1 00:00:10,010 --> 00:00:13,031 {\an8}- [Grunting] - [Cheering] 2 00:00:13,055 --> 00:00:16,242 {\an8}With death defying stunts and relentless bloodshed, 3 00:00:16,266 --> 00:00:19,078 {\an8}Japan's Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling burst into 4 00:00:19,102 --> 00:00:22,999 {\an8}life in 1989, led by revolutionary pioneer, 5 00:00:23,023 --> 00:00:24,459 {\an8}Atsushi Onita. 6 00:00:24,483 --> 00:00:27,212 {\an8}Onita and his promotion, they were pioneers. 7 00:00:27,236 --> 00:00:32,133 {\an8}In the late 1980s, the WWE was relatively homogenized. 8 00:00:32,157 --> 00:00:34,427 {\an8}WCW could get a little wild, 9 00:00:34,451 --> 00:00:39,098 {\an8}but FMW took it to a whole different level. 10 00:00:39,122 --> 00:00:42,560 {\an8}You get Onita, will bleed to death. 11 00:00:42,584 --> 00:00:44,169 {\an8}Every night, he bleeds to death. 12 00:00:58,517 --> 00:01:01,037 {\an8}By putting himself and his roster of wrestlers 13 00:01:01,061 --> 00:01:03,623 {\an8}in increasingly dangerous situations, 14 00:01:03,647 --> 00:01:06,626 {\an8}Onita filled stadiums with diehard fans, 15 00:01:06,650 --> 00:01:09,837 {\an8}and became a global icon of hardcore wrestling. 16 00:01:09,861 --> 00:01:12,507 {\an8}As much as they were known for the brutality, 17 00:01:12,531 --> 00:01:17,220 {\an8}it was really the imagination that made that company click. 18 00:01:17,244 --> 00:01:19,305 {\an8}A no rope barbed wire match. 19 00:01:19,329 --> 00:01:21,224 {\an8}And then they go to the exploding barb wire, 20 00:01:21,248 --> 00:01:23,101 {\an8}then they go to the exploding ring. 21 00:01:23,125 --> 00:01:25,061 {\an8}And then the electrified pool. 22 00:01:25,085 --> 00:01:28,147 {\an8}It just got crazier, and crazier, and crazier. 23 00:01:28,171 --> 00:01:30,066 {\an8}♪ 24 00:01:30,090 --> 00:01:33,236 {\an8}You've gotta be just nuttier than a fruitcake 25 00:01:33,260 --> 00:01:35,947 {\an8}to get into one of those matches. 26 00:01:35,971 --> 00:01:38,616 {\an8}It got too hot, everybody ran to the middle. 27 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:39,701 {\an8}And everybody's saying, "Get out of here, 28 00:01:39,725 --> 00:01:41,744 {\an8}get out of here, get out of here!" 29 00:01:41,768 --> 00:01:45,331 {\an8}The promotion's meteoric rise was followed by an equally 30 00:01:45,355 --> 00:01:49,669 {\an8}spectacular crash that left its top star paralyzed and 31 00:01:49,693 --> 00:01:51,921 {\an8}its new CEO dead. 32 00:01:51,945 --> 00:01:55,466 {\an8}Some place the blame for FMW's tragic downfall on 33 00:01:55,490 --> 00:01:57,969 {\an8}its founder, who sacrificed everything 34 00:01:57,993 --> 00:01:59,429 {\an8}for fame and fortune. 35 00:01:59,453 --> 00:02:06,144 {\an8}Some of my dad's fans say that he killed my father. 36 00:02:06,168 --> 00:02:07,937 {\an8}Did he run over some people? 37 00:02:07,961 --> 00:02:09,689 {\an8}I'm sure he did. 38 00:02:09,713 --> 00:02:14,527 {\an8}But, it was necessary to be Atsushi Onita. 39 00:02:14,551 --> 00:02:16,904 {\an8}Superstar. 40 00:02:16,928 --> 00:02:24,928 {\an8}♪ 41 00:02:26,563 --> 00:02:30,960 {\an8}I am Atsushi Onita. 42 00:02:30,984 --> 00:02:34,130 {\an8}Yeah. Oh... 43 00:02:34,154 --> 00:02:35,864 {\an8}[Speaking Japanese] 44 00:03:02,015 --> 00:03:04,911 {\an8}Japan's vibrant wrestling culture was popularized by 45 00:03:04,935 --> 00:03:07,455 {\an8}Giant Baba's All Japan Pro Wrestling, 46 00:03:07,479 --> 00:03:10,875 {\an8}and Antonio Inoki's New Japan Pro Wrestling. 47 00:03:10,899 --> 00:03:12,668 {\an8}Both championed an authentic, 48 00:03:12,692 --> 00:03:15,171 {\an8}hard-hitting style. 49 00:03:15,195 --> 00:03:17,840 {\an8}When Texan brawlers Terry and Dory Funk came over 50 00:03:17,864 --> 00:03:21,010 {\an8}to perform, their over the top western personas 51 00:03:21,034 --> 00:03:23,620 {\an8}instantly captivated Japanese audiences. 52 00:03:35,424 --> 00:03:36,318 {\an8}For some reason, 53 00:03:36,342 --> 00:03:39,904 {\an8}the people took to me in Japan. 54 00:03:39,928 --> 00:03:41,739 {\an8}♪ 55 00:03:41,763 --> 00:03:46,077 {\an8}Meaner than a rattlesnake, tougher than shoe leather. 56 00:03:46,101 --> 00:03:50,581 {\an8}More dangerous than a hollowed eye scorpion. 57 00:03:50,605 --> 00:03:53,084 {\an8}Middle aged and crazy. 58 00:03:53,108 --> 00:03:55,378 {\an8}Crazy like a fox. 59 00:03:55,402 --> 00:03:57,755 {\an8}Do you know who that is? 60 00:03:57,779 --> 00:04:02,677 {\an8}That is me. The best there ever was. 61 00:04:02,701 --> 00:04:04,220 {\an8}[Announcer] Oh, my god! 62 00:04:04,244 --> 00:04:07,140 {\an8}And the best there ever will be. 63 00:04:07,164 --> 00:04:08,850 {\an8}[Announcer] We've got a new champion! 64 00:04:08,874 --> 00:04:14,605 {\an8}Terry Funk. Alright, ask me some questions. 65 00:04:14,629 --> 00:04:17,316 {\an8}Terry Funk is one of the most universally loved 66 00:04:17,340 --> 00:04:19,235 {\an8}performers in Japanese history. 67 00:04:19,259 --> 00:04:21,737 {\an8}And he worked All Japan, he worked New Japan. 68 00:04:21,761 --> 00:04:24,407 {\an8}He'd be known as an all-time great. 69 00:04:24,431 --> 00:04:26,075 {\an8}My name is Chris Jericho and, 70 00:04:26,099 --> 00:04:29,454 {\an8}I worked for two tours in FMW. 71 00:04:29,478 --> 00:04:31,873 {\an8}Onita was a guy that started out in, 72 00:04:31,897 --> 00:04:34,792 {\an8}I think it was All Japan, and he was kind of a high flyer. 73 00:04:34,816 --> 00:04:37,211 {\an8}A young disciple of Giant Baba, 74 00:04:37,235 --> 00:04:41,007 {\an8}Onita rose through the ranks of All Japan's dojo system 75 00:04:41,031 --> 00:04:44,469 {\an8}before being sent to America to further his craft and 76 00:04:44,493 --> 00:04:46,762 {\an8}learn from the styles of the west. 77 00:04:46,786 --> 00:04:49,182 {\an8}Japanese wrestlers would be sent to the different 78 00:04:49,206 --> 00:04:52,768 {\an8}wrestling territories to further learn their trade. 79 00:04:52,792 --> 00:04:55,396 {\an8}It was almost like an apprenticeship. 