News Archive

Home » News Archive » News from 12/01/06 to 12/29/06

6-Man "Fate" Tag Match on January 19th!
December 29th, 2006

Takao Omori and Shinjiro Otani held a press conference at the First On Stage offices in Tokyo today to announce the main event for the January 19, show of "Over The Max 2007" in Korakuen Hall.

FIGHT CARD
Special 6-man Tag Match "Fate"
Shinjiro Otani Takao Omori Kazunari Murakami	vs.	Yoshihiro Takayama Kohei Sato Hirotaka Yokoi

During a tag match at the year-end "Celebration Return in Zeros" show, Takao Omori's former tag team partner of many years, Yoshihiro Takayama, attacked him from the crowd.

It was in the 5th match of Shinjiro Otani and Tatsutoshi Goto versus Takao Omori and Kazunari Murakami, Takayama attacked both Otani and Omori. Surprisingly when Takayama issued his challenge and left the arena Hirotaka Yokoi followed him out.

And now Yokoi's Team ROWDY partner, Kohei Sato, has contacted the ZERO1-MAX offices and declared he will be Takayama's and Yokoi's 3rd partner in his return match from injury. Kohei fractured his left fibula on 11/30 in the main event of the final "Explosion '06" show.

2006 Final Show - Takayama Invades!
December 27th, 2006

ZERO1-MAX had its final show of 2006 titled "Celebration Return in Zeros" at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall in front of 1,400 fans. During the 4th match of the show, a tag match between Shinjiro Otani and Tatsutoshi Goto versus Takao Omori and Kazunari Murakami, is when the large NOAH fighter made his appearance. Entering from the south side of the arena and stepping over the gate, Yoshihiro Takayama made a direct line to the ringside, first attacking Otani from behind. The intruder than turned to Omori, beating him down and throwing his head into the wall outside. He then removed his jacket and began to choke a now bloodied Omori with it!

The two returned to the ring, where Takayama hit Omori with repeated knees as the referee called for the bell and the DQ. Takayama then got on the microphone and said, "Because you do not return to a NOAH ring in forever, I have come looking for you Omori!" He then declared he will team with ZERO1-MAX's very own Hirotaka Yokoi in a tag match against Omori at the next ZERO1-MAX Korakuen Hall show in January. Takayama then left, with Yokoi following him outside. Omori then picked up the microphone and accepted the challenge.

Omori and Takayama go back in Pro Wrestling NOAH, being known as "NO FEAR" when they were a tag team. The two wrestlers even held the GHC Tag Team titles in 2001 when they won the titles from Mitsuharu Misawa and Yoshinari Ogawa. Other tag titles include the AJPW Tag Team titles (1999)and the All Asia Tag Team Titles (1999).

Also on the card, the GHC Hardcore Openweight "white belt" was defended by Pro Wrestling NOAH's Kintaro Shiga versus "Mr. Moonsault" Kamikaze. ZERO1-MAX had designated this a Lumberjack Match, and the NOAH personel came dressed in their green t-shirts. Having the members of two such fiery promotions crowded around the ring during a title match of course led to conflict, but it was the NOAH fighters who managed to sneak into the ring as the referee was distracted and hit some double team moves on Kamikaze. And finally as Shiga sunk in the Cobra Hold and Kamikaze struggled to make it to the ropes, the NOAH "lumberjacks" pulled the rope from his grasp and he was forced to submit.

After the match, Shiga raised hands with his friends and took photographs with his title and V3 trophy. He then got on the microphone and apoligized for his friends' excitement and told Kamikaze that he was a good opponent and that they we definitely have a rematch in the new year. The two fighters than shook hands.

The main event of the show saw the current Big Japan Pro Wrestling tag team champions, Yoshihito Sasaki and Daisuke Sekimoto, on seperate teams in front of the Korakuen Hall faithful. Sasaki was paired alongside current ZERO1-MAX United National Heavyweight champion Ryouji Sai, and Sekimoto alongside current GHC Jr. Heavyweight champion Tatsuhito Takaiwa. Also of note is the recent battles teamates in the bout, Sasaki and Sai, have had of late. Including a very close run match for the UN title on 11/24 where Sasaki almost took Ryouji's belt.

As one can imagine just by looking at the match-up this was a hard-fought and hard-hitting match. With lots of hard chops, stiff strikes and head drops. The end came past the 25 minute mark, when after a jumping knee attack, a facial kick and a Nachi Waterfall all failed to pin Sekimoto, Ryouji finally locked in a submission hold for the victory.

