With 2022 marking the 20th anniversary of Pro-Wrestling FURY, and marking the 10th anniversary of the company's final performance; the core members of the Kazuma Fujita Dojo's 2nd term graduates held a press conference in Osaka to announce a commemorative event to be held from Osaka's premier venue for boxing and professional wrestling: EDION Arena Osaka on May 31st, 2022.
From the New FURY Dojo in Osaka, principal members Hiroaki Nakata, Tetsuhisa NAKAI and ZERO Kubota appeared with Kubota himself holding a poster card formally announcing the event.
Nakata waxed nostalgically about the dormant promotion, saying he grew as a man during his time representing Pro-Wrestling FURY. And despite the promotion remaining inactive for the better part of ten years, Nakata said that the wrestlers who came from FURY have continued to represent the spirit of the company across all facets of pro-wrestling in Japan. Both he, NAKAI and the members of their New FURY Dojo have worked off and on for many years still representing the FURY name, with Kubota himself opening his own school under the NuWAVE Dojo banner. And while former FURY wrestler Kenichiro Fujikawa has since launched his own promotion -- Independent Wrestling Forces (IWF), Fujikawa and many other former stars now under his banner have continued to come together with Nakata and NAKAI to celebrate FURY's legacy across many independent shows. However, Nakata stated that the dream of reviving FURY in any capacity has stayed with both he and NAKAI for several years. "Even today Osakan fans share that they feel an emptiness since FURY's "final" performance," Nakata told reporters. While not going as far as to say they wanted to give fans "closure," Nakata essentially said they had a debt to pay to the many fans who supported them through out their careers.
Not one for prolonged speeches, the grizzled Tetsuhisa NAKAI shared Nakata's sentiments, saying he is reminded almost daily by patrons of his modestly successful Ramen shop on different matches or moments witnessed by loyal FURY fans. "For one night in Osaka, we'll defy our age to bring fans back to a time of their past!"
Joining the two FURY stalwards was FURY's "Troubled Son" ZERO Kubota, who spent most of his tenure with the company as the top heel both loathed by fans for his blatant rule-breaking and disrespect while also loved for his cool charisma and aloof nature. Kubota himself had quit the promotion on two occasions before retiring in 2008 following an injury forcing his tag partner and best friend TSUKYO to end his in-ring career. In 2019 Kubota returned to pro-wrestling after starting his own school, NuWAVE Dojo -- named after the stable he headed for a majority of his in-ring career. With time healing all wounds, there was no hesitation in Kubota when he was approached by perennial rival Hiroaki Nakata. "I've unfortunately become what I always hated -- a sentimental old man!" Kubota exclaimed comically. Kubota spoke on his time in FURY, calling it the "most fun period of my life." While remaining largely inactive since retirement, Kubota has returned to the ring sporadically as a way to bolster his fledgling school's profile.
In determining a card for the show, Nakata said their desire was to showcase the "Best of FURY" by giving fans classic rivalries mixed with newer stars they've trained since FURY's dormancy. Rounding out the card will be a tag team main event pitting Tetsuhisa NAKAI and ZERO Kubota against Hiroaki Nakata and a partner who was not yet named. However, the hand of cards wouldn't be a mystery for very long as Nakata introduced 1st Term Kazuma Fujita Dojo graduate and Pro-Wrestling FURY's fan-favorite "Ace" for a good portion of the company's existance: Akira Takayoshi! Takayoshi, who has remained inactive for the last ten years since FURY's final performance on 10/25/2012; appeared in a fine suit sporting an azure blue tie. Takayoshi had maintained a public profile since appearing on various variety and comedy programs alongside his wife.
Takayoshi said that while he has remained physically active in the decade since his final match, he initially felt apprehension at the prospect of returning to the ring as a shell of his former self. However, Takayoshi shared with him words from his wife who boosted his confidence in no uncertain terms by declaring "Akira, you are a pro-wrestler!" Thanking his partner, Akira said that her words burned deep inside of him -- rekindling a love he had thought long since passed. "Even past the age of 40, I will give my best to the fans -- and Nakata-san as a partner!"
