News Archive
Home » News Archive » News from 01/06/07 to 01/17/07
Hope!
January 17, 2007
ZERO1-MAX held it's show Hope on January 17th at Tokyo's Shin-kiba 1st ring. The show's proceeds were donated to ZERO1-MAX pro wrestling Naohiro Hoshikawa and his rehabilitation from injury.
The main event saw newly crowned AWA Heavyweight Champion Steve Corino battle Takao Omori and Ikuto Hidaka for the title. Corino who hasn't been back in ZERO1-MAX for several months, received a warm welcome from the fans who chanted his name in appreciation. Corino successfully defended his title in just under 15 minutes, after he pinned Hidaka following a Northern Lights bomb. Moments before Hidaka had been hit by Omori's Axe Bomber, who was then felled by an STO from Corino. The champs was then able to use his finisher on the already groggy Hidaka for the win.
After the match, Steve Corino and all the other gaijin came out to the ring and Corino spoke about his friend Hoshikawa. He then led the gaijin and the crowd in the "3-2-1-ZERO-1-Oooooo-MAX" cheer.
Speaking of gaijin, this tour marks the Japanese debut of the large (195cm/150kg) foreign wrestler Gha-Cha-Ping, who while pictured with a bunny type mask, entered the ring without one to team with Chris "Bambikiller" Raaber against Shinjiro Otani and Rikiya Fudo. The foreigners managed to win when Gha-Cha-Ping was able to keep Otani outside the ring and Bambikiller his the "Bambi Death Shot" on Fudo.
The semi-main event was a 6-man tag between Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Kamikaze and Shota Takanishi versus Ryoji Sai, Minoru Fujita and Osamu Namiguchi. This match was won by Ryouji's team when he hit young Shota Takanishi with his "Nachi Waterfall" diving footstomp for the pinfall.
This show had two Women's matches, both Pro Wrestling SUN vs. REM (Real Evil Makers) in tag matches. The opening match of the show saw Amazing Kong pair with the returning Panther Claw to take on Hikaru and Natsuki. On the 1/14 Hikaru became the European Wrestling Associations Women's champion at Pro Wrestling SUN's opening show of the year, winning it from Wesna Busic. REM won the match when Natsuki was dropped by Kong's spinning back fist.
The 2nd Women's match had new REM member Toshie Uematsu teaming with the aforementioned Wesna Busic against Nanae and Saki. The match ended in a draw when the time limit expired in 15 minutes.
Hidaka Vows to Overthrow Fujita in AWA Jr. Bout!
January 15, 2007
On the 1/19 Over the Max 2007 show, Ikuto Hidaka will face current AWA World Jr. Heavyweight champion and tag team partner Minoru Fujita for that title. Today Hidaka spoke at the ZERO1-MAX offices in Tokyo with determination about the upcoming clash. As is his style, Hidaka was resplendent in a pinstriped suit and patterned tie.
Fujita was originally scheduled to face DRAGON GATE's Naoki Tanizaki for the defense, but Hidaka was called in as a back-up when Tanizaki went down with an injury. This will be the 3rd time the tag partners will face each other in thr last 3 years. The first time back in June 2005 during Survivor 72H in an International Jr. title confrontation in which Hidaka was champion. That match went almost 24 minutes before Hidaka won with the Misty Flip.
Then on August 24, 2006 the two clashed again during the "Tenka Ichi" Jr. tournament. The result of this match was a surprising 1 minute victory by Fujita. Hidaka hit a stiff high kick at the bell and Fujita went down for a 2 count. Hidaka raised Fujita up and looked to be attempting a Misty Flip which Fujita reversed into an arm lock and then quickly rolled Hidaka up for the 3 count.
Hidaka referenced this result today, saying "the last time you [Fujita] stole the victory, this time [Fujita] will have to do it decisively." He added that he doesn't like to have one-on-one matches with Fujita so as not disturb their friendship and unified tag skill, but will do singles matches against him that are "special." Other than title matches he added that he'd like to have a match to celebrate both of their 10 year careers in pro wrestling. Hidaka added that his "secret plan" is knowing Fujita's skill from top to bottom, and his ability in detail.
Hidaka & Fujita are former ZERO1-MAX Lightweight Tag Team Champions, ZERO1-MAX Intercontinental Tag Team Championship, GHC Jr. Tag Team champs and former PWF Universal Tag Team champs. They were also the 2005 Tokyo Sports Tag Team of the year.
Injury Default - Ibushi!
January 15, 2007
Dramatic Dream Team's very talented young junior, Ibushi Kota, has a knee injury and has been taken off the Special "Spatial-temporal creation" Tag Match that was scheduled for the 1/19 "Over the Max 2007" show at Korakuen Hall.