The third match of the show was offer tag match of ZERO1-MAX's sister promotion, Pro Wrestling SUN against the Real Evil Makers (REM) of that promotion. This had current AWA Women's champion Nanae Takahashi, Hikaru, and Saki Maemura versus Aja Kong, Amazing Kong and Toshie Uematsu. As is common for these ladies, their aggression was up even before the bell and the fight was hot until the end and then some. The match quickly broke down into a 6-way brawl on the outside with liberal use of tables and chairs by all sides. And while the SUN girls had very solid teamwork throughout, it was final brutal combo by REM that gained the pinfall on Hikaru. At which point Aja took it another step and tried to cut off Hikaru's hair with a pair of scissors! And then when Nanae attempted to interfere Aja went after her hair as well!!

Pro Wrestling SUN's next show is on 1/14 at Korakuen Hall titled "Colors."

The 2nd match of the show included one side of 2005 Tag Team MVPs, Ikuto Hidaka and Minoru Fujita versus young fighters Shota Takanishi and BattlArts' Munenori Sawa in a tag match. As one could imagine from the match-up, Hidaka and Fujita owned most of it, with several combo moves overwhelming the young team. Finally at the 8½ minute mark Hidaka scored a high-kick on Takanishi for the win. Hidaka then made a comment about Dragon Door pro wrestling's Masaaki Mochizuki and how at Mochizuki's 1/25 independent show he might just have a high kick for him. This was responded to by Mochizuki making his way to the ring dressed in a suit!

Mochizuki entered the ring and said that was a "spendid match for the 2005 Tag Team MVPs" but there was something unsatisfactory about it. He said he proposes a 1 on 1 match with somebody he brough along with him. A wave of the hand and some William Tell Overture later and Stalker Ichikawa Z made his way to the ring. Fujita of course scoffed at this and called into the ring Pro Wrestling SUN's Natsuki☆Taiyo to face Stalker. The bell sounded, and Mochizuki yelled encouragement and smacked Stalker across the face. As Stalker lay, Natsuki quickly got the pinfall. :03 match and Natsuki had her hand raised in victory.

Stalker got on the microphone and explained that he feels foolish and would like a do-over and Natsuki agreed. Same begining, with Mochizuki giving Stalker a slap across the face for motivation and almost costing him the match once again! This time Stalker kicked out! He displayed some wrestling skill, hitting a tope con hilo and walking along the ropes like the Great Muta. He kicked out of several pinning attempts and almost scored a pinfall when Hidaka accidentaly struck Natsuki. She eventually scored the Taiyo*Bomb for the win.

Afterwards, Mochizuki said this was a present to the fans and that he hopes they all come out for the 1/25 Masaaki Mochizuki Presents "Martial Romance" show at Korakuen Hall with the main event of Mochizuki and New Japan's Minoru versus Hidaka and Fujita. He then shook the hands of Hidaka and Fujita and thanked them. Suddenly Fujita attacked Mochizuki, kicking him in the stomach and delivering a DDT. Fujita than picked up the microphone and said to Mochizuki that while he may think it's wise to promote his show with comedy, when the tag happens in the main event on 1/25 there will be no comedy. He then asked the fans to attend the show himself and then left the ring.

In the opening match Nami tried to break his losing slump, one of his worst in some time. After a very strong beginning to 2006, he's even found himself on the losing end of a match with a seven-year-younger Shota Takanishi. So Nami went into this match trying to sneak out a victory from NOAH's Atsushi Aoki.

Aoki, while 3 years older than Nami is celebrating his 1 year anniversary in pro wrestling. His debut was on December 24, 2005 in Tokyo's Differ Ariake. The two young fighters went at it before the bell, as Nami went with a variety of dropkicks and Aoki tried to take him down to the mat for the submission. It was Aoki who finally secured victory with a jujigatame at 7:48. Nami was aggravated after yet another loss and the two had to be separated by the ring seconds. Aoki continued to gloat, raising his hands in Namiguchi's face before exiting. Nami hovered in the ring for several moments, cursing at the NOAH athletes, before leaving in disgust.

Takaiwa Regains GHC Junior Throne!
December 23rd, 2006

Today at the NOAH spin-off promotion SEM, Tatsuhito Takaiwa regained the GHC Jr. Heavyweight title belt after approximately 5 years to become the 12th champion. In front of 1,300 people at the "SEMful Gift in Differ '06" in the main event, Takaiwa defeated the 11th champion Takashi Sugiura in the 22:31 with a Death Valley Driver.

Takaiwa was also the second GHC Jr. Heavyweight champion, winning the title on October 19th, 2001 against Yoshinobu Kanemaru before dropping the title two months later in a loss to Naomichi Marafuji. Takaiwa previously challenged for the title in January 2005 at NOAH's "GREAT VOYAGE 2005" show against Kanemaru but lost once again. This time Takaiwa made the most of his oppurtunity.

