News Archive

Current ZERO1-MAX Intercontinental Tag Team and ZERO1-MAX International Lightweight Tag Team Champions, Ikuto Hidaka and Minoru Fujita made true their promise to invade the ring at Pro Wrestling NOAH's Korakuen Hall show today. Following the 6th match of the show, the champs made their way to the ring dressed in some nice suits and got on the microphone to challenge current NOAH Jr. tag champs, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Takashi Sugiura for a title match.

Kanemuru and Suguira answered the call-out by coming to the ring to hear what the ZERO1-MAX fighers had to say. After some back and forth, the current GHC Jr. Tag Champs accepted Hidaka & Fujita's challenge for their titles. The match will be the semi-main event on NOAH's 3/5 Budokan Hall show. Fujita did say he's glad that this time facing Kanemuru and Suguira they won't have to listen to all the girl's chant for the pretty boys like when they faced KENTA and Marufuji at the Differ Cup.

Current double title tag team champs and 2005 Tag Team MVPs Ikuto Hidaka and Minoru Fujita held a press conference today at the First On Stage offices to speak on two subjects. Hidaka's singles match for the ZERO1-MAX International Jr. title against Takuya Sugawara, and Pro Wrestling NOAH's show tomorrow at Korakuen Hall.

First Hidaka commented on his 2/26 match against Sugawara for his jr. title. He said there's no doubt in his mind that Sugawara will try to cheat in his match, and even though Sugawara has said he won't do anything to get himself DQ'd Hidaka doesn't believe it.

They then spoke about NOAH's Global Honored Crown Jr. Tag Team Titles, bringing up their 2nd place finish in last year's "Differ Cup" and considering it a good introduction to NOAH. Though now they can't seem to get any response from the NOAH main office when they call looking for a title match. So tomorrow they've decided to attend NOAH's Korakuen Hall show and meet face-to-face with current GHC Jr. Tag Champs, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Takashi Sugiura , and see if that might get them a title shot.

Shinjiro Otani and Takao Omori met with the media today at the ZERO1-MAX/First On Stage Tokyo offices to announce a return to the Yasukuni Shrine for the second "Yamato Shinshu Chikara Matsuri" show.

Last year on April 10th ZERO1-MAX ran a successful show at the shrine, promoting the show as a re-dedication to Pro Wrestling. It was the first time a wrestling event was held at the sumo arena of the shrine in 44 years, since 1961 when Rikidozan wrestled in the main event of a show that drew 15,000 people. Also appearing on that card was a young Shohei Baba and Antonio Inoki.

Going back even farther than that, 1921 was the first time Pro Wrestling came to the Sumo area of the shrine when American wrestler Ad Santel (pictured at right) confronted and beat several judo fighters from the Kodokan dojo after claiming himself the "World Judo Champion" by defeating Tokugoro Ito in 1914. This claim led him into conflict with the entire Kodokan dojo as it angered the founder of Judo - Sensei Kano. In response, Professor Kano sent Daisuke Sakai, a 4th degree black belt, to fight Santel. Santel won the fight and then journeyed to Japan to take the battle to his challengers. There in 1921 Santel defeated Reijiro Nagata by TKO in his first bout, then fought to a draw with Hikoo Shoji after 60 minutes. It's claimed that Santel's performance at the Shrine that day made the Japanese see the European "hooking" style as something to pursue in martial arts combat.

Recognizing the symbolism of the shrine in martial arts and Pro Wrestling, ZERO1-MAX returns to once more show allegiance and support to Pro Wrestling (The show title this year is "Do Not Betray Pro Wrestling"). Shinjiro Otani's goal is to make Pro Wrestling an annual event at the Yasukuni shrine, and last year All Japan's Keiji Muto and and former ZERO-ONE and UFO fighter Naoya Ogawa appeared at the show as spectators.

Otani brought up how he wants to defend the AWA Heavyweight title at the show, causing Takao Omori to remember his title defense at last years show and how much he "burns" to regain the title. He said that if Otani retains the AWA title as this time he wants a title shot badly. This year the show will take place on April 1st, and Mr. Nakamura has promised a big surprise. Like last year, and many of the Z1 shows recently, all kids Jr. High School age and lower will be admitted free.

The shrine is also a great place to see the cherry blossoms bloom, so fans can enjoy the tradition of "ohanami," the Japanese pastime of watching cherry blossoms in bloom fall to the ground...

All Japan Pro Wrestling's President Keiji Muto's promised meats finally arrived to freelance wrestler, Yutaka Yoshie. It was 8kg of genuine Japanese Okinawa beef sirloin addressed to Yoshie in the US just as promised. Yoshie said he and his "friend" Y2P-160kg are greatful for the attention from the different companies and now with the meat and rice his only request is for some pie for dessert. He will debut tomorrow at the ZERO1-MAX show as Y2P-160kg.

In other news, Sky Perfect TV is holding a one night "Hina Battle" at the Tokyo Westin Hotel on March 3, 2006. This is a pro wrestling show targeted at the ladies and featuring fighters from several promotions considered "ikemen" (ie. "hotties") by Japanese female wrestling fans. ZERO1-MAX fighters taking part in the show are ZERO1-MAX Intercontinental tag and ZERO1-MAX International Lightweight tag champs Ikuto Hidaka & Minoru Fujita. Also appearing are New Japan Pro Wrestling's Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura, NOAH's KENTA and Go Shiozaki, and All Japan's Satoshi Kojima and Kaz Hayashi. The show has it's own promotional website at www.hinabattle.jp.

Today at the ZERO1-MAX offices in Tokyo, there was a press conference to announce current AWA Heavyweight champion Shinjiro Otani's first opponent for the title - Ryouji Sai. Otani said he didn't expect Ryouji to be his first opponents but is not dissatisfied at all with the choice.

Ryouji said he deserved the title shot as he felt he's done a good job since entering into Z1-MAX noting his inclusion in last year's "Fire Festival" and his recent win streak. He said he would like to become AWA Champion and has the confidence to think he can win.

Otani also commented on the arrival of Y2P-160kg to ZERO1-MAX. Saying even with his large stature if he's coming into the promotion he better be prepared. Otani said ZERO1-MAX fans expect their fighters to have a strong fighting spirit and Yoshie needs to bring that with him.

Today the three members of the "Tokyo Gangsters" - NOSAWA, MAZADA and Katsushi Takemura broke into the First On Stage/ZERO1-MAX offices in Toyko. They calmly odered sushi dlivered on the company's bill and told the press on hand that they're demanding a 6-man hardcore match on the 2/18 show from Mr. Nakamura. They also left their mess behind, and NOSAWA stole one of the office workers computer keyboards as it's been one of his favorite weapons of late.

NOSAWA and MAZADA appeared in a No DQ "Falls Count Anywhere" tag match on the final show of 2005, "ZERO1 LAND" against Masato Tanaka and Yoshihito Sasaki. Faced with two fighters famliar with the "hardcore" style they lost in a brawl that went all over Korakuen Hall. Tanaka was NOSAWA's original target since his entrance into Z1-MAX. NOSAWA appears to believe he can gain some Hardcore status by defeating the former ECW Heavyweight Champion.

Yesterday was also ZERO1-MAX's "Vigorous Highway in Ishimaki" show at the Ishimakai City gym, where there was a very hot crowd present. Match #5 was the "Kazushi Miyamoto assessment match, where Miyamoto faced Fuyuki Takahashi and won in 10:51 with his teacher, Toshiaki Kawada's, finisher the Stretch Plum. For his victory Miyamoto has won a singles match against Takao Omori.

Speaking of Omori, he and Kamikaze faced and were defeated by Tadao Yasuda and Yoshiaki Fujiwara in a tag match. Yasuda has been running out of partners who will trust him in Z1-MAX and so went to the outside to bring in the veteran Fujiwara.

CW Anderson has vacated the NWA United National title due to his back injury and returned the title belt back to Vice President Yoshiyuki Nakamura. Anderson, who suffered the injury at Hardcore Homecoming in November, is slowly getting back in ring shape but fans at the reent WORLD-1 show in Boyertown, PA felt his frustration when he attacked Ricky Landell moments after Landell won the WORLD-1 Heavyweight championship. Anderson's Extreme Horsemen partner Steve Corino had this to say, "CW is getting frustrated because he wanted the shot at the title. CW is a guy that wants to be in the ring 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I don't think it was anything personal with Ricky. I will get them to settle this before it gets too far."