80 00:04:55,420 --> 00:04:57,273 {\an8}My name is Mick Foley. 81 00:04:57,297 --> 00:04:59,400 {\an8}I'm known as the king of the death match. 82 00:04:59,424 --> 00:05:01,777 {\an8}[Cheering & screaming] 83 00:05:01,801 --> 00:05:05,239 {\an8}For a few years, I was the American Onita. 84 00:05:05,263 --> 00:05:09,327 {\an8}And that was a huge, huge compliment. 85 00:05:09,351 --> 00:05:13,498 {\an8}Well, Terry told me that Onita was sent to Amarillo. 86 00:05:13,522 --> 00:05:16,459 {\an8}Onita was very drawn to Terry's style. 87 00:05:16,483 --> 00:05:19,253 {\an8}He'd watch me in barbed wire matches. 88 00:05:19,277 --> 00:05:21,047 {\an8}And, he really idolized me. 89 00:05:21,071 --> 00:05:22,840 {\an8}That's why he came to Amarillo, 90 00:05:22,864 --> 00:05:25,176 {\an8}be like Terry Funk, you know, and... 91 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:29,597 {\an8}what a horrible thing to want to be. 92 00:05:29,621 --> 00:05:32,040 {\an8}He wanted to be an idiot too. 93 00:05:43,176 --> 00:05:44,946 {\an8}A mighty fine tractor ride here 94 00:05:44,970 --> 00:05:47,031 {\an8}out on the Double Cross Ranch. 95 00:05:47,055 --> 00:05:49,325 {\an8}When Onita arrived in Amarillo, 96 00:05:49,349 --> 00:05:51,786 {\an8}he was recovering from recent injuries suffered in 97 00:05:51,810 --> 00:05:54,330 {\an8}the Dominican Republic. 98 00:05:54,354 --> 00:05:57,959 {\an8}After refusing to lose to an opponent he deemed inferior, 99 00:05:57,983 --> 00:06:01,337 {\an8}Onita was taught a painful lesson by the promoter. 100 00:06:01,361 --> 00:06:03,506 {\an8}He didn't agree with what they wanted to do with him 101 00:06:03,530 --> 00:06:07,468 {\an8}and they beat him up. But it wasn't one guy. 102 00:06:07,492 --> 00:06:10,704 {\an8}It was all of 'em. Rat Packed him. 103 00:06:20,630 --> 00:06:22,733 {\an8}Nuts. 104 00:06:22,757 --> 00:06:24,610 {\an8}♪ 105 00:06:24,634 --> 00:06:27,989 {\an8}I spoke Japanese like he spoke English. 106 00:06:28,013 --> 00:06:31,242 {\an8}He spoke English like I spoke Japanese. 107 00:06:31,266 --> 00:06:34,245 {\an8}We both were lost. [Chuckling] 108 00:06:34,269 --> 00:06:36,747 {\an8}But we got along. 109 00:06:36,771 --> 00:06:38,916 {\an8}I was there for him, I really was. 110 00:06:38,940 --> 00:06:42,003 {\an8}And, I bought him a used car. 111 00:06:42,027 --> 00:06:46,716 {\an8}And I got him a job and sent him on the road. 112 00:06:46,740 --> 00:06:50,136 {\an8}The Japanese team of Mr. Onita and Masa Fuchi... 113 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,555 {\an8}After Onita recovers from his injuries, 114 00:06:52,579 --> 00:06:54,974 {\an8}he and fellow protégé, Masa Fuchi, 115 00:06:54,998 --> 00:06:57,810 {\an8}travel to Memphis Tennessee to battle in the infamous 116 00:06:57,834 --> 00:07:00,271 {\an8}Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl. 117 00:07:00,295 --> 00:07:03,757 {\an8}Into the concession stand after tearing down a partition! 118 00:07:09,804 --> 00:07:12,908 {\an8}- [Fans screaming] - Slams Onita! 119 00:07:12,932 --> 00:07:15,226 {\an8}Totally covered there by that big fan! 120 00:07:19,481 --> 00:07:22,609 {\an8}Onita, pulling himself over the counter. 121 00:07:58,478 --> 00:08:00,790 {\an8}♪ 122 00:08:00,814 --> 00:08:03,459 {\an8}With an improved skillset and a willingness to inject 123 00:08:03,483 --> 00:08:06,379 {\an8}thrilling violence into his matches, 124 00:08:06,403 --> 00:08:09,799 {\an8}Onita makes a return to All Japan Pro Wrestling. 125 00:08:09,823 --> 00:08:12,176 {\an8}On the cusp of main event stardom, 126 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,346 {\an8}a freak accident results in a devastating injury. 127 00:08:15,370 --> 00:08:19,541 {\an8}[Cheering] 128 00:08:42,564 --> 00:08:45,793 {\an8}The injury permanently hinders Onita's athleticism, 129 00:08:45,817 --> 00:08:49,839 {\an8}instantly ending his dreams of becoming a high flying star. 130 00:08:49,863 --> 00:08:51,340 {\an8}He was limited, as an athlete. 131 00:08:51,364 --> 00:08:56,303 {\an8}He realized that his future in wrestling lay in the 132 00:08:56,327 --> 00:08:59,890 {\an8}powers of perseverance and imagination. 133 00:08:59,914 --> 00:09:00,933 {\an8}What do you do when you're in your, 134 00:09:00,957 --> 00:09:02,393 {\an8}you know, late 20s, early 30s, 135 00:09:02,417 --> 00:09:03,728 {\an8}and your whole career is gone? 136 00:09:03,752 --> 00:09:07,148 {\an8}Well, he created something that had never been done before. 137 00:09:07,172 --> 00:09:09,275 {\an8}After years of working odd jobs, 138 00:09:09,299 --> 00:09:11,694 {\an8}Onita's thirst for stardom drives him 139 00:09:11,718 --> 00:09:14,155 {\an8}to devise a bold stunt. 140 00:09:14,179 --> 00:09:16,907 {\an8}He publicly challenges real-life karate champion, 141 00:09:16,931 --> 00:09:20,578 {\an8}Masahi Aoyagi, to compete in a ground breaking series of 142 00:09:20,602 --> 00:09:24,081 {\an8}brutal matches, pitting wrestler against martial artist. 143 00:09:24,105 --> 00:09:25,958 {\an8}[Bell ringing] 144 00:09:25,982 --> 00:09:27,525 {\an8}[Cheering] 145 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,243 {\an8}[Cheering] 146 00:09:48,922 --> 00:09:50,941 {\an8}Building upon the violence Onita was 147 00:09:50,965 --> 00:09:53,527 {\an8}exposed to in America... 148 00:09:53,551 --> 00:09:55,780 {\an8}Their rivalry makes headlines, 149 00:09:55,804 --> 00:09:57,722 {\an8}and draws massive crowds. 150 00:10:03,394 --> 00:10:05,623 {\an8}[Cheering] 151 00:10:05,647 --> 00:10:09,919 {\an8}By the time Onita claims victory in their final bout, 152 00:10:09,943 --> 00:10:12,213 {\an8}his Frontier MartialArts Wrestling promotion 153 00:10:12,237 --> 00:10:15,841 {\an8}is officially born. 154 00:10:15,865 --> 00:10:19,220 {\an8}FMW had a really good thing going because 155 00:10:19,244 --> 00:10:20,846 {\an8}they gave you a full course meal. 156 00:10:20,870 --> 00:10:22,431 {\an8}You know, you got your technical wrestling, 157 00:10:22,455 --> 00:10:24,725 {\an8}flying wrestling, incredible women. 