Ricky Fuji
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese professional wrestler
, better known under his ring name
.
Dojo in 1984. He then left Japan in January 1987 for a training expedition in Canada
, where he was trained in the Dungeon by Stu Hart
and his right-hand man, Mr. Hito.
against Hart's son, Ross. In September 1988, Morimura left Stampede for the North Western Wrestling Federation and later won the promotion's Junior Heavyweight Championship, his first title, after defeating Steve Gillespie.
In March 1989, Morimura left the NWWF for the Canadian Independent Wrestling Federation. It was in the CIWF, where he started wrestling under the ring name
Ricky Fuji and adopted a rock star gimmick. During his time in the CIWF, he was scouted by the World Wrestling Federation
, but no deal was ever finalized, as they didn't know how to bring him in. Later that year, he would become the promotion's final Junior Heavyweight Champion. In January 1990, Fuji returned to Japan and was offered a spot in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
by Atsushi Onita
, which he accepted.
in a loss to Tarzan Goto
and his wife Despina Montagas. In May 1991, he won the AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship from Jimmy Backlund, which he held for several months before losing it to Mark Starr
in August. In 1993, he formed the stable Team Canada with The Gladiator
, Big Titan, and Dr. Luther, which feuded with Onita, Tarzan Goto
, and Mr. Gannosuke
, among others, until disbanding in 1994.
In April 1994, he took part in the Super J Cup tournament, where he defeated Negro Casas
in the first round, but lost to Jushin Liger
in the quarterfinals. On December 20, 1994, he defeated The Great Sasuke to win his only Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship, which he held for a couple of months before losing it to Hideki Hosaka on February 6, 1995.
Soon after the title loss, Fuji formed a new faction called Lethal Weapon
with Tarzan Goto and Hisakatsu Oya
, although Goto would soon after leave FMW in April 1995. Fuji and Oya would later recruit The Gladiator, Mr. Pogo, and Horace Boulder
into Lethal Weapon. Fuji then began teaming
with Oya as The Love Guns, Lethal Weapon's resident tag team. With Oya, Fuji would go on to win the Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship
on May 5, 1995. They lost the title four months later to Daisuke Ikeda
and Yoshiaki Fujiwara
on September 5.
Following Lethal Weapon's disbandment in September 1996, Fuji aligned himself with Hayabusa
, helping in his feuds with Mr. Gannosuke
and Kodo Fuyuki. He also began competing in singles and six-man tag team matches, eventually winning the WEW 6-Man Tag Team Championship
twice between November 1999 and May 2001, one reign of which came about after reuniting with Oya.
In April 2000, Fuji participated in his second Super J Cup tournament. After defeating Sasuke The Great in the first round, he lost to Gran Hamada
in the quarterfinals. He was also one of the few that helped Hayabusa when he suffered a career-ending neck injury in October 2001. He remained with FMW until its closure in February 2002, making him the longest tenured wrestler in the promotion's history.
, including Wrestling Marvelous Future, Apache Pro-Wrestling, and FREEDOMS.
On September 17, 2011, Fuji teamed with Bambi and Yuji Hino to win the Chiba Six Man Tag Team Championship after defeating Little Galaxy (Hiro Tonai, Shiori Asahi
and Yuki Sato). The championship is Fuji's first since May 2001. On October 2, Fuji, Bambi and Hino were successful in their first title defense after defeating Daigoro Kashiwa, Marines Mask II and Tigers Mask.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, better known under his ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
.
Professional wrestling career
Morimura started training in the New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
Dojo in 1984. He then left Japan in January 1987 for a training expedition in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where he was trained in the Dungeon by Stu Hart
Stu Hart
Stewart Edward "Stu" Hart, CM was a Canadian amateur wrestler, professional wrestler, promoter and trainer. Hart founded Stampede Wrestling, a promotion based in Calgary, Alberta, and was the father of famous wrestlers Bret and Owen Hart...
and his right-hand man, Mr. Hito.
Debut (1988–1990)
On June 28, 1988, Morimura made his professional wrestling debut in Stampede WrestlingStampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies...
against Hart's son, Ross. In September 1988, Morimura left Stampede for the North Western Wrestling Federation and later won the promotion's Junior Heavyweight Championship, his first title, after defeating Steve Gillespie.
