HAYABUSA vs. MASATO TANAKA
These two superstars are two of the most poular grapplers in the history of Japan's Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (or FMW, for short). They're two of the company's top few faces, and were always on the same side for most of their careers. Their first match together that I could find a trace of (hey, I do a lot of research when making these "Spotlight Feuds," just so 'ya know!) was on October 28th, 1995, at the Korakuen Hall in Japan. It was Hayabusa and Big Japan (BJPW) superstar Mitsuhiro Matsunaga teaming up against Masato Tanaka and another BJPW superstar, W*NG Kanemura.
Hayabusa is unmasked for the first time in his legendary career when Tanaka ripped the mask off during the match. 'Busa then gets his bare head sliced open by Kanemura, who uses a barbed-wire baseball bat. 'Busa is juicing (bleeding) badly now, as his body and ring attire is stained with red pretty well. Matsunaga attacks his Big Japan rival with the very same baseball bat, giving Hayabusa just enough time to recover enough to hit Tanaka with a regularly-used move in Japan, the Fire Thunder PowerBomb. This isn't enough, though, as Tanaka kicks out of that and a host of other manuevers, but can't survive Hayabusa's finishing manuever, the Falcon Arrow, which is able to keep him down for the 1-2-3 win.
After the match, all four
of the participants show great sportsmanship by embracing and
raising eachother's arms, which is a really old school, but still
fun to watch angle.
It's looking to be like just another "kiss and make up"
angle, until Leather Weapon (a heel faction, lead by Super
Leather a.k.a. Leatherface), and several other heels attack them,
spoiling the moment. After the beatdown, Hayabusa, Kanemura,
Mutsanaga, and Tanaka form an alliance and vow to team up to take
out Super Leather and his goons. Kanemura and Matsunaga didn't
keep their part of the deal for very long, though, as they turned
on Hayabusa and Tanaka less than a month later on October 28.
They do find some new allies eventually, though, like Koji Nakagawa, Jinsei Shinzaki, and Tetsuhiro Kuroda, who stay loyal to them for awhile. Leather Weapon eventually dismantles, and Hayabusa and his allies' new targets are Mr. Gannosuke, Gladiator, Hisakatsu Oya, and Yukihiro Kanemura, collectively known as "Team ZEN." ZEN's leader is the legendary Atsushi Onita, and the feud between Team FMW (Hayabusa and his allies) and ZEN lasts until around early '98. Hayabusa then goes onto a classic feud with childhood friend Mr. Gannosuke, and keeps both Shinzaki and Tanaka as close allies during that feud, teaming with them against Gannosuke, Kanemura, Jado, and others.
In early '98, an Eight-Man Single Elimination Tournament is held to determine the number one contender to Mr. Gannosuke's FMW Double Titles. Hayabusa is entered into the tourney, and his first-round opponent is his ally and fellow Team FMW member, Masato Tanaka, who he takes on on March 13, 1998 at the Sapporo Nakajima Sports Center.
The match began and the two went at it, with H (who I'll call Hayabusa, for short) dropkicking Tanaka's kneecap, only to be put down with Tanaka's lariat. Tanaka charges H, who steps away, causing Tanaka to fall to the outside. H runs against the ropes and nails Tanaka in the face with a baseball slide dropkick, followed by a beautiful Asai Moonsault! Back in the ring, Tanaka misses a running elbow smash, allowing H to focus on that same arm, nailing some modified arm throws, a wakigatame, and a springboard dropkick to the arm. H goes for a kick, but Tanaka catches the foot and nails a dragonscrew leg whip. He locks H in a surfboard stretch, followed by a figure four leglock, and then stands him back up for a running elbow smash. A second attempt misses, but he keeps control with a powerslam.
Tanaka uses an extremely stiff Tornado DDT for 2.5. Some more elbow smashes, one of which misses, allowing H to regain control after teaching Tanaka what the word "stiff" actually means with a brutal Release German Suplex, which sees Tanaka landing right on his head! A thrust kick sends the big man to the outside, which H follows with a Top Con Hilo. Back in the ring, Tanaka doesn't find much safety, as he's quickly nailed with a Springboard Somersault Senton, followed by a Quebrada (springboard moonsault, like Y2J's Lionsault) for two, beginning a series of near falls, as a Fishermanbuster (Fisherman's DDT) and Tiger-Driver (Double Underhook Sitdown PowerBomb) each get two. He then bodyslams the big man, setting him up for a spectacular Phoenix Splash for 2.75.