158 00:10:24,749 --> 00:10:28,103 {\an8}But the hallmark was always the blood and guts. 159 00:10:28,127 --> 00:10:31,130 {\an8}Ah, it was like a buffet of brutality. 160 00:10:41,474 --> 00:10:44,328 {\an8}The thinking that goes behind replacing ring ropes 161 00:10:44,352 --> 00:10:47,665 {\an8}with barbed wire is the audience comes first. 162 00:10:47,689 --> 00:10:50,751 {\an8}We care about them far more than the safety of 163 00:10:50,775 --> 00:10:52,044 {\an8}the people doing this. 164 00:10:52,068 --> 00:10:55,297 {\an8}And, real injuries are not a bad thing. 165 00:10:55,321 --> 00:10:57,758 {\an8}They're encouraged. 166 00:10:57,782 --> 00:11:01,244 {\an8}And they are impossible to avoid. 167 00:11:25,894 --> 00:11:30,165 {\an8}A lot of guys that would go to no end... 168 00:11:30,189 --> 00:11:34,920 {\an8}to self-annihilation 169 00:11:34,944 --> 00:11:37,298 {\an8}of their bodies... 170 00:11:37,322 --> 00:11:41,302 {\an8}to have a better match than what 171 00:11:41,326 --> 00:11:43,804 {\an8}the opposition did. 172 00:11:43,828 --> 00:11:45,472 {\an8}[Bell ringing] 173 00:11:45,496 --> 00:11:47,099 {\an8}Okay, the barbed wire isn't enough. 174 00:11:47,123 --> 00:11:48,309 {\an8}We're gonna have to rig up, like, 175 00:11:48,333 --> 00:11:51,645 {\an8}electrical shocks to it. 176 00:11:51,669 --> 00:11:55,757 {\an8}Like, this was, this was, this was insane! 177 00:12:07,518 --> 00:12:09,622 {\an8}In Onita's pursuit to compete with Japan's 178 00:12:09,646 --> 00:12:11,290 {\an8}two major promotions, 179 00:12:11,314 --> 00:12:13,500 {\an8}his matches feature increasingly dangerous 180 00:12:13,524 --> 00:12:17,463 {\an8}stunts that result in legitimate bloodshed. 181 00:12:17,487 --> 00:12:20,341 {\an8}I was at an FMW show when one of the female wrestlers 182 00:12:20,365 --> 00:12:23,344 {\an8}got hit with a fireball. 183 00:12:23,368 --> 00:12:28,599 {\an8}And, her outfit, it burned the fabric into her skin. 184 00:12:28,623 --> 00:12:31,435 {\an8}And, I'm getting ready to do my match and I just hear 185 00:12:31,459 --> 00:12:34,897 {\an8}these almost other worldly sounds of suffering. 186 00:12:34,921 --> 00:12:36,690 {\an8}Tears streaming down her face, 187 00:12:36,714 --> 00:12:38,776 {\an8}sobs like I have never heard before. 188 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:40,694 {\an8}And it's like, we talk about a price, 189 00:12:40,718 --> 00:12:42,571 {\an8}that's really, really steep. 190 00:12:42,595 --> 00:12:45,658 {\an8}And I had to block that out of my mind and go about with 191 00:12:45,682 --> 00:12:47,433 {\an8}my main event match. 192 00:12:51,312 --> 00:12:54,708 {\an8}Onita's FMW roster includes like-minded performers 193 00:12:54,732 --> 00:12:59,004 {\an8}Tarzan Goto, Mr. Pogo, Masado Tanaka, 194 00:12:59,028 --> 00:13:01,799 {\an8}The Gladiator aka Mike Awesome, 195 00:13:01,823 --> 00:13:03,717 {\an8}as well as up and coming talent with 196 00:13:03,741 --> 00:13:05,535 {\an8}North American experience. 197 00:13:09,831 --> 00:13:14,752 {\an8}Hi, this is Ricky Fuji from FMW. 198 00:13:27,515 --> 00:13:29,702 {\an8}We had a connection with a guy called Ricky Fuji, 199 00:13:29,726 --> 00:13:31,787 {\an8}who had spent time in Calgary, 200 00:13:31,811 --> 00:13:35,541 {\an8}that was able to bring some guys over to FMW. 201 00:13:35,565 --> 00:13:37,751 {\an8}My first match ever at FMW was the main event, 202 00:13:37,775 --> 00:13:39,294 {\an8}which is hilarious when you think about a 20-year-old 203 00:13:39,318 --> 00:13:42,006 {\an8}Chris Jericho in the main event against a 204 00:13:42,030 --> 00:13:45,050 {\an8}karate expert who was just beating the shit out of me. 205 00:13:45,074 --> 00:13:46,468 {\an8}They would be in there kicking you as hard as 206 00:13:46,492 --> 00:13:49,138 {\an8}they could 'cause that's all they knew how to do. 207 00:13:49,162 --> 00:13:51,015 {\an8}I was like, what the hell am I doing here? 208 00:13:51,039 --> 00:13:53,225 {\an8}So, I was never invited. I was never invited. 209 00:13:53,249 --> 00:13:55,978 {\an8}It was completely luck. 210 00:13:56,002 --> 00:13:59,356 {\an8}I'm Sabu. I was in FMW for 3 years. 211 00:13:59,380 --> 00:14:00,733 {\an8}New Japan for a year, 212 00:14:00,757 --> 00:14:02,693 {\an8}and an independent the rest of my life. 213 00:14:02,717 --> 00:14:05,279 {\an8}There goes Sabu! Oh, did you see that? 214 00:14:05,303 --> 00:14:07,823 {\an8}- For the love of God! - Oh! 215 00:14:07,847 --> 00:14:09,408 {\an8}[Indistinct shouting] 216 00:14:09,432 --> 00:14:11,660 {\an8}My uncle was The Sheik, and... 217 00:14:11,684 --> 00:14:13,120 {\an8}He was a great guy. 218 00:14:13,144 --> 00:14:16,874 {\an8}He was a mean guy, and he was a nice guy, ha. 219 00:14:16,898 --> 00:14:20,127 {\an8}Onita and Tarzan Goto, they were young boys when 220 00:14:20,151 --> 00:14:21,962 {\an8}The Sheik and Abdullah the Butcher was in Japan 221 00:14:21,986 --> 00:14:23,964 {\an8}in the early 70s and 80s. 222 00:14:23,988 --> 00:14:25,090 {\an8}Every time they came to town, 223 00:14:25,114 --> 00:14:26,800 {\an8}they took care of those two guys. 224 00:14:26,824 --> 00:14:29,845 {\an8}So, 20 years later, Onita starts a company, 225 00:14:29,869 --> 00:14:31,263 {\an8}and he calls up The Sheik and says, 226 00:14:31,287 --> 00:14:32,639 {\an8}"We're gonna have a tag team tournament. 227 00:14:32,663 --> 00:14:33,640 {\an8}You can come there. 228 00:14:33,664 --> 00:14:34,933 {\an8}Come and bring anybody you want." 229 00:14:34,957 --> 00:14:37,144 {\an8}He goes, "I'll bring my nephew." 230 00:14:37,168 --> 00:14:38,187 {\an8}And he could've chose anybody, 231 00:14:38,211 --> 00:14:39,629 {\an8}but he chose me. 232 00:14:42,799 --> 00:14:44,693 {\an8}Oh, it sucks, it sucks. 233 00:14:44,717 --> 00:14:46,695 {\an8}My first barbed wire match, I got hurt. 234 00:14:46,719 --> 00:14:48,405 {\an8}They took me to the hospital. 235 00:14:48,429 --> 00:14:50,991 {\an8}I was in there all night long getting stitches. 