The Rise And Fall Of FMW

[@bull705]

Glad you guys remembered to give Kudo credit for her part in FMW history since Vice's Dark Side of the Ring episode on the promotion ignored her completely.

[@Kleetus_Van_Damm]

Yeah that episode was my only knowledge of FMW and had no idea about her until this video

[@Raysizum69]

You could say they gave him “kudo”s??

[@crazyangst12]

Hmm. Why did they not mention her?

[@ToyotaKudoFan]

FMW was as good as dead once she retired tbh

[@johnathanrush4666]

Because the episode wasn't about FMW, it was about Onita

[@leonarddillon256]

Fun Fact: FMW still is the highest drawing promotion that labeled itself as a hardcore wrestling company. Not even North American wrestling companies could draw as much as Onita did in the company's prime on a monthly basis and made millions in the process. Even ECW died too prematurely from severe financial issues and others imitators could never get as mainstream television for as long.

[@WSK9002]

Arai's Daughter has every right to feel how she feels about Ontia, I feel that Ontia, created FMW out of spite after his All Japan career did not turn out the way, he expected it to, he felt he deserve to be on the level of Baba and Inoki, he got there, but in the tradition of most Pro Wrestling Promoters he stepped on a lot of people along the way.

[@mrf19741]

RIP, Hayabusa, Mr. Arai, Kodo Fuyiki, and Mr. Pogo. I got hooked on FMW in the early 2000's after finding some VHS tapes 📼 at my local FYE store. To find out what was really happening behind the scenes is mind-blowing.

[@cliffordjackson3]

FACTS dude.

[@ArcherSuh4721]

I don't know if these guys were on every VHS, but did the ones you had have those absolutely awful American commentators? I had a few of them and they all had these two d*ckheads doing the introductions and play-by-play and they were effin' HORRIBLE. I couldn't stand either of them!

[@mrf19741]

@@ArcherSuh4721 Yes,They Absolutely Were!😤

[@Jesusblowsme666]

Finding wrestling DVDs at fye is like a trip down memory lane

[@chrisbutler1668]

I found the 1995 IWA King of the Death Match Tournament at an FYE. Sometimes I miss that store...

[@michaelsinger4638]

Arai’s story is so sad. Onita set him up to fail there. Onita’s massive ego was FMW’s biggest drawback.

[@MachtPlays]

Onita had the opportunity to redeem himself when Arai went into debt with the Yakuza. Onita had the means and the power to get the Yakuza to leave Arai alone, at minimum Onita could have played mediator and helped Arai with the Yakuza. It is a shame Onita didnt do that for Arai and his family. Onita should have paid off the debts after Arai killed himself too.. it was Arai's family who still owed the Yakuza.

[@jeffdakid5845]

@@MachtPlays not trying to disagree with you but according to Onita, Arai didn’t want to ask him because of his pride after he took over the company

[@iamthefwordgaming3165]

@@jeffdakid5845 so its more like when a servant become a master they got bigger ego. well maybe. i mean onita fmw never got tv deal and when arai took it they got tv deal but screwed because many of their fans are hardcore fans wrestling.

[@mrowley7300]

Honestly shout out to Bret FMW who went in to detail from the start of FMW to the closing of the company and everything afterwards

[@cliffordjackson3]

FACTS.

[@KVR216]

💯💯💯💯

[@davidjsaul]

Just subbed to his channel on the back of the recommendations

[@wyzeguy6]

I love these deep dives that Ross and the staff have been doing on these promotions. Keep up the great work everybody!

[@NathanMowery]

If you’re new to FMW and wanna learn more about it I recommend Bret FMW’s channel. He does super in depth videos and has practically every FMW match ever uploaded. As an FMW fan that channel was the best discovery ever for me haha.

[@lukewarmstanhouston9957]

He also sells a bunch of FMW, IWA Japan, BJW and other Japanese Wrestling DVDs and BluRays.

[@irishhemmingsen2761]

@@lukewarmstanhouston9957 how where and website plz

[@bobsanderz3005]

Thanks for the recommendation

[@Burger-urger]

It rules

[@davidjsaul]

I've just subbed to his channel, thanks for the recommendation

[@daviddeeks5480]

These documentaries are great. Ross and the editors are making amazing content that entertains and informs. Can't wait to see which promotion is next.

[@cliffordjackson3]

FACTS.

[@joshkenobiwan]

Ross is the most annoying narrator tho

[@joshhale9355]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Cultaholic is the best at the documentary style videos. Also, RIP Hayabusa, he was the trailblazer for a lot of, if not almost all, independent wrestling.

[@dano_the_collector8421]

Megumi vs. Combat (retirement) is still to this day my favorite womens match ever. Violent but, told quite the story with the anguish of Combats husband in the crowd

[@kibayasha7301]

I was just saying this to a friend a few days ago. So much emotion and so much devestation

[@dano_the_collector8421]

@@kibayasha7301 Megumi folded in half on some of those suplexes 😬 I loved the crowd reaction when they got close to the barbed wire ooooooooohhhhhh 😁

[@AllsparkSupremacy]

That match and exploding ring main event blew my mind.

[@Me-gy2ep]

Her hair melted n shit lol I watched that tape until it broke❤️

[@dano_the_collector8421]

@@Me-gy2ep me too 😂

[@Chris20xx]

LOVED this video! I always like to know more about FMW as I've seen a lot of the shows - Hayabusa is my favourite wrestler in FMW, Will Ospreay just recently wrestled on a NJPW show with a tribute to Hayabusa and i loved that so much

[@Jus2sick]

Thank you so much for making this, I know a lot of people aren't a fan of the “WEW era” however it did have its good moments.

[@ToxicAvengerCleanYourMind]

A lot of people never knew it existed

[@GM-tw4el]

Excuse my ignorance but what’s WEW ? I’ve never heard of it.

[@Jus2sick]

As mentioned, Fuyuki turned FMW to be more entertainment based. He started WEW (World Entertainment Wrestling) like WWE so it originally started as a govorning body like the NWA or AJPW’s PWF (Pacific Wrestling Federation) and so it lead to stunts such as the FMW dances, the Fireworks match, and created its own titles. After FMW folded in 2002, it became its own promotion until Fuyuki’s death in 2003.

[@polarbear138]

Love FMW. First Japanese promotion I ever got into. Loved Hayabusa, Gladiator and Super Leather!!!

[@polarbear138]

Forgot Kudo! She’s my all time favorite woman wrestler

[@garfieldsspaghetti]

I have always remained adamant about Onita's ego-stricken behavior on the SquaredCircle subreddit, and everyone called me stupid. Glad to see it to justice here. The de-facto owner of FMW also killed himself over the fall of FMW, and he wrote a book detailing everything before his passing. It's mad.

[@genesis4322]

Onita's attitude reminds me of a certain red and yellow wrestler I can't quite put my finger on.

[@LordDeBahs]

to be fair not only hogan does this . but yeah he is prime example

[@genesis4322]

@@LordDeBahs He is the first guy I think of

[@Rando1975]

Just a correction on the fire match. FMW did run another fire match in 1995 with Mitsuhiro Matsunaga vs. Mr. Pogo, although it was very different and not nearly as much fire.

[@B.-T.]

It's so tragic, because Ezaki could have followed in his mentor Jushin Liger's footsteps and grounded his wrestling style without switching gimmicks, and in doing that, FMW could have lasted a little longer and he probably could have avoided that tragic slip on the lionsault......

[@abzorb999]

I’ve been watching FMW recently so this is a treat.

[@honestreviewer7788]

When they lost Hayabusa it really hurt them. Top young star just stopped completely in his prime

[@cliffordjackson3]

FACTS them losing hayabusa fmw last true big star was the nail in the coffin for them.

[@honestreviewer7788]

@@cliffordjackson3 yep. He was their future and lost him ina snap. Such a shame.

[@BradleyVolk3]

Truly heartbreaking. The worst in ring injury I've ever seen. Its still hard to watch.

[@honestreviewer7788]

@@BradleyVolk3 watched it once. Didn't ever wanna see it again

[@BradleyVolk3]

@@honestreviewer7788 I hear ya. There's really no need to. I was honestly surprised afterwards to see guys like Jericho continue to use that move. I don't think many wrestlers would object to even banning it all together.

[@ryyanhyyland9020]

Awesome video. LOVE FMW . THANK YOU!

[@bertbernardo8583]

Love it everytime Ross says "Baba"

[@Bosstype90]

Laying paralyzed he asked the fans not to let fmw die how fucn sad bro 😭

[@KingHayabusa384]

I absolutely loved this promotion. So many great memories.

