Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling (FMW) has taken America by storm. In the last two issues BANDWIDTH has reviewed a total of four volumes from this hot wrestling federation. I have looked at a lot of hardcore federations in the past that tried to emulate the success of ECW, but none of them were worth going crazy over. FMW, on the other hand, began the whole hardcore revolution and has intrigued wrestling fans throughout the world with its brand of intense, action-packed, well choreographed, wonderfully written form of sports entertainment. FMW has allowed me to love wrestling again. I am happy to find a federation that has allowed me to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the show. In this issue, I decided to take a look at two volumes of FMW action that specifically profile the wrestlers that help make FMW what it is today.
This is an awesome look at the women that make FMW wrestling so different from other federations. These women can do the same thing the men can do-They are hardcore to the bone. The women of FMW bleed as much as the men and the women of FMW are respected as much as the men.
Sato brutalized Bomber by biting her, but Bomber showed more courage in the face of fire. She Bodyslammed Sato and then hit a Vader-bomb to get a two count. Of course, Bomber's great courage bit her in the ass when she threw Sato out on the floor and missed a Suicide Bomb, giving the heel an advantage. Sato then used a chain in the match to regain the advantage and choked her out, almost getting a big pin. However, Sato made a mistake going for a high flying move and having it reversed against her. Bomber was able to hit her finisher, the Bomber Bomb to get the victory.
This had to be the quickest match of the show. Bad Nurse is hot in her white makeup, but Nagayo was possibly a tougher opponent. Nurse brought in a barbed wire bat and the two wrestlers fought over it. Mad Dog pulled it away, and with her hands a bloody mess she hit Nurse with a running Powerbomb to get the pin.
Toyoda is a brutal force in this business and before she retired, she was the flag-bearer for the women of the federation. Toyoda dominated this match, throwing Kaoru around like a rag doll. However, Kaoru is strong and would not allow herself to be pinned. As the match wore on, Toyoda became tired, allowing Kaoru to get the advantage. However, Mother-in-Law was able to hit the move of the night when she held Kaoru in a Torture Rack and then threw Kaoru off her back and into the ring post.
That however did not put down Kaoru, who was actually able to Bodyslam, the big woman. She hit Toyoda with a Belly-to-Back Suplex/Bridge Combo, to get a two count. As Toyoda tried to Suplex Kaoru, the youngster reversed it into a DDT and then hit a Moonsault for a two count.
Back and forth the match went, but Kaoru regained the advantage and performed a Brain Buster that would put any other woman away, but not Toyoda, who kicked out at two. Kaoru hit a Hurricanrana and again gets a two count. Toyoda reversed things with a Tiger Bomb, but she, herself, only picked up a two count. In fact, Kaoru showed tremendous strength by bridging out of Toyoda's pin attempts, lifting Toyoda up and out of the pin, keeping her alive for at least a few more seconds. Her survival came at the end when Toyoda landed a vicious Powerbomb to pick up the victory. Usually after a match this good, the two wrestlers will shake each other's hands. However, Kaoru let her pride get in the way. "I won't let you leave until I have beaten you," she said referring to Toyoda's possible retirement. "One more time...I won't shake your hand until then."
Nakayama could not even get any offense in this match and was brutalized by both heels until Kudo got the tag and cleared house of the vicious duo. Nakayama finally showed some offense when tagged in again. She hit a Bulldog on Mongo, not once, but twice in the match. She then landed a beautiful Flying Bodypress on Mongo, who was outside on the hard floor. The end came when Nakayama, the future flag bearer for women in FMW, flipped off of Kudo to hit her patented Moonsault on Mongo, followed by another Moonsault from the top ropes to get the big victory.
This was by far the best match of the show. I am totally a fan of Kudo's after watching her performances in the ring. She is the best woman wrestler I have ever seen in the ring. With barbed wire around the ring, I knew there was going to see blood.
Shark was able to launch Kudo into the barbed wire. Shark's friend Sato then pushed the barbed wire further into Kudo's head, bludgeoning the champ. Shark continued the onslaught and raked Kudo's head over the barbed wire. She then slammed a barbed wire bat into Kudo's stomach before raking that object across her head. Kudo now wearing a crimson mask was not about to let Shark get the victory. Kudo ducked Sato's swing of the bat and watched as Shark was hit with it, but Shark, almost impervious to the pain, launched Kudo stomach first into the wire. And all hell broke loose as a table was brought into the ring and Sato and Shark attempted to put Kudo through it. After a few tries, Kudo went through the table, but Shark only got a two count.
Kudo then showed her tenacity and through Shark through the table. However, Kudo is hurt and can't fight back. Shark then grabbed a sickle and attacked Kudo with it. Kudo defends herself and used a piece of the table to keep Shark away and the sickle got stuck in the table. Kudo then beat on Shark with the piece of table she had in her hand and then through Shark into the barbed wire.
Kudo then beat on Shark with the barbed wire bat and got her revenge. However, the two combatants went back and forth and barbed wire is cut off and brought into the ring as a weapon. Sato continues to help Kudo, but Toyoda, who was watching the match from ringside, evened the odds by throwing Kudo a chair to use in the match. Kudo Power Bombed Shark onto the table and got a two count. Kudo then did the impossible, lifting Shark up and finishing the match off with a reverse piledriver and pin.
Unfortunately, Kudo eventually retired from the sport and women wrestling would vanish soon after. After watching this tape, you will demand that FMW bring back what was probably the best women's division in the sport. This is all that is left of a legacy.
The Flying Assassin takes a look into the career of the most popular wrestler in FMW history; a man who has came back from numerous injuries, a man who has shown great courage, and has risked it all for the fans. Wrestling enthusiasts will get to see what makes this man tick in this fabulous DVD.
