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Hidaka & FUNAKI To Challenge KAZAN for Tag Titles on 6/10!

May 25th, 2010

Since arriving in ZERO1 after his 13 year career in WWE, FUNAKI has continued to team with his former student Ikuto Hidaka. At his first press conference for ZERO1, FUNAKI was asked about challenging for the top tag belts in ZERO1 - the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team titles. He was excited when he heard these belts were held by his old friends Shinjiro Otani & Akebono, and declared "Let's aim for it!"

The "Master & Pupil" tag team of FUNAKI & Hidaka will now get their chance on June 10th at ZERO1 WRESTLER'S 12 in Tokyo's Shinjuku FACE. FUNAKI & Hidaka have already been victorious in the two matches they have teamed for since FUNAKI's return to Japan; defeating the Hawaiian gaijin tag team of Sandy Beach & Chad Aloha and also the former ZERO1 tag champion team of Kohei Sato & KAMIKAZE.

Current champions KAZAN and the Master & Pupil tag were both reached for comment on the match:

Shinjiro Otani:

"Even though Hidaka & FUNAKI are smaller sized Jr. class fighters, they have what it takes to win. Therefore I think this is a bold and huge challenge! We'll take on this huge challenge and KAZAN will defend these titles. We'll definitely win!"

Akebono:

"I was drinking in Kyushu the other day and I received a call from Otani-san telling me of the challenge. I was so excited I was barely able to sleep that night! I agree with what Otani-san said, that the physical size of the challengers isn't related to the size of their power. Hidaka is an ex-champion and FUNAKI wrestled at the highest level for 13 years. To face him as an opponent is tremendous! When I was in the WWE I didn't really know much, and it was FUNAKI who took care of me. When I would worry because I didn't know anything it was always FUNAKI to remind me to just 'Enjoy it!' I really appreciate what he did for me then, and I promise to repay his kindness one day. However for now and for this match the heat of KAZAN will burn, and we will smash them!"

FUNAKI:

"I was expecting to build up a few more victories before this challenge, but since it has been decided I want to take these titles in one shot. The champion team has a noticeable physique difference as they're heavyweights, so I think this will be a severe battle. Let's do it on the first shot!"

Ikuto Hidaka:

"I've worn the NWA Intercontinental Tag title around my waist before. However wearing one alongside FUNAKI-san will be an exceptional moment. I have a strong desire to see title belts around the waist of the 'Master & Pupil' tag team for our fans. In the time remaining before the match we will do everything to prepare!"

If successful this will be KAZAN's 4th Defense of the tag team titles since winning them back in January of this year from Hidaka and his Aibou partner Munenori Sawa..

Also announced for the ZERO1 WRESTLER'S 12 are two single matches described as the "start towards the Fire Festival" for former winners Masato Tanaka and Ryoji Sai. Summer is rapidly approaching and that means so is the Fire Festival 2010. Commonly scheduled to begin in the last week of June, this year the annual tournament will run from June 24th to August 4th.

So also on June 10th at ZERO1 WRESTLER'S 12 Ryouji will take on BJW's Daisuke Sekimoto in a match titled "Ready to the Sword." Before winning the Fire Festival '09 last year Ryouji lost in his head-to-head BLOCK B match against Sekimoto, but then came out victorious in the 3-way playoff semi-final match against both Tanaka and Sekimoto and advanced to the finals and victory.

After winning 3 Fire Festival in a row from 2006-2008, Masato Tanaka will be looking to come back strong this year and regain the "Himatsuri Katana" for himself. On June 10th he will be facing BattlArts' Munenori Sawa in a single match titled "Full Swing." Hopefully for Tanaka's sake he will get into "Full Swing" and continue a strong streak leading to the tournament.

ZERO1 Wrestlers to Okinawa for Sponsored Event!

