless Jimmy
  +
*[[Horace Boulder]]
  +
*[[Jado]]
  +
*Jason Ray
  +
*Jason the Terrible (Rafel Moreno Jr.)
  +
*Jimmy Backlund
  +
| width="40" | 
  +
| valign="top" |
  +
*"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka
  +
*[[Jinsei Shinzaki]]
  +
*[[Kaori Nakayama]]
  +
*[[Katsuji Ueda]]
  +
*[[Yukihiro Kanemura|Kintaro Kanemura]]
  +
*[[Hiromichi Fuyuki|Kodo Fuyuki]]
  +
*[[Koji Nakagawa]]
  +
*[[Kyoko Inoue]]
  +
*Lance Storm
  +
*Leon Spinks
  +
*[[Dr. Luther]]
  +
*[[Masato Tanaka]]
  +
*Matty Smalls
  +
*[[Megumi Kudo]]
  +
*Mick Foley
  +
*Miss Mongol (Aki Kambayashi)
  +
*[[Mitsuhiro Matsunaga]]
  +
| width="40" | 
  +
| valign="top" |
  +
*[[Miwa Sato]]
  +
*Nanjyo Hayato
  +
*[[Onryo]]
  +
*[[Pat Tanaka]]
  +
*[[Mr. Pogo]]
  +
*The Rock 'n' Roll Express
  +
*[[Sabu]]
  +
*Sambo Asako
  +
*[[Shark Tsuchiya]]
  +
*The Sheik
  +
*Shinjuku Shark
  +
*[[Shinobu Kandori]]
  +
*[[Super Leather]]
  +
*Supreme
  +
*Svetlana Gundarenko
  +
*[[Taka Michinoku]]
  +
*[[Tarzan Goto]]
  +
| width="40" | 
  +
| valign="top" |
  +
*[[Terry Funk]]
  +
*[[Tetsuhiro Kuroda]]
  +
*[[Tiger Jeet Singh]]
  +
*Vic Grimes
  +
*Willie Williams
  +
*[[Kesen Numajiro|Yone Genjin]]
  +
*[[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]]
  +
|}
  +
  +
==Championships and accomplishments==
  +
===Current===
  +
{| class="wikitable"
  +
!Championship
  +
!Current champion(s)<br>{{small|(Tag team name)}}
  +
!Reign
  +
!Date won
  +
!Days held
  +
!Location
  +
!Notes
  +
|-
  +
|[[FMW World Street Fight 8-Man Tag Team Championship]]
  +
|Tiger Clan ([[Mitsuya Nagai|Great Tiger]], [[Koji Kanemoto|Tiger Mask III]], [[Tatsuhito Takaiwa|Black Tiger V]] and [[Nosawa Rongai|Black Tiger VII]])
  +
|1
  +
|November 24, 2016
  +
|{{age in days|month1=11|day1=24|year1=2016}}
  +
|Tokyo, Japan
  +
|Defeated [[Atsushi Onita]], Raijin Yaguchi, [[Hideki Hosaka]] and [[Hi69]] in a decision match to determine the inaugural champions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fmwjapan.com/result.html |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6mIELihoM?url=http://www.fmwjapan.com/result.html |title=11月24日（木）東京・後楽園ホール |archivedate=November 25, 2016 |accessdate=November 26, 2016 |work=[[Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW]] |language=Japanese |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref>
  +
|}
  +
  +
===Defunct===
  +
{| class="wikitable"
  +
!Championship
  +
!Date of entry
  +
!First champion(s)<br>{{small|(Tag team name)}}
  +
!Date retired
  +
!Last champion(s)<br>{{small|(Tag team name)}}
  +
! width="10%" |Years active
  +
!Notes
  +
|-
  +
|[[AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship]]
  +
|1989
  +
|Jimmy Backlund
  +
|April 1992
  +
|[[Dr. Luther]]
  +
|1989&ndash;1992
  +
|FMW began using the title shortly after the promotion's creation and recognized it as its junior heavyweight championship. However, the title changes in FMW were not recognized by AWA.
  +
|-
  +
|[[FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship|WWA World Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship]]
  +
|January 7, 1990
  +
|Beast the Barbarian
  +
|February 27, 1991
  +
|[[Atsushi Onita]]
  +
|1990&ndash;1991
  +
|The title was initially established as the WWA World Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship and later replaced by the WWA World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship.
  +
|-
  +
|[[FMW Women's Championship|WWA World Women's Championship]]
  +
|November 5, 1990
  +
|[[Noriyo Toyoda|Combat Toyoda]]
  +
|February 15, 1994
  +
|Crusher Maedomari
  +
|1990&ndash;1994
  +
|The title was unified with the new [[FMW Women's Championship|FMW Independent Women's Championship]] in 1994.
