Hayabusa (wrestler) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hayabusa
Ezaki as Hayabusa at an FMW show in April 1999
Born	Eiji Ezaki (1968-11-29)November 29, 1968 Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, Japan
Died	March 3, 2016(2016-03-03) (aged 47) Kamata, Tokyo, Japan
Occupation	Professional wrestler, musician, stage actor
Years active	1987–2001 (professional wrestler) 2001–2016 (musician) 2000–2005 (actor)
Spouse(s)	Harumi Ezaki ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 2004)​
Children	2
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Darkside of Hayabusa Eiji Ezaki H Hayabusa
Billed height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Billed weight	102 kg (225 lb)
Trained by	Tarzan Goto Takashi Ishikawa FMW Dojo
Debut	May 5, 1991
Retired	October 22, 2001

Eiji Ezaki (born November 29, 1968 – died March 3, 2016) was a famous Japanese professional wrestler. He was also a stage actor and musician. Most people knew him by his exciting ring name, Hayabusa, which means "Falcon" in Japanese.

Hayabusa was best known for his time with Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW). He was the company's main star, often called the "franchise player," from 1995 to 2001. He was known for his amazing high-flying moves. His career ended in 2001 after a wrestling move went wrong, leaving him unable to move his legs.

He won many championships in FMW, including five world titles. He also held tag team titles multiple times. Hayabusa was the main event star for many of FMW's biggest shows. After he stopped wrestling, Ezaki started a new wrestling company called Wrestling Marvelous Future (WMF). He also became a singer and actor.

Hayabusa's Wrestling Journey

Starting Out (1987–1991)

Eiji Ezaki started his wrestling training with Takashi Ishikawa, a former sumo wrestler. He made his first wrestling appearance on November 2, 1987. For four years, Ezaki wrestled in smaller shows. Then, he joined the training school of Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling (FMW).

Becoming a Star in FMW (1991-2001)

Early Days (1991–1993)

Ezaki had his first match in FMW on May 5, 1991. Like many new wrestlers, he lost most of his early matches. He slowly started winning, including a match at FMW's 2nd Anniversary Show. He also wrestled against future stars like Chris Jericho. In 1993, Ezaki left FMW for a short time to learn new wrestling styles in Mexico.

Learning in Mexico (1993–1995)

In Mexico, Ezaki created his famous "Hayabusa" character in December 1993. He learned the exciting `lucha libre` style of wrestling from Rey Misterio, Sr.. He wrestled for several Mexican promotions. He also returned to Japan for a special tournament to see how fans liked his new Hayabusa character. He even wrestled against the legendary Jushin Liger.

Hayabusa also wrestled in the United States for a few months. The big World Wrestling Federation (WWF) was interested in him. But Ezaki chose to stay loyal to FMW and turned down their offer.

Rising to the Top (1995–1996)

Hayabusa made his big return to FMW on May 5, 1995. He was chosen to face the company's top star, Atsushi Onita, in his retirement match. This was a very tough match inside an `exploding cage` with `barbed wire`. Even though Hayabusa lost, he fought bravely and became the new face of FMW.

He quickly showed off his amazing high-flying moves. He debuted the `Phoenix Splash`, a move where he would spin in the air before landing on his opponent. This move made him very popular with fans. He also won his first major title, the Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship, using his new finishing move, the `Falcon Arrow`.

Hayabusa faced some injuries during this time. He also started a rivalry with a group called Lethal Weapon. He worked hard to prove he was the right choice to lead FMW. In late 1996, he introduced an `alter ego` called Darkside Hayabusa.

The Main Star (1997–1998)

In 1997, Hayabusa began a long and emotional rivalry with his former friend, Mr. Gannosuke. This became one of the biggest feuds in FMW history. Hayabusa also started working with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), appearing in their shows.

At FMW's 8th Anniversary Show, Hayabusa defeated Gannosuke in a special `hair vs. hair match`. This meant the loser would have their head shaved. After the match, Gannosuke attacked Hayabusa again. This led to Hayabusa forming a tag team with Jinsei Shinzaki.

Hayabusa and his partners won the World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Championship. He also had a memorable match against Kenta Kobashi and Taiyo Kea from AJPW. Hayabusa's popularity grew, and he was becoming a huge star. In 1998, he won the FMW Double Championship, which combined two major titles. He held this title for most of the year. His match against Masato Tanaka on May 19, 1998, is considered one of the best matches of his career.

