Former idol turned female wrestler Maki Itoh and American death match charismatic Nick Gage. These two individuals with completely different backgrounds are garnering attention in the American pro wrestling organization GCW as “MDK (Maki Death Kill).”
This time, I’ve summarized about this MDK (Maki Death Kill).
What is MDK (Maki Death Kill)?
MDK (Maki Death Kill) is a tag team consisting of Maki Itoh, who excels in Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, and Nick Gage, who calls GCW in the United States his home. They primarily compete in GCW in the United States.
Maki Itoh
Date of Birth: July 22, 1995
Height/Weight: 160cm, 50kg
Hometown: Ogōri City, Fukuoka
PrefectureAffiliation: Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling
Main Titles Held: DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, International Princess Championship, Princess Tag Team Championship
Maki Itoh began her career as an idol talent in Japan before transitioning into professional wrestling. She has been a prominent figure in Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling and has served as the leader of the NEO Itoh Respect Army alongside Chris Brooks.
Debuting as a member of the idol group LinQ, she later pursued a career in wrestling, building her reputation in the ring. Additionally, she gained recognition as a finalist in the Miss iD 2015 competition and is currently a member of the theater group Tokiwoikiru.
Beyond Japan, Maki Itoh actively participates in promotions such as AEW (All Elite Wrestling), where stars like Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho shine, as well as GCW, where wrestlers like Nick Gage and Blake Christian compete.
X(Twitter):https://twitter.com/maki_itoh
instagram:https://www.instagram.com/makifuckingitoh/
Nick Gage
Date of Birth: September 22, 1980
Height/Weight: 178cm, 90kg
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Affiliation: GCW (Game Changer Wrestling)
Main Titles Held: GCW World Championship, GCW World Tag Team Championship, CZW World Heavyweight Championship, CZW World Tag Team Championship, CZW Ironman Championship, Ultraviolent Underground Championship, CZW Deathmatch Championship, Big Japan Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship, etc.
On February 13, 1999, he made his professional debut in CZW and just one month later, he captured the CZW World Heavyweight Championship. In Japan, he engaged in fierce rivalries with Big Japan Pro Wrestling alongside CZW allies such as Zandig and Wifebeater.
Thriving in CZW through death matches, he continued his endeavors in the indie scene. Since 2015, GCW has been his main battleground, with diverse death match fighters from around the world participating in the Nick Gage Invitational, a death match tournament bearing his name.
Furthermore, he is the sole male winner of the three major death match tournaments in America (CZW Tournament of Death <2006>, IWA Mid-South King of the Death Match <2018>, GCW Tournament of Survival <2017>). In 2009, he was inducted into the CZW Hall of Fame.
X(Twitter):https://twitter.com/thekingnickgage
instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nickgage477441c/
The origin of the name MDK (Maki Death Kill) is?
MDK’s original abbreviation is “Murder Death Kill,” but in the case of Maki Itoh and Nick Gage, it is referred to as “Maki Death Kill.”
The “Murder Death Kill” Gang is?
On December 30, 2010, New Jersey authorities announced they were searching for Nick Gage in connection with a robbery at the PNC Bank in Collingswood, New Jersey, on December 22. During the incident, Gage handed a note demanding money to a female bank teller without a mask and made off with approximately $3,000.
Subsequently, Gage surrendered to authorities on December 31, 2010, and pleaded guilty to second-degree bank robbery in April 2011, receiving a sentence of five years in prison. He was briefly paroled but was reincarcerated and ultimately released in 2016.
Following his release, Gage gained notoriety in the indie death match scene and garnered a cult following known as the Murder-Death-Kill Gang (MDK). In his wrestler introductions, he is announced as representing “the M.D.K. Gang, the H8 Club, and all his brothers in the Eastern State Penitentiary.”
From the formation of MDK (Maki Death Kill) to the present day
November 20, 2022: “GCW Aura”: First Encounter with Nick Gage
Maki Itoh made her debut in GCW, appearing during Nick Gage’s microphone segment, marking their first encounter in the ring. Through subtle exchanges, it seemed that Maki Itoh expressed a desire to join the MDK Gang. (During this time, Itoh faced Marcius Pitt in a singles match and was defeated.)
December 31, 2022: “GCW Til Infinity 2022”: Maki Itoh Joins the MDK Gang!
Before the match, Nick Gage appeared and arranged a singles match against Early Catch for Maki Itoh to join the MDK Gang. During the match, Itoh showcased hardcore tactics such as hitting with fluorescent light tubes, and ultimately secured a stunning victory over Early Catch with a diving DDT. This victory earned recognition from Nick Gage as a member of the MDK Gang.
March 4, 2023: GCW “Holy Smokes”: First On-Ring Encounter with Nick Gage as a Member of the MDK Gang.
In a singles match against LuFisto, Maki Itoh made her entrance as part of MDK, using Nick Gage’s entrance theme. After the match, she shared the ring with Gage, at his invitation, and performed the “MDK call” as prompted by Gage.
