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Tenka-Ichi Jr. Press Conference!
August 5th, 2006

The ZERO1-MAX "Tenka-Ichi" Juniour Heavyweight tournament is coming at the end of August, so today the Japanese participants all made an appearance at the First on Stage offices - Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Ikuto Hidaka, Minoru Fujita, Yoshihito Sasaki, Takuya Sugawara and GENTARO.

The format and prize of this year's tournament is a little different than in the past... In past years the tournament was run much like the "Fire Festival" block and scoring system. Instead it's following the above format, a tree.

The current junior ace Tatsuhito Takaiawa and the #1 contender, Takuya Sugawara, both recieves early round byes. Originally the first round was to be all gaijin, but Mr. Kusama felt that Chris Sabin is such a perfect candidate to be the AWA World Jr. Champion he did the swap with GENTARO.

This year the champion not only gets the $10,000 price and the Tenka-Ichi title belt, but they will also be recognized as the first AWA World Jr. champion. Two previous Tenka-Ichi winners, Tatsuhito Takaiwa and Yoshihito Sasaki, are both taking part in the tournament. Alex Shelley is a former ZERO1-MAX US Openweight Champion

"Fire Festival '06" Champion Press Conference!
July 30th, 2006

After his difficult battle yesterday in Korakuen Hall, 6th Fire Festival victor Masato Tanaka along with Shinjiro Otani addressed the media from the "First On Stage" offices in Tokyo. Tanaka spoke of his shoulder dislocation and how Yoshihito Sasaki helped pop it back in along with the Doctor. Tanaka said he'd swore he'd win the Fire Festival and when he came so close and the crowd was strongly behind him he new he'd find the strength to finish.

Tanaka joked with his Team Emblem partner, Shinjiro Otani that the championship katana is practically known as "Otani's sword" since he's held it so many times. He said maybe people will think differently now that he holds it! Tanaka said while the Fire Festival victory is a great achievement now he wants to capture some gold, namely in the form of the Intercontinental Tag Team titles currently held by Takao Omori and Manabu Nakanishi.

Otani then spoke up and said he knows "Real Wild Child's" weakness and will be happy to exploit it. Otani said he and Tanaka held the IC Tag titles twice before, and while they respect the fact that Omori and Nakanishi also hold the IWGP Tag Team titles that Emblem is focused on the IC Tag titles first.

The title match will take place on 8/25 at the ZERO1-MAX "MAX LAND - Progress" show at Korakuen Hall. Also on the match TNA wrestlers Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin will face Ikuto Hidaka and Minoru Fujita for the International Lighweight Tag Team titles.

Determination! Tanaka Wins Fire Festival 2006!
July, 29th, 2006

The 2006 Fire Festival is over and your winner is "Dangan" Masato Tanaka. Tanaka has been in every Fire Festival since the beginning of the tournament in 2001, and this is the first time he's made it to the finals, let alone come out with the Fire Festival Katana. After winning a grueling 4-way match earlier in front of the full Korakuen Hall, Tanaka then faced Block B champion Ryouji Sai in the main event in front of a full Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Earlier in the week it was announced that Tanaka had done substantial damage to his right knee in his match against Shinjiro Otani. There was even some rumbling he may have to drop out and the match would become a 3-way instead. Tanaka shrugged this off, though entered the final with a large brace on the knee. Showing his focus on victory, immediately Ryouji went after Tanaka's injured knee with kicks and stomps.

Tanaka briefly turned the tables, taking Ryouji out on the ring apron and hitting a springboard lariat and a strong elbow smash sending Ryouji to the floor. Ryouji rose quickly and viciously cut him off with a high kick, sweeping Takana off his feet. He continued working the knee on the outside, adding a dragon screw leg whip and more kicks.

Returning to the ring this continued, with Ryouji eventually stripping away Tanaka's kneepads and tape (at one point using his teeth!) to focus directly on the injury. Only after several agonizing moments as Ryouji twisted, bent, struck and slammed down on the knee was Tanaka able to turn the tides once more. Ryouji flung the wounded former ECW Heavyweight champion into the turnbuckle but ran directly into a kick! Tanaka quickly hit a tornado DDT and a lariat. He added to that a lariat and brainbuster, and going up top for his "Superfly" frog splash.

Ryouji countered with both knees up and went directly back to Tanaka's right leg. After Tanaka crawled his way to the ropes, Ryouji let him rise to hit feet, kicking him into the corner and placing him on the top turnbuckle. The two struggled for positioning, until Ryouji hit a superplex and followed with a top rope foot stomp for 2. He tried again with his Sidmouth finisher, but again Tanaka kicked out! Going to the well once to often, Ryouji's second attempt at the Sidmouth was met by a reversal and a series of rolling brainbuster. Tanaka raised the wounded youngster to his feet, bounced of the ropes with another nasty lariat...

...and dislocates his own right shoulder in the process! Crawling to his corner and the aid of his protege Yoshihito Sasak and the ring doctor the tough-as-nails fighter quickly had his damaged shoulder re-set and returned to the match to a cheer fro the crowd. The same injury that had kept him out of a previous Fire Festival two years ago was not going to deny him of victory and his redemption in 2006!

After this display of hardness, the Korakuen Hall crowd was now completely behind Tanaka. Tanaka hit another brainbuster, and scored the "Superfly" as the crowd clapped and chanted for him. Now a Diamond Dust, then a Roaring Elbow, but still Ryouji kicked out at 2! He began to mount a comeback, lifting Tanaka into the corner for a Nachi Waterfall off the top! Tanaka kicked out and Ryouji hit a running dropkick right to his face. But AGAIN Tanaka was able to avoid defeat and kicked out!

Finally in a last burst of energy, Masato Tanaka laid out Ryouji Sai with a series of elbows and then a final Roaring Elbow, scoring the victory! The entire Korakuen Hall clapped and cheered for the match and for the 2006 Fire Festival champion. Tanaka took the champion's sword and held it aloft in its scabbard. He then slowly drew it out and posed as Shinjiro Otani looked on.

Masato Tanaka, former ECW World Heavyweight champ, ECW World Tag Team champ, FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team champ, NWA Intercontinental Tag Team champ, PWF Universal Tag Team champ, NWA Zero-One United National Heavyweight champ, Pro Wrestling WORLD-1 Heavyweight champ, FMW Independent World Heavyweight champ, FMW World Brass Knuckles Heavyweight champ, FMW World Brass Knuckles Tag Team champ, FMW/WEW World Heavyweight champ, and FMW/WEW 6-Man Tag Team champ has now become the ZERO1-MAX "Fire Festival" champion!

The 4-way to win Block A took place as the second match on the show. The match pitting Shinjiro Otani, Masato Tanaka, Kazunari Murakami and Yutaka Yoshie against each other to break the tie. Before the bell Otani rushed right to attack Murakami. Kicking him down into the corner and hitting him with multiple facewashes. After returning from the ring from battling to the outside, Kazunari kicked Otani to the crowd, but a second kick was seized and Otani rolled-up the surprised Kazunari for the pinfall. His celebration was brief, as immediately Yoshi dropped the Ham Sandwich on him for the elimination.

With only Tanaka and Yoshie remaining, Yoshie got in a German suplex and body press and a hip attack but Tanaka recovered and turned the tides, hitting the Roaring Elbow. Yoshie then bounced off the ropes to retaliate and was met with a vicious lariat! Tanaka hooked the leg and secured Block A! The semi-main event was a Special 6-man "Tenka-Ichi" Jiwa, Takuya Sugawara, Yoshihito Sasaki and NOSAWA. Team would be decided in the beginning of the match through a random drawing. Cards, with an A or a B printed on them and the teams were picked. Sugawara ended up on the team with Hidaka and Fujita. Sugawara actually won the match for his team, when he beat Sasaki with the Shiisanputa.

The semi-main event was a Special 6-man "Tenka-Ichi" Jr special tag-team match involving Ikuto Hidaka, Minoru Fujita, Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Takuya Sugawara, Yoshihito Sasaki and NOSAWA. Teams would be decided in the begining of the match through a random drawing. Cards, with an A or a B printed on them and the teams were picked. Sugawara ended up on the team with Hidaka and Fujita. Sugawara actually won the match for his team, when he beat Sasaki with the Shiisanputa.

Osamu Namiguchi fought Australian wrestler Aussie Ozbone in a "Tenka-Ichi" Jr. participation assessment match. Ozbone showed good junior skills - dropkicking Nami off the apron and the low soccer kick and finally finishing him with a brainbuster and a "Kangaroo Press."

Also on the card, Takao Omori and Kamikaze teamed together to take on Tatsutoshi Goto and Daisuke Sekimoto. Omori and Kamikaze lost when Goto hit a low blow kick behind the referee's back and finished him with a suplex.

Kohei faced Tomoaki Honma, who didn't win a single match in the tournament. And while Honma showed his fighting victory once more, he again lost to Kohei's German Suplex hold. After the match, Kohei provoked Honma by rubbing the United National title in his face.

In the opening bout, Rikiya Fudo defeated Fuyuki Takahashi.

Ryouji Wins Block B! Stalemate in Block A!
July 27th, 2006

Interesting development going into Saturday's "Fire Festival '06" final at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall took place today in Osaka, Japan. While Ryouji Sai was able to win Block B with his Main Event victory today against Takao Omori, a whole different situation took place in Block A. In Block A there is a 4-way tie as Shinro Otani, Masato Tanaka, Kazunari Murakami and Yutaka Yoshie all finished with 5 points each as all four won 2 matches, lost two and drew 1. Going into today it looked like Otani or Tanaka would win the Block since a victory would've given one of them 6 points and a sure lock, since even with a victory against Tomoaki Honma (who won none of his matches) Murakami could get 5 points. Murakami's 5 tied Yoshie's 5, and then Tanaka and Otani went to a 30 minute draw for 5 each as well.

Thus a 4-way tie will now equal a "4-way dance" elimination match at the final show on Saturday. This gives Ryouji a slight advantage as only after the brutal 4-way match, the Block A winner will have to face the fresh and prepared Block B victor in the Main Event.

Also of note, Tatsuhito Takaiwa won the title vs. title match and added the ZERO1-MAX International Jr. Heavyweight title to his WWA Welterweight title when he hit the Death Valley bomb on El Dorado's visiting punk Takuya Sugawara. Sugawara had been champ since Febuary when he defeated Ikuto Hidaka. This is Takaiwa's second run as Jr. champion.

* Fire Festival 2006 *

Last Update: 7/27/2006

BLOCK A	Shinjiro Otani	Masato Tanaka	Yutaka Yoshie	Kazunari Murakami	Tomoaki Honma	SCORE
Shinjiro Otani		Δ	O	X	O	5
Masato Tanaka	Δ		X	O	O	5
Yutaka Yoshie	X	O		Δ	O	5
Kazunari Murakami	O	X	Δ		O	5
Tomoaki Honma	X	X	X	X		0

BLOCK B	Takao Omori	Kohei Sato	Ryouji Sai	Tatsutoshi Goto	Daisuke Sekimoto	SCORE
Takao Omori		Δ	X	O	O	5
Kohei Sato	Δ		X	O	X	3
Ryouji Sai	O	O		X	O	6
Tatsutoshi Goto	X	X	O		O	4
Daisuke Sekimoto	X	O	X	X		2

Symbol Key and Point System

o	=	Win	=	2 points
x	=	Loss	=	0 points
Δ	=	Draw	=	1 point

Fire Festival Day 1 "Blood Festival" For Otani!
July 21st, 2006

Day 1 of the 2006 "Fire Festival" is passed, a show done in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall in front of a hot crowd. In the Main event "Mr. Fire Festival" Shinjiro Otani, the winner of last year's tournament, faced BIG MOUTH LOUD's Kazunari Murakami in a relatively short match that involved Otani gushing blood and the being pinned in under 10 minutes by a backslide.

On the first ever ZERO-ONE show "Truth Century Creation"way back on March 2nd, 2001, Otani met Murakami one-on-one and Murakami was the victor by referee stoppage after a brutal straight punch at just over the 7 minute mark. Then in a rematch on June 16th, 2001 at the ZERO-ONE "Shingeki" pay-per-view in Osaka, Otani was able to tie the series at 1-1 when he won by disqualification. Flash forward to 2006, and after a long separation on June 24th of this year, First On Stage President Yoshiyuki Nakamura appeared with Murakami at the Differ Ariake where Murakami struck Otani with a bouquet of flowers and demanded participation in the "Fire Festival."

The two fighters sprung immediately to the attack, with Murakami going right to the kicks and punches and dragging Otani to the outside. When they returned to the ring Otani was busted open and bleeding all over the place. Murakami then took Otani to the corner where he added more punches until Otani turned it around nailed the stomach kicks and then the face wash. Murakami rallied with a vicious soccer kick but Otani replied with a German suplex hold. The two rose to their feet and exchanged punches, when Murakami quickly nailed a backslide and scored the pinfall. After the match, Murakami got on the mic and told Otani that it's been a long time and that he wanted to turn the "Fire Festival" into the "Blood Festival" and he got his wish.

Also on the card was non-tournament tag match pitting Ryouji Sai and Minoru Fujita versus Tomoaki Honma and Kamikaze. After the match, that Ryouji won when he pinned Kamikaze with a top rope Sidmouth, Fujita got on the microphone to address BIG MOUTH LOUD's Director Fumihiko Uwai who was in the crowd watching the show. Fujita said he wants a match in BIG MOUTH LOUD at their next show on August 20th and appealed directly to the company's Director for a match against Katsuyori Shibata.

Masato Tanaka didn't start out the way he wanted in the tournament, as he was crushed to death by a flying body press by the 160kg Yutaka Yoshie in their Block A match. Takao Omori also won his match against BIG JAPAN's Daisuke Sekimoto, who despite a valiant effort was dropped by the Axe Bomber in just under 12 minutes. Kohei Sato scored a surprising victory in his semi-main event match against veteran Tatsutoshi Goto, when he managed to ground him and finish him in record time with a triangle choke.

Recently it was announced that the July 27th International Jr. Heavyweight match between Takuya Sugawara and Tatsuhito Takaiwa will be a double titles match, where Sugawara will put up the Jr. Title against Takaiwa' WWA World Welterweight title. The opening bout of this show had Sugawara against Takaiwa's student Osamu Namiguchi where he sent a message to Takiawa when after hitting his Shiisanputa finisher he used Takaiwa's own Death Valley bomb combo for the victory.