[@jahamescharlton]

I am absolutely obsessed with Onita and hardcore wrestling, so this video was a perfect way to start my morning.

[@Cosmic_Gorilla]

Loving this series, keep up the great work Ross!

[@kylethompson8949]

Ross showing again why he's the puroresu expert!! Would love to see the rise and fall of all japan WOMEN's pro wrestling next lads. Or maybe pro wrestling noah (even though they're slowly rising again)

[@supersasukemaniac]

NOAH would just be out and out depressing after 2009. up to about 2015

[@ijr_1598]

This was great!!! Please do Puerto Rico Wrestling next, I honestly want to learn about the insane crap that happens there.

[@KMmouse20]

Yoooo I was hoping to see a Rise and Fall on FMW, this promotion had a wild story.

[@TheShockninja]

So I was today years old when I learned Jerry Flynn was in FMW.

[@alexhartman6144]

Bret fmw is a channel I found at the beginning of quarantine. Its really great, he gives a detailed description of what was happening in the company year by year which is great. I've been watching fmw tapes since highschool but never really knew what was happening storyline wise

[@aron7766]

It's a shame WEW never took off, because it gave you a glimpse of what FMW would have been if it kept going. Theres an alternate run where Tomohiro Ishii and Mammoth Sasaki were the 2000s Hayabusa and Mr Gannosuke.

[@jonelliott7319]

This was some of your best work, Ross. Hell of a job to all involved.

[@Rando1975]

Arai's story was so sad. He didn't know anything about how to run a wrestling company, and took over because Onita had planned to close FMW after his retirement, leaving many out of work. Onita was such an egomaniac he didn't want anyone else to go over him.

[@WSK9002]

Onita makes Paul Heyman look like Verne Gagne, lol.

[@cliffordjackson3]

Onita is like hulk hogan but If hulk was not just a wrestler but also a promoter.

[@karlrobinson4660]

Would love to see one of these on IWA Japan

[@dannogsus2184]

Oh I'm glad they got Japanese wrestling's biggest fan to talk about this

[@mvjr7758]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Well done. Hayabusa botch is still painful to see and get out of mind. He truly was a Sabu fan.

[@OscillatorCollective]

This got me emotional… This is the kinda shit that makes me LOVE professional wrestling.

[@dod6031]

The story of Sabu being battered by the Yakuza before being saved by Mike Awesome is one of the most mental yet lesser known wrestling stories out there.

[@titan8611]

Onita sounds like he be best friends with hulk hogan 😂

[@shanestephens4728]

I would spend my breaks at school in like 99-00 reading and re-reading BAHUFMW’s super-detailed roster bios and without having actually watched a single match, declared Hayabusa as my favourite wrestler of all time - over Perfect, Macho, Shawn and even Bret. I remember infecting my family computer with AIDS downloading FMW clips off Kazaa. I also remember the excitement I had finally finding a full copy of the Onita/Hayabusa exploding cage match. I wish Hayabusa had made it to WCW’s cruiserweight division as I have no doubts he would have flourished and inspired even more generations of kids.

[@rex788]

Thank you so much for these documentaries. I love the FMW story. I am writing a fictional book about a wrestling company. After learning about a lot of dead companies. FMW is one of my favorites.

[@azharmoosa4005]

Nice always appreciate the Puro content. Hope to see more

[@cliffordjackson3]

FACTS hope they make a video about the rise and fall of impact wrestling, teddy hart, DX and many more.

[@ousmansano21]

@@cliffordjackson3 Dx????

[@Brando-Lee3725]

I loved FMW . The early stuff was cool because it was SO DIFFERENT than anything else . But my favorite era of the company was when Hayabusa started rising . Besides Sabu , he was the only other to combine high flying wrestling with the deathmatch style . Well . Great Sasuke did too.

[@Rando1975]

1996 was my favorite year for FMW. Hayabusa, Gladiator, Tanaka, Kanemura (my personal fave). We got good wrestling matches and death matches.

[@Brando-Lee3725]

@@Rando1975 yes sir . Fun stuff !

[@CurlyFromTheSwirly]

When I got into raslin in the late 90s a friend lent me a tape of FMW. It was amazing, especially Megumi Kudo.

[@jonesjones3678]

Glad to see this included things that Dark Side didn't! Keep up the good work, Cultaholic!

