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Takuya Sugawara vs. Kenta Kakinuma - Fire Festival '10 Determination Match

July 9th, 2010

Daichi Hashimoto in Weekly Pro Wrestling Magazine!

July 7th, 2010

Daichi Hashimoto, the son of deceased ZERO-ONE and Pro Wrestling legend Shinya Hashimoto, made his in-ring debut back in September 21st, 2009 at a ZERO1 show dedicated to the 25th Anniversary of his father's debut. Since Daichi had only just begun his pro wrestling training he instead had a short 2 Round kickboxing exhibition against retired fighter Satoshi "Wild Dog" Kobayashi. His fathers friend Masahiro Chono looked on from the announce booth during the exhibition.

Now Daichi is on the cover of Weekly Pro Wrestling (週間プロレス/Shuukan Puroresu) with an interview inside. The magazine asks Daichi about his memories of pro wrestling and his father, plus his own future in pro wrestling. He said while he plans to make an official announcement at the upcoming ZERO-ONE Knight STAND ~ Wasshoi!! ~ show on 7/11, it will most likely be next March. Why next March? It is the original debut show of ZERO-ONE at Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan back on March 2, 2001.

Kakinuma vs. Sugawara Fan Ballot Determination! Decision Match 7/9 LIVE!

July 5th, 2010

The fan ballot to determine the participants of the ZERO1 Fire Festival '10 decision match on 7/9 is over. The winners are young ZERO1 rookie Kenta Kakinuma and Jr. class freelancer Takuya Sugawara. These two wrestlers will now face each other at the ZERO1 Dojo to see who gets the final spot in Block A for the tournament.

This decision match will be broadcast LIVE on Friday, July 9th via USTREAM at 8:00PM Japan Time (7:00 AM Eastern/4:00 AM Pacific) at the new ZERO1 USTREAM channel.

While Kakinuma is considered a great new up-and-comer, but he will be facing a long time ZERO1 ring participant and former International Jr. Heavyweight Champion, NWA International Lightweight Tag & NWA Intercontinental Tag Team champion in Sugawara. Be sure to tune in and see ZERO1's USTREAM debut!

The following is the final tally of the fan ballot:

Fire Festival '10 Blocks A & B Take Shape!

July 4th, 2010

With eight of the ten spots already set for the upcoming Fire Festival '10, the FIRST ON STAGE tournament committee has announced the wrestlers for Block A & Block B. The remaining spots will be determined by the two qualifying match on 7/11 & 7/9, with the 7/9 match participants being decided by fan balloting.

Block A has one previous Fire Festival victor, albeit a 3x champion in ZERO1 President Shinjiro Otani. Also in this Block is BJW heavyweight Daisuke Sekimoto who has participated in 5 total Fire Festivals (2001, 2006-2009) with his best performance in last year's tournament where he went on to the 3-way semi-final tie breaker in his Block. Yutaka Yoshie has been in 2 previous Fire Festivals (2006-2007) but has also never won. The remaining slots go to longtime gaijin ZERO1 wrestler The Predator in his first Fire Festival, and the result of fan ballot & a 7/9 qualifying match that will be held in the ZERO1 dojo and broadcast live on USTREAM.

Block B is heavily loaded with previous Fire Festival champions, with 5 total wins among 3 ZERO1 wrestlers. Masato Tanaka (2006, 2007 and 2008), Kohei Sato (2004) and Ryoji Sai (2009). Also included will be gaijin wrestler Joe Legend and the winner of the 7/11 ZERO1 International Jr. Heavyweight title 3-Way match between Ikuto Hidaka, FUNAKI and Munenori Sawa.

Kakinuma Takes Lead In Fire Festival '10 Fan Balloting!

July 2nd, 2010

As previously announced, one of the remaining spots in the Fire Festival '10 will be filled by both fan vote and a qualifying match. That match will be held at the ZERO1 Dojo and broadcast live July 9th on UStream with the winner participating in the Fire Festival '10. Below is the list of eligible wrestlers and the votes they've received as of July 3rd 7:00PM (Japan time). The deadline for voting will be Monday, July 5th at 12:00PM (Japan time).

To vote please send your top 2 choices to info@z-1.co.jp with Fire Festival '10 in the subject line.

Fire Festival '10 Foreign Personnel Change!

July 1st, 2010

ZERO1 and FIRST ON STAGE have announced a change in the roster of the upcoming Fire Festival '10. Previously announced was gaijin wrestler Paul Burchill to make his first appearance in a ZERO1 ring. Burchill contacted the office and said he had a personal matter scheduling conflict, and would be unable to come to Japan. He will be replaced by the Canadian expatriate from Germany, Joe Legend. Legend has wrestled all over the world in his 18 year career, including most of Europe, Russia and even South Africa.

"Though I think ZERO1 should have originally chosen me, I feel that it is a stroke of luck that Burchill couldn't make the tournament. I want to win the Fire Festival like Germany will win the World Cup! I want to take the samurai sword, the reward money, and the honor of victory back to Germany!"

Legend is the eighth wrestler announced, with the two remaining slot to be determined at the upcoming ZERO-ONE Knight STAND ~ Wasshoi!! ~ show and after a fan vote (see below) a decision match at the ZERO1 dojo that will be shown live on USTREAM.