May 23rd, 2010

The parent company of ZERO1 pro wrestling, FIRST ON STAGE CO., Ltd. will be running a sponsored pro wrestling event called "Sky Slam" on June 23rd at the Chatan Dome in Chathan, Okinawa, Japan. The event is part of the Okinawa Summer Festival and is sponsored by TeAmo Colored Contact Lenses. This is the first time ZERO1 wrestlers have performed together on the island of Okinawa.

The fight card hasn't been released, though 5 matches are scheduled along with some other comedy/variety show events and games. The event is free to the public. The current list of talent is as follows:

Shinjiro Otani, Masato Tanaka, Riki Choshu, Kohei Sato, Ryoji Sai, Daisuke Sekimoto, Tetsuhiro Kuroda, KAMIKAZE, Kuroge Wagyuta, Ikuto Hidaka, Minoru Fujita, Shota Takanishi, Munenori Sawa, Tengu Kasier, RG, HG and three as yet unnamed Okinawa Pro Wrestling fighters.

More to be announced...

FUNAKI Surprise Addition to 5/20 Show! Shirai Sisters Comment on Mr. X & Mr. XX!

May 15th, 2010

ZERO1 has just announced that FUNAKI is a surprise addition to the May 20th Shin-kiba 1st Ring show next Thursday. At "Pro Wrestling Mania Age! Part 3" FUNAKI will once again team with his student Ikuto Hidaka to take on former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team champions Kohei Sato & KAMIKAZE. It was this team that Hidaka and his "Aibou" tag partner Munenori Sawa won the titles from in late 2009 before losing them to the current champions, "Kazan," of Shinjiro Otani and Akebono.

At the press conference of FUNAKI's initial ZERO1 return he was asked if now that he's teaming with Hidaka he might challenge for the top tag titles in ZERO1. When informed that the NWA Intercontinental titles are currently held by Otani & Akebono, two of his old acquaintances, FUNAKI responded that is something he'd like to aim for. A victory here will rise them to the ranks of the tag team division of ZERO1 and move them towards that goal.

"Pro Wrestling Mania Age! Part 3" will also see the return of the Shirai Sisters, Io and Mio Shirai, to the ZERO1 ring. The not-so-mysterious masked tag team of Mr. X and Mr. XX have recently been on a "Mr. X & Mr. XX's Kyodai Kari" mission for several months. "Kyodai Kari" means "Sibling Hunting" and they've already challenged real siblings the Sato Brothers and "brothers" Naoki Tanizaki and Hidaka. The Shirai Sisters were reached for comment on the upcoming match:

"Mr. X & Mr. XX, we've never heard of this tag team! They say they are sibling hunting, well we are also on a hunt. They better each wear an athletic cup so they don't get "crushed" themselves!!! We don't plan to lose, and we hope the fans support us in the future."

ZERO1 Opens New Dojo!

May 14th, 2010

It has been several years since ZERO1 has had their own training dojo for their wrestlers. Until the closing of HUSTLE, ZERO1 often used that company's dojo for training and teaching the young fighters. Today ZERO1 held an event to show members of the pro wrestling community, including both wrestlers, fans and the media in Tokyo their new dojo.

The location of the gym is in Hamamatsucho, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, very close to the FIRST ON STAGE corporate offices in the Shibakoen area of Tokyo. The dojo has a full-sized wrestling ring, weights, and mats for grappling and exercise.

Also on display for the event were all the ZERO1 champions' title belts, and various ring costumes formally worn by original founder and company owner, Japanese pro wrestling legend Shinya Hashimoto. The staff served food, drinks and chanko made onsite to the guests, and the current class of ZERO1 young boys of Shito Ueda, Yuzuru Saito, Kenta Kakinuma and Yoshikazu Yokoyama also had an exhibition match

FIRST ON STAGE Director Yoshiyuki Nakamura posted on his facebook page that foreign wrestlers traveling to Japan are welcome to come train with them at the new gym. Obviously ZERO1's young class of wrestlers will also be learning their craft at the dojo under the guidance of Shinjiro Otani, Masato Tanaka and Ikuto Hidaka.