236 00:14:51,015 --> 00:14:52,284 {\an8}After that, I never went to the hospital. 237 00:14:52,308 --> 00:14:53,619 {\an8}It took too long. 238 00:14:53,643 --> 00:14:56,663 {\an8}So, I started crazy gluing my cuts and then taping 'em. 239 00:14:56,687 --> 00:14:59,792 {\an8}I basically taped and glued up all the boys, too. 240 00:14:59,816 --> 00:15:01,668 {\an8}♪ 241 00:15:01,692 --> 00:15:05,297 {\an8}A single barb can do a lot of damage in a hurry, 242 00:15:05,321 --> 00:15:06,715 {\an8}and it has. 243 00:15:06,739 --> 00:15:08,300 {\an8}There are some gaping wounds. 244 00:15:08,324 --> 00:15:10,385 {\an8}I mean, Sabu really paid the price, 245 00:15:10,409 --> 00:15:13,097 {\an8}you know, with a roadmap of scars. 246 00:15:13,121 --> 00:15:16,141 {\an8}Makes me look like, you know, like a... 247 00:15:16,165 --> 00:15:18,977 {\an8}like a preschooler. 248 00:15:19,001 --> 00:15:21,855 {\an8}FMW's wrestlers sacrificed their bodies on 249 00:15:21,879 --> 00:15:24,733 {\an8}a nightly basis, but none can connect with 250 00:15:24,757 --> 00:15:26,485 {\an8}the audience quite like the promotion's 251 00:15:26,509 --> 00:15:29,363 {\an8}founder and star, Atsushi Onita. 252 00:15:29,387 --> 00:15:34,243 {\an8}Onita had an ability to allow people to feel his pain. 253 00:15:34,267 --> 00:15:37,913 {\an8}And, see themselves in him. 254 00:15:37,937 --> 00:15:40,499 {\an8}Some people can't connect with 255 00:15:40,523 --> 00:15:42,167 {\an8}a larger than life superhero. 256 00:15:42,191 --> 00:15:44,753 {\an8}They can connect with somebody who looks like they do. 257 00:15:44,777 --> 00:15:48,215 {\an8}Who is limited, physically, 258 00:15:48,239 --> 00:15:50,759 {\an8}but not limited of will. 259 00:15:50,783 --> 00:15:52,344 {\an8}[Bang]! 260 00:15:52,368 --> 00:15:54,745 {\an8}[Cheering] 261 00:16:04,255 --> 00:16:06,942 {\an8}You know, there's man against man, man against himself, 262 00:16:06,966 --> 00:16:10,195 {\an8}and now you enter man against the wire, 263 00:16:10,219 --> 00:16:12,573 {\an8}man against flames. 264 00:16:12,597 --> 00:16:14,241 {\an8}Where, you're making a living, 265 00:16:14,265 --> 00:16:16,618 {\an8}you re putting on a show, you re doing what you love, 266 00:16:16,642 --> 00:16:20,205 {\an8}but you're also facing fear on a nightly basis. 267 00:16:20,229 --> 00:16:21,832 {\an8}And you have to tackle it. 268 00:16:21,856 --> 00:16:24,168 {\an8}And you have to earn their respect, 269 00:16:24,192 --> 00:16:26,360 {\an8}and you have to embrace it wholeheartedly. 270 00:16:33,159 --> 00:16:35,429 {\an8}The whole end of his match would be, 271 00:16:35,453 --> 00:16:40,350 {\an8}basically, crying in front of the fans. 272 00:16:40,374 --> 00:16:43,395 {\an8}The meaning was he had given it his all, 273 00:16:43,419 --> 00:16:45,439 {\an8}and he was crying... 274 00:16:45,463 --> 00:16:47,858 {\an8}because the fans had stood behind him. 275 00:16:47,882 --> 00:16:51,195 {\an8}And they played Joan Jett's version of 'Wild Thing'. 276 00:16:51,219 --> 00:16:52,863 {\an8}And everybody would get up out of their seats and 277 00:16:52,887 --> 00:16:55,073 {\an8}crowd around the ringside 278 00:16:55,097 --> 00:16:57,826 {\an8}as he poured water on his head and cried. 279 00:16:57,850 --> 00:17:02,206 {\an8}And dude, it got over so huge. 280 00:17:02,230 --> 00:17:04,357 {\an8}♪ WILD THING! ♪ 281 00:17:12,365 --> 00:17:14,367 {\an8}Wee-ah, wee-ah, wee-ah! 282 00:17:23,125 --> 00:17:25,086 {\an8}[Bang]! 283 00:17:40,351 --> 00:17:43,538 {\an8}So, if he could think it, he was going to do it. 284 00:17:43,562 --> 00:17:47,125 {\an8}And, I think there was a reasonably good chance that 285 00:17:47,149 --> 00:17:49,378 {\an8}he was going to die in that ring. 286 00:17:49,402 --> 00:17:51,505 {\an8}♪ 287 00:17:51,529 --> 00:17:54,424 {\an8}In Onita's pursuit to consistently top himself, 288 00:17:54,448 --> 00:17:57,803 {\an8}a tag team match with Tarzan Goto versus Sabu and 289 00:17:57,827 --> 00:17:59,972 {\an8}his 65-year-old uncle, The Sheik, 290 00:17:59,996 --> 00:18:01,872 {\an8}goes terribly wrong. 291 00:18:04,041 --> 00:18:05,852 {\an8}I don't know. 292 00:18:05,876 --> 00:18:08,522 {\an8}I assume Puerto Rico 'cause they had one before, 293 00:18:08,546 --> 00:18:10,565 {\an8}and Onita wanted to top it. 294 00:18:10,589 --> 00:18:11,692 {\an8}I didn't care. 295 00:18:11,716 --> 00:18:12,985 {\an8}I figured, they know what they're doing. 296 00:18:13,009 --> 00:18:14,111 {\an8}They know... 297 00:18:14,135 --> 00:18:15,904 {\an8}it would be safe. 298 00:18:15,928 --> 00:18:19,449 {\an8}Wow, that's taking things outside of your own hands 299 00:18:19,473 --> 00:18:21,785 {\an8}and trusting the environment someone else 300 00:18:21,809 --> 00:18:23,120 {\an8}has created for you. 301 00:18:23,144 --> 00:18:24,496 {\an8}I'm not comfortable with that, 302 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:28,834 {\an8}and I've seen a lot of people get burned, literally. 303 00:18:28,858 --> 00:18:31,003 {\an8}It got too hot way too fast. 304 00:18:31,027 --> 00:18:33,237 {\an8}If it was a building, I would have jumped off it. 305 00:18:44,790 --> 00:18:46,518 {\an8}There was an FMW logo in the middle. 306 00:18:46,542 --> 00:18:48,228 {\an8}It melted in our hands. 307 00:18:48,252 --> 00:18:50,564 {\an8}It melted in our elbows, hands and knees. 308 00:18:50,588 --> 00:18:52,316 {\an8}You couldn't hear nothing, you couldn't breathe. 309 00:18:52,340 --> 00:18:54,151 {\an8}It was a roar. 310 00:18:54,175 --> 00:18:56,945 {\an8}[Indistinct shouting] 311 00:18:56,969 --> 00:18:58,780 {\an8}I jumped out, and immediately turned around, 312 00:18:58,804 --> 00:19:00,639 {\an8}threw a bucket of water. 