March 31, 2023: GCW “Joey Janela’s Spring Break 7”: Maki Death Kill’s Debut Tag Team Match Hindered by Deathmatch Royalty…
Nick Gage and Maki Itoh teamed up for the first time as MDK and emerged victorious against BUSSY. However, after the match, they were attacked from behind with chairs by Matt Cardona and “The Galaxy’s Greatest Alien” Steph De Lander
May 21, 2023: GCW “I Can’t Save You”: The feud between Itoh and Cardona continues.
Before the match, Matt Cardona and Steph De Lander were making an appeal in the ring when Nick Gage and Maki Itoh stormed in. This led to a singles match between Steph De Lander and Maki Itoh, which Statlander won.
July 14, 2023: GCW “Now And Forever”: The feud between Itoh and Cardona continues.
Maki Itoh achieved a remarkable victory in a singles match against Billy Starks. Following the match, she was praised by Nick Gage, who appeared to celebrate her win. However, their joy was short-lived as they were suddenly attacked by Matt Cardona and Steph De Lander.
August 19, 2023: GCW “Homecoming Weekend 2023 – Tag 1”: MDK (Maki Death Kill) emerges victorious in a direct showdown in Atlantic City.
MDK (Maki Death Kill) squared off against Deathmatch Royalty (Matt Cardona & Steph De Lander) in a decisive showdown, with MDK (Maki Death Kill) emerging victorious with a double kokeshi.
December 9, 2023: GCW “Highest In The Room 2”: Makes their first appearance in about four months.
In a match against Johnny Game Changer (John Hennigan) & Taya Valkyrie, Itoh unfortunately fell short to Valkyrie after a roll-up.
March 1, 2024: GCW “Project GCW”: Secures victory against former GCW Tag Team Champions.
MDK (Maki Death Kill) emerged victorious in a hardcore match against the former GCW Tag Team Champions, Los Macizos (Cíclope & Miedo Extremo). Following the match, they appealed for a shot at the tag team titles.
March 2, 2024: GCW “Keep In Touch 2024”: Maki Itoh secures a pinfall victory against John Wayne Murdoch.
Continuing from the previous day, MDK (Maki Death Kill) faced off against The Rejects (John Wayne Murdoch & Reed Bentley) once again. Maki Itoh secured a pinfall victory over John Wayne Murdoch with a diving DDT from the corner! After the match, they once again appealed for a shot at the tag team titles.
March 9, 2024 GCW “GCW Ashes To Ashes 2024”: Maki Ito wins the GCW Extreme title!
While appealing for a tag team title challenge as MDK, Maki Ito won the GCW Extreme Championship (champion was Joey Janella) with a direct pinfall from Marcus Marter, albeit in a 6-way, to win the title.
March 10, 2024 GCW “So Much Fun 2024”: first appearance of dream trio “Maki Death Kill Club”
Maki Ito, who won the GCW Extreme Title the day before, and MDK (Maki Death Kill) plus “Death Match King” Matt Tremont, the dream trio “Maki Death Kill Club” made their first appearance. They worked well together, attacking each other with their trademark matching pizza cutters. The match ended in a no-contest due to an unauthorized entry.
（*）During his CZW days, Nick Gage worked with Matt Tremont, Nate Haightredd, and Wifebeater in a unit called the “H8 Club”. When Matt Tremont joined in that vein, the MDK+H8 Club became a special version of the “Maki Death Kill Club”.
What is the win-loss record of MDK (Maki Death Kill)?
As of March 2024, they have formed a tag team as MDK (Maki Death Kill) for a total of 5 matches. Their win-loss record is 4-1. There is also MDKC (Maki Death Kill CLUB) with Matt Tremont.
MDK（Maki Death Kill）results
2023/3/1 GCW 『Joey Janela’s Spring Break 7』
〇Maki Death Kill (Ito Maki & Nick Gage) vs. BUSSY (Ari Catch & Effy)×
2023/8/19 GCW 『Homecoming Weekend 2023』
〇Maki Death Kill (Ito Maki & Nick Gage) vs. Deathmatch Royalty (Matt Cardona & Statlander)×
2023/12/9 GCW『Highest In The Room 2』
×Maki Death Kill (Ito Maki & Nick Gage) vs. Johnny Game Changer (John Hennigan) & Taya Valkyrie〇
2024/3/1 GCW『Project GCW』
〇Maki Death Kill (Ito Maki & Nick Gage) vs. Los Masios (Ciclope & Miedo Extremo)×
2024/3/2 GCW『Keep In Touch 2024』
〇Maki Death Kill (Ito Maki & Nick Gage) vs. The Rejects (John Wayne Murdoch & Reed Bentley)×
2024/3/10 GCW『So Much Fun 2024』
▲Maki Death Kill Club (Maki Itoh, Matt Tremont & Nick Gage) vs. Thrussy (Allie Katch, Dark Sheik & Effy)▲
MDK（Maki Death Kill）movie
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