History of FMW

FMW Stories Episode 6 going over Mitsuhiro Matsunaga's career with many never before told stories in English. I go over him getting into wrestling as a child, his college days, trying to get into wrestling before starting with FMW, his W*ING days, and his later career in Big Japan into retirement. Also, covering his issues with Onita, Hayabusa, Kanemura, Mr. Pogo and more.

FMW Stories 5 goes over FMW's top rival W*ING. I go over untold stories about the entire history of W*ING and what lead to it's demise as well as the numerous pop up promotions afterwards through out the years. 

FMW Stories Episode 4 going over the first two years of FMW up until their first Kawasaki Stadium in 1991. I talk about about many never before heard in English stories of the old FMW, the many issues that came up with the young promotion, what caused several people including Mr. Pogo to leave FMW to start up the rival W*ING promotion and much more.

FMW Stories Episode 3 going over Megumi Kudo's life and career. From her beginning in All Japan Womens to her going from job to job before  getting an opportunity to join FMW and all the goods and bads that came with it before her 1997 retirement.

FMW Stories Episode 2 going over the life and times of Tarzan Goto. Going over his career in Sumo, All Japan, Memphis, FMW, and why he decided to leave FMW right before wrestling in the biggest FMW match ever.

A new show I am going to be doing where I cover FMW stories of a specific topic. These episodes wil be much shorter than History of FMW. This episode includes Atsushi Onita's story that lead to the creation of FMW and the first couple of months with Onita in charge of the new promotion.

History of FMW Volume 50 going over the year 2020 with clips and pictures for the final time line episode. Atsushi Onita works various outside death matches including returning to Kawasaki Stadium. Megumi Kudo works against Shark Tsuchiya one final time. Toru Sugiura continues his hot streak of main event matches in FREEDOMS and much more!

History of FMW Volume 49 going over the year 2019. Atsushi Onita ends up needing double knee reconstructive surgery and is back within 5 months including taking part in a new sub-promotion based around him. FREEDOMS gives Jun Kasai another run as King of Freedom World Champion as he has several great matches including with Toru Sugiura who looks to be the new ace of the promotion. Jun Kasai also visits GCW for the first time and GCW comes to Japan for the first time as well and much more.

History of FMW Volume 48 going over the year 2018. We go over Atsushi Onita coming out of retirement after a year and the storyline reason why as well as his return to CZW. Mr. Gannosuke retires again for good as he has a series of farewell matches against storied opponents for him. Masashi Takeda has a series of incredible matches while being both Big Japan and FREEDOMS champion culminating in two incredible matches with Jun Kasai and much more.

History of FMW Volume 47 going over the second half of 2017. We go over Onita's 2017 retirement and everything leading to it as well as his CZW match against Matt Tremont and all the news that came from it. We also talk about the Jun Kasai vs. Violento Jack feud heating up as well as Daisuke Masaoka's run as FREEDOMS champion coming to an end as well as much more.

History of FMW Volume 46 going over the first half of 2017. Mr. Pogo suddenly passes away. Atsushi Onita's feud with UWF officially ends and he has a death match against Bob Sapp. Mr. Gannosuke holds a Hayabusa Memorial show. Daisuke Masaoka gets a run as the champion in FREEDOMS and much more.

History of FMW Volume 45 going over the second half of 2016. We go over Kintaro Kanemura's six month retirement tour leading to his retirement show. Mr. Gannosuke facing off against Hayabucha. The booking mistakes the resulted in the decline of Super Battle FMW. Onita in a new explosion match and becoming the ace of a third promotion as well as revisiting feuds from the 1980's. FREEDOMS turns a corner and becomes known as the hot young new death match company and much more.

History of FMW Volume 44 going over the first half of 2016. We go over Hayabusa's sudden passing and the details in regards to it. Super Battle FMW continues their  a successful stretch of Korakuen Hall shows as the FMW vs. UWF feud is revised 28 years later. Jun Kasai is pushed as champion in FREEDOMS and Mr. Gannosuke ends up winning the Guts Heavyweight Championship in honor of his friend Hayabusa as well as much more.

History of FMW going over the year 2015. The FMW name is brought back when Super Battle FMW is created with Atsushi Onita as ace going up against the W*ING Monster Army. ZERO1 also starts up their own new promotion called Super Fireworks with Exploding Barbed wire Death Matches and Onita as the star of their promotion. Hayabusa appears on a national TV show and walks up to the ring in an emotional moment that would come with controversy afterwards. FREEDOMS pushes Masashi Takeda as their champion but Daisuke Masaoka is moving up the ranks in the promotion quickly as well as much more.

Please note that this show is more geared towards visuals. A lot of it is me describing matches that you are also suppose to see at the same time so I understand this isn't the best audio based show, but I want it to still remain an option for anyone that would want to still just listen to it. 

