Purple Haze (パープル・ヘイズ Pāpuru Heizu) was a professional wrestling stable in the Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). The group was founded on December 21, 2019, by Izanagi, Shigehiro Irie and UTAMARO.
Since its formation, the stable established themselves as heels and began adding members most notably Gianni Valletta, Lucas Steel, and former Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Zeus. Other accomplishments attained by the stable include Irie holding Oriental Wrestling Entertainment's Openweight Championship and Zeus and Izanagi holding the All Asia Tag Team Championship and Izanagi also holding the World Junior Heavyweight Championship. Zeus who was one of the fouding members of the stable, would leave AJPW in December 2021 later the stable would quietly disband in 2022.
History[]
Since September 2019, UTAMARO debuted in All Japan Pro Wrestling, establishing himself as a heel, leading him to be soon after joined by Shigehiro Irie. On December 17, Atsushi Maruyama was defeated by Susumu Yokosuka in the first round of a tournament to crown the new World Junior Heavyweight Champion. Following Maruyama's loss, UTAMARO abducted Maruyama, leading him to be brainwashed by UTAMARO. Three days later, Irie and UTAMARO were accompanied by a new member to witness their match against Zeus and TORU. Following Irie and UTAMARO's victory, UTAMARO asked Zeus to join their group, in which Zeus ended up refusing. Afterwards, in a post-match interview, Izanagi (based on mythological god "Izanami"), the former Atsushi Maruyama, joined the group and three proclaimed themselves as the "Gods Legion", with Izanagi proclaiming a bigger God, who was above them was their real leader and he would join them next year. Afterwards, Izanagi began acting as the stable's spokesperson.
The God above Izanagi, Irie and UTAMARO was later revealed to be Zeus, who ended up accepting their invitation, with UTAMARO still being the leader of the stable. On January 2, 2020, the stable was joined by British wrestler Lucas Steel, becoming their fourth member. The following day, the stable began a feud with Evolution, after Irie and Steel defeated Shuji Ishikawa and Yusuke Okada, with the help of the outside interference provided by Izanagi and UTAMARO. Afterwards, the stable challenged Evolution to a match for their World Tag Team Championship. On January 4, the stable was named "Purple Haze". The second big event of the storyline was on February 13, with Irie and Steel unsuccessfully challenging Violent Giants (Shuji Ishikawa and Suwama) for the World Tag Team Championship, despite the outside interference provided by Purple Haze. Despite losing the match, Izanagi challenged them to a rematch for their titles. On March 25, Purple Haze was joined by Gianni Valletta. Later that night, Izanagi unsuccessfully challenged Susumu Yokosuka for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship, despite the outside interference provided by Purple Haze. On August 15, Zeus and Izanagi defeated Isami Kodaka and Yuko Miyamoto to win All Asia Tag Team Championship. In September, Zeus took part of the 2020 Champion Carnival, where he ended up winning his block with a clean record of four wins, advancing to the finals of the tournament. On October 5, Zeus defeated Kento Miyahara in the finals to win the 2020 Champion Carnival, earning a shot at the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. This led on October 17, Zeus unsuccessfully challenging Suwama for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship. In November, Zeus and Irie were supposed to take part in the 2020 World's Strongest Tag Determination League. However, on November 17, it was announced that Zeus, had tested tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), leading him to pull out of the tournament and be replaced by Izanagi. From November 22 until December 7, Izanagi and Irie took part in the tournament, finishing it, with a record of two wins and six losses, failling to win the tournament. From April 9 to May 3, 2021, Zeus took part in the 2021 Champion Carnival finishing the tournament with a record of six wins and four losses, failling to win the tournament. On September 7, Zeus and Izanagi lost the All Asia Tag Team Championships to Strong Hearts (T-Hawk and El Lindaman). On October 16, Izanagi defeated SUGI to win the World Junior Heavyweight Championship. Two days later, it was announced that Zeus had purchased all shares of Osaka Pro Wrestling. This led to Zeus announcing that he would be leaving AJPW on December 31. On October 31, Irie defeated Shuji Ishikawa to win the Gaora TV Championship. On December 16, Izanagi lost the World Junior Heavyweight Championship to Super Crazy. Shortly after Zeus's departure from AJPW the stable would quietly disband in 2022.
Championships and accomplishments[]
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Zeus and Izanagi
- Gaora TV Championship (1 time) – Irie
- World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time) – Izanagi
- Champion Carnival (2020) – Zeus
- Oriental Wrestling Entertainment
- OWE Openweight Championship (1 time) – Irie