CRAZY MAX

One of the most popular and influential groups in Japanese wrestling, Crazy MAX ushered in the new generation of Junior heavyweights upon their arrival in Japan in 1998. A part of the first class of Ultimo Dragon Gym graduates, Shiima Nobunaga, Sumo Fuji, and Judo Suwa exploded into Michinoku Pro, and began to make their name known. A year later, Toryumon was off and running, and CMAX was the centerpiece. Shiima was the incredibly cool rudo, brimming with arrogance, knowing how good he was. Suwa was the psycho brawler, prone to snap at any time. Fuji brought the power compliment. Soon later, Yoshikazu Taru joined, adding his own unique flair. His suits, baseball bat, and questionable hairstyles were quickly group staples. Chocoball Kobe was a member for a few months in 1999, later being replaced by MAKOTO.

Things quickly changed with the arrival of M2K. CMAX was already insanely popular at this point, but had remained true to their rudo roots. They found themselves being beaten at their own game by the new evil team. CMAX in this era started their turn to babyface. During their battles with the Toryumon home army, they remained rudo, but when facing the new threat, they were the face team. MAKOTO would make his departure in Summer 2000.

The most controversial moment in CMAX history came in the fall of 2000. Stalker Ichikawa became a member of the group. Most point to this as where their rudo ways were completely left behind, even forever damaging their legitimacy. Even when Ichikawa was kicked out and a Dark Crazy revival was declared during the inaugural El Numero Uno tournament in 2001, it was too late to reverse things, CMAX was now a face team. 

This left SUWA in an awkward place, as he never really fit in with this direction. Things finally boiled over at the first Absolutamente show in September 2001. SUWA snapped, and left Toryumon for several months. His main reason was differences with the Toryumon office, but an internal feud with Fuji was another large factor. Upon his return, he did not reunite with CMAX, and even attacked Fuji on several occasions. This continued for several months, until March 12th 2002. CIMA and SUWA met Fuji and TARU in a 30 minute draw. The 4 embraced and shook hands afterwards. 3 days later, SUWA won the British Commonwealth Junior title from Magnum, and the group reconciled afterwards.

Things stayed stable for awhile. A CMAX branded clothing line called C+R was put on the market, showing just how much they were a signboard name. Also in this time, the 2nd and 3rd generation of Ultimo Dragon Gym classes had their own tributes to the group, with miniature versions debuting. Mini CIMA, SUWAcito, Small Dandy Fuji, and 2 different TARUcitos' mimicked their senior versions, forming Mini Crazy MAX.

Aside from a brief, 1 month stay by TARUcito 1, and teasing the recruitment of Takamichi Iwasa, the group ranks remained at 4. This finally changed in spring 2003, when promising T2P graduate Jun Ogawauchi was welcomed, becoming JUN. He struggled to gain acceptance at first, but after his performance in the first Rey de Parejas, he was clearly becoming a vital member. As 2003 came to a close, 2004 looked like it would be a renaissance year for CMAX. CIMA himself proclaimed a CMAX revival in the upcoming year.....

JUN was conspicuous by his absence in January 2004. Rumours of an injury suffered in a match with YASSHI, worsened during a CMAX trip to South Korea began to circulate. Fears were confirmed in February, when the budding superstar was forced to retire due to a cervical hernia. More cracks began to appear. Fujii sunk into a giant slump as El Numero Uno rolled around. He was at odds with CIMA, SUWA, and TARU, but with the 4 core members intact, most thought that they would weather yet another storm and carry on. 

Then SUWA, who had recently won the UDG title, suffered a severe shoulder injury in a match with Dragon Kid. He would be gone for close to 5 months. CMAX was reduced to 3.

Toryumon became Dragon Gate in July of 2004. The first show under the DG banner brought the return of SUWA to the fold. CIMA had won the tournament for the UDG belt, which would eventually become the Open the Dream Gate. SUWA of course made a claim to the throne he never lost. After 5 years, the CIMA vs. SUWA match seemed like it might finally become a reality. But mysteriously...talk of this suddenly stopped, and SUWA vanished from results. Rumours again began flying...and at the end of August, it happened. The first true born wrestler from the Ultimo Dragon Gym left. It was SUWA, the "Crazy" part of Crazy MAX.

The group was now without an identity. CIMA was the undisputed ace and most popular DG wrestler. However TARU was beginning to show his age and was less of an impact performer. Fujii was even deeper into his comedic leanings, and began to recruit for his Iron Perm team for Rey de Parejas. CIMA and TARU took in DG trueborn Shingo Takagi to be their 3rd for the league, but it was obvious things were past the point of return. At the conclusion of their league matches, an announcement was going to be made.