Atsushi Onita continues to have Exploding Barbed wire Death Matches with Yoshihiro Takayama. Kintaro Kanemura runs his 25th Anniversary show while Mr. Gannosuke makes his return back to the ring after nearly 6 years retired. An FMW 25th Anniversary Tour is held as well as FREEDOMS starts off the year struggling but finishes with another incredible Jun Kasai vs. Masashi Takeda Death Match as well as much more.

History of FMW Volume 41 going over the year 2013 with clips. Atsushi Onita's popularity continues to grow as he has exploding barbed wire death matches with both Akebono and Yoshihiro Takayama. He also begins to feud with Jun Kasai in FREEDOMS through out the year. FREEDOMS also creates a new singles title belt with Masashi Takeda challenging for it as well as the BJW Death Match Title in an awesome match against Shuji Ishikawa as well as much more.

History of FMW Volume 40 going over 2012. We go over how FREEDOMS starts the year off slow after Jun Kasai would suffer an injury but he would return for the climax of his two year feud with MASADA. Atsushi Onita begins a career resurgence before facing off against Akebono in a Exploding Barbed wire Death Match. Kintaro Kanemura's body starts to break down as he would suffer two serious injuries while the Apache Army would continue to decline as well as much more.

History of FMW Volume 39 going over the year 2011. We go over FREEDOMS slowly turning into a Death Match promotion, Nanjyo Hayato starting up a new FMW promotion and bringing back many of the former FMW wrestlers, and Hayabusa walking to the ring at Korakuen Hall ten years to the month that he suffered his career ending injury as well as much more.

History of FMW Volume 38 going over the year 2010 with pictures and clips. We go over FREEDOMS first full year as a promotion as they run Korakuen Hall for the first time as well as hold a Death Match Tournament. Onita retires again and comes back by the end of the year, Tarzan Goto runs his Super FMW shows in front of barely anyone, the story of how Shin-W*ING died, and much more.

History of FMW Volume 37 going over 2009. The Apache Army continues to struggle before officially closing down and re-starting the promotion as FREEDOMS. Big Japan begins a youth movement that sees a series of excellent matches through out the year. Tarzan Goto starts up a brand new FMW promotion and brings in Atsushi Onita for it and much more.

History of FMW Volume 36 going over the second half of 2008. Mr. Gannosuke joins the Apache Army promotion on his road to retirement and starts up the FMW Legends Army as they go up against the Apache Army. Mr. Gannosuke also decides to close down WMF before his retirement as well. Kintaro Kanemura starts up his XWF promotion and we go over how that worked out as well as Atsushi Onita and his FMW nostalgia promotion and Yuko Miyamoto challenes for the Big Japan Death Match Heavyweight Title and much more more.

History of FMW Volume 35 going over the first half of 2008 including all the details surrounding Kanemura's sexual harassment scandal and how it resulted it in his Apache Army promotion closing down. Onita begins teaming with Riki Choshu and interjects himself in a feud with Kanemura. Mammoth Sasaki continues his hot streak of awesome WEW Heavyweight Titles matches, Mr. Gannosuke announces his retirement and much more.

History of FMW Volume 34 going over 2007. The feud between Kanemura and Togi Makabe concludes after a year over the WEW Title. Mammoth Sasaki begins to get pushed as the top guy in the Apache Army while Yuko Miyamoto begins to burst on the scene with his match of the year against Takashi Sasaki in Big Japan. 666 holds one of their craziest shows ever while WMF begins to push the Kitten Kid as a focal point in their storylines. Also, Onita announces he is not going to run again for the Japanese Diet after it comes out he is involved in a sex scandal as well as Mike Awesome would end up passing away.

History of FMW Volume 33 going over 2006. The Apache Army goes to war with New Japan for the entire year first with Jushin Liger, Jado, and Gedo and then against Togi Makabe. Mr. Gannosuke tries to push the younger wrestlers in WMF while feuding with Poison Sawada in Union Pro. Mr. Pogo and Tarzan Goto reunite their rivalry with some interesting stipulation matches. Hayabusa visits America and goes backstage at a WWE show, Matsunaga returns to ZERO1 and much more. This episode is a good look at the whole landscape of the Japanese independent scene in 2006. If you have not watched these yet and have the littlest bit of interest in this topic you should check these out. I really put a lot of time and passion into these to make them as good as possible and I have gotten very positive feedback from those that have watched them.

History of FMW Volume 32 going over the year 2005. I go over how Kintaro Kanemura and the Apache Army feud with one another after Riki Choshu is made leader of the group. WMF continues to decline as their sponsor pulls out for good while Mr. Gannosuke and Mammoth Sasaki have two brutal matches with one another to end their feud. I cover the STOP THE MATSUNAGA angle that went on through out the second half of 2005 in ZERO1 as well going over small Mr. Pogo WWS, Tarzan Goto, and 666 shows as well as much more.