[@HyperActive7]

This Onita character is the Hulk Hogan of Japanese wrestling when it comes to his backstage politics..

[@ShowdeQuetzal]

Great video, I never knew the FMW story was that sad

[@ApeLikeThinker]

I had an old FMW VHS tape that had Leatherface and The Head Hunters vs Mike Awesome and some other guys along with Mock Foley in a barbed wire match and then Dick Togo and Terry Funk in an exploding death match.

[@Rando1975]

It was Terry Funk and Mr. Pogo, not Dick Togo.

[@RandomTrinidadian]

So Onita was the Japanese Hulk Hogan basically?

[@Imhim247]

Yes

[@gh0rochi363]

I always thought that was Inoki

[@sophiaheaton6197]

Do a lucha underground one please

[@cliffordjackson3]

FACTS love to see that.

[@webpulps]

I'm sorry, "Accidentally swallowed barbed wire?" 🤐

[@suneater98]

Hayabusa mask is iconic

[@kidwaryodproduction]

21:56 Taka's face easily can be memed 😆Very cute :) 27:05 Looks like Vampiro's long lost brother.

[@KVR216]

RIP Hayabusa, Arai, Goto, Pogo, Fuyuki, & Mike Awesome

[@808sirenz9]

Hayabusa is a top 20 talent all time. I wish he would be honored more than he already is. RIP. Muta Liger and Hayabusa made me spend hundreds on import tapes and games

[@aaron24wood]

Great video, learned a lot. Does make you wonder why Moxley worships Onita though. The facts hardly paint Onota on a good light as a person.

[@richardhornby5058]

Another grate video. I have to wonder how many of Onita's hospital stays where actually a work. They didn't call him Mr Liar for nothing.

[@Rando1975]

Well, they called him Mr. Liar because he came back from retirement. A lot of fans were really pissed off when he came back as it was a special occasion when a legend retires.

[@richardhornby5058]

@@Rando1975 yep. That's also what makes me suspicious of cheap heat worked hospital stays

[@WSK9002]

I have heard that story for two decades Onita has even says on "Dark Side of The Ring" the FMW brass asked him to leave, sorta like Vincent K. McMahon in the Summer of 2022, but in actuality Onita was most likely terminated, I am of the belief though that a lot of the FMW higher ups wanted to terminate Onita for being a Money Hungry Jerk, regardless of he drew money or was over.

[@BretFMWWorld]

Hayabusa wanted Onita gone and the wrestlers along with Arai sided with Hayabusa on the decision.

[@mattnoble3444]

“I believe it’s pronounced ECW”- Vinny Mac

[@OscillatorCollective]

FMW “tapes” were the wet dream of wrestling fans in the 90s. I had a few, blew my mind HAYABUSA IS GOD‼️

[@Dannypuck]

Another great video, Ross. This needs to be a Dark Side of the Ring episode.

[@Rando1975]

It was. Although it really could have been a two-part episode.

[@Kanzuki]

Arai's end was pretty depressing. I felt bad for the poor guy and his family

[@bally40001]

I know nothing about FMW but Ross makes it so interesting and more importantly funny!

[@claytonjones8358]

So cool to get their tapes from Japan in the 90s. Great times

[@joeywrestling9536]

This could be one of my favorite videos of the series. Unfortunately, this was during a period in which I was not actively watching wrestling. I had no idea of this promotion and found it incredibly fascinating. Thank you as always, Ross! Great job bonne lad!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@iamtriston666]

I would love to see a movie about this.

[@darXcore]

Very very interesting, lots of new info for me, thank you.

[@amartyaroy3754]

Megumi Kudo was one of the few women in Japan who was doing death matches in the late 20th century something where WWE were using women as sex symbols. She is indeed the queen of extreme.

[@chewydewok]

Is it just me, or does Onita sound like a Japanese version of Hulk Hogan?

[@Darkworldinc1313]

This was great guys. More videos like this, please.

[@Joe90h]

Horace Hogan is the key to all of this...

[@ToyotaKudoFan]

We definitely need episodes on NJPW, NOAH and All Japan Women's now

[@oddishhonor]

Well done boys! This is a great watch

[@theneonchimpchannel9095]

Hayabusa was possibly the greatest in ring performer of all time. I don't think many people could have done what he did...and I'm not sure anyone should try given what happened to him.

[@Rando1975]

True. He was a heavyweight, but was high-flying like a junior heavyweight. He became H to change his wrestling style, but went back to being Hayabusa.