  +
|-
  +
|[[FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship|WWA World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship]]
  +
|February 27, 1991
  +
|[[Grigory Verichev]]
  +
|August 28, 1993
  +
|[[Atsushi Onita]]
  +
|1991&ndash;1993
  +
|The title replaced the former [[FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship|WWA World Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship]] as the company's primary championship. It was replaced by the [[FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship]] in 1993.
  +
|-
  +
|[[FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship|WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Championship]]
  +
|December 9, 1991
  +
|[[Atsushi Onita]] and [[Tarzan Goto]]
  +
|September 19, 1992
  +
|[[Grigory Verichev]] and [[Tarzan Goto]]
  +
|1991&ndash;1992
  +
|The title was initially created as the WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Championship and vacated it in 1992 to be replaced by the [[FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship]].
  +
|-
  +
|[[AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship|WWA World Martial Arts Junior Heavyweight Championship]]
  +
|April 1992
  +
|[[Dr. Luther]]
  +
|1993
  +
|[[Dr. Luther]]
  +
|1992&ndash;1993
  +
|FMW renamed the previous [[AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship]] as the WWA World Martial Arts Junior Heavyweight Championship to distinguish it from the AWA banner. The title was retired in 1993.
  +
|-
  +
|[[FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship]]
  +
|August 27, 1993
  +
|[[Atsushi Onita]]
  +
|August 25, 1999
  +
|[[Hayabusa (wrestler)|Hayabusa]]
  +
|1993&ndash;1999
  +
|FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship replaced the former [[FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship|WWA World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship]] as the company's premier title. The title was abandoned in favor of the [[WEW Heavyweight Championship|WEW Single Championship]] in 1999.
  +
|-
  +
|[[Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship|FMW Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship]]
  +
|October 28, 1993
  +
|[[The Great Sasuke]]
  +
|May 31, 1999
  +
|[[Naoki Sano]]
  +
|1993&ndash;1999
  +
|FMW introduced the title as a replacement to the [[AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship|WWA World Martial Arts Light Heavyweight Championship]]. FMW discontinued the title after May 31, 1999 and the title has since been defended in various Japanese [[independent circuit|independent promotions]].
  +
|-
  +
|[[FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship]]
  +
|January 18, 1994
  +
|[[Big Titan]] and [[The Gladiator]]
  +
|June 16, 1999
  +
|[[Gedo]] and [[Koji Nakagawa]]
  +
|1994&ndash;1999
  +
|The title replaced the former [[FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship|WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Championship]] as the company's tag team title. The title was renamed by [[Hiromichi Fuyuki|Kodo Fuyuki]] as the [[WEW World Tag Team Championship]] in 1999.
  +
|-
  +
|[[FMW Women's Championship]]
  +
|February 15, 1994
  +
|[[Megumi Kudo]]
  +
|September 28, 1997
  +
|[[Shark Tsuchiya]]
  +
|1994&ndash;1997
  +
|The title was created in a tournament and unified with the WWA World Women's Championship. The title was deactivated in 1997 as the women's division of FMW ended with the departure of the final champion Shark Tsuchiya.
  +
|-
  +
|[[FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Championship]]
  +
|May 5, 1996
  +
|Puerto Rican Army<br>{{small|(Headhunter A, Headhunter B and [[Super Leather]])}}