Interview with Kintaro Kanemura in English about his career in W*ING, FMW, WEW, Apache Army, and his retirement.

History of FMW Volume 31 going over 2004. WMF holds its last show at Korakuen Hall as it has to be restructured to a small indie by the second half of the year. Fuyuki Army closes down after the final Kawasaki Stadium show on May 5th takes places. Kanemura and Gannosuke split up. Kanemura starts up the Apache Army promotion and a sad update on Hayabusa as well as much more.

History of FMW going the second half of 2003. We go over WMF and WEW working together and forming the Apache Army who immediately go to war with ZERO1 in a series of awesome matches that brings back some of the passionate FMW fans. Atsushi Onita goes up against The Great Sasuke in a Exploding Barbed wire Death Match with a series of spectacular explosion spots as well as cover some smaller indies like WWS and 666 and much more.

History of FMW Volume 24 where we go over the second half of 2000. Hayabusa begins his feud with Kodo Fuyuki which includes an Exploding Cage and an Iron Man Match. We also go over Hayabusa going to America to attend a WCW taping and why he didn't end up wrestling as well as why he met up with The Great Muta. We also cover Atsushi Onita finally having his match with Riki Choshu and what it took for him to get destroyed by him as well much more.

History of FMW Volume 27 going over the first half of 2002 and the end of FMW. Shoichi Arai  dealing with loan sharks that eventually leads to FMW going bankrupt as a result and eventually ends his life. Kodo Fuyuki starts up a new promotion in the wake of FMW closing and finds out he has cancer.  Arai contacting Hayabusa right before his death. This is the most newsworthy period and as a result the biggest episode.

History of FMW Volume 29 going over the first half of 2003. We go over Kodo Fuyuki passing away before he could have the match he wanted against Shinya Hashimoto. Kintaro Kanemura takes his place in a No Ropes Exploding Barbed wire Death Match and Fuyuki's urn is inserted into the match in a memorable scene. Mr. Gannosuke's WMF continues to struggle as their Korakuen Hall number goes down and Atsushi Onita begins working for Riki Choshu's World Japan as well as much more.

History of FMW Volume 28 going over the second half of 2002. Hayabusa makes his first public appearance since the injury. Mr. Gannosuke starts up WMF. Fuyuki continues WEW and begins feuding with Hashimoto and ZERO1. Atsushi Onita ends his Onita FMW promotion and wrestles in Afghanistan and much more!

History of FMW Volume 26 going over the second half of 2001. Hayabusa suffers a career ending paralyzing injury in his match with Mammoth Sasaki. We go over everything that lead to the day as well as all the aftermath following the injury including Hayabusa nearly dying while in the hospital. FMW continues their feud with TokyoPop trying to buy the them as well as end the year feuding with Tenryu's WAR group. Atsushi Onita begins his feud with Shinya Hashimoto and becomes a senator and travels to Afghanistan and much more.

History of FMW Volume 25 going over the first half of 2001. Hayabusa's injury has caused attendance to drop severely and Tetsuhiro Kuroda is made the ace and the focal point of the promotion until Hayabusa returns back at Kawasaki Stadium on May 5th. FMW returns to Kawasaki Stadium with an exploding ring match and the 6 month feud between Hayabusa and Tetsuhiro finally comes to an end. Shoichi Arai holds a meeting which results in Masato Tanaka, Jado, Gedo, and others leaving FMW for good. Atsushi Onita and Tarzan Goto renew their feud after 6 years in Onita Pro and much more.

History of FMW Volume 23 going over the first half of 2000. Kodo Fuyuki returns and starts up his ECW Japan group. H is told he has to go back as Hayabusa. TokyoPop releases new FMW DVD's. Hayabusa goes to America to appear in the movie Backyard Dogs. Masato Tanaka comes back and turns heel and takes over the ECW Japan group. Atsushi Onita and Terry Funks are in talks with CZW about a exploding ring stadium show in New Jersey. Tenryu dawns the Hayabusa mask for the first time and much more.

History of FMW Volume 22 going over the second half of 1999. Hayabusa becomes H while Mr. Gannosuke turns into Hayabusa to setup their match at the Yokohama Arena. Mr. Gannosuke as Hayabusa performs in a porn star and porn star Chocoball Mukai makes his debut. We go over how Shawn Michaels became the referee for the Yokohama Arena show. Atsushi Onita as The Great Nita takes on The Great Muta in a Exploding Barbed wire Death Match. We talk about the infamous Anus Explosion Match and all the FMW angles going on during this time period. Masato Tanaka returns to ECW and wins the ECW Title and we go over how FMW go into such debt as well as much more.

