Hayabusa Japanese wrestler Date of Birth: 29.11.1968 Country: Japan

1. Part 1: Early Life and Training
2. Part 2: Birth of the Phoenix
3. Part 3: FMW Stardom

Part 1: Early Life and Training

Eiji Ezaki, known as Hayabusa, was born on November 29, 1968, in Kumamoto, Yatsushiro, Japan. His early life is shrouded in mystery.

In 1987, at the age of 18, Ezaki enrolled at Kumamoto University and began weight training in the university gym. There, he met a student named Masashi Honda, and together they began training. Honda, an avid wrestling fan, soon convinced Ezaki to try the sport.

The duo began training at a local Kumamoto promotion. After graduating from university in September 1991, Honda informed Ezaki that he was joining the FMW Dojo. Honda showed Ezaki a video of the first-ever exploding barbed wire match in wrestling history, between Atsushi Onita and Tarzan Goto. Honda persuaded Ezaki to join him in becoming professional wrestlers.

Honda left his home in Tokyo to live and train at the FMW Dojo, but when he arrived, he found that Ezaki was already there waiting for him. The two began their training under the guidance of Tarzan Goto, who was assigned to be their coach and immediately put them through grueling physical tests to see if they were truly suited for FMW.

Part 2: Birth of the Phoenix

Ezaki and Honda faced numerous obstacles along the way, including exhausting training sessions and working various odd jobs at the Dojo. For months, they trained in the basics of professional wrestling.

After months of training, they became official FMW wrestlers in April 1991 and were promised their debut matches soon. During a celebration of their new status as wrestlers, Atsushi Onita played a joke by attaching sparklers to Ezaki and Honda's behinds and lighting them. The following day, photos of the two with their burning and smoking behinds made the front pages of local newspapers.

Ezaki's first match as an FMW professional was held on May 5, 1991, at the Nagoya International Center. Teaming with Amigo Ultro (later known as Damian), he lost to Yukihi Abe and El Pandita. Ezaki was very disappointed with his debut performance.

His next match was a handicap match, in which Ezaki and Akihiko Ishihara faced off against Gladiator. It was a quick squash for Gladiator, who easily dispatched Ezaki in a matter of seconds. This was another major setback for Ezaki.

Ezaki competed in his first singles match against Yukihi Abe on June 22, 1991. That same day, Masashi Honda made his debut in a match against Akihiko Ishihara. Both were victorious, and Ezaki marked this match as his true debut.

Ezaki faced his friend Honda for the first time in a match on June 26, 1991, in Hokkai Ashikawa GUM, and Honda defeated Ezaki. Ezaki defeated Honda in a rematch on June 29, 1991.

Ezaki and Honda had a pivotal match against each other on a big FMW show on September 23, 1991, at Kawasaki Stadium. Ezaki won the match, but Atsushi Onita and Go Ito saw more potential in Honda than in Ezaki.

Part 3: FMW Stardom

Ezaki and Masashi Honda returned to the Dojo and continued to train and open shows with their matches until FMW booker and referee Go Ito decided that it was time to elevate Honda to the next level, giving him the new persona of Mr. Gannonsuke. Mr. Gannonsuke began teaming with Atsushi Onita and Tarzan Goto in main events, while Ezaki remained in low-level matches.

Ezaki was used as a jobber for wrestlers such as Gladiator, Lance Storm, and Chris Jericho in house shows while his friend was competing in main events. Ezaki began to grow envious, as he felt he was being overshadowed while Honda took the spotlight and he remained a trainee at the Dojo.

Gannonsuke eventually left the Dojo and became a full-time mid-carder, competing in singles matches and teaming with Onita and Goto in main events. Ezaki, meanwhile, continued to live and train at the Dojo. Towards the end of his stay at the Dojo, Ezaki met another FMW trainee, Koji Nakagawa, and they became close friends both in and out of the ring.

With Gannonsuke gone, Ezaki decided to focus on developing his own unique style and decided to concentrate on high-flying maneuvers. Ezaki had a match against Sabu on July 29, 1992, at Matsuyama Horizon, in which Sabu easily defeated the young Ezaki.

On September 19, 1992, at Yokohama Arena, Ezaki and Koji Nakagawa faced off against Kevin Faulcon and Chris Jericho in a lead-up match to a big show. It was Jericho who got the win by pinning Ezaki in front of 30,000 fans.

Ezaki and Nakagawa opened the show on May 5, 1993, at Kawasaki Stadium. In the match, Ezaki showcased his high-flying abilities, and many fans in attendance felt that he had the potential to become the next big star in FMW.

Ezaki and Nakagawa continued to train at the Dojo throughout much of 1993. On July 22, 1993, after Atsushi Onita was attacked by Mr. Pogo, Ezaki jumped into the ring and tried to help Onita.

In October 1993, Ezaki was sent to Mexico, along with wrestlers such as Flying Kid Ichihara, to further develop his in-ring skills before returning to the promotion. It was there that he met figures such as Dragon Ultimo. Ezaki began to learn the Mexican lucha libre style, and he picked up a new move from Too Cold Scorpio called the 450 Splash.