  +
|October 27, 2016
  +
|[[Atsushi Onita]], [[Hideki Hosaka]] and Sean Guinness
  +
|1996&ndash;1998<br>2015&ndash;2016
  +
|The title was awarded to the departing [[Atsushi Onita]] as a tribute for establishing FMW and making it a success and was abandoned as a result. The title was later brought back in the resurrected FMW in 2015 and abandoned in 2016 in favor of the new [[FMW World Street Fight 8-Man Tag Team Championship]].
  +
|-
  +
|[[FMW Independent Heavyweight Championship]]
  +
|August 1, 1996
  +
|[[Kintaro Kanemura|W*ING Kanemura]]
  +
|August 25, 1999
  +
|[[Masato Tanaka]]
  +
|1996&ndash;1999
  +
|The title was originally designed as [[Atsushi Onita]]'s [[FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship]] title belt for his retirement match at [[FMW 6th Anniversary Show]] but could not be available at the moment and was finally shipped to FMW in 1996 and used as the company's second world title. The title was abandoned in favor of the [[WEW Heavyweight Championship|WEW Single Championship]] in 1999.
  +
|-
  +
|[[WEW World Tag Team Championship]]
  +
|June 16, 1999
  +
|[[Gedo]] and [[Koji Nakagawa]]
  +
|February 15, 2002
  +
|[[Hiromichi Fuyuki|Kodo Fuyuki]] and The Sandman
  +
|1999&ndash;2002
  +
|The former [[FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship]] was renamed and changed to the WEW World Tag Team Championship in 1999. The title has been defended in World Entertainment Wrestling (WEW), [[Apache Pro-Wrestling Army|Apache Army]] and A-Team after FMW's closure in 2002.
  +
|-
  +
|[[WEW 6-Man Tag Team Championship]]
  +
|July 31, 1999
  +
|[[Team No Respect]]<br>{{small|([[Gedo]], [[Hiromichi Fuyuki|Kodo Fuyuki]] and [[Koji Nakagawa]])}}
  +
|February 15, 2002
  +
|[[Koji Nakagawa|GOEMON]], [[Hayabusa]] and [[Tetsuhiro Kuroda]]
  +
|1999&ndash;2002
  +
|The title was defended in World Entertainment Wrestling (WEW) after FMW's closure in 2002 until being retired in 2004.
  +
|-
  +
|[[FMW/WEW Hardcore Championship|WEW Hardcore Championship]]
  +
|September 24, 1999
  +
|[[Kintaro Kanemura]]
  +
|May 22, 2001
  +
|[[Kintaro Kanemura]]
  +
|1999&ndash;2001
  +
|Kanemura retired the title in 2001.
  +
|-
  +
|[[WEW Heavyweight Championship|WEW Single / Heavyweight Championship]]
  +
|September 24, 1999
  +
|[[Hiromichi Fuyuki|Kodo Fuyuki]]
  +
|February 15, 2002
  +
|[[Hiromichi Fuyuki|Kodo Fuyuki]]
  +
|1999&ndash;2002
  +
|The title was defended in World Entertainment Wrestling (WEW) and [[Apache Pro-Wrestling Army|Apache Army]] after FMW's closure in 2002 until being retired in 2016.
  +
|-
  +
|[[WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship]]
  +
|April 25, 2000
  +
|[[Hideki Hosaka]] and [[Mammoth Sasaki|Yoshinori Sasaki]]
  +
|February 15, 2002
  +
|[[Daisuke Sekimoto]] and [[Men's Teioh]]
  +
|2000&ndash;2002
  +
|The title was defended in [[Big Japan Pro Wrestling]] (BJW), [[Kaientai Dojo]], Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS and several Japanese independent promotions after FMW's closure in 2002.
  +
|}
  +
===Tournaments===
  +
{{main|FMW tournaments}}
  +
  +
==Events==
  +
===Primary events===
  +
*[[FMW Anniversary Show]]
  +
*[[FMW Summer Spectacular|Summer Spectacular]]
  +
*[[FMW Fall Spectacular|Fall Spectacular]]
  +
*[[FMW Year End Spectacular|Year End Spectacular]]
  +
  +
===Interpromotional events===
  +
*[[ECW/FMW Supershow]] (with ECW)
  +
*FMW/WWA in Los Angeles (with WWA)
  +
*FMW/MPW (with [[Michinoku Pro Wrestling|MPW]])
  +
*FMW/LLPW/AJW (with [[Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling|LLPW]] and [[All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling|AJW]])
  +
*Super Extreme Wrestling War (with ECW)
 