In another marquee match promoted as "The Future of FURY" will pit the top two graduates of Nakata and NAKAI's "New FURY Dojo" as KITE will face rival Crafter AO in a singles bout. The two have paralleled the path followed by Nakata and ZERO Kubota respectively with KITE being the perennial babyface while Crafter turned to the ways of the heel shortly after his debut. Kubota took exception to the comparison laid out by Nakata, calling Crafter a "snot-nosed bastard." NAKAI took the air out of Kubota by pointing out "snot-nosed bastard" was Hiroshita Yagato's (FURY's long-since passed head trainer) "pet name" for Kubota during his upbringing. Never the less, the two will be showcased in the semi final and will look to leave an impression on their biggest audience yet.
Third from the top will be a tag match titled "THE ABSOLUTE TAG BATTLE" pitting the Chojin Powers, Naoki Fukuda and TAKU against a reuniting STRONG RIDERS team of Otsuo Kayusa and Kenichiro Fujikawa with the retired Kyoshima Yosuken in their corner. For much of FURY's existence, both Fukuda/TAKU and Kayusa/Kyoshima were dominant forces in the tag team division. With Yosuken retired however, the third STRONG RIDER Kenichiro Fujikawa will wear the S+R singlet for the first time in over 14 years.
The rest of the card will feature a plethora of former FURY stars returning, along with wrestlers never to step foot on FURY's mat. Daisuke Iwata and Shigeru Iwasaki will team with New FURY Dojo graduate powerhouse Yohei Kanazaki to face Norihiro Akashi, "Mr. Hardbody" Tsutomu Nishioka and "The Outlaw" Kyoto Okazaki. In Junior Heavyweight action The "Triple Jet Combination" of Jet Jaguar, Jet Generations Etsuya Kawachi & Hidaka Kamon and New FURY Dojo graduate Jaguar Kid will face FURY alums ATSUKA THE GREAT, S☆S Star, Kazuki Sendo and New FURY Dojo graduate Naoto Itagaki in a classic babyface vs. heel junior battle. Additionally, the OKINAWA SPEED STARS -- Kotaro Ota and Fumihiko Shirai will face FURY Dojo graduates Shogo Takeda and Kazuya Itoi. And opening the show will be "Sumo Brother" Masafuji Yoshida teaming with his longtime student Tetsuji Kawamura and New FURY Dojo graduate Soichiro Tanaka to face Go Taniguchi and two other New FURY Dojo graduates in Chiaki Fukudome and Satoshi Kondo.
Furthermore, Nakata announced a second event would take place in August to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 2nd term of the Kazuma Fujita Dojo from Tokyo's Korakuen Hall. The scope of the event has yet to be determined based on how successful this first event is. But regardless, Nakata and company vowed to give their all for the fans in the coming months!
Team FURY,
"DREAM + INFINITE ~ INFINITE DREAM AGAIN!!"
May 31, 2022
Osaka - EDION Arena Osaka
1. Masafuji Yoshida, Tetsuji Kawamura & Soichiro Tanaka vs. Go Taniguchi, Chiaki Fukudome & Satoshi Kondo
2. Kotaro Ota & Fumihiko Shirai vs. Shogo Takeda & Kazuya Itoi
3. Jet Jaguar, Etsuya Kawachi, Hidaka Kamon & Jaguar Kid vs. ATSUKA THE GREAT, S☆S Star, Kazuki Sendo & Naoto Itagaki
4. Daisuke Iwata, Yohei Kanazaki & Shigeru Iwasaki vs. Norihiro Akashi, Tsutomu Nishioka & "The Outlaw" Kyoto Okazaki [IWF]
5. Road to 20th Anniversary Special Tag Match ~ THE ABSOLUTE TAG BATTLE: Naoki Fukuda & TAKU vs. Otsuo Kayusa & Kenichiro Fujikawa [IWF] w/ Kyoshima Yosuken
6. Road to 20th Anniversary Special Single Match ~ The Future of FURY: KITE vs. Crafter AO
7. Road to 20th Anniversary Special Tag Match ~ Forever FURY in Our Ageless Hearts!!: Hiroaki Nakata & Akira Takayoshi vs. Tetsuhisa NAKAI & ZERO Kubota
Team FURY,
"Kazuma Fujita Dojo 2nd Term 20th Anniversary Special"
August 14, 2022
Tokyo - Korakuen Hall
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