The notable features include a comprehensive look at Hayabusa's legendary the moves. Hayabusa himself describes his influences for the Firebird Splash, the Phoenix Splash and what was his reasoning for unveiling the Falcon Arrow that has taken so many out. In addition to this, take a special look at Hayabusa, as he puts on his makeup and mask. There is even a look at the masked man, without his mask, learning the art of Tai, in an effort to add to his already impressive arsenal of explosive moves. And this of course is just the beginning....There are three great matches included on this DVD, all from a tournament Hayabusa competed in against various opponents in a shot to fight his archrival Mr. Ganosuke.
This is an awesome match pitting two of the most popular stars in the sport. The match was very well played out. Here, you get to see the mat story being told by the wrestlers involved. Hayabusa works on the arm of Tanaka in an effort to take away the powerful moves that Tanaka showcases, while Tanaka works on Hayabusa's leg to ground the Flying Assassin. There is even a point in the match when Hayabusa lands a Dropkick from the top rope and hits, with great precision, Tanaka's elbow, further weakening his opponent. It seems like nothing either wrestler does to one another can put the other away. Tanaka lands powerful forearm shots throughout the match, a huge Power Slam, a Tornado DDT and a Razor's Edge Power Bomb, but nothing lands Tanaka the pinfall. In turn, Hayabusa hits all his trademark maneuvers, like the Senton Splash into the Asai Moonsault, the Phoenix Splash, the Firebird Splash and even two Flacon Arrows, but all he can manage are a number of two counts. By the end of the match, both wrestlers looked spent and seemed to be running on adrenaline. These guys gave it their all and their love for the sport pushed them through all obstacles, leaving the fans with a great match, the kind of no one soon forgets.
The cool thing about Japanese wrestling is that each wrestler has various finishing moves, so you never know exactly which one will end the match. It really adds an element of surprise to the action. Even Tanaka's running Death Valley Driver, could not get the job, and he performed the move twice. It took a third Falcon's Arrow from Hayabusa to score the pin. Both men showed honor and shooke hands as the masked man moves on in the tournament and gets one step closer to fighting the enemy he has fought so many times in the past.
This is another great match. Hayabusa has his work cut out for him as he is not only facing a big man, but also a big man who knows how to fly like the little guys. In fact, Awesome is the first wrestler to use the ropes and lands a flying clothesline from the top. Unlike the match with Tanaka, weapons are a factor in this match and Awesome once again showed a penchant to use the ropes when he flew from the top and smashed a chair through Hayabusa's head. The seat of the chair actually flew off and Hayabusa wore it like a necklace. However, Awesome's need to use the ropes backfired and Hayabusa took full advantage of it, landing almost all of his trademark maneuvers one after the other.
First, it was the Senton into the Asai Moonsault. Then it was the Tiger Driver, followed by the Phoenix Splash, the Firebird Splash and the Falcon Arrow. Unfortunately for Hayabusa, each move only earned him a two count and Awesome was not about to give. Awesome fought back, hitting a Power Bomb once too often. When he went to land the second Power Bomb, Hayabusa rolled him up for the two count and then used a Dragon Supple/Pinning Combination to take the victory and advance to meet Mr. Ganosuke.
The feud between these men has been chronicled in past reviews of FMW action. On this DVD, there is more of an in-depth look at why the two former friends are now mortal enemies. The match itself begins much in the same way as their past matches with both men feeling each other out and then performing a variety of powerful, aerial and ground attack maneuvers, wowing the fans. They traded the advantage back and forth between one another, neither man really gaining an advantage for almost 10 minutes.
As in the past, Ganosuke hit Hayabusa with a variation of the Falcon Arrow, stealing a move from Hayabusa to mock and insult him. This time around, Ganosuke also steals the Praying Power Bomb move that belonged to former WWF star, Hakushi.
The White Angel happened to be watching from the outside, cheering on his partner, Hayabusa, while Ganosuke insulted them. Hayabusa regained the advantage hitting an awe-inspiring Somersault Press, followed by a Flying Leg Drop. Once more, Hayabusa landed a number of his trademark finishers only to be rebuffed by Ganosuke's pride. He would not let Hayabusa win the match and take his titles. These men have wrestled each other so well; it reminds me of the Rock vs. HHH rivalry, only much better. These guys can really perform and it seems like they bring out the best in each other and sometimes the worst.
Hayabusa, a man of honor, actually cheats in this match when he kicks Ganosuke below the belt, an action that made the referee's jaw drop, but since this is FMW, anything goes. Still, the aggressive action turned the tide and Hayabusa pretty much had it under control from there. Nothing could keep Ganosuke's shoulder down, so Hayabusa just improvised, going to the top ropes and performing an awesome combination of the Firebird and Phoenix Splash. The announcers were amazed by how fluid the move looked, but the fans knew what to expect for their hero, and that was nothing but the best. Hayabusa stated that his gimmick means the bird that never dies, and even when he is up against the wall, as he has been with Ganosuke in the past, Hayabusa gets the big win and takes the double championship (The Independent World Heavyweight championship and the Brass Knuckles Championship).
This feud actually ends in The Judgment, a tape reviewed in these pages, and recommended like the other volumes have been. It was a feud that captured an audience, a feud that really made Hayabusa a major player in the wrestling world. This is one of those DVDs that you watch over and over again, take to your friend's house and watch some more. We can't fly, but it's fun watching someone else do it and do it so well. Step into a real ring and join the millions of people who discovered that FMW means you get your Full Money's Worth.
Send your comments and or questions to JMinners@ybfree.com.