Sensing that the end may be near, H lifts Tanaka up into position for the Falcon Arrow, Tanaka slips out, lands on his feet, and applies a waistlock, which is quickly countered by H, who once again goes for the Falcon Arrow and (surprisingly) hits it for two. He climbs up to the top-rope and dives right into Tanaka's elbow smash. Both stay down for awhile, before climbing to their feet again. Tanaka runs off the ropes with another elbow smash. Another attempt is countered as H catches him with a great hurricanrana takeover. H charges at him, but is put down with a stiff lariat, followed by a running spinning springboard 3/4 frontfaced neckbreaker drop (like Spike Dudley's Acid Drop, but with the result being a Stunner, instead) for 2.5. He picks him back up and drops him on his neck and back with a vertical suplex. This sets up for the big man to climb up top and fly off with a huge Frogsplash for 2.5.
He goes for a possible finish, nailing H with a Thunder Fire PowerBomb for only 2.5. Tanaka rips off his elbow pad and charges with a running elbow, only to have it blocked by H, who follows up with an incredibly stiff Release Tiger Suplex! He picks him back in and locks on a full nelson hold, and eventually lifts the big man up and over with a bridging Dragon Suplex for 2.75! Tanaka stays down, so H goes up top and comes off with a picture-perfect Firebird Splash (450) for the near fall, followed by a second Falcon Arrow with the same outcome! What the hell does Hayabusa have to do to keep Masato Tanaka down for the three count?!! H climbs up top again and comes off, but is caught with another stiff T-F 'bomb for two. Tanaka's running Death Valley Bomb (Driver) is followed by a third T-F 'bomb for 2.5!
A "TANAKA!" chant starts up, and Tanaka goes for another T-F 'bomb, but H escapes and catches Tanaka with a thrust kick, which doesn't keep him down for long as H is nailed with another stiff elbow smash for the near fall. A second DVB gets 2.75, and Tanaka goes for another running elbow but eats boot courtesy of H's nice-looking twisting high kick. Tanaka takes back the advantage with an elbow smash, again, for a near fall. H escapes a third DVB and nails Tanaka with a stiff Release German Suplex. Tanaka misses another running elbow smash, and both collapse, but eventually rise up and hammer eachother back and forth, with H getting the best of it with a high kick. Another stiff release Dragon Suplex by H followed by the third Falcon Arrow of the match gets three and the pinfall win at 27:17! They shake hands and make up, ending an incredible **** (according to PuroresuFan.com) match. The bout was incredible, and was rated as the seventh greatest match in FMW history by BAHU's FMW World.
Hayabusa advances to the semifinals, where his opponent was Jado. He beat Jado, too, and moved onto the final round, where he faced Mike "Gladiator" Awesome. Hayabusa overcomes his power abuse and covers for the quick pinfall win after reversing a Top-Rope Awesome Bomb into a Frankensteiner. He's earned his shot at Gannosuke's Double Titles, and receives the title shot on April 30, 1998 at the Yokahoma Bunka Gym. After a superb, hard-fought bout, the end comes after a picture-perfect Phoenix Splash by Hayabusa onto his longtime rival, and the 1-2-3 signals a new champion! Hayabusa defeats his arch-nemesis, Mr. Gannosuke, and is the new FMW Unified World Heavyweight Champion.
His first title defense
came on May 19 at Korokuen Hall, against none other than Masato
Tanaka, who he had defeated in the first round in a spectacular
match. They couldn't outdue that effort, though, could they?
Well, we'll just have to see...
Some matwork begins the match, followed by Tanaka dropkicking H's
(who I'll call Hayabusa) kneecap. The big man then uses a high
spot, that being a middle turnbuckle springboard lariat, which
sends H out to the floor. Tanaka once again uses a high spot as
he shocks everybody by diving out with a running elbow smash
suicida (running elbow smash suicide-dive!). Back in the
ring, Tanaka targets the leg with various submission holds,
including a figure-four leglock, followed by a surfboard stretch
which gradually evolves into a bow and arrow chinlock.