Crazy MAX was formally dismissed on 11/2/2004. CIMA, TARU, and Fujii going their separate ways. TARU left Dragon Gate altogether, with his intentions not clear. Retirement or freelance like SUWA. Fujii was still focused on the Iron Perm league matches, so he said he would decide his future after. CIMA cried, his movement also unknown. The Crazy MAX name was sealed for good on 11/28/2004 at Differ Ariake, an important era ending. CIMA stated that he and Fujii would reform with a new unit in 2005.

Winter 1997: Shiima Nobunaga, Judo Suwa, and Sumo Fuji form Crazy MAX in Mexico. The name is rumoured to come from a Japanese adult video star....
Late Spring/Early Summer 1998: The group begins showing up in Michinoku Pro, eventually aligning with The Great Sasukes' SASUKE Gumi heel unit. They spend most of their stay beating on Naohiro Hoshikawa, Masato Yakushiji, and especially Masaru Seno
January 1999: Toryumon has it's inaugural show, C-MAX are the top heel group. Yoshikazu Taru and Keiichi Kawano become members. Taru soon changes his name to TARU, and Kawano becomes Chocoball KOBE.
February 1999: CMAX turn on SASUKE, cutting ties with him and SASUKE Gumi.
August 1999: Nobunaga changes his name to SHIIMA, then CIMA soonafter, Suwa becomes SUWA, and Fuji, sad he could not be named SUMO, becomes Sumo Dandy Fuji.
9/14/99: Chocoball KOBE would turn on them, ending his stay in the group. CMAX begins recruiting Wrestle Yume Factorys' MAKOTO.
12/18/99: MAKOTO officially joins, after defeating TARU in a match. TARU would not accept him as a member, although he was one un-officially, unless MAKOTO won. TARU still didn't like it, but he conceded.
January 2000: Sumo Dandy Fuji changes name to Sumo Dandy Fuji 2000.
1/16/2000: TARU recruits Susumu Mochizuki and Yasushi Kanda to be members. They accept, but later in the night would turn on CMAX, setting the groundwork for the CMAX vs. M2K feud that would be born later in the year, when Masaaki Mochizuki joined Susumu and Kanda.
6/4/2000: TARU, never accepting MAKOTO as a member, defeats him in a Loser Leaves Toryumon match, ending MAKOTOs' tenure in both CMAX and Toryumon. MAKOTO later would show up as Darkness Dragon.
August 2000: Stalker Ichikawa begins teaming with TARU occasionally, he would eventually become an honorary member.
12/21/2000: TARU and Ichikawa defeat Susumu Mochizuki and Yasushi Kanda in a hair vs mask match. Ichikawa becomes a full fledged member of CMAX.
1/29/2001: Sumo Dandy Fuji 2000 changes his name to Big Fuji.
3/11/2001: CMAX turn on Ichikawa, saying he does not fit their rudo beliefs.
9/30/2001: SUWA, upset with his standing in Toryumon, and CMAXs' continued slide towards being full on face, begins a boycott. He would remain gone until December. When he returned, he was a lone wolf, and not with CMAX, even feuding with Fuji.
1/20/2002: Big Fuji changes his name to Don Fujii
March 2002: After months of teasing and feuding, SUWA rejoins CMAX.
June 2002: C + R clothing is founded, a CMAX branded clothing line.
October 2002: CMAX begin aiding T2P member Takamichi Iwasa, declaring November and December 2002 "Iwasa Strengthening Month".
November 2002: The first performance of the TARU Theatrical Company takes place. This is a play put on by CMAX and Ichikawa.
January 2003: CIMA announces a new member will be joining soon. However Iwasa is declined membership on 1/23.
5/11/2003: Jun Ogawauchi officially becomes a member, and is renamed JUN
January 2004: CIMA declares a CMAX revival in 2004
February 26th, 2004: JUN retires due to a herniated cervical vertebrae
May 2nd 2004- Stalker enters for the 2nd time, this time as a replacement for SUWA, who was out with a long term injury. Not much becomes of this, though and it becomes forgotten.
August 25th 2004- SUWA departs from Dragon Gate, for various reasons. CMAX has it ranks lowered to 3, yet another blow in a turbulent year.
September 23rd 2004- Short one member for the upcoming 6 man tag league (Fujii participated for the Iron Perm team), CIMA introduces the first Dragon Gate trueborn, Shingo Takagi.
November 2nd, 2004- Finally failing against the overwhelming adversity, CMAX announces it's dismissal, effective 11/28/2004. TARU leaves Dragon Gate entirely.