313 00:19:22,578 --> 00:19:24,806 {\an8}He went out the other side. I didn't see that. 314 00:19:24,830 --> 00:19:26,791 {\an8}He got burned by the fire pretty bad. 315 00:19:31,962 --> 00:19:35,067 {\an8}My uncle carried on wrestling Onita outside of the ring. 316 00:19:35,091 --> 00:19:37,319 {\an8}And I was trying to throw water on my uncle because 317 00:19:37,343 --> 00:19:38,445 {\an8}he had his back burned up. 318 00:19:38,469 --> 00:19:39,488 {\an8}I threw a bucket of water on him and 319 00:19:39,512 --> 00:19:41,114 {\an8}the skin on his back came off. 320 00:19:41,138 --> 00:19:43,224 {\an8}[Shouting & bells ringing] 321 00:19:50,398 --> 00:19:51,500 {\an8}I wasn't angry at anybody. 322 00:19:51,524 --> 00:19:52,876 {\an8}I was just angry that it was bad. 323 00:19:52,900 --> 00:19:55,212 {\an8}You know, and the plan was bad. 324 00:19:55,236 --> 00:19:57,655 {\an8}I can't be angry at Onita. He gave me life. 325 00:20:04,412 --> 00:20:06,598 {\an8}Riding high with an expanding fan base and 326 00:20:06,622 --> 00:20:09,476 {\an8}sold out shows, Onita revels in the trappings 327 00:20:09,500 --> 00:20:11,269 {\an8}of his newfound stardom. 328 00:20:11,293 --> 00:20:13,438 {\an8}He may have started as a scrappy underdog, 329 00:20:13,462 --> 00:20:15,399 {\an8}and he became... 330 00:20:15,423 --> 00:20:17,526 {\an8}the king. 331 00:20:17,550 --> 00:20:20,904 {\an8}And was treated as such. 332 00:20:20,928 --> 00:20:23,240 {\an8}And he had sticky fingers. 333 00:20:23,264 --> 00:20:25,409 {\an8}He took all the money. 334 00:20:25,433 --> 00:20:33,433 {\an8}♪ 335 00:21:06,515 --> 00:21:09,035 {\an8}Onita's fortune is not only gained from the violence 336 00:21:09,059 --> 00:21:11,997 {\an8}he presents in the ring, but from ties with 337 00:21:12,021 --> 00:21:13,939 {\an8}the nefarious underworld. 338 00:21:22,448 --> 00:21:26,052 {\an8}They were in control of the arenas. 339 00:21:26,076 --> 00:21:29,556 {\an8}♪ 340 00:21:29,580 --> 00:21:33,685 {\an8}So, the Yakuza were, they were definitely there. 341 00:21:33,709 --> 00:21:35,937 {\an8}It's kind of almost like a money laundering scheme, 342 00:21:35,961 --> 00:21:41,735 {\an8}holding shows that the mafia will kind of sponsor and put on. 343 00:21:41,759 --> 00:21:45,447 {\an8}We would go out to dinner sometimes with sponsors, 344 00:21:45,471 --> 00:21:48,241 {\an8}and I would just check out their pinkies. 345 00:21:48,265 --> 00:21:51,411 {\an8}And, by and large, a lot of the sponsors were missing 346 00:21:51,435 --> 00:21:54,831 {\an8}their pinkies because of the line of business they were 347 00:21:54,855 --> 00:21:59,961 {\an8}in where, sections of the pinkies would be eliminated. 348 00:21:59,985 --> 00:22:02,339 {\an8}I wasn't comfortable with it, 349 00:22:02,363 --> 00:22:04,758 {\an8}but I accepted that that was part of 350 00:22:04,782 --> 00:22:09,095 {\an8}what made the scene possible. 351 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:12,140 {\an8}Well, they told us to stay away from a certain section, 352 00:22:12,164 --> 00:22:14,518 {\an8}and I go, there's not many people in that section, 353 00:22:14,542 --> 00:22:15,936 {\an8}who cares? 354 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,104 {\an8}It was because that was the mafia section and like, 355 00:22:18,128 --> 00:22:21,024 {\an8}they had like 10 people there with 50 chairs empty 356 00:22:21,048 --> 00:22:24,194 {\an8}'cause nobody was... they were scared to sit by 'em. 357 00:22:24,218 --> 00:22:25,987 {\an8}I started fighting over there anyways, 358 00:22:26,011 --> 00:22:27,113 {\an8}and they wouldn't move for us. 359 00:22:27,137 --> 00:22:28,365 {\an8}Usually people move. 360 00:22:28,389 --> 00:22:30,200 {\an8}He's a mafia boss, we don't know that. 361 00:22:30,224 --> 00:22:32,827 {\an8}But then, later on, we're in the dressing room 362 00:22:32,851 --> 00:22:34,162 {\an8}getting bang, bang, bang on the door. 363 00:22:34,186 --> 00:22:36,623 {\an8}They're looking for us. 364 00:22:36,647 --> 00:22:41,127 {\an8}I run down this hallway and I got trapped. 365 00:22:41,151 --> 00:22:42,295 {\an8}And a bunch of these Japanese guys 366 00:22:42,319 --> 00:22:44,297 {\an8}are knocking me down. 367 00:22:44,321 --> 00:22:45,966 {\an8}♪ 368 00:22:45,990 --> 00:22:47,467 {\an8}And, when I was down, 369 00:22:47,491 --> 00:22:49,511 {\an8}I was getting boot... ed, kicked. 370 00:22:49,535 --> 00:22:52,556 {\an8}♪ 371 00:22:52,580 --> 00:22:56,142 {\an8}And then all of a sudden, Mike Awesome was there. 372 00:22:56,166 --> 00:23:01,982 {\an8}Mike Awesome, you know, the huge, monster heel. 373 00:23:02,006 --> 00:23:04,609 {\an8}Guys started getting flung off. 374 00:23:04,633 --> 00:23:07,195 {\an8}Mike Awesome starts throwing guys off and, 375 00:23:07,219 --> 00:23:09,531 {\an8}saved my life. I loved him after that. 376 00:23:09,555 --> 00:23:16,329 {\an8}♪ 377 00:23:16,353 --> 00:23:19,583 {\an8}In 4 short years, Onita overcame his injury 378 00:23:19,607 --> 00:23:24,087 {\an8}to build a promotion to rival his competitors. 379 00:23:24,111 --> 00:23:27,465 {\an8}To celebrate, Onita invites his mentor from America to 380 00:23:27,489 --> 00:23:31,160 {\an8}participate in FMW's most spectacular stunt to date. 381 00:23:34,830 --> 00:23:38,727 {\an8}So, they had an exploding ring death match. 382 00:23:38,751 --> 00:23:42,230 {\an8}And they were really smart in bringing in Terry Funk. 383 00:23:42,254 --> 00:23:43,773 {\an8}For him to come to FMW, 384 00:23:43,797 --> 00:23:45,525 {\an8}it changed the perception of this company. 385 00:23:45,549 --> 00:23:46,842 {\an8}"Terry's here?" 386 00:24:07,946 --> 00:24:12,927 {\an8}It was stadium full. About 30, 40,000. 387 00:24:12,951 --> 00:24:15,722 {\an8}And, they don't charge 50 cents a ticket 388 00:24:15,746 --> 00:24:18,016 {\an8}over there either. 389 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:21,353 {\an8}There's the idiots, it's the front row people. 390 00:24:21,377 --> 00:24:24,314 {\an8}"We're gonna have an exploding ring match tonight." 391 00:24:24,338 --> 00:24:26,608 {\an8}"Oh, I want a front row ticket!" 392 00:24:26,632 --> 00:24:28,217 {\an8}Bullshit. 