H gets in a wristlock takedown, followed by a dropkick to the
arm. Several armbreaker takedowns and reversals are used,
including a rolling takedown into a chickenwing armlock by H. In
a superb spot, H, who's on the ring apron, springboards into the
ring, only to be caught with a spectacular midair powerslam by
Tanaka! Tanaka springs off the ropes with a running elbow smash,
but a second attempt is countered by (just like in their previous
match) a beautiful Hurricanrana takeovoer by H. H nails a release
German Suplex, but is quickly put back down with a lariat. Tanaka
does his signature spinning springboard 3/4 Frontfaced
Neckbreaker Drop, followed by another trademark of his, the
Tornado DDT, for two. He goes back up top, but isn't quick
enough, as H climbs up, too, and brings him back down with a
Belly-To-Belly Suplex!
A modified dropkick of sorts sends Tanaka to the outside, and H follows up with a top con hilo! Back in the ring, H slingshots into a leg drop for two. A fishermanbuster gets two and a Tiger-Driver 2.5. A top-rope twisting diving senton (not quite a Phoenix Splash) gets two, and a Michinoku Driver II gets 2.5. He goes up top, but is brought down by Tanaka's suplex. Tanaka attempts the Thunder Fire PowerBomb, but H escapes, only to eat an elbow smash and get dropped with the T-F 'bomb for two. H catches an attempted elbow smash with a high kick, followed by a Tiger Suplex for 2.75. H's Firebird Splash followed by T-F 'bomb get only 2. An attempted Phoenix Splash is caught with a stiff Avalance-Style Reverse Brainbuster! A DVB isn't enough to keep H down, though, nor is another T-F 'bomb, which gets two.
H escapes another attempt and gets a boot up into Tanaka's face, and then counters an attempted elbow smash with another Hurricanrana Takeover, only to get T-F 'bombed for two. A running DVB gets 2.5 for Tanaka, who tries a third, only to have H slip out of. He nails Tanaka with a high kick, followed by a release Dragon Suplex and Falcon Arrow for 2.75! Elbows and kicks are exchanged until Tanaka knocks H down with a stiff elbow for 2.5. Another T-F 'bomb gets 2.75, and H puts up a fight by nailing a twisting high kick, but quickly eats another running elbow for 2.5. H counters a powerbomb into an armdrag, and then blocks a rolling elbow, while Tanaka ducks his high kick, only to be hit with a great shotei! Tanaka blocks a suplex and hits his trademark suplex/stunner combo, and then attempts his Roaring Elbow (spinning elbow smash), but H catches the arms and hits a ...TIGER DRIVER '91, followed by a Falcon Arrow for the 1...2...3 right at the 26 minute mark!!! What an effort! What a match! H has retained his FMW Double Titles from Masato Tanaka in an instant classic!
There's no doubt that these two spectacular athletes outdid their previous tourney battle, as, according to by BAHU's FMW World, this match is the greatest match in the history of FMW!!!!! PuroresuFan.com ranked the match ****1/4 (stars), 1/4 (star) higher than their previous tourney match, which is the highest rating they gave to any of their other FMW videos, so it certainly seems like several critics rank it as a stupendous showing, and I too would have to tend to agree.
Hayabusa's half-year title reign ended on November 20 when Kodo Fuyuki bested him to win the FMW Double Titles. Tanaka and him stayed allies (along with Jinsei Shinzaki), and targeted Gannosuke, Hideki Hosaka, and Fuyuki. On February 13, 1999, Hayabusa teamed with Shinzaki to take on All-Japan superstars Jun Izumida and Tamon Honda for the All-Japan All Asian Tag Team Titles. They won the match and the titles, becoming the first non All-Japan employed team to win an All-Japan title. They defended the titles on March 19 against Tanaka Tetsuhiro Kuroda. Like always, it was a great match, and, after 30+ minutes, Hayabusa retained the titles for his team when he nailed Kuroda with the Falcon Arrow for the 1-2-3 pinfall win.
On March 29, Hayabusa and Kodo Fuyuki team up in the FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Title Tournament, and their opponents were Tanaka and Kuroda. The two teams ended up wrestling to a 30-minute draw. They eventually made it all the way to the finals, where, on May 2, once again, their opponents were Tanaka and Kuroda. They lost the match, which allowed Tanaka and Kuroda to win the vacant FMW World Tag Team Titles. After the match, Hayabusa and Fuyuki suffered what appeared to be a break up, as Hayabusa tried to patch things up, only to have Kuroda go berserk and attack him.
