Heisei Ishingun
From PuroresuWiki
Heisei Ishingun (平成維震軍) was a Japanese professional wrestling stable in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, led by Koshinaka Shirō, during the 1990s.
History
In 1991/12, New Japan started feuding with a karate organization Seishin Kaikan, and New Japan wrestlers such as Koshinaka Shirō, Kobayashi Kuniaki, Jūshin Thunder Liger, and Ohara Michiyoshi had numerous bloody bouts against Seishin Kaikan fighters, mainly the president Aoyagi Masashi, Saitō Akitoshi, and Tajiri Shigekazu. On 6/9, Koshinaka and Kobayashi participated in a card promoted by Seishin Kaikan without an approval from the Wrestlers' Association of New Japan. After being penalized despite the support by Kimura Kengo, Koshinaka and Kobayashi left the Wrestlers's Association on 6/20.[1]
After a brutal feud between the two groups, Koshinaka, Kobayashi, and Kimura formed Han-Senshukai Dōmei (反選手会同盟), or "Alliance against the Wrestlers' Association", with Aoyagi and Saitō. The five shaved their heads in solidarity (the main reason was because Kobayashi was battling colorectal cancer and undergoing chemotherapy). Han-Senshukai Dōmei also started a feud with WAR, and in 1992/11, The Great Kabuki from WAR joined the group. Heisei Ishingun later added more members: Ohara Michiyoshi in 1993/8 and Gotō Tatsutoshi in 1993/10.[2]
Aoyagi, one of the founding members, left New Japan in 1994 to start a new promotion, "Shin Kakutō Puroresu" (New Combat Pro-Wrestling), which would only last less than a year. In 1996/8, Kabuki also left the group to join Tokyo Pro-Wrestling.
Kobayashi lost a hair match against Nogami Akira in 1996/2. The two gained mutual repsect with each other, and soon after J.J.JACKS, a tag team of Nogami and Iizuka Takashi, split up that March, Nogami joined forces with Kobayashi and became a member of Heisei Ishingun.[2] However, Nogami was injured in 1998 which caused a lengthy inactivity from the ring. Also in 1998, Saitō left New Japan. Although Tenryū Gen'ichirō joined the group in 1998, Heisei Ishingun disbanded in 1999.
During their time together, Heisei Ishingun feuded with superstars from New Japan, WAR, UWF International, and nWo Japan.
On 2006/7/27, WAR held its official final card. In the main event, Tenryu, Kitahara Kōki, Orihara Masao, & Don Fujii faced the reunited Heisei Ishingun: Koshinaka, Aoyagi, Saitō, & Ohara with Kobayashi seconding.
References
- ^ 日本プロレス40年史 (40-year History of Japanese Pro-Wrestling). Nippon Sports Publishing. 1995.
- ^ a b The Wrestler Best 1000. Nippon Sports Publishing. 1996.