[@WSK9002]

If Hayabusa never got hurt, he would be just as celebrated as Rey Mysterio or Liger are now.

[@yadielenielbellecolon982]

Great Story 😁😍😀💗

[@Brando-Lee3725]

I loved that match with hayabusa and tanaka vs funk and pogo !!!! Also the Funkmasters of wrestling show. Hayabusa had tons of great matches then . A bunch with Mike Awesome and some killer ones against Taka Michinoku and Sasuke along with great six man death matches .

[@iamcasihart]

Here to pay respects to THE Terry Funk. He seemed like a genuinely lovely, kindhearted, funny, interesting man, not to mention his absolute brilliance as a legend in pro wrestling. It saddens me that he never got the money he was owed for working so hard.

[@bigjoeofthe707]

Hope to see one on NOAH but that could be called The Rise, Fall, and semi Rise of Pro Wrestling NOAH. Same with New Japan.

[@LucienYT]

Onita: The Japanese Hogan

[@DC90]

You never go full Russo.

[@thatoneguy_313]

for an even greater in depth analysis of FMW check out the History of FMW podcast. Bret Querner is the definitive expert on all things FMW.

[@ryyanhyyland9020]

Wow. I heard bad things about onita but. Wow. He's unreal. Thats so disappointing.☹️

[@AdamNRG316]

Fucking great video Ross. Knew nothing about them until now. Really enjoyable listen.

[@PumpkinsChokeaHoe]

Hardcore wrestling started for me wit the Harley race vs hacksaw backstage brawl at the 37th annual slammy awards in the 80s tbh

[@animeslayer4762]

I’ve seen FMW in DarkSide Of The Ring and it was crazy

[@talonthehand]

I am here for Ross’ trips down history. I want them to go more and more obscure.

[@sensoriko]

24:24 A young Eric Bischoff takes fashion notes.

[@rdrouynriv]

I saw a FMW bootleg video with Hayabusa in a death match back in the late 90's. Seriously blew my mind. Made Mick Foley's stunts look like child's play.

[@stevensfigueroa2492]

It surprises me Onita has ever stepped a foot here in the Dominican Republic, which makes sense as we welcomed lots of stars from around mid 70’s and early 90’s.

[@michaelsinger4638]

A fascinating “what if” what if Onita was not plagued with injuries. Could he have become one of AJPW’s top stars in Time?

[@Thor-Orion]

He made an entire promotion possible. I think he would have been a big star anywhere.

[@ToyotaKudoFan]

I don't think so, even during his prime years in AJPW he was average at best in the ring, nothing compared to the future stars like Misawa, Kobashi, etc. he wouldn't have risen past the mid-card imo.

[@MrKurtBarlow]

Took Forever For FMW to get some love! Better late than never I guess.

[@craigstrachan]

Was definately a fan of FMW and have a bunch of VHS and DVDs of their matches being from RF Video and some of the the Tokyo pop releases . Onita was definately a pionner for the Death Match style along with Cactus Jack and Terry Funk (RIP) and his matches were nothing short a spectular with the stipulations that implemented and help inspire the hardcore style that companies like ECW,CZW,IWA Mid South , GCW would use in the states and influencing companies like W*ING,BJW , IWA Japan , FREEDOMS etc . Onita definately left his mark as a Hardcore Legend and a pioneer . Such a shame the company went under under such circumstances but lives on through VHS and DVDs. Best to check ebay or Amazon for these videos as they are still available .

[@WSK9002]

It's sad to me, that one of the O.G. FMW roster that's still alive is Onita, the good die young and jerks live forever as they say.

[@SaveUsDCS2003]

Gotta get that heat! Brother Brother Brother!

[@jarvisyoung77]

If anyone want to see the full story of FMW go to Bret fmw channel called History of FMW.

[@bluemajiic1979]

Hayabusa death was sad because he was regaining his mobility and didn't live to see it through.

[@TheTribalgame]

I'd love to see the rise and fall of WOS.

[@petesmart1983]

Fmw changed when Arai took over and got rid of deathmatches which was it only unique appeal and slowly decline plus all the money he owned to the yakuza

[@cliffordjackson3]

FACTS and him unfortunately committing suicide because of the whole.

[@WSK9002]

It's kinda like now, there are no big differences between New Japan and Pro Wrestling NOAH.