393 00:24:32,304 --> 00:24:36,368 {\an8}Oh, hell no. I had no idea. 394 00:24:36,392 --> 00:24:38,119 {\an8}[Bell ringing] 395 00:24:38,143 --> 00:24:39,496 {\an8}[Cheering] 396 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:42,374 {\an8}I just went out to the damn ring. 397 00:24:42,398 --> 00:24:47,921 {\an8}I'm a glutton for a crowd being into a match, you know. 398 00:24:47,945 --> 00:24:52,634 {\an8}I was just out there ready to capture that crowd. 399 00:24:52,658 --> 00:24:54,094 {\an8}And we did. 400 00:24:54,118 --> 00:24:56,179 {\an8}[Screaming & cheering] 401 00:24:56,203 --> 00:25:00,916 {\an8}♪ 402 00:25:06,171 --> 00:25:09,967 {\an8}[Cheering] 403 00:25:15,347 --> 00:25:17,391 {\an8}[Cheering] 404 00:25:21,645 --> 00:25:23,707 {\an8}[Siren] 405 00:25:23,731 --> 00:25:25,291 {\an8}So, the siren starts going off. 406 00:25:25,315 --> 00:25:28,169 {\an8}Wee-ooh, wee-ooh, wee-ooh. 407 00:25:28,193 --> 00:25:29,629 {\an8}[Cheering] 408 00:25:29,653 --> 00:25:31,339 {\an8}And at the end of this time clock, 409 00:25:31,363 --> 00:25:33,800 {\an8}the ring would explode. 410 00:25:33,824 --> 00:25:37,679 {\an8}And finally, Onita gets the win, 411 00:25:37,703 --> 00:25:39,514 {\an8}and he leaves the ring. 412 00:25:39,538 --> 00:25:40,598 {\an8}And this thing is going down: 413 00:25:40,622 --> 00:25:42,517 {\an8}45 seconds, 30 seconds. 414 00:25:42,541 --> 00:25:45,562 {\an8}And Onita realizes that his hero, 415 00:25:45,586 --> 00:25:48,857 {\an8}almost the God of Japanese pro wrestling is going to be 416 00:25:48,881 --> 00:25:50,942 {\an8}exploded in this ring. 417 00:25:50,966 --> 00:25:53,445 {\an8}So, he goes back inside the ring and he tries to wake 418 00:25:53,469 --> 00:25:55,321 {\an8}Funker up, and he can't wake him up. 419 00:25:55,345 --> 00:25:57,115 {\an8}And now it's 10 seconds. 420 00:25:57,139 --> 00:25:59,367 {\an8}He can't wake him up, so what does he do? 421 00:25:59,391 --> 00:26:01,911 {\an8}He shields Terry Funk with his body. 422 00:26:01,935 --> 00:26:04,873 {\an8}- [Bang!] - [Shouting] 423 00:26:04,897 --> 00:26:06,499 {\an8}And it's a bunch of like, boom, boom, boom, 424 00:26:06,523 --> 00:26:08,626 {\an8}concussion bombs and fireworks and just, 425 00:26:08,650 --> 00:26:11,755 {\an8}by the time it's done, you can't see anything. 426 00:26:11,779 --> 00:26:14,466 {\an8}It was the greatest babyface thing I've ever seen in my life. 427 00:26:14,490 --> 00:26:17,260 {\an8}He covered Terry Funk to save him from 428 00:26:17,284 --> 00:26:20,054 {\an8}the explosion after he pinned him. 429 00:26:20,078 --> 00:26:22,515 {\an8}That's Onita. 430 00:26:22,539 --> 00:26:26,227 {\an8}What FMW did the best was create a spectacle. 431 00:26:26,251 --> 00:26:28,438 {\an8}You know, Funk survived thanks to Onita, 432 00:26:28,462 --> 00:26:29,981 {\an8}and they were kind of like carrying each other out. 433 00:26:30,005 --> 00:26:31,357 {\an8}Crying, once again. 434 00:26:31,381 --> 00:26:32,525 {\an8}And Funk was great at it, too, 435 00:26:32,549 --> 00:26:34,569 {\an8}crying, crying, crying. 436 00:26:34,593 --> 00:26:36,362 {\an8}To me, it's a five-star match because it had 437 00:26:36,386 --> 00:26:38,740 {\an8}the drama and hooked you into it, 438 00:26:38,764 --> 00:26:40,074 {\an8}to where you cared. 439 00:26:40,098 --> 00:26:42,368 {\an8}And, that's the real secret of what wrestling is. 440 00:26:42,392 --> 00:26:45,622 {\an8}That's what Onita really knew how to do. 441 00:26:45,646 --> 00:26:47,523 {\an8}He was a genius at it. 442 00:26:53,654 --> 00:26:57,175 {\an8}Well, hell no, I wasn't satisfied. 443 00:26:57,199 --> 00:27:01,346 {\an8}I never, never saw Onita after a match either 444 00:27:01,370 --> 00:27:06,518 {\an8}until I came back the next time. I think he ran and hid. 445 00:27:06,542 --> 00:27:09,854 {\an8}♪ 446 00:27:09,878 --> 00:27:13,525 {\an8}FMW was at least the number 3 promotion in the country, 447 00:27:13,549 --> 00:27:15,318 {\an8}if not number two, depending on what was going on with 448 00:27:15,342 --> 00:27:17,111 {\an8}the two big ones at the time. 449 00:27:17,135 --> 00:27:20,198 {\an8}He legit was one of the most popular performers 450 00:27:20,222 --> 00:27:22,116 {\an8}in the country, and not just in wrestling. 451 00:27:22,140 --> 00:27:23,725 {\an8}He was doing gameshows. 452 00:27:34,862 --> 00:27:37,298 {\an8}He'd become such a big part of the culture. 453 00:27:37,322 --> 00:27:40,093 {\an8}I think Onita had bigger plans. 454 00:27:40,117 --> 00:27:43,346 {\an8}In just five short years after creating FMW, 455 00:27:43,370 --> 00:27:45,348 {\an8}Onita announces his retirement, 456 00:27:45,372 --> 00:27:47,975 {\an8}which comes as a shock to his fans. 457 00:27:47,999 --> 00:27:49,519 {\an8}He didn't want to do it anymore. 458 00:27:49,543 --> 00:27:50,979 {\an8}He'd had enough. 459 00:27:51,003 --> 00:27:54,691 {\an8}And you can fail and not have any money at all. 460 00:27:54,715 --> 00:27:57,193 {\an8}Or you can go out like he did with 461 00:27:57,217 --> 00:27:59,428 {\an8}several million dollars, I'm sure. 462 00:28:05,642 --> 00:28:09,873 {\an8}Onita continues to headline shows for another full year, 463 00:28:09,897 --> 00:28:12,375 {\an8}while the promotion grooms a young wrestler to become 464 00:28:12,399 --> 00:28:15,086 {\an8}his future headlining successor. 465 00:28:15,110 --> 00:28:19,632 {\an8}Hayabusa! 466 00:28:19,656 --> 00:28:23,595 {\an8}Hayabusa was the heir apparent to Onita. 467 00:28:23,619 --> 00:28:25,179 {\an8}He was... 468 00:28:25,203 --> 00:28:27,515 {\an8}ah, the word that's coming is elegant. 469 00:28:27,539 --> 00:28:32,520 {\an8}But he was also willing to do the extreme stuff. 470 00:28:32,544 --> 00:28:35,440 {\an8}Eiji Ezaki is his name, who later became Hayabusa. 471 00:28:35,464 --> 00:28:37,150 {\an8}We worked together quite a bit. 472 00:28:37,174 --> 00:28:41,529 {\an8}My second tour at Kawasaki Stadium was against Ezaki. 473 00:28:41,553 --> 00:28:43,156 {\an8}And at the time, the big move that 474 00:28:43,180 --> 00:28:45,390 {\an8}he did was Moonsault, which nobody did. 475 00:29:12,918 --> 00:29:15,480 {\an8}At FMW's 6th anniversary show, 476 00:29:15,504 --> 00:29:18,107 {\an8}Onita's retirement match features the special effects 477 00:29:18,131 --> 00:29:20,902 {\an8}and extreme gore that made him an icon. 478 00:29:20,926 --> 00:29:23,595 {\an8}But his opponent is out of his element. 