Shinjiro Otani
After Big Mouth Loud folded, Murakami went freelance and began working for Pro Wrestling Zero1 in the summer of 2006. Murakami took part in ZERO1's 2006 Fire Festival tournament, making it to the semi finals before losing to Shinjiro Otani. He also debuted for Pro Wrestling NOAH, taking part in a tournament for the GHC Tag Team Championship alongside Shinjiro Otani. They reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual winners Takeshi Morishima and Muhammad Yone. Murakami was also pinned by Mitsuharu Misawa in their only singles match in October. In the first match of the 2007 Fire Festival, Murakami suffered a severe brain injury against Shinjiro Otani, which forced him to leave professional wrestling effective immediately to undergo brain surgery.