In March 1989, Morimura left the NWWF for the Canadian Independent Wrestling Federation. It was in the CIWF, where he started wrestling under the ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
Ricky Fuji and adopted a rock star gimmick. During his time in the CIWF, he was scouted by the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, but no deal was ever finalized, as they didn't know how to bring him in. Later that year, he would become the promotion's final Junior Heavyweight Champion. In January 1990, Fuji returned to Japan and was offered a spot in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded on July 28, 1989 by Atsushi Onita that specialized in hardcore wrestling involving weapons such as barbed wire and fire. They held their first show on October 6, 1989...
by Atsushi Onita
Atsushi Onita
Atsushi Onita is a Japanese former politician and active professional wrestler best known for his work in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling...
, which he accepted.
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (1990–2002)
Upon debuting for FMW in May 1990, Fuji became over with the fans, particularly among female fans, due to his gimmick and promo skills. In October 1990, Fuji participated in Japan's first intergender tag team match, teaming with Megumi KudoMegumi Kudo
Megumi Takayama, better known under her stage and maiden name , and by her nickname Kudome, is a Japanese entertainment personality, and was a professional wrestler who worked most of her career for Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling....
in a loss to Tarzan Goto
Tarzan Goto
, better known by his ring name , is a Japanese professional wrestler who has wrestled on the independent circuit most of his career. He is best known for his exploding steel cage matches againest Atsushi Onita and Pat Tanaka in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling ....
and his wife Despina Montagas. In May 1991, he won the AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship from Jimmy Backlund, which he held for several months before losing it to Mark Starr
Mark Starr
Mark Ashford-Smith is an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Mark Starr. He has competed as a member of several tag teams.-Wrestling career:Starr competed in the Memphis, Tennessee-based Continental Wrestling Association...
in August. In 1993, he formed the stable Team Canada with The Gladiator
Mike Awesome
Michael Lee Alfonso , better known by his ring name Mike Awesome, was an American professional wrestler best known in America for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and in World Wrestling Federation and also in Japan for his work with Frontier Martial-Arts...
, Big Titan, and Dr. Luther, which feuded with Onita, Tarzan Goto
Tarzan Goto
, better known by his ring name , is a Japanese professional wrestler who has wrestled on the independent circuit most of his career. He is best known for his exploding steel cage matches againest Atsushi Onita and Pat Tanaka in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling ....
, and Mr. Gannosuke
Mr. Gannosuke
is a Japanese professional wrestler better known as Mr. Gannosuke, who competed primarily for Atsushi Onita's Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling promotion. He also held the NWA World Tag Team Championship.-Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling :...
, among others, until disbanding in 1994.
In April 1994, he took part in the Super J Cup tournament, where he defeated Negro Casas
Negro Casas
José Casas Ruiz is a Mexican professional wrestler and trainer currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre under the ring name Negro Casas. He is the son of former wrestler, turned referee Pepe Casas and brother of professeional wrestlers El Felino and Heavy Metal...
in the first round, but lost to Jushin Liger
Jushin Liger
, better known as and later, is a Japanese professional wrestler who primarily works for New Japan Pro Wrestling.He has wrestled and beaten many of the top smaller wrestlers in both Japan and the United States, and is frequently cited as one of the greatest and most revolutionary junior...
in the quarterfinals. On December 20, 1994, he defeated The Great Sasuke to win his only Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship, which he held for a couple of months before losing it to Hideki Hosaka on February 6, 1995.
Soon after the title loss, Fuji formed a new faction called Lethal Weapon
Lethal Weapon (professional wrestling)
Lethal Weapon was a Japanese professional wrestling stable in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling from February 1995 to September 1996.-Career:...
with Tarzan Goto and Hisakatsu Oya
Hisakatsu Oya
Kenichi Oya is a semi-retired Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Hisakatsu Oya. Although he started out for New Japan Pro Wrestling, he is well-known for his stint in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling....
, although Goto would soon after leave FMW in April 1995. Fuji and Oya would later recruit The Gladiator, Mr. Pogo, and Horace Boulder
Horace Hogan
Michael Bollea is an American professional wrestler. In wrestling, he is best known by his ring name, Horace Hogan. He is the nephew of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan and cousin of the late Mike Awesome....
into Lethal Weapon. Fuji then began teaming
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
with Oya as The Love Guns, Lethal Weapon's resident tag team. With Oya, Fuji would go on to win the Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship
FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship
The FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship was a tag team hardcore wrestling championship contested in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling.-WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Championship :-FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship :...
on May 5, 1995. They lost the title four months later to Daisuke Ikeda
Daisuke Ikeda
Daisuke Ikeda is a Japanese professional wrestler who is currently wrestling in the Independent circuit in Japan.-Professional wrestling career:...
and Yoshiaki Fujiwara
Yoshiaki Fujiwara
is a Japanese actor, and professional wrestler who has worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE, and UWF.-New Japan Pro Wrestling and Universal Wrestling Federation :...
on September 5.
