Death Match (Child novel)

Death Match, is a 2004 horror novel by American author Lincoln Child. It is his second solo novel. In it, he takes a cursory glance at the world of electronic matchmaking, and takes it to its natural technological conclusion—for a substantial sum of money, the computer will locate a 'perfect match' for anyone.

Plot introduction

Every once in a rare while, the most perfect of 'perfect' matches ('supercouples, of 100% compatibility) is located. Then tragedy suddenly strikes. One of the "supercouples" is found dead in their Arizona home, an "unquestionable" double suicide.

Child's analysis of the topic proves a useful tool to opine on the topics of psychology, relationships, cutting-edge computer technology and artificial intelligence.

Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling

Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded on July 28, 1989 by Atsushi Onita that specialized in hardcore wrestling involving weapons such as barbed wire and fire. They held their first show on October 6, 1989. In the late 90s, FMW had a brief working agreement with Extreme Championship Wrestling, and as well had 14 DVDs released in the U.S. by Tokyopop. On March 4, 2015, FMW was resurrected under the name Chō Sentō Puroresu FMW.

History

FMW under Atsushi Onita (1989–1995)

In August 1990, Onita wrestled in the first ever exploding barbed wire match with Tarzan Goto. This match started a revolution amongst the small "garbage wrestling" organizations of Japan. From there, Onita recruited some of hardcore wrestling's most notable names, like Mr. Pogo, Mitsuhiro Matsunaga, Super Leather (Leatherface) and Kintaro Kanemura. In October 1990, they held Japan's first mixed tag team match. In 1995, Onita wrestled his retirement match with young talent Hayabusa in an exploding ring, barbed wire steel cage match. Hayabusa became the central star of the promotion winning its belt several times and battling most of the FMW roster. FMW also had a thriving women's wrestling division, led by Megumi Kudo who was one of FMW's biggest stars in her heyday. All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling talent feared them so much that they rarely had inter-promotional matches against each other, but the FMW women were successful in other feuds with LLPW and JWP. During this time FMW signed a contract to hold a major event every May 5 in the Kawasaki Stadium.

Terry Funk

Terrence "Terry" Funk (born June 30, 1944) is a retired American professional wrestler and former actor, known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley. He worked for at least 63 promotions around the world over his 50-year career, including all major American and Japanese promotions.

In major promotions, Funk is a three-time World Champion, having held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship once and ECW World Heavyweight Championship twice. He has been inducted into the WWE, WCW, Professional Wrestling, NWA, Hardcore, Wrestling Observer, and St. Louis Wrestling Halls of Fame.

Funk was a primary subject of the documentary film Beyond the Mat, and is often noted for the longevity of his career, which has included multiple "retirement" matches.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1960s–1980s)

Mark LoMonaco

Mark LoMonaco (born July 14, 1971) is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs under the ring name Bubba Ray Dudley. He is also known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) from 1995 to 1999 under the ring name Buh Buh Ray Dudley and with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) from 2005 to 2015 under the ring names Brother Ray and Bully Ray, as well as his previous run in WWE (then known as the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment) from 1999 to 2005.

For much of his career, LoMonaco has teamed with Devon Hughes, his kayfabe half-brother, D-Von, as The Dudley Boyz and Team 3D. Recognized as one of the most prolific tag teams in professional wrestling history, they are the only tag team to have held the ECW, IWGP, NWA, TNA, WCW, WWF and WWE Tag Team Championships, and were the first tag team inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame.

LoMonaco has also held a number of singles championships, including the WWF/E Hardcore Championship on 10 occasions and the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on twice. All totaled, LoMonaco has won 35 total championships between, WWE, TNA, ECW, and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW).

Hiromichi Fuyuki

Hiromichi Fuyuki (冬木 弘道, Fuyuki Hiromichi) (May 11, 1960 – March 19, 2003) was a Japanese professional wrestler and promoter who competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Wrestle Association R and other Japanese and international promotions during the 1980s and 1990s as the leader of 6-man tag team Fuyuki-Gun with Gedo and Jado.

He is best known as a mainstay of Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, as a founding member of the stable Fuyuki-Gun included Yukihiro Kanemura, Hideki Hosaka, Masao Orihara, Tetsuhiro Kuroda, Mr. Gannosuke, Koji Nakagawa, Horace Boulder, Super Leather, Hido, Gedo and Jado, and Chris Jericho.

Career

International Pro Wrestling / International Wrestling Enterprise (1980)

Trained by Isao Yoshihara, Hiromichi Fuyuki made his professional wrestling debut in International Pro Wrestling on May 4, 1980, one week before his 20th birthday. Three months later, IWE folded, and Fuyuki applied to the All Japan Pro Wrestling Dojo.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1981-1990)