Hayabusa, aka Eiji Ezaki, was one of the most influential figures in Japanese wrestling. He was ahead of his time, bringing his high-flying style to the 1990s, and was one of the biggest stars in FMW (Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling). While I was introduced to him much later, I became a huge fan, loving his unique look and his innovative wrestling moves that entertained and excited me as I watched his matches.
Hayabusa was known for his mask. He has a specific style of mask and face paint that also stuck out. He also had a fantastic moonsault and my favorite, the Phoenix Splash. He was known for his in-ring ability, being far ahead of his time, and, unfortunately, his untimely death.
Many younger wrestlers were inspired by him or paid homage to him over the years. Wrestlers like Shuji Kondo, El Lindaman, and Fuminori Abe used some of his moves, such as the Phoenix Splash. Many even donned a mask as a tribute to him. Fuminori was one whose mask was similar to the style of Hayabusa, and some of his moves are as well. For Shuji, he has many moves and spots dedicated to Hayabusa. The Great Sasuke, who had a memorable feud with him, also would pay tribute to him in matches or interviews.
The new Hayabusa, a revival of the iconic character originally portrayed by Eiji Ezaki, made his wrestling debut at Pro Wrestling ZERO 1 on April 27, 2025, in a match against Masato Tanaka. Hayabusa’s family gave their approval, so from that aspect, I think it was nice that he got the okay from them. With that being said, I didn’t know how to feel from a fan's perspective, as Hayabusa was such a special wrestler that I couldn’t see anyone taking up the mantle, if you will.
“People say I’m the second or third generation, or a new reincarnation, but I’m Hayabusa. I’m neither the second nor the third generation. I hope that the viewers will recognize me as such," Haybusa said in an interview with Tokyo Sports.
As for a debut match, the new Hayabusa going against Masato Tanaka made sense. Tanaka is one of the cornerstones of hardcore wrestling in Japan and has crossed paths many times in FMW with Hayabusa. They shared an amazing history that transcended the ring. Tanaka was technical and had hard-hitting moves, which worked perfectly with the fast-paced moves of Hayabusa. I think it was a cool way to also show the past, present, and future by linking what was done in FMW to the current audience.
As someone as impactful as Hayabusa, it would make sense that whoever this new guy is, handle it with care. From what I saw, he has the charisma to give wrestling fans what made Hayabusa so special. It was a weird sense of nostalgia and some excitement about what could be next for the new Hayabusa.
I would love to know who is under the mask, but I also know how sacred a mask is in professional wrestling. There were times when Eiji's face was revealed, and so I do think, especially in 2025, that the identity can be revealed in a storyline. As for now, I do see this character being handled with the respect Eiji deserved and commanded. For now, I will enjoy the ride and see where this story and the new version of Hayabusa will take me.
So, tell me, what do you think of the new Hayabusa? Are you excited? Not feeling it? Give a girlie the scoop. Until next time.