Home » News Archive » News from 07/06/06 to 07/19/06

Tenka-Ichi Jr. Tourney Participants Announced!

July 19th, 2006

With the Fire Festival starting tomorrow, ZERO1-MAX took a minute to announced the participants of ANOTHER yearly tournament - the 2006 Tenka-Ichi Jr. Heavyweight tournament. Usually this junior heavyweight tourney takes place in April, but due to many ZERO1-MAX fighters participating in HUSTLE, it had to be pushed back to the end of August. So far scheduled to appear in this years tournament:

Also announced is that on 7/29 on the Final night of the Fire Festival there will be a "Tenka-Ichi Tournament Assessment match" between Osamu Namiguchi (ZERO1-MAX) and an Australian wrestler named Aussie Osborne (AWF).

The 2005 tourney was won by Yoshihito Sasaki.

News & Notes As the Fire Festival Approaches!

July 17th, 2006

We are only three days away from the opening show of the Fire Festival '06 in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall, and two of the participants have gone through some unique preparations in the hopes of finding the edge to take home this year's Fire Festival Katana.

ZERO1-MAX wrestlers Ryoji Sai and Masato Tanaka spoke to the press about their special training regimens and the things they are doing to attain victory in this year's tournament.

Masato Tanaka has been rigorously training at GOLD'S GYM, undergoing regular massage treatment and using a hyperbaric oxygen therapy capsule. His CoCoon_O2 chamber provides increased oxygen transport capacity of the blood and tissue in his body. Tanaka originally began the treatment for his shoulder injury sustained in 2002 during that year's Fire Festival in a tag match.

In that non-tournament match Spanky hit Tanaka with a "Complete Shot" impact move and it seriously injured his shoulder. Though he begged to stay in the tournament, ZERO-ONE President Shinya Hashimoto refused and handed his opponents a default victory. Tanaka does about 30 minutes a day in the oxgen capsule.

Ryouji on the other hand is doing what he calls "Tarzan Training" in the woods of a local public park's recreational facilities. Ryouji told the press that he always exercises in the park in is full ring gear, as this is what he wears in the ring.

Ryouji said he feels 2006 has been his strongest year in pro wrestling since his debut, and that he's increased his stock as one of the sport's young up-and-comers. He mentioned his matches in New Japan Pro Wrestling and the success he's had there.

Ryouji added that his goal is to not draw any matches, nor does he expect to breeze through the tournament - but his goal is to win every one of his matches. Ryouji wants to not only show his personal strength, but to show the strength of Pro-Wrestling ZERO1-MAX and his future as the possible ace of the company.

Takao Omori, now one half of both the ZERO1-MAX Intercontinental Tag Team and IWGP Tag Team champs, had his own views on victory in the Fire Festival '06. Omori said he has decided that he will stick to what he knows since it has served him so well in the past and now in the present. He did declare one strange thing - he said if he wins the Fire Festival katana this year he will change the champion's trophy into an axe for the remainder of the year! He said this was obviously to represent his proud skill, the Axe Bomber.

IC Tag Champs Now IWGP Champs!

July 17th, 2006

Current ZERO1-MAX Intercontinental Tag Team champions, the "Real Wild Child" team of Takao Omori and Manabu Nakanishi took part in New Japan's "Circuit 2006 Turbulence" show. The champs faced IWGP Tag Team champions Shiro Koshinaka and Togi Makabe. Both Omori and Nakanishi seemed to have finally found a partner they can not only rely on, but one who is willing to fight with good teamwork. As they once again used their Axe Bomber/McEnroe tag move (the "Washington Convention") to level on Makabe, and as Omori used the Axe Bomber on his former Intercontinental Tag Team partner Koshinaka, Nakanishi hit the Hercules Cutter for the victory.

Afterwards Masahiro Chono, who had been watching the match, entered the ring and while initially looking like he was going to congratulate the champs, instead ended up attacking them. Look forward to Omori & Nakanishi versus Chono & Tenzan in the near future.

One Year Ago Today - Shinya Hashimoto

July 11th, 2006

Believe it or not but it has been an entire year today since ZERO-ONE founder and legendary Japanese wrestler, Shinya Hashimoto passed away suddenly at the age of 40.

ZERO1-MAX is holding a joint Anniversary mourning show and a Naohiro Hoshikawa encouragement show on 7/15 Niigata. ZERO1-MAX will be selling Hashimoto CDs, and both Hashimoto and Hoshikawa t-shirts with proceeds going to the families of both fighters. Hoshikawa is in need of long term care due to a severe head injury in October of 2004.

"Real Evil Makers" Announced!

July 6th, 2006

ZERO1-MAX has finally announced who the two mystery women who will appear alongside Amazing Kong at the 7/15 Destructive King 1st Anniversary Mourning & Naohiro Hoshikawa Encouragement show in Niigata. The two are Allison Danger, a former WORLD-1 Women's Champion, and Panther Claw (Trenisha Biggars) formally of Deep South Wrestling. The two will team in a "Naohiro Hoshikawa Encouragement Match - Women's tag team Match" against Nanae Takahahshi and HIKARU.

The night before, the "Real Evil Makers" will take on the "Dream Catchers" in three separate singles matches. This will take place at Tokyo's Shinjuku FACE at the Nanae Takahashi 10th Anniversary ~ READINEST show. Danger will face Saki Maemura, Hikaru will face Panther Claw and Amazing Kong will face Nanae Takahashi.