479 00:29:34,731 --> 00:29:37,651 {\an8}[Cheering] 480 00:29:50,122 --> 00:29:54,084 {\an8}[Screaming & shouting] 481 00:30:00,132 --> 00:30:06,221 {\an8}[Cheering] 482 00:30:10,225 --> 00:30:15,331 {\an8}[Cheering] 483 00:30:15,355 --> 00:30:17,524 {\an8}[Bell ringing] 484 00:30:28,994 --> 00:30:31,455 {\an8}[Cheering] 485 00:30:40,881 --> 00:30:42,442 {\an8}Onita leaving FMW, 486 00:30:42,466 --> 00:30:45,361 {\an8}that would create a huge hole that I think would be 487 00:30:45,385 --> 00:30:49,490 {\an8}next to impossible to fill, just because of how, 488 00:30:49,514 --> 00:30:52,410 {\an8}how synonymous with that company he was. 489 00:30:52,434 --> 00:30:53,661 {\an8}And vice versa. 490 00:30:53,685 --> 00:30:55,413 {\an8}It'd be hard to see Onita anywhere else 491 00:30:55,437 --> 00:30:57,331 {\an8}other than thinking FMW. 492 00:30:57,355 --> 00:30:59,357 {\an8}They're one and the same. 493 00:31:10,535 --> 00:31:13,181 {\an8}An unlikely successor emerges to take the reins 494 00:31:13,205 --> 00:31:15,933 {\an8}of FMW, the promotion's ring announcer, 495 00:31:15,957 --> 00:31:17,977 {\an8}Shoichi Arai. 496 00:31:18,001 --> 00:31:25,568 {\an8}- [Japanese announcement] - [Cheering] 497 00:31:25,592 --> 00:31:29,405 {\an8}"Sudden Impact, Lance Storm, Chris Jericho-ah!" 498 00:31:29,429 --> 00:31:32,366 {\an8}And he's kind of like, kind of a chubby guy, 499 00:31:32,390 --> 00:31:33,785 {\an8}but kind of wore a tuxedo that was a little bit 500 00:31:33,809 --> 00:31:35,310 {\an8}too small for him. 501 00:31:39,356 --> 00:31:40,708 {\an8}But then you hear like Arai's the 502 00:31:40,732 --> 00:31:42,627 {\an8}new like general manager. 503 00:31:42,651 --> 00:31:44,378 {\an8}- [Bang]! - Oh! 504 00:31:44,402 --> 00:31:46,631 {\an8}Like, really? Like, wow. Like, well, why not? 505 00:31:46,655 --> 00:31:50,009 {\an8}He was probably at every show. 506 00:31:50,033 --> 00:31:51,743 {\an8}[Cheering] 507 00:32:02,629 --> 00:32:04,607 {\an8}My dad was really nice person. 508 00:32:04,631 --> 00:32:06,275 {\an8}He was really pure. 509 00:32:06,299 --> 00:32:09,362 {\an8}So, I didn't know why he was trying to 510 00:32:09,386 --> 00:32:12,949 {\an8}get into that company. I still don't understand. 511 00:32:12,973 --> 00:32:18,454 {\an8}My name is Shell. And, Shoichi Arai is my dad. 512 00:32:18,478 --> 00:32:21,457 {\an8}Onita suddenly says that, "Okay, 513 00:32:21,481 --> 00:32:23,793 {\an8}I'm gonna give this company to you. 514 00:32:23,817 --> 00:32:26,295 {\an8}You can do whatever you want." 515 00:32:26,319 --> 00:32:29,465 {\an8}But he has no knowledge at all. 516 00:32:29,489 --> 00:32:33,219 {\an8}Excuse my language, but he gave jack shit 517 00:32:33,243 --> 00:32:38,599 {\an8}to the ring announcer. He didn't give nothing to him. 518 00:32:38,623 --> 00:32:41,501 {\an8}I'll promise you that, I'll swear to it. 519 00:33:07,402 --> 00:33:08,880 {\an8}Without Onita's star power, 520 00:33:08,904 --> 00:33:11,448 {\an8}FMW struggles to hold its audience. 521 00:33:16,244 --> 00:33:18,264 {\an8}After just one starring film role, 522 00:33:18,288 --> 00:33:20,183 {\an8}Onita realizes his appeal is 523 00:33:20,207 --> 00:33:22,518 {\an8}limited when he's not wrestling. 524 00:33:22,542 --> 00:33:24,353 {\an8}In less than a year after his retirement, 525 00:33:24,377 --> 00:33:27,231 {\an8}he unexpectedly returns to FMW to work 526 00:33:27,255 --> 00:33:29,341 {\an8}for his former ring announcer. 527 00:33:44,147 --> 00:33:46,024 {\an8}[Cheering] 528 00:34:26,064 --> 00:34:28,542 {\an8}Ah, yes, because they would air our stuff 529 00:34:28,566 --> 00:34:31,128 {\an8}only on specials because it was too violent. 530 00:34:31,152 --> 00:34:33,714 {\an8}To take FMW in a new direction, 531 00:34:33,738 --> 00:34:37,510 {\an8}Arai hires veteran Japanese star Hiromichi Fuyuki to 532 00:34:37,534 --> 00:34:39,995 {\an8}handle the company's creative direction. 533 00:34:55,677 --> 00:34:58,322 {\an8}He had a belt called World Entertainment Wrestling, 534 00:34:58,346 --> 00:35:00,992 {\an8}like WWE, but World Entertainment Wrestling. 535 00:35:01,016 --> 00:35:03,101 {\an8}And they stopped having death matches. 536 00:35:19,242 --> 00:35:22,305 {\an8}The tug of war between Onita's vision for FMW and 537 00:35:22,329 --> 00:35:25,308 {\an8}Fuyuki's new direction, forces Arai to arrange 538 00:35:25,332 --> 00:35:27,459 {\an8}a meeting with his top talent. 539 00:36:03,036 --> 00:36:07,332 {\an8}♪ 540 00:36:13,338 --> 00:36:20,696 {\an8}♪ 541 00:36:20,720 --> 00:36:23,157 {\an8}While Hayabusa is unable to pack stadiums like 542 00:36:23,181 --> 00:36:26,035 {\an8}his predecessor, his athletic style was winning 543 00:36:26,059 --> 00:36:29,163 {\an8}new fans and realizing success for FMW. 544 00:36:29,187 --> 00:36:31,916 {\an8}♪ 545 00:36:31,940 --> 00:36:35,753 {\an8}Until tragedy struck on October 22, 2001. 546 00:36:35,777 --> 00:36:37,546 {\an8}He did a second rope Moonsault and 547 00:36:37,570 --> 00:36:40,674 {\an8}his foot slipped, and he went backwards and 548 00:36:40,698 --> 00:36:41,908 {\an8}landed on his forehead. 549 00:36:56,631 --> 00:36:58,609 {\an8}Hayabusa... [Speaking Japanese] 550 00:36:58,633 --> 00:37:03,155 {\an8}Hayabusa? Hayabusa? 551 00:37:03,179 --> 00:37:04,931 {\an8}Hayabusa?! 552 00:37:07,684 --> 00:37:10,103 {\an8}[Bell ringing] 553 00:37:19,821 --> 00:37:20,881 {\an8}He didn't die. 554 00:37:20,905 --> 00:37:22,258 {\an8}It was worse, he was paralyzed. 555 00:37:22,282 --> 00:37:24,033 {\an8}I'd rather have died. 556 00:37:27,996 --> 00:37:31,183 {\an8}Just terrible. Terrible injury to happen to just 557 00:37:31,207 --> 00:37:33,853 {\an8}a great guy, a great, great performer, 558 00:37:33,877 --> 00:37:38,691 {\an8}and a legit kind of future legend. 