[[Category:Promotions]]
  
[[Category:Promotions]]
 
[[Category:Independent Promotions]]
  
[[Category:Independent Promotions]]
  +
[[Category:Stubs]]

Revision as of 11:44, 26 July 2019

1612536 1

Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded on July 28, 1989, by Atsushi Onita as Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW). The promotion specializes in hardcore wrestling involving weapons such as barbed wire and fire. They held their first show on October 6, 1989. In the late 1990s, FMW had a brief working agreement with Extreme Championship Wrestling, and as well had 14 DVDs released in the U.S. by Tokyopop. On March 4, 2015, FMW was resurrected under the name Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW.

History

FMW under Atsushi Onita (1989–1995)

In August 1990, Onita wrestled in the first ever exploding barbed wire match with Tarzan Goto. This match started a revolution amongst the small "garbage wrestling" organizations of Japan. From there, Onita recruited some of hardcore wrestling's most notable names, like Mr. Pogo, Mitsuhiro Matsunaga, Super Leather (Leatherface) and Kintaro W*ING Kanemura. In October 1990, they held Japan's first mixed tag team match.

In 1995, Onita wrestled his retirement match with young talent Hayabusa in an exploding ring, barbed wire steel cage match. Hayabusa became the central star of the promotion winning its belt several times and battling most of the FMW roster. FMW also had a thriving women's wrestling division, led by Megumi Kudo who was one of FMW's biggest stars in her heyday.

All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling talent feared them so much that they rarely had inter-promotional matches against each other, but the FMW women were successful in other feuds with LLPW and JWP. During this time FMW signed a contract to hold a major event every May 5 in the Kawasaki Stadium.

FMW under Shoichi Arai and Hiromichi Fuyuki (1995–2002)

Under new FMW president Shoichi Arai, the promotion began to falter. Arai brought in former International Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and Super World of Sports jobber Kodo Fuyuki as the new booker and in 1998 he brought an end to the garbage/death matches in favor of an entertainment-oriented style based on that of the WWE. Although this saved the roster from further potential injury, it called into question the essence of FMW's wrestling. Onita began withdrawing further into the background, eventually leaving the promotion altogether to create his own deathmatch ventures and to go back to high school to earn his diploma.

On October 22, 2001, in a match against Mammoth Sasaki, Hayabusa attempted a springboard moonsault one of his signature moves but slipped on the ropes and fell directly on his neck, breaking it and paralyzing him. He retired, but actually regained some control over his legs a year later. By the end of 2001, Arai owed about a million dollars to influential organizations in Japan, rumored to be connected to the Yakuza. Realizing that the promotion was going nowhere, he decided to finally close its doors. FMW came to an end with a final show on February 4, 2002, and Shoichi Arai declared FMW bankrupt on February 15, 2002. On May 16, 2002, Arai suicide hanged himself by his tie in a Tokyo park to collect life insurance for his family to pay off his debt to the Yakuza.