On May 5, Hayabusa and Jinsei Shinzaki team up for the last time in FMW to take on Tanaka and Kuroda, with the stipulation being that the competitor to score the pinfall receives a shot at Fuyuki's Double Titles later on that same night. The fantastic match ends when Kuroda nails Hayabusa with a lariat out of nowhere (he had been trying to accomplish this for over six months) for the pinfall vicotry. Fuyuki retained the title later that night thanks to interference by his goons, but even more importantly, an alliance between Flying Kid Ichihara, Hideki Hosaka, Hisakatsu Oya, Masato Tanaka, Ricky Fuji, Tetsuhiro Kuroda, and Hayabusa was formed, as they all vowed to team up to take out Team No Respect (or TNR, for short), which consisted of Jado, Mr. Gannosuke, Gedo, Fuyuki, Hido, Koji Nakagawa, and Yukihiro Kanemura.
TNR eventually disbanded, and Hayabusa received a character change, which you can read about in the Hayabusa vs. Mr. Gannosuke feud. His new name would simply be "H," and he'd get a completely new look, without his trademark mask. On November 23, 1999, at FMW's "10th Anniversary Show," the bloody feud between H and Mr. Gannosuke finally came to a screeching half when they made up and became allies after their main event match (which H won) at the Yokohama Dome, forming a partnership and becoming a viable tag team with realistic contention for a run with gold.
On December 1, the newly-reunited duo won the WEW World Tag Team Titles from Hisakatsu Oya and Tetsuhiro Kuroda. Backstage, after the match, Tanaka made it clear that he was not happy with the duo's new friendship, considering all that Gannosuke had done to H in the past. He did have a point, as Gannosuke and H had been engaged in a series of emotional wars, where Gannosuke had ripped H's mask off, used fireballs as a weapon toward him, cost him important matches, betrayed him on several occasions, and much more. Nonetheless, though, the fact remained: H and Gannosuke were back on the same page, and they were quite a force to be reckoned with.
On December 3, a six-man tag team match was signed pitting Gedo, Kintaro Kanemura, and Koji Nakagawa against H, Gannosuke, and Masato Tanaka. While they were taking on common enemies, Tanaka obviously didn't like the idea of teaming with two previously heated rivals, as he walked out midway through the match, leaving it three on two. An H Edge on Gedo eventually finished off the opposition, but H and Gannosuke certainly didn't have an easy time battling off three top-notch talents. H and Gannosuke celebrated their win after the match, but their partner was nowhere in view.
On December 11, Oya and Kuroda are granted a rematch at the Tag Team Titles, but H and Gannosuke once again come out on top when Gannosuke nails Oya with the Fire Thunder Driver for the 1-2-3. After the match, in typical old school fashion, all four congratulated eachother on the match, but it was not all smiles, as Kuroda told H and Gannosuke that he'd defeat them the next night at Korakuen Hall when he teams with the then-WEW World Heavyweight Champion, Masato Tanaka.
The next night boasted a tag team match (albeit a non-title one) between the WEW Tag Team Champions, H and Mr. Gannosuke, and Tetsuhiro Kuroda and the promotion's World Champion, Masato Tanaka. Like the previous night, H and Gannosuke show spectacular teamwork and escape with the win when H debuts a new finishing move, which he dubs the "H-Thunder." After the great showing, the teams look as if they're questioning whether to shake eachother's hands, and the silence is broken when Tanaka takes a microphone and berates H for making up with his arch rival, a man who's main goal was to ruin his career. He goes on to say that FMW looks to be turning into a "promotion for pussies" with Tag Team Champions like them.
ECW grapplers Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney would then make their way out to the ring, and Tanaka would walk backstage with them, prompting a few boos from the crowd, as ECW, at the time, was being portrayed as a heel faction who was trying to invade FMW and take over. Kuroda would shake the hands of H and Gannosuke, showing that his allegiances lie with them, but, nonetheless, Team FMW had lost a valuable weapon, while ECW Japan had gained a key asset to victory in Masato Tanaka.
On February 5, 2000, H and Gannosuke lose their WEW World Tag Team Titles to Kudo Fuyuki and FMW female newcomer Kyoko Inoue in a humilliating defeat, thanks to interference by Chocoball Mukai. On March 27, a big brawl erupts during the main event when Masato Tanaka makes his first appearance in almost five months and attacks Tetsuhiro Kuroda, prompting H to run out. H, Tanaka, Kuroda, and even Fuyuki eventually engage in a full-fledged brawl, with the outcome being the eventual dismantling of ECW Japan.
