Home » News Archive » News from 02/06/10 to 02/25/10

Hayato Jr. Returns To Commit Oyajigari!

February 25th, 2010

Michinoku Pro Wrestling's Hayato "Jr." Fujita returns to ZERO1 on March 2nd for the 9th Anniversary show "ZERO1 WRESTLER'S 10 ~ The Birth of ZERO1 ~." He will be bringing a fellow member of Kowloon, an 8-man stable from Michinoku Pro, though he didn't say who it would be.

He added that he would by aiming to do "Oyajigari" a Japanese word for when groups of young men assault older men on the street.

"My first target is Minoru Fujita, who came to Michinoku Pro back in January of this year. I want all the ZERO1 fans to look forward to my appearance."

Fujita teamed with The Great Sasuke back on 1/16 & 1/17 to defeat the Kowloon team of Hayato Jr. and Ken45° when Fujita pinned Ken45° with a roll-up cradle. This time Hayato Jr. and his unknown tag partner will face the Gikyoudai team of Fujita and Takuya Sugawara.

Ryouji Does "Secret Training" For Kawada On March 2nd!

February 23rd, 2010

To prepare for his March 2nd World Heavyweight Title challenge at "ZERO1 WRESTLER'S 10 ~ The Birth of ZERO1 ~", former champ Ryouji Sai traveled to South Korea for "secret training." Ryouji's family has deep ties to Korea and he has family relatives in that country. He said of his training:

"I did a lot of mental and physical preparation, and I feel now that I'm in a great state for my challenge. Now I am ready to take back the World Heavyweight title from Kawada, something Tanaka and KAMIKAZE couldn't do. I will surprise a lot of people and win the title belt again!"

Bambi Killer Teams With The Predator!

February 22nd, 2010

First The Predator returns, and now another former ZERO1 gaijin heavyweight makes his comeback as The Predator's tag team partner - Chris "Bambi Killer" Raaber. It has been several years since Bambi Killer has entered the ZERO1 ring, though he has continued in pro wrestling including training in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) the WWE's training league. Bambi Killer and The Predator will not only face the EMBLEM tag team of Masato Tanaka & Shinjiro Otani in Saitama, but will also face the "Kazan" tag team of Shinjiro Otani & Akebono on the March 2nd, "ZERO1 WRESTLER'S 10 ~ The Birth of ZERO1 ~"

Bambi Killer comments:

"I'm glad to fight again in ZERO1 after a long time. Since my last trip to ZERO1 I have been training in the WWE so I am at 100% condition-wise. This trip I get to challenge for the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team titles held by Otani & Akebono. Akebono was a great sumo wrestler, but physical conditioning is different in pro wrestling. Does that belt even fit around his waist? I will teach him some pro wrestling..."

Lion King Cup Returns!

February 19th, 2010

The ZERO1 Lion King Cup (Shishiou Hai / 獅子王杯) has returned for 2010. The 3rd version of this young wrestler tournament has been scheduled for March 2nd at the "ZERO1 WRESTLER'S 10 ~ The Birth of ZERO1 ~" show in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall.

Held first in 2003 by ZERO-ONE, the Lion King Cup was a tournament designed to give younger wrestlers from ZERO-ONE and different promotions a chance to showcase their skills against each other in a tournament situation. The tournament then re-appeared in 2007 for ZERO1-MAX where again ZERO1 wrestlers battled it out against other companies' young wrestlers.

For 2010 the tournament will be for ZERO1's young wrestlers alone, many who have only recently debuted. One participant, Yoshikazu Yokoyama, will officially debut only two days earlier in Osaka. Other participants are: Shota Takanishi, Yuzuru Saito and Kenta Kakinuma. Shota Takanishi is the only participating wrestler to have appeared previously in a Lion King Cup, having debuted in 2006 before a pre-mature retirement in May, 2009.

New ZERO1 Wrestler Debuts on 2/28 - Yoshikazu Yokoyama!

February 18th, 2010

A new ZERO1 rookie wrestler will make his debut on the upcoming "ZERO1 WRESTLER'S - Osaka -" show on February 28 at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2.

Yokoyama is a 22 year old from Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan and is a graduate of Animal Hamiguchi's pro wrestling dojo.

The 178 cm/90 kg Yokoyama has been training and living at the ZERO1 dorm for over a year but a serious knee injury sidelined him until now. Yokoyama will debut in the opening match of the show against fellow young ZERO1 fighter Yuzuru Saito in a single match.

Injury Report - Shito Ueda!

February 18th, 2010

Young ZERO1 heavyweight wrestler Shito Ueda broke his orbital (eye socket) bone and will be out of action in the ring for about a month.

He released a brief statement on his status:

"Due to an injury I will be absent from upcoming matches. Sorry to all the fans who looked forward to seeing me in the ring. I will heal as quickly as possible and promise when I return that I will show you all the energy and marvelous physical strength before your very eyes!"

Fighting Cafe COLOSSEO Closes! Hoshikawa Benefits from Auction!

February 17th, 2010

As reported late last year famous restaurant Fighting Cafe COLOSSEO located in Suidobashi, Tokyo, closed the doors for good on January 30th 2010. COLOSSEO was often used for pro wrestling press conferences, meet & greets, viewing parties and even live musical performances. Those who were lucky enough to enter COLOSSEO while it existed can attest the inside of the shop was filled with many relics and photos relating to all combat sports, including much pro wrestling.

The owner of the cafe, Toshinori Omori, announced that these artifacts would be auctioned off from January 18th to January 24th, with a portion of the proceeds going to fighters and wrestlers who were injured during bouts and under continual rehabilitation, including injured ZERO1 wrestler Naohiro Hoshikawa.

Today shop owner Omori-san came to the FIRST ON STAGE offices to deliver Hoshikawa's proceeds from the auction. All the office members and workers of FIRST ON STAGE would like to convey their great thanks for this assistance to their injured friend Hoshikawa.

Domo arigato COLOSSEO, domo arigato Omori-san!

Hidaka to EVOLVE in New Jersey Next Month!

February 17th, 2010

Current ZERO1 International Jr. Heavyweight Champion Ikuto Hidaka will travel to Rahway, New Jersey USA on March 13th to participate in EVOLVE Pro Wrestling's 2nd event. Hidaka is scheduled for the main event versus American wrestler and NOAH regular Chris Hero in a Heavyweight vs. Jr. Heavyweight showdown.

Hidaka's "Aibou" tag team partner and co-holder of the NWA International Lightweight Tag Team titles, BattlArts' Munenori Sawa, participated in EVOLVE's debut event in January of this year winning his match versus TJP for a 1-0 record in their singles division. Hidaka will also debut in the singles division and look to pick up his fist win.

For more information please visit EVOVLE's website at www.evolvewrestling.com.

The Predator Returns!

February 11th, 2010

Last seen in a ZERO-ONE ring way back in 2004, The Predator is returning to ZERO1 for the upcoming February and March tours. The Predator first entered ZERO-ONE in 2001 and twice held the ZERO1 United States Heavyweight Champion title belt. Standing at 198cm and weighing 150kg, The Predator was a dominant force in the company, easily crushing many of his smaller opponents.

After leaving ZERO-ONE in 2004, The Predator competed in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) from 2006-2007 under his real name of Sylvester Terkay. Following his release from WWE, The Predator returned to Japan to fight for Antonio Inoki's Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) in late 2007. He last appeared for IGF in August 2009 when he defeated Atsushi Sawada with his King Kong Kneedrop.

The Predator, who is scheduled for ZERO1's 2/26, 2/28 and 3/2 shows, was reached for comment: