Home » News Archive » News from 10/26/05 to 11/17/05

Yoshihito Finally STOPS THE MATSUNAGA!!

November 17th, 2005

"Mr. Danger" Mitsuhiro Matsunaga's reign of blood, terror and violence has finally ended in ZERO1-MAX. The blood thirsty monster was finally slain by Yoshihito Sasaki in their no-ropes barbwire spider net & barricade board double Hell death match today in Osaka.

Sasaki was able to beat his former FMW alumnus, Matsunaga, in just under 9½ minutes with the Argentine Coaster onto a section of the barbwire spider-net he'd placed into the ring.

Matsunaga has been a curse on ZERO1-MAX since he entered the promotion with the Karate Forces back in June. He soon turned on them as well, and then focused his attention on Young MAX, who came to the rescue of Ring Announcer Oki at the S-Arena. Young MAX fell one-by-one; Namiguchi and Fudo were the first to suffer his wrath.

Even Team ROWDY members Kohei Sato and Hirotaka Yokoi couldn't defeat him.The battles with Matsunaga became progressively more brutal and disturbing - Matsunaga using metal spikes, light tubes, a vice wrapped in barbwire, a pen, wire cutters, and even steel chains. Yokoi eventually challenged him to a no-ropes barbwire match, but lost to the experienced deathmatch wrestler.

Finally former fellow FMW wrestler, Yoshihito Sasaki, stepped forward and challenged Matsunaga to a FMW-style match - the No-ropes Barbwire Spider Net & Narricade board double Hell death match! Mr. Nakamura had announced that if Sasaki couldn't defeat Matsunaga he would then turn to another former FMW wrestler, Masato Tanaka. Nakamura went as far as to say that he would even call on Otani if it came to that.

Yoshihito Sasaki has done his job and dispelled the evil that is "Mr. Danger"... or has he?

ZERO1-MAX Back in New Japan!

November 16th, 2005

The fight card for New Japan Pro Wrestling's Tokyo Dome show on January 1st, 2006 named "Toukon Shidou Chapter 1" were announced today, and once more ZERO1-MAX and NJPW will collide!

Back in September, Tatsuhito Takaiwa and Yoshihito Sasaki entered the New Japan ring after their Sagamihara City Gymnasium show and confronted the New Japan fighters, with Sasaki calling out Koji Kanemoto to face him. Kanemoto eventually came out, along with the entire New Japan locker room, which was then followed by the entire ZERO1-MAX locker room storming the ring!

On September 16, Kanemoto invaded the ZERO1-MAX ring, getting on the microphone saying that he accepts Sasaki's challenge but not for a 1-on-1 match. The confrontations were set for October 8, 2005 with Sasaki teaming with former NJPW Junior Tatsuhito Takaiwa versus Kanemoto and Wataru Inoue.

That show came and Takaiwa and Sasaki were victorious, with Takaiwa hitting Inoue with the Lariat for the pinfall. Sasaki wasn't satisfied however and demanded a singles match against Kanemoto. After the match, Kanemoto said he would face Sasaki in singles action at the ZERO1-MAX 10/10/05 show at Korakuen Hall.

Also on this show the 4-man team of Shinjiro Otani, Kohei Sato, Ryouji Sai and Kamikaze faced off against Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Takashi Iizuke, Yutaka Yoshie and Naofume Yamamoto. New Japan took the victory in that one, with Tenzan hitting his tombstone "Tenzan" driver on Kamikaze, but you could tell by the post match action that things were not concluded in this inter-promotional confrontation.

Sasaki's singles match against Kanemoto did not go well on 10/10, even though the Z1-MAX Junior showed his regular fire. Kanemoto beat him down so badly eventually the referee had to stop the match and declare Kanemoto the victor. Takaiwa had to enter the ring to put a stop to the beating.

Now on 1/4/06, the battle continues with Otani facing Kanemoto in singles action!. Takao Omori will be appearing with former Intercontinental Tag Team champion partner Shiro Koshinaka! And Kohei Sato will face Shinsuke Nakamura in the semi-main event!

Eddie Guerrero: 1967-2005...

November 13th, 2005

Great Tragedy struck the pro wrestling industry today, as Eddie Guerrero passed away in his hotel room in Minneapolis, MN while on the road with the WWE. Eddie Guerrero wrestled all around the world during his life in the sport of professional wrestling. Early in his career he wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling as the masked "Black Tiger," where he had numerous matches against current ZERO1-MAX fighter Shinjiro Otani. Otani released the following statement upon hearing of Eddie Guererro's passing:

"After receiving the information I felt both surprise and sorrow, as 38 years old is far to short a life. We wrestled each other many times back in New Japan. And while often facing each other as enemies, there was nothing but respect between us. Together we taught each other and perfected the skill of the springboard launch off the ropes... Rest in peace. I pray you find happiness in Heaven."

Omori To Form Indy Stable!

November 10th, 2005

Takao Omori, after his recent troubles with Tadao Yasuda and his confrontation with Shinjiro Otani has announced that he feels there is nobody he can trust in ZERO1-MAX, so has decided to form his own stable that he has named "The Axe Bombers."

His choice of members for his new groups is interesting, as Omori has taken young, raw talent from the Japanese independent pro wrestling scene. He said he knows he will have to be a teacher and guide these young wrestlers, but they all seem willing to learn from the veteran and be his student. The wrestlers he named for "The Axe Bombers" are:

MAX Around Press Conference #2!

November 4th, 2005

Today at the ZERO1-MAX offices there was another press conference held relating to the upcoming MAX Around tour. The November 23rd semi-main event for the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship titles was commented on by one half of the match's participants. It will be EMBLEM, Shinjiro Otani and Masato Tanaka, versus current champions SKULL & BONES of Ikuto Hidaka and Minoru Fujita!

Otani and Tanaka had very few comments regarding the bout, only saying that they're not surprised that such a spirited team was able to win the top ZERO1-MAX tag titles. Though they still believe that Hidaka and Fujita are Junior class fighters and will be at a disadvantage against the heavyweights and former holders of the Intercontinental tag team titles.

MAX Around Press Conference!

October 26th, 2005

ZERO1-MAX held a press conference today at their Tokyo offices regarding the upcoming November "MAX Around" tour. Yoshihito Sasaki and President Nakamura commented on Sasaki's upcoming match with Mitsuhiro Matsunaga on 11/17, a no-ropes barbwire, spider-net barricade/board deathmatch straight out of the FMW playbook. Mr. Nakamura said that he hopes Sasaki will be able to expel Matsunaga from ZERO1-MAX, but if not he will look to veteran Masato Tanaka.

Tanaka, like Sasaki and Matsunaga is also a former alumnus of FMW, and no stranger to barbwire. Nakamura went as far as to say that Otani would be used to confront Matsunaga if even Tanaka couldn't defeat him. Sasaki feels that this will not be needed, as he will be the one to end Matsunaga's reign of blood in ZERO1-MAX.

Kohei Sato briefly sat in on the press conference and spoke about his recent trip to Russia, saying he scouted some possible pro wrestling talent on his trip. He also mentioned that even though his Team ROWDY partner Yokoi is unable to participate in the November shows he still wants a future re-match against Hidaka and Fujita, the tag team that took the NWA Intercontinental Tag titles from them on the "Interception" tour. Mr. Nakamura said instead Hidaka and Fujita will face the former NWA intercontinental tag champs - Team EMBLEM!

Mr. Nakamura then mentioned that while Osamu Namiguchi is in Mexico, his nemesis Katsuhiko Nakajima and his teacher and All-Asia Tag Team partner Kensuke Sasaki would be taking part on the upcoming tour tagging together in Niigata and Osaka.

Takao Omori then entered the offices and began to speak about his failed teaming with the "Debt King" Tadao Yasuda, blaming Otani for the problems, as Omori was against the idea from the beginning, only being coaxed into the pairing by Otani. Omori then picked up the office telephone and called Kamikaze, asking him to be his partner on the upcoming tour. Kamikaze and Yasuda had competed for the spot to be Omori's tag partner earlier on, with Yasuda winning the spot until his true colors became evident that he's only out for himself.

This time Omori assured Kamikaze that he will be his only partner, to which Kamikaze agreed. Omori and Kamikaze will face Otani and the "Debt King" on the 10/16 show.