Following Lethal Weapon's disbandment in September 1996, Fuji aligned himself with Hayabusa
Eiji Ezaki
is a former Japanese professional wrestler better known as the masked Hayabusa , who worked primarily for Atsushi Onita's Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling promotion.-Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling :...
, helping in his feuds with Mr. Gannosuke
Mr. Gannosuke
is a Japanese professional wrestler better known as Mr. Gannosuke, who competed primarily for Atsushi Onita's Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling promotion. He also held the NWA World Tag Team Championship.-Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling :...
and Kodo Fuyuki. He also began competing in singles and six-man tag team matches, eventually winning the WEW 6-Man Tag Team Championship
FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
The FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Championship was a championship in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling. It was active from May 1996 until May 1999. The title was then abandoned, but it was replaced in July 1999 with the World Entertainment Wrestling Six-Man Tag Team Championship. The final...
twice between November 1999 and May 2001, one reign of which came about after reuniting with Oya.
In April 2000, Fuji participated in his second Super J Cup tournament. After defeating Sasuke The Great in the first round, he lost to Gran Hamada
Gran Hamada
, better known by his ring name , is Japanese professional wrestler, the first to adopt the high-flying Mexican lucha libre style. He has wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Universal Wrestling Federation, Michinoku Pro, and All Japan Pro Wrestling, and was the founder of Universal Lucha Libre...
in the quarterfinals. He was also one of the few that helped Hayabusa when he suffered a career-ending neck injury in October 2001. He remained with FMW until its closure in February 2002, making him the longest tenured wrestler in the promotion's history.
Freelance (2002–present)
Since FMW's closing, Fuji has been wrestling as a freelancer for various Japanese independent promotionsIndependent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
, including Wrestling Marvelous Future, Apache Pro-Wrestling, and FREEDOMS.
On September 17, 2011, Fuji teamed with Bambi and Yuji Hino to win the Chiba Six Man Tag Team Championship after defeating Little Galaxy (Hiro Tonai, Shiori Asahi
Shiori Asahi
is a Japanese wrestler, currently working for KAIENTAI DOJO, where is one half of the current STRONGEST-K Tag Team champions along with Makoto Oishi...
and Yuki Sato). The championship is Fuji's first since May 2001. On October 2, Fuji, Bambi and Hino were successful in their first title defense after defeating Daigoro Kashiwa, Marines Mask II and Tigers Mask.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- 999 (Double underhook DDT)
- BrainbusterBrainbusterA brainbuster is a professional wrestling throw in which a wrestler puts his/her opponent in a front facelock, hooks his/her pants, and lifts him/her up as if he/she was executing a vertical suplex. The wrestler then falls onto his/her back so that the opponent lands on his/her head while remaining...
- Kamikaze (Rolling fireman's carry slam)
- Signature moves
- Sitout double underhook powerbomb
Championships and accomplishments
- Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling / World Entertainment WrestlingFrontier Martial-Arts WrestlingFrontier Martial-Arts Wrestling was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded on July 28, 1989 by Atsushi Onita that specialized in hardcore wrestling involving weapons such as barbed wire and fire. They held their first show on October 6, 1989...
- AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team ChampionshipFMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team ChampionshipThe FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship was a tag team hardcore wrestling championship contested in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling.-WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Championship :-FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship :...
(1 time) – with Hisakatsu Oya - FMW Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- WEW 6-Man Tag Team ChampionshipFMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team ChampionshipThe FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Championship was a championship in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling. It was active from May 1996 until May 1999. The title was then abandoned, but it was replaced in July 1999 with the World Entertainment Wrestling Six-Man Tag Team Championship. The final...
(2 times) – with Flying Kid Ichihara and Chocoball MukaiChocoball MukaiHiroshi "Chocoball" Mukai is a Japanese male pornographic actor and a former professional wrestler.-Life and career:...
(1) and Flying Kid Ichihara and Hisakatsu Oya
- Kaientai DojoKaientai DojoKaientai Dojo is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion and training facility owned and promoted by Taka Michinoku....
- Chiba Six Man Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Bambi and Yuji Hino
- Other titles
- CRMW North American Mid-Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- CIWF Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time, last champion)
- NMC Wrestle Brain Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)