Closure and aftermath

The talent divided into two promotions: Kodo Fuyuki's World Entertainment Wrestling (WEW), the name of FMW's title governing body since 1999, and Mr. Gannosuke's Wrestling Marvelous Future (WMF). Some of the talents also made appearances on Onita's special shows. Following Fuyuki's death in 2003, most of the WEW talent formed a successor promotion, Apache Pro-Wrestling Army.

Revival (2015–present)

On April 3, 2015, Hideki Takahashi, Hayabusa and Choden Senshi Battle Ranger held a press conference, announcing they were reviving FMW under the new name "Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW". Takahashi would serve as the president and Hayabusa as the executive producer of the promotion, which would also feature participation from Atsushi Onita. The promotion held its first event on April 21. On October 30, 2015, they announced that they were reviving the FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Championship, as they set a match to determine new champions on December 22.

In 2016, two tragedies had befallen FMW. On February 17, 2016, Ray announced that she had inoperable stage three brain cancer after being diagnosed with a tumor in December 2015 and undergoing a biopsy on January 21, 2016. She succumbed to the disease in 2018. Over two weeks later on March 3, 2016, Hayabusa died at his home from a brain aneurysm, at the age of 47.

On October 31, 2017, FMW founder Atsushi Onita retired after 43 years in the ring. The promotion is still in operation.

Current FMW roster

FMW alumni

     
  • Miwa Sato
  • Nanjyo Hayato
  • Onryo
  • Pat Tanaka
  • Mr. Pogo
  • The Rock 'n' Roll Express
  • Sabu
  • Sambo Asako
  • Shark Tsuchiya
  • The Sheik
  • Shinjuku Shark
  • Shinobu Kandori
  • Super Leather
  • Supreme
  • Svetlana Gundarenko
  • Taka Michinoku
  • Tarzan Goto
  

Championships and accomplishments

Current

Championship Current champion(s)
(Tag team name) 		Reign Date won Days held Location Notes
FMW World Street Fight 8-Man Tag Team Championship Tiger Clan (Great Tiger, Tiger Mask III, Black Tiger V and Black Tiger VII) 1 November 24, 2016 2703 Tokyo, Japan Defeated Atsushi Onita, Raijin Yaguchi, Hideki Hosaka and Hi69 in a decision match to determine the inaugural champions.[1]

