Atsushi Onita: Why I Created FMWE

Three months after the Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch between Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega, Atsushi Onita decided to establish a new deathmatch promotion, Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling Explosion.

Inspired by his previous FMW promotion, the new company's first show 'Independence Day' will take place on July 4 at the Tsurumi Fruit and Vegetable Market in Yokohama. Onita will be in action in the main event of the show in a Hell Deathmatch. He will team with Ricky Fuji and Minoru Fujita against Abdullah Kobayashi, Yuuko Miyamoto and Onryo.

Onita caught up with Inside The Ropes ahead of FMWE's inaugural show and he revealed why he created the new promotion.

"These days, the world is suffering from a COVID-19 pandemic, so we tend to hesitate to start something new. I think it is time to take a chance, even in a hard time. Consumers spend less, and the economy is bad for show business today (because of COVID-19). So, I think starting from a negative would be the best way to succeed, because I should do my best, right? In Japan, the audience of people for events is still limited, and there are many restrictions such as not being able to make a loud voice (chant) in the venue. Even in everyday life, there is a lot of anxiety and stress, because we always take measures against infectious diseases. That's why I wanted to show people something that could excite them," Onita said.

"Even before AEW held the show, I wanted to do an original Exploding Deathmatch show in the United States. I felt a responsibility, and I also felt a sense of mission, because of the terrible Explosion Deathmatch CZW did. I asked American friends to help me with the fire laws and finding the venue. With AEW's show, FMW's Exploding Deathmatch was recognised around the world. It's ironic, isn't it? After AEW's show, many fans sent me messages. All of them said they want to watch my original Explosion Deathmatch, so I think it is the time to kick off the new promotion as FMW which I established a long time ago," he added.

Onita previously revealed that he wants to run an FMWE show in the United States and he currently has an American friend scouting suitable venues.