From all reports, the match was very brutal affair, with avalanche brainbusters and Death Valley drivers. And a brutal Takaiwa powerbomb off the ramp to the floor below. When asked after the match who he'd like to challenge for his V1 Takaiwa said he had nobody specific in mind but will take on any challenger who thinks they're up to the task. He was accompanied to the ring by fellow ZERO1-MAX wrestlers Ryouji Sai, Ikuto Hidaka, Osamu Namiguchi and Shota Takanishi.

SEM
"SEMful Gift in Differ '06"
Tokyo, Japan - December 23rd, 2007
Differ Ariake
1,300 fans

FIGHT CARD
Main Event - GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title:
o Tatsuhito Takaiwa © (ZERO1-MAX)	vs.	Takashi Sugiura x (NOAH)
(22:31 → Death Valley driver)

Kamikaze in GHC Hardcore Openweight Match!
December 21st, 2006

ZERO1-MAX wrestler Kamikaze will fight for the NOAH GHC Hardcore Openweight title at the 12/27 Korakuen Hall show in Tokyo - "Celebration Return in Zeros." The GHC Hardcore Openweight title title is commonly known in puroresu as the "white belt" due to its coloration.

Kamikaze's opponent will be Pro Wrestling NOAH's current white belt champion Kentaro Shiga. This will also be the 2nd GHC match for a ZERO1-MAX fighter in four days. Four days before Kamikaze and Shiga face off, Tatsuhito Takaiwa will battle for the GHC Jr. Heavyweight champion against Takashi Sugiura on the 12/24 Pro Wrestling NOAH "NOAHful Gift in Differ '06" show.

A third Pro Wrestling NOAH fighter has also been added to the undercard for the 12/27 show, as Atsushi Aoki will take on Osamu Namiguchi in a singles bout.

ZERO1-MAX in Real Japan!
December 12th, 2006

ZERO1-MAX fighters Ikuto Hidaka and young Shota Takanishi had a singles bout on the opening match of Satoru Sayama's Real Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. The match was billed as a "ZERO1-MAX offer match."

And while Shota Takanishi has managed to pull off victories against Osamu Namiguchi, his senior in age, he was unable to defeat the experienced Ikuto Hidaka. Hidaka won in 10:39 seconds with the Shawn Capture.

Hidaka & Fujita for Mochizuki Presents!
December 11th, 2006

Dragon Gate pro wrestler Masaaki Mochizuki is running his own independent show on January 25 in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall titled "Martial Romance."

The main event will be Ikuto Hidaka and Minoru Fujita against Mochizuki and New Japan pro wrestling's Minoru:

News and Notes!
December 6th, 2006

Masato Tanaka had successful shoulder surgery on November 29th and everything went as planned with no complications. Tanaka now has his arm in a sling and has already begun his rehabilitation. As one would expect, the 2006 Fire Festival champion wants to get back in the ring as soon as possible.

As reported earlier on this site, Kohei Sato has a fractured fiblua in his left ankle. It has been determined that he will be out of action for at least the next 6 weeks, sidelining him for the remainder of 2006 at the very least. Kohei hurt his ankle in the Main Event on November 30th in Fukushima.

On December 3rd, Yoshihito Sasaki teamed with Big Japan Pro Wrestling's Daisuke Sekimoto to win the Big Japan Pro Wrestling tag team titles from Mammoth Sasaki and Shadow WX in the semi-main event of BJW's Korakuen Hall show. Yoshihito and Sekimoto became the 23rd holders of the tag titles when Sekimoto scored the pinfall in 14:32 with a German suplex hold on Shadow WX.

In other cross promotion news, Tatsuhito Takaiwa will challenge for Pro Wrestling NOAH's GHC Junior Heavyweight title on 12/23 against current champion Takashi Sugiura. The match is being presented as a special "Bonus Match" for the "SEMful Gift in Differ '06" show in Tokyo. SEM is a spin-off of Pro Wrestling NOAH. Takaiwa was the second GHC Jr. Heavyweight champion, winning the title on October 19th, 2001 against Yoshinobu Kanemaru before dropping the title two months later in a loss to Naomichi Marafuji. Takaiwa then challenged for the title in January 2005 at NOAH's "GREAT VOYAGE 2005" show against Kanemaru but lost once again.

Injury Default - Kohei!
December 1, 2006

The injury bug strikes again! First it's Takuya Sugawara and Kagetora with similar knee injuries. Then it was Yoshihito Sasaki with a concussion. Now it's Kohei Sato and a fractured fiblua in his left ankle.

Kohei suffered the injury in the main event of yesterday's show in Fukushima. Kohei will be out at least from December 3rd to December 8th. This includes the final ZERO-SUN NEXUS show where he was to team alongside Nanae Takahashi as part of Team Gluttony. First On Stage announced current AWA World Jr. champion Minoru Fujita will take his place on the card. Kohei will also be out for the whole "Generation Fight" from December 5th to December 8th.