On April 11, Mr. Gannosuke returns from an injury and teams with H to take on Balls Mahoney and Masato Tanaka. As H is posing on the top-rope before the match, Balls runs up and gives him the Nutcracker Suite off the top-rope, causing him to become seriously injured. Yoshinori Sasaki carries him back to the lockerroom, while Balls and Tanaka double team Gannosuke. Kodo Fuyuki, who had lost a retirement match to H a few days before, runs out and makes the save, but is eventually overpowered, too. They begin focusing on Gannosuke, who desperately tries to put up a fight, when...
The theme song of the old Hayabusa hits and he comes running out, fully cloaked with the long, traditional ring attire and mask! H's able to fight off Balls and Tanaka for awhile, but is also eventually overpowered. Tanaka hits him with his finisher, the Diamond Dust, and covers for the pinfall win, pinning Ezaki (Hayabusa's real last name) for the first time in his career, dating back all the way to the early 90's.
On May 5, 2000, at the Komazawa Olympic Gym, the main event of FMW's 11th Anniversary Pay-Per-View card, entitled "Backdraft," pits Eiji Ezaki, making his return as Hayabusa, against Masato Tanaka. Hayabusa's old friend, former tag team partner, and former FMW mainstay, Jinsei Shinzaki, makes his return to FMW and sits at ringside to observe the match.
The match begins with a great mat sequence, featuring several creative holds, counterholds, and reversals, followed by Tanaka targeting H's (who I'm gonna call him, for short) leg so that he can't take to the air, which his primary offense. H goes on the attack with a top con hilo, but Tanaka takes the control back with some chairshots and a powerbomb through a table, which is layed up against a corner turnbuckle. H botches a hurricanrana attempt, and Tanaka smartly tries to cover up the mistake by reversing it into a pinning combo for two. H gets up quickly and attempts a quebrada, which misses, but lands on his feet and puts Tanaka down on the mat with a superkick. On the outside, H springs up and lands an Asai Moonsault.
Back in the ring, he once again takes to the air
with springboard somersault senton, followed by another quebrada
for two. H's eventually able to nail his Firebird Splash for 2.5,
followed by a Falcon Arrow for 2.75! While still in the ring,
Tanaka lifts up H and powerbombs him over the ring-ropes
and through a ringside table, straight onto the concrete
floor!
Back in the ring, Tanaka slams H with a LigerBomb for 2.75, and
tries a rolling elbow smash, but H counters it and drops Tanaka
with a nice release Dragon Suplex! Tanaka gains back control with
a vicious reverse suplex, which sees H land directly on his
noggin!
Tanaka nails a rolling elbow for 2.75, and tries another, but is hit with H's own elbow smash for 2.75. H hits the H-Edge, a Tiger Driver, and the Falcon Arrow, but Tanaka's able to kick out at 2.75! H botches his second spot in the match by erring his hard-to-hit Phoenix Splash. Tanaka stands first and attempts the Diamond Dust, which H escapes and follows with a shotei! He tries an avalanche-style hurricanrana, but Tanaka counters it with a huge powerbomb, followed by the Diamond Dust for 2.75. He puts H back down with a running elbow smash for another near fall. H hits what looks to be a modified Tiger Driver, followed by the H-Thunder for the 1-2-3 pinfall win in 18:43.
H celebrates with the fans, who have mobbed the ring. PuroresuFan.com ranks the match *** (stars), which, albeit their worse one-on-one ranking of all (on that site), is still pretty darn good, as most FMW matches receive * or *1/2 (stars). BAHU's FMW World ranks the match as the 46th best match in FMW history! So, while it wasn't as good as their two previous showings, it was quite a performance, and worth some attention.
On July 28, 2000, Tanaka makes his return to FMW and teams with Hayabusa, so they're on the same side, now. That's the end of the Hayabusa vs. Masato Tanaka feud. It'll be remembered as one that produced classic matches, including the greatest FMW match ever, in some minds. I hope you enjoyed it!
Tag Team Match Results:
FINAL TALLY: H: 3 wins; Tanaka: 1 win
WINNER: Hayabusa
One-On-One Match Resutlts:
FINAL TALLY: H: 3 wins; Tanaka: 0 wins
WINNER: Hayabusa
FINAL TALLY: Hayabusa: 6 wins; Tanaka: 1 win
UNDISPUTED WINNER of the HAYABUSA vs. MASATO TANAKA feud:
HAYABUSA