History of FMW Volume 21 covering the first half of 1999. Onita goes to New Japan and begins working Tokyo Dome dream matches against Kensuke Sasaki and Masahiro Chono. Kodo Fuyuki begins as booker of FMW and his entertainment style of booking starts to take over. Hayabusa asks to take his mask off and change his gimmick and FMW runs their first financial flop show on May 5th as well as much more.

History of FMW Volume 20 going over the second half of 1998. The Entertainment Era in FMW is fully under way. Hayabusa becomes Darkside Hayabusa and hates it. The FMW/ECW relationship begins to fall apart. Atsushi Onita starts up his own promotion and FMW ends up asking him to leave FMW for good as a result and much more.

History of FMW Volume 19 going over the first half of 1998. FMW changes the direction of the company and begin the Entertainment Pro-Wrestling route with angles and storylines. Team No Respect is formed and Onita's ZEN group dies and Onita is humiliated through out by them as Hayabusa finally regains the reign of being the top guy in FMW and Onita is not happy about it. Both Masato Tanaka and Atsushi Onita show up in ECW and  we go over many different great matches.

History of FMW Volume 18 covering the second half of 1997 with FMW returning to Kawasaki Stadium with Onita putting up his career on the line again against Kanemura's W*ING faction. Onita goes heel in FMW and forms ZEN and all the issues that went along with that in story line and backstage. Hayabusa works the All Japan Real World Tag Team Tournament and the end of the year concludes with ECW wrestlers on the last set of shows as well as a War Games Cage Match between FMW and ZEN with Hayabusa diving off the cage on Onita again and much more.

History of FMW Volume 17 going over the first half of 1997 with Mr. Gannosuke returning to FMW feuding with Hayabusa. Hayabusa meets Giant Baba to start working for All Japan. Atsushi Onita ends his feud with Terry Funk and the Funk Masters of Wrestling and Masato Tanaka and W*ING Kanemura begin a war to see who will face Onita at Kawasaki Stadium. We go over the April 29, 1997 Yokohama Arena show and Megumi Kudo's road to retirement before she takes a hell of a beating in Exploding Barbed wire Double Hell Death Match in her retirement match.

History of FMW Volume 16 going over the second half of 1996. We go over Hayabusa coming back from all his injuries but not too much later Onita has decided he is breaking his retirement already and coming back with the story about him also making Mr. Pogo retire. We also go over the hot Korakuen Hall shows as well as an Exploding Barbed wire Match between W*ING and FMW as well as much more.

History of FMW Volume 15 going over the first half of 1996 dealing with Hayabusa and all his injuries, Mr. Pogo's dealing as a freelancer, Onita planting the seeds on coming back out of retirement already, and we talk about my favorite FMW show of all the time the May 5, 1996 Kawasaki Stadium show.

History of FMW Volume 14 covering the second half of 1995. We go over Hayabusa becoming the ace and his body begins to break down already. Also, Megumi Kudo becomes the hardcore queen, IWA runs at Kawasaki Stadium for the King of the Death Match, and how Shoichi Arai was able to get the new FMW started and much more.

History of FMW Volume 13 covering the first half of 1995 leading up to the biggest FMW show ever with Onita's retirement at Kawasaki Stadium against Hayabusa. We go over Tarzan Goto leaving FMW right before the show and the reasons that could have lead him leaving and changing up everything. We also talk about FMW holding a W*ING show, Cactus Jack showing up for IWA Japan, a new W*ING promotion, and why Hayabusa left Mexico for Florida and WWF having interest in him and more.

History of FMW Volume 12 going over the second half of 1994. We go over Hayabusa switching over to EMLL while in Mexico and how he learned many of his signature moves, why FMW went to Russia, Kanemura joining FMW and what he had to do to avoid the Yakuza for joining, the Exploding Pool Death Match, and a lot more.

History of FMW Volume 11 going over the first half of 1994. Onita vs. Tenryu main events the May 5th Kawasaki Stadium show and does incredible business which begins the Onita retirement tour. The story of Hayabusa participating on the first Super J-Cup, the original W*ING closes and much more.

History of FMW Volume 10 going over the second half of 1993. We cover Matsunaga leaving W*ING for FMW, Onita vs. Pogo renewing their feud and do incredible business together and have the first ever Exploding Cage Death Match, Kanemura gets powerbomed into fire in W*ING, and the creation of Hayabusa begins in Mexico as well as much more.

History of FMW Volume 9 going over the first half of 1993. We cover Onita getting barbed wire stuck in his throat and nearly dying, Pogo and Sabu having run ins with the Yakuza, and Onita vs. Funk Exploding Ring Match.

History of FMW Volume 8 going over the second half of 1992. We cover Onita taking on Tiger Jeet Singh at the Yokohama Stadium, W*ING having their big fire death match with Pogo vs Matsunaga, and Onita dives in a polluted river and almost dies as a result as well as much more.