Changing Characters (1999–2000)

Due to many injuries, Hayabusa had to change his wrestling style. This led to a storyline where he was not allowed to wear his falcon mask anymore. In August 1999, Ezaki introduced a new character called H. He had a new look with colored hair and tattoos.

FMW held special events called "Goodbye Hayabusa" to say farewell to his original character. As H, Ezaki formed a tag team with his former rival, Mr. Gannosuke. However, the H character didn't get as much support from the fans. So, Ezaki slowly started wrestling as Hayabusa again. By July 2000, he officially brought back the Hayabusa character.

Winning the WEW Heavyweight Title and Career-Ending Injury (2000–2001)

After returning as Hayabusa, Ezaki quickly aimed for the WEW Heavyweight Championship. He had many tough matches against Kodo Fuyuki. Hayabusa finally won the WEW Heavyweight Championship on May 22, 2001. This was a big moment for him and the company.

Hayabusa continued to be the top star. On October 22, 2001, during a match against Mammoth Sasaki, Hayabusa attempted a `springboard moonsault`. He lost his balance and landed on his head. This terrible accident caused him to break two bones in his neck, leaving him unable to move his legs. This injury sadly ended his wrestling career. Because Hayabusa was so important to FMW, the company struggled and eventually closed down after his injury.

Life After Wrestling

Even after his injury, Ezaki remained active. He started a career as a singer and released several albums. He also promoted a new wrestling company called WMF (Wrestling Marvelous Future). The name WMF was chosen because if you spell it backward, it's FMW, honoring his old company.

He traveled to some WWE events and met many old friends like Sabu and Rob Van Dam. He also met famous WWE stars like John Cena and Triple H. Ezaki also acted in a play in 2005, where he played a character who used a wheelchair. His performance was well-received.

By 2015, Ezaki had worked hard to regain some movement in his legs. He was able to stand on his own and walk with a cane. In April 2015, he was part of a press conference announcing the return of FMW. He served as an executive producer for the new promotion.

Hayabusa's Impact

Hayabusa is remembered as one of the greatest professional wrestlers. He was a pioneer of high-flying wrestling in Japan. He invented moves like the `Falcon Arrow` and the `Phoenix Splash`. He also helped make the `450° splash` famous.

He was the second most popular star in FMW's history, right after the company's founder, Atsushi Onita. Hayabusa was very loyal to FMW. He turned down offers from bigger companies like New Japan Pro-Wrestling and WWE because he wanted to stay with FMW. He always put his body on the line for the company.

His matches with Masato Tanaka, Mr. Gannosuke, and The Gladiator are considered some of the best in FMW history. His rivalry with Mr. Gannosuke was especially famous, with many exciting matches between 1997 and 2001.

Many famous wrestlers today, like Chris Jericho, AJ Styles, Will Ospreay, and Seth Rollins, have said that Hayabusa inspired them.

Other Activities

• Music: Hayabusa released three solo music albums. He also released albums with other musicians.
• Acting: He appeared in wrestling movies like Backyard Dogs and Mask de 41. He also acted in a movie called Baion.
• Music Videos: Hayabusa was in the music video "Life Is...~another story~" by Japanese pop artist Ken Hirai.
• Video Games: He appeared in several Japan-exclusive wrestling video games for the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation 2. He also appeared unofficially in some WCW video games.

Personal Life

Eiji Ezaki was the older of two sons. His family owned a hotel. He married Harumi Ezaki in 1997, and they had two daughters, Ayane and Shie. They divorced in 2004 but remained friends and shared care of their children.

Ezaki was close friends with wrestling legend Jushin Thunder Liger. They had a brief disagreement in 1996 but became friends again in 2005.

His Passing

Eiji Ezaki passed away on March 3, 2016, at the age of 47. He died from a `cerebral hemorrhage`, which is bleeding in the brain.

Achievements and Awards

• All Japan Pro Wrestling
  • All Asia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jinsei Shinzaki
• Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling
  • FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
  • FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Masato Tanaka (1), Daisuke Ikeda (1)
  • FMW Independent Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Masato Tanaka and Koji Nakagawa (1), and Masato Tanaka and Hisakatsu Oya (1)
  • WEW 6-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Tetsuhiro Kuroda and Hisakatsu Oya (1), and Tetsuhiro Kuroda and GOEMON (1)
  • WEW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • WEW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Mr. Gannosuke (1), Tetsuhiro Kuroda (1)
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Ranked No. 38 among the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1998 and 1999
• Tokyo Sports
  • Fighting Spirit Award (1997)
  • Service Award (2016)

Special Matches Record

Images for kids

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  Ezaki as Hayabusa at an FMW show in April 1999