He was scheduled to team alongside Big Japan Pro Wrestling's Daisuke Sekimoto against Ryoji Sai and Yoshihito Sasaki.
His replacement in the tag match will be a Korakuen Hall favorite, Apache Army's Mammoth Sasaki.
Kohei Comments on His Return & Takayama!
January 14th, 2007
Kohei Sato held a press conference today inside the ZERO1-MAX offices in Tokyo to catch everybody up on his current state of mind. As we all know Kohei fractured his left fibula on 11/30/06 in the main event of the final Explosion '06 show and was out of action all through December. He's returning on January 19th to take place in the 6-man tag match titled Hope teaming alongside Yoshihiro Takayama and ROWDY partner Hirotaka Yokoi. They will be taking on the formidable team of Takao Omori, Shinjiro Otani and Kazunari Murakami.
Kohei said within ZERO1-MAX he's heard many "voices of dissatisfaction" relating to his teaming with the NOAH outsider Takayama, who brazenly invaded the ZERO1-MAX ring during their final show of 2006. He said the loudest voices against this decision were those of his tag partner, Ryoji Sai, and of another Young MAX fighter, Yoshihito Sasaki. He downplayed the "traitor" talk, saying he wants to take part in the match as a "new direction" that "scratches the boundaries of ZERO1-MAX," a conclusion he came to while injured. He added that maybe it won't be a one shot thing, and he'll be able to tag with Takayama continuously.
Kohei added that like Takayama he uses the German suplex hold as his finisher, and that Takayama's "Mt. Everest German" suplex is very impressive to him. He mentioned how Takayama's large height really adds power and force to the move, saying that he'd also like to test his German suplex against Takayama.
Ryouji Seeks Challenger! Nanae Gets Doused!
January 11th, 2007
Today at the ZERO1-MAX offices in Tokyo, Ryoji Sai declared he's looking for an opponent to defend his UN Heavyweight title against. He stated that no matter the persons, age, nationality or company affiliation he will take on all-comers. Ryouji won the title from Kohei Sato on 11/11 at the final of the MAX Around '06 tour. He had his successful V1 defense on 11/24 versus Yoshihito Sasaki in a close run match.
Yesterday was also the contract signing ceremony at the FIRST ON STAGE offices for the 1/14 Pro Wrestling SUN double main event. The signing was done ceremonial style with the fighters kneeling and using a brush and India ink. Amazing Kong wanted no part of the pleasantries, grabbing a bottle of dia ink and pouring all over Nanae, the contract and the AWA World Women's title!
Before storming out, Kong shouted, "These belts are mine!" Nanae, seeing the ink (dia ink is permanent to say the least) covering her title belt chased Kong outside and the two began to fight in the street! When Nanae returned she was very angry, declaring "Simply put, at Korakuen Hall I will KILL Amazing Kong!"
The two women face each other for the AWA World Women's title and the WORLD-1 Women's title at Pro Wrestling SUN COLORS on January 14th.
Otani and Nanae 2007 New Year Promotional Tour!
January 9th, 2007
Today ZERO1-MAX leader Shinjiro Otani, alongside Pro Wrestling SUN leader Nanae Takahashi visited the offices of a few Pro Wrestling media companies such as Daily Sports Tokyo offices and other weekly publications to help launch both companies' 2007. They began their tour at 10:30 AM and were still making rounds at 9:00 PM that night. To get around to the various magazine offices, the two used streetcars and taxis. Reportedly Shinjiro Otani really enjoyed riding the Tokyo subway system as well.
During one visit Otani brought up Yoshihiro Takayama's intrusion during the final show of 2006 on 12/27, and said he's looking forward to the 6-man tag match on 1/19 to get some payback.
The 1/19 match, taking place in Korakuen Hall, has Otani teaming with Takao Omori and Kazunari Murakami versus Takayama, Hirotaka Yokoi and a returning-from-injury Kohei Sato. Otani was quite furious over Takayama coming into a ZERO1-MAX uninvited, and said as the wrestler who has shouldered the company he cannot permit Takayama to get away with this "selfish" act.
During the Celebration Return in Zeros, the final show of 2006, Takayama intruded during a tag match and after attacking Otani from behind went on to assault his former partner in New Japan and NOAH, Takao Omori. As he left the Hall after bloodying Omori, Hirotaka Yokoi followed him out of Korakuen Hall after showing solidarity with the invader during the attack. Then Yokoi's ROWDY partner, Kohei Sato, announced he will make his return from injury by joining Yokoi alongside Takayama on 1/19!
As for Nanae Takahashi, she spoke about the 1/14 Pro Wrestling SUN show COLORS taking place at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall. There Nanae will take part in the main event Double Titles match against Amazing Kong. Nanae will put her AWA Women's title on the line against Konger's WORLD-1 Women's title. Nanae stated that the best way she can start 2007 is to become the double champion and hold both belts.
Corino Regains AWA Title - No Controversy!
January 8th, 2007
Yesterday in Pottstown, PA, for Pro Wrestling WORLD-1, former ECW, NWA and AWA World Heavyweight champion Steve Corino regained the AWA World Heavyweight title from defending champion Ric Converse. At WORLD-1's return show Rebirth of Destruction at the old Academy Hall, Corino defeated Converse in just over twelve minutes with a Kido clutch for the submission victory and his second run as the AWA World Heavyweight champion.
Corino originally won the title in June 2005 from Takao Omori in Bay City, Michigan after losing the original decision tournament to Omori on January 23, 2005 in Korakuen Hall. Corino then lost the title to Shinjiro Otani in January of 2006 at the opening show of the year Faithfully. Former AWA World Heavyweight champ and wrestling legend Nick Bockwinkle was on hand as a Special Observer to the match.
As reported earlier, Steve Corino will return to ZERO1-MAX for the 1/17 Hope show and the Over The Max 2007 tour. Tentatively scheduled is a title defense in a 3-way versus Takao Omori and Ikuto Hidaka at Hope. Omori should be excited to get another shot at the AWA title, a belt he's held twice before as well.
Also of note from the WORLD-1 show, Cheerleader Melissa won the 1st Annual Queen's Cup Tournament by defeating Allison Danger in a wild, hard-hitting match that went 18:35. During the intermission of the show Melissa attacked Danger as she was signing autographs for fans. Allison needed to be helped back to the locker room after the attack. World-1 was about to announce that Allison would have to forfeit the final of the tourney, but she came out anyway, fighting off the pain from the previous attack and putting up a spirited, if ultimately losing, fight. Melissa will now head to Pro Wrestling SUN in Japan for a title shot against the winner of the 1/14 double titles match (AWA Women's & WORLD-1 Women's) between Nanae Takahashi and Amazing Kong.
On the men's side Josh Daniels won the 1st Annual King's Cup Tournament with a victory over Greg Spitz. Josh will also now return to ZERO1-MAX, where he hasn't fought since August of 2004! He will also be one of the challengers of an eventual ZERO1-MAX US Openweight decision match with his tournament victory.
Begining of 2007 - News & Notes!
January 6th, 2007
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
Also on that show will be a 3-way main event of Takao Omori, Ikuto Hidaka and a returning Steve Corino. The Real Evil Makers (REM) return to battle their rivals in Pro Wrestling SUN with two women's tag matches.
European Wrestling Association's Chris "Bambikiller" Raaber also returns for January.
The first big show of the opening tour Over The Max 2007 will take place on 1/19 with the main event of Shinjiro Otani, Takao Omori and Kazunari Murakami vs. Yoshihiro Takayama, Kohei Sato and Hirotaka Yokoi.
Also on 1/19 show will be a special "Spatial-temporal creation" tag match between Ryoji Sai and Yoshitito Sasaki versus Daisuke Sekimoto and Dramatic Dream Team's Ibushi Kota. This match will also pit the two Big Japan Pro Wrestling tag team champions, Sasaki and Sekimoto against each other.
Originally scheduled to face Dragon Gate's Naoki Tanizaki in a AWA World Jr. Heavyweight title defense, Minoru Fujita will now face longtime partner Ikuto Hidaka for the title. This will be their 3rd time facing each other in 3 years. The first being on June 17th, 2005 during Survivor 72H in an International Jr. title confrontation. That match went almost 24 minutes before Hidaka won with the Misty Flip. Then on August 24th 2006 the two met during the Tenka Ichi Jr. Tournament. The result of this match was a surprising 1 minute victory by Minoru Fujita! Hidaka hit a stiff high kick at the bell and Fujita went down for a 2 count. Hidaka raised Fujita up and looked to be attempting a Misty Flip which Fujita reversed into an arm lock and then quickly rolled Hidaka up for the 3 count.
Also in regards to the Naohiro Hoshikawa charity show on 1/17, the ZERO1-MAX and Pro Wrestling SUN crew visited Hoshikawa's rehab facility the day after Christmas to put on a show there. They took several photos of the visit and Hoshikawa, who has his old ring entrance gear of the black trench coat and sunglasses.
Hoshikawa suffered a serious brain injury on October 17th, 2004 in Sapporo during a International Jr. Heavyweight title cage match against Tatsuhito Takaiwa and is now under long term medical care.
