Home » News Archive » News from 02/