559 00:37:38,715 --> 00:37:40,401 {\an8}All the boxes that needed to be checked, 560 00:37:40,425 --> 00:37:41,926 {\an8}he had it. 561 00:37:53,980 --> 00:37:56,500 {\an8}His career was cut short in his prime. 562 00:37:56,524 --> 00:38:02,298 {\an8}And I think with his career went the future of FMW. 563 00:38:02,322 --> 00:38:06,886 {\an8}They never really found somebody to replace Hayabusa. 564 00:38:06,910 --> 00:38:10,264 {\an8}Beyond being a serious emotional blow to FMW and 565 00:38:10,288 --> 00:38:13,601 {\an8}its fans, Hayabusa's injury also sets in motion 566 00:38:13,625 --> 00:38:15,769 {\an8}a financial disaster. 567 00:38:15,793 --> 00:38:17,521 {\an8}Without their star attraction, 568 00:38:17,545 --> 00:38:20,548 {\an8}Arai struggles to keep his fledgling company afloat. 569 00:38:27,138 --> 00:38:29,617 {\an8}I remember that my mom say, 570 00:38:29,641 --> 00:38:32,435 {\an8}"Don't steal house money," or something. 571 00:38:39,150 --> 00:38:41,027 {\an8}Oh, yes. 572 00:38:53,164 --> 00:38:58,354 {\an8}He owed money from the Yakuza and he couldn't pay them back. 573 00:38:58,378 --> 00:39:01,857 {\an8}His phone was ringing all the time. 574 00:39:01,881 --> 00:39:05,694 {\an8}My mom was like panicked, and she screamed. 575 00:39:05,718 --> 00:39:09,532 {\an8}So, I thought it's not a good thing. 576 00:39:09,556 --> 00:39:12,952 {\an8}My mom and dad, like, they divorced. 577 00:39:12,976 --> 00:39:16,038 {\an8}I think he was really suffering. 578 00:39:16,062 --> 00:39:19,333 {\an8}And, I didn't realize 'cause I was too young. 579 00:39:19,357 --> 00:39:20,876 {\an8}And then my last match there, 580 00:39:20,900 --> 00:39:22,545 {\an8}we didn't get paid. He said he'd send it to me. 581 00:39:22,569 --> 00:39:24,547 {\an8}And then he killed himself the next day. 582 00:39:24,571 --> 00:39:27,925 {\an8}♪ 583 00:39:27,949 --> 00:39:32,805 {\an8}Hung himself in a school yard. 584 00:39:32,829 --> 00:39:35,266 {\an8}When you borrow money from the Japanese mafia, 585 00:39:35,290 --> 00:39:36,892 {\an8}even if you kill yourself, they're gonna get their 586 00:39:36,916 --> 00:39:38,310 {\an8}money from your family. 587 00:39:38,334 --> 00:39:40,187 {\an8}So, that wasn't the end of the story. 588 00:39:40,211 --> 00:39:41,897 {\an8}They were saying he was selfish for doing that, 589 00:39:41,921 --> 00:39:44,692 {\an8}a coward, because now his family owes that money. 590 00:39:44,716 --> 00:39:46,342 {\an8}You know, and they'll get it. 591 00:39:52,473 --> 00:39:55,035 {\an8}Arai's death triggers a life insurance payment, 592 00:39:55,059 --> 00:39:57,496 {\an8}but it's sadly not enough to cover his family's 593 00:39:57,520 --> 00:39:59,456 {\an8}newly inherited debt. 594 00:39:59,480 --> 00:40:03,210 {\an8}They came my home, suddenly, and they changed the key and 595 00:40:03,234 --> 00:40:04,545 {\an8}they changed everything, 596 00:40:04,569 --> 00:40:07,298 {\an8}and we couldn't get in our house anymore. 597 00:40:07,322 --> 00:40:09,675 {\an8}My picture, my video, my memories 598 00:40:09,699 --> 00:40:13,012 {\an8}was all in that house, but it's all gone. 599 00:40:13,036 --> 00:40:14,871 {\an8}That's why I don't have anything. 600 00:40:26,799 --> 00:40:31,363 {\an8}Hm... I feel a little bit that 601 00:40:31,387 --> 00:40:34,908 {\an8}Onita used my dad. 602 00:40:34,932 --> 00:40:39,371 {\an8}A lot of people say that he was too kind. 603 00:40:39,395 --> 00:40:43,149 {\an8}And too pure. That's why he's gone. 604 00:41:17,809 --> 00:41:21,914 {\an8}♪ 605 00:41:21,938 --> 00:41:24,541 {\an8}[Japanese announcer] 606 00:41:24,565 --> 00:41:28,837 {\an8}Over a decade later, FMW briefly rises from the ashes 607 00:41:28,861 --> 00:41:31,924 {\an8}with Onita back in the ring and Hayabusa acting 608 00:41:31,948 --> 00:41:34,718 {\an8}as an executive producer. 609 00:41:34,742 --> 00:41:38,472 {\an8}But less than a year later, tragedy strikes again when 610 00:41:38,496 --> 00:41:41,100 {\an8}Hayabusa collapses in his home and dies 611 00:41:41,124 --> 00:41:43,459 {\an8}at the age of 47. 612 00:42:06,649 --> 00:42:08,335 {\an8}♪ 613 00:42:08,359 --> 00:42:10,421 {\an8}He did walk again. 614 00:42:10,445 --> 00:42:13,674 {\an8}I mean, it's one of the most gut wrenching things you see 615 00:42:13,698 --> 00:42:16,844 {\an8}when he's surrounded by members of wrestling royalty 616 00:42:16,868 --> 00:42:19,304 {\an8}from several different promotions. 617 00:42:19,328 --> 00:42:22,641 {\an8}And, it's one of the most emotional moments 618 00:42:22,665 --> 00:42:27,521 {\an8}you will ever see when Hayabusa walks to the ring. 619 00:42:27,545 --> 00:42:34,528 {\an8}[Applause] 620 00:42:34,552 --> 00:42:38,574 {\an8}[Japanese commentary] 621 00:42:38,598 --> 00:42:40,451 {\an8}♪ 622 00:42:40,475 --> 00:42:44,163 {\an8}FMW was the wild wild west of professional wrestling. 623 00:42:44,187 --> 00:42:46,373 {\an8}And I mean, it was in the east, geographically, 624 00:42:46,397 --> 00:42:49,668 {\an8}but it was this lawless, wild frontier. 625 00:42:49,692 --> 00:42:53,172 {\an8}If you could think it, you could do it. 626 00:42:53,196 --> 00:42:56,091 {\an8}The spectacle always came first. 627 00:42:56,115 --> 00:43:00,095 {\an8}And, it was a big part of wrestling history, 628 00:43:00,119 --> 00:43:02,222 {\an8}and something that's still borrowed from, 629 00:43:02,246 --> 00:43:03,956 {\an8}to this day. 630 00:43:13,758 --> 00:43:14,985 {\an8}[Fans screaming] 631 00:43:15,009 --> 00:43:17,196 {\an8}What I learned in FMW, of course, 632 00:43:17,220 --> 00:43:22,659 {\an8}I took it to ECW. ECW was formed from FMW. 633 00:43:22,683 --> 00:43:27,581 {\an8}Onita, basically, built a promotion around himself. 634 00:43:27,605 --> 00:43:30,417 {\an8}An undersized, under dog wrestler, 635 00:43:30,441 --> 00:43:34,171 {\an8}and made it a huge success. 636 00:43:34,195 --> 00:43:36,531 {\an8}♪ 637 00:43:40,868 --> 00:43:42,662 {\an8}[Laughing] 638 00:43:45,581 --> 00:43:48,685 {\an8}No, hell, no. I love him. 639 00:43:48,709 --> 00:43:52,255 {\an8}♪