Defunct

Championship Date of entry First champion(s)
(Tag team name) 		Date retired Last champion(s)
(Tag team name) 		Years active Notes
AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship 1989 Jimmy Backlund April 1992 Dr. Luther 1989–1992 FMW began using the title shortly after the promotion's creation and recognized it as its junior heavyweight championship. However, the title changes in FMW were not recognized by AWA.
WWA World Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship January 7, 1990 Beast the Barbarian February 27, 1991 Atsushi Onita 1990–1991 The title was initially established as the WWA World Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship and later replaced by the WWA World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship.
WWA World Women's Championship November 5, 1990 Combat Toyoda February 15, 1994 Crusher Maedomari 1990–1994 The title was unified with the new FMW Independent Women's Championship in 1994.
WWA World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship February 27, 1991 Grigory Verichev August 28, 1993 Atsushi Onita 1991–1993 The title replaced the former WWA World Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship as the company's primary championship. It was replaced by the FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship in 1993.
WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Championship December 9, 1991 Atsushi Onita and Tarzan Goto September 19, 1992 Grigory Verichev and Tarzan Goto 1991–1992 The title was initially created as the WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Championship and vacated it in 1992 to be replaced by the FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship.
WWA World Martial Arts Junior Heavyweight Championship April 1992 Dr. Luther 1993 Dr. Luther 1992–1993 FMW renamed the previous AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship as the WWA World Martial Arts Junior Heavyweight Championship to distinguish it from the AWA banner. The title was retired in 1993.
FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship August 27, 1993 Atsushi Onita August 25, 1999 Hayabusa 1993–1999 FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship replaced the former WWA World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship as the company's premier title. The title was abandoned in favor of the WEW Single Championship in 1999.
FMW Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship October 28, 1993 The Great Sasuke May 31, 1999 Naoki Sano 1993–1999 FMW introduced the title as a replacement to the WWA World Martial Arts Light Heavyweight Championship. FMW discontinued the title after May 31, 1999 and the title has since been defended in various Japanese independent promotions.
FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship January 18, 1994 Big Titan and The Gladiator June 16, 1999 Gedo and Koji Nakagawa 1994–1999 The title replaced the former WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Championship as the company's tag team title. The title was renamed by Kodo Fuyuki as the WEW World Tag Team Championship in 1999.
FMW Women's Championship February 15, 1994 Megumi Kudo September 28, 1997 Shark Tsuchiya 1994–1997 The title was created in a tournament and unified with the WWA World Women's Championship. The title was deactivated in 1997 as the women's division of FMW ended with the departure of the final champion Shark Tsuchiya.
FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Championship May 5, 1996 Puerto Rican Army
(Headhunter A, Headhunter B and Super Leather) 		October 27, 2016 Atsushi Onita, Hideki Hosaka and Sean Guinness 1996–1998
2015–2016 		The title was awarded to the departing Atsushi Onita as a tribute for establishing FMW and making it a success and was abandoned as a result. The title was later brought back in the resurrected FMW in 2015 and abandoned in 2016 in favor of the new FMW World Street Fight 8-Man Tag Team Championship.
FMW Independent Heavyweight Championship August 1, 1996 W*ING Kanemura August 25, 1999 Masato Tanaka 1996–1999 The title was originally designed as Atsushi Onita's FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship title belt for his retirement match at FMW 6th Anniversary Show but could not be available at the moment and was finally shipped to FMW in 1996 and used as the company's second world title. The title was abandoned in favor of the WEW Single Championship in 1999.
WEW World Tag Team Championship June 16, 1999 Gedo and Koji Nakagawa February 15, 2002 Kodo Fuyuki and The Sandman 1999–2002 The former FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship was renamed and changed to the WEW World Tag Team Championship in 1999. The title has been defended in World Entertainment Wrestling (WEW), Apache Army and A-Team after FMW's closure in 2002.
WEW 6-Man Tag Team Championship July 31, 1999 Team No Respect
(Gedo, Kodo Fuyuki and Koji Nakagawa) 		February 15, 2002 GOEMON, Hayabusa and Tetsuhiro Kuroda 1999–2002 The title was defended in World Entertainment Wrestling (WEW) after FMW's closure in 2002 until being retired in 2004.
WEW Hardcore Championship September 24, 1999 Kintaro Kanemura May 22, 2001 Kintaro Kanemura 1999–2001 Kanemura retired the title in 2001.
WEW Single / Heavyweight Championship September 24, 1999 Kodo Fuyuki February 15, 2002 Kodo Fuyuki 1999–2002 The title was defended in World Entertainment Wrestling (WEW) and Apache Army after FMW's closure in 2002 until being retired in 2016.
WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship April 25, 2000 Hideki Hosaka and Yoshinori Sasaki February 15, 2002 Daisuke Sekimoto and Men's Teioh 2000–2002 The title was defended in Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), Kaientai Dojo, Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS and several Japanese independent promotions after FMW's closure in 2002.

Tournaments

Main article: FMW tournaments

Events

Primary events

  • FMW Anniversary Show
  • Summer Spectacular
  • Fall Spectacular
  • Year End Spectacular

Interpromotional events

  • ECW/FMW Supershow (with ECW)
  • FMW/WWA in Los Angeles (with WWA)
  • FMW/MPW (with MPW)
  • FMW/LLPW/AJW (with LLPW and AJW)
  • Super Extreme Wrestling War (with ECW)
  1. ↑ 11月24日（木）東京・後楽園ホール (in Japanese). Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW. Archived from the original on 2016-11-25. Retrieved on 2016-11-26.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.