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Injury Default - Yoshihito! More News & Notes!
November 27th, 2006

ZERO1-MAX is in the midst of the "Explosion '06" tour and there's some updated news on injuries and preliminary cards for shows in the beginning of 2007.

Yoshihito Sasaki was injured in the main event UN Heavyweight title match on 11/24 when he received a concussion from a right high kick courtesy of Ryouji Sai. Yoshihito has had a hard time remembering the match, so the Doctors have ordered him to stay out of action indefinitely. He will be replaced on the 11/30 card by Ryouji Sai. The main event of this show is a special "Generation" tag match of Shinjiro Otani, Takao Omori and New Japan's Manabu Nakanishi versus Kohei Sato, Ryouji and Big Japan's Daisuke Sekimoto.

Also as mentioned earlier, Takuya Sugawara suffered a knee injury on the 11/14 GPWA show. Sugawara will be replaced on the December 5th to 8th shows by Milanito Collection AT.

Early January scheduling is out, including the 1/16 show "HOPE" which will be a gaijin centered show. The following is a partial list of those participating:

Steve Corino (WORLD-1)
Bambikiller (EWA)
Amazing Kong (REM)
Wesna Busic (EWA)
Panther Claw (REM)

Pro Wrestling SUN wrestlers will also take part on the show.

Current ZERO1-MAX Intercontinental and IWGP Tag team champions Takao Omori and Manabu Nakanishi will be defending their IWGP tag titles in the upcoming IWGP Tag Tournament. On 12/10 in New Japan Pro Wrestling against Omori's former tag team partner Shiro Koshinaka. Koshinaka will team with "Great Bash Heel" stablemate Togi Makabe.

Shinjiro Otani and Kazunari Murakami lost in the semi-final of the GHC Tag Team Title Decision Tournament to Takeshi Morishima and Mohammed Yone in Sapporo on 11/25 in just over 17 minutes when Moroshima rolled-up Murakami.

Finally, here are two team photos from today's show in Fukushima and the mixed 6-person tag match. Minoru Fujita's team won when Fujita pinned young Shota Takanishi.

EMBLEM Victory! Ryouji & WILD CHILD Defend!
November 24, 2006

The first show of the "Explosion '06" tour took place today in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall with two big title matches and the final match for Masato Tanaka before he receives shoulder surgery. The 2006 Fire Festival champion teamed with EMBLEM partner Shinjiro Otani to face the former student/teacher combination of Minoru Fujita and Yoshihiro Tajiri.

So for one final time, Tanaka made his was to a ZERO1-MAX ring with his heavily taped shoulder. TAJIRI wasted no time honing in on the wounded limb, and Fujita followed suit. At one point the ring doctor tried to check on Tanaka and Fujita kicked him from ringside with a baseball slide. After over 20 minutes of combat, the team work of EMBLEM came through, as Tanaka ducked TAJIRI's green mist and it struck Fujita. Otani then flew from the top rope with a missile dropkick on TAJIRI, while Tanaka took advantage of the blinded Fujita was scoring the Roaring Elbow and the 1-2-3.

After the match, Tanaka got on the microphone spoke to the fans, thanking them for the send-off. He said he will be out of commission for a minimum of 6 months, but would like to return only when completely healed. He added he's be sure to be back before the 2007 Fire Festival next July. All four fighters then raised hands in the ring and the crowd cheered.

Not to be overshadowed, the Main Event of the show was Ryouji Sai's V1 defense of his recently captured United National Heavyweight title. Yoshihito Sasaki, a well established Junior fighter got his chance to face off with the champ. The match was high speed and hard hitting, with Ryouji using his arsenal of kicks. Yoshihito managed to score his Argentine Coaster and several lariats, but was unable to defeat Ryouji. After a hard high kick and his top rope "Nachi Waterfall" double stomp. Following the match Ryouji got on the microphone and said with Tanaka leaving there is a spot higher up the roster that he has his eye on. He then led the "3-2-1...ZERO-1!" cheer.

On the 5th match of the show, current Intercontinental Tag Team champions (and also IWGP Tag champs) Takao Omori and New Japan's Manabu Nakanishi, also known as "Wild Child," defended their titles against Kohei Sato and the returning "Debt King" - Tadao Yasuda. "Wild Child," like EMBLEM in the semi-main event showed that the practiced union skilled of a familiar tag team will bring results, as Omori and Nakanishi were able to double team Kohei and Yasuda several times before finally hitting their combination "Washington Treaty" on Kohei for the win. The crowd chanted "Wild Child! Wild Child!" for the champs V2 defense.

The fourth match of the show saw BIG MOUTH LOUD wrestlers Kazunari Murakami and Katsumi Usuda tag against Tatsuhito Takaiwa and Tatsutoshi Goto. Takuya Sugawara was originally booked alongside Murakami but was replaced due to injury. Usuda turned out to be the weak link as Goto was able to use his patented back suplex for the victory.

Also on the card: Ikuto Hidaka defeated HUSTLE's KUSHIDA in a singles match with a back spin kick. Fuyujiro Kuruma (Fuyuki Takahashi) made his "first appearance" in Korakuen Hall losing to Kamikaze and his moonsault press. And in the opening match, Shota Takanishi grabbed a surprising win over Osamu Namiguchi with a quick side cradle.

Injury Default - Sugawara!
November 22, 2006

El Dorado Pro Wrestling's Takuya Sugawara is injured (knee) and unable to take part of the opening show of the "Explosion '06" tour on 11/24 in Korakuen Hall.

Sugawara was originally scheduled to team with Kazunari Murakami to take on Tatsuhito Takaiwa and Tatsutoshi Goto. He'll be replaced by BIG MOUTH LOUD's Katsumi Usuda in the match.

Press Conference! Otani GHC Tag Tourney Win!
November 21, 2006

A press conference was held today at the Tokyo, Japan offices of First On Stage to cover some of the matches on the opening show of the next tour "Explosion '06." The main event of the show, being held at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall, is being headlined by Ryouji Sai's V1 defense of the UN Heavyweight title against Yoshihito Sasaki.

The Intercontinental Tag Titles will also be defended by Takao Omori and New Japan's Manabu Nakanishi against Kohei Sato and the returning "Debt King" Tadao Yasuda.

This will also be Masato Tanaka's final appearance before long awaited shoulder surgery. Takana will team alongside EMBLEM partner Shinjiro Otani against Minoru Fujita and a returning Yoshihiro Tajiri.

The team of Shinjiro Otani and Kazunari Murakami, two former opponent on better terms since Murakami solved his "Matsunaga Problem," participated as a team on the Pro Wrestling NOAH 11/20 Niigata City Gymnasium show.

In the GHC Tag Team Title Decision Tournament, Otani and Murakami beat Tamon Honda and Go Shiosaki at the 28:18 mark when Otani used multiple German supplexes to score the pinfall on Shiosaki. This was Round One of the GHC tag title tournament, their next opponents are Takeshi Morishima and Mohammed Yone on 11/25 in Sapporo.

Some Info and News!
November 16th, 2006

A few things to mention on this week off for ZERO1-MAX before the final November show in Akita - "Fighting Celebration '06."

The 11/24 opening show of the "Explosion '06" tour will be the final match for Masato Tanaka before undergoing shoulder surgery. The 2006 Fire Festival champion should be out 3-4 months. His final match be alongside EMBLEM partner, Shinjiro Otani againt the current AWA World Jr. champion Minoru Fujita and a returning TAJIRI.

Ryouji Sai became the 5th ZERO1-MAX United National Heavyweight champion, taking the belt off STONEHENGE partner, Kohei Sato on November 11 in Osaka.

Kazunari Murakami learned the lesson of all who trust Mitsuhiro Matsunaga. Unlike the previous summoner, Kazuhiro Ogasawara, Murakami was able to dispel "Mr. Danger" from ZERO1-MAX in a No-Rope barbwire deathmatch on 11/11.

The GPWA had its first show in Korakuen Hall on the 14th. ZERO1-MAX representatives on the show were Kohei Sato, Ryouji Sai, Osamu Namiguchi and Shota Takanishi. Ikuto Hidaka was a last minutes replacement for Yoshihito Sasaki who had an injury and was unable to compete.

The following are the matches ZERO1-MAX wrestlers were involved in on the show:

Murakami Stops the Matsunaga!
November 11th, 2006

Kazunari Murakami has STOPPED THE MATSUNAGA! After making the mistake of bringing the sadistic maniac into ZERO1-MAX to help tilt the scales in his favor, Murakami has learned the lesson of all those who sell their soul for victory by leeching from the darkside.

Understanding the mistake Murakami had made after witnessing when Kazuhikio Ogasawara tried the same thing last year, Shinjiro Otani positioned himself as the referee in their No-Ropes Barbwire deathmatch. True to form Matsunaga unleashed havoc, storming into the audience as they fled before him. He even stabbed Pro Wrestling SUN joshi wrestler Hikaru in the head with a metal spike as he ramapaged.

Otani also received the spike during the match, and his respone of an open hand slap to Matsunaga's face gave Murakami the opening he needed! One straight left hand and an STO brought down Matsunaga, and Murakami sunk in the rear naked choke! Matsunaga repeatedly stabbed Murakami's arm with a fork trying to make him release the hold but Murakami wouldn't surrunder!

Finally, Otani called for the bell and the TKO.

Pro Wrestling World-1 Returns January 7th!
November 7th, 2006

GPWA and ZERO1-MAX affiliate Pro Wrestling WORLD-1 posted the following press release on their website regarding a January 7, 2006 return to Pottstown, PA:

Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1 is proud to announce that the company will return to its first home, Academy Hall, in Pottstown, PA on Sunday, January 7 with not one but TWO shows dubbed REBIRTH OR DESTRUCTION!

At 2:00pm, WORLD-1 will debut its first ever all-women's show followed by the return of WORLD-1 at 7:00pm. Already signed will be Ricky Landell making his V6 defense of the WORLD-1 heavyweight championship against 1PW's Sterling James Keenan! If Landell successfully defends the title on January 7 he will end up with a one year title reign!

Also mentioned is the negotiation of WORLD-1 to bring over Pro Wrestling SUN's wrestlers, AWA Women's champion Nane Takahashi, Hikaru and WORLD-1 Women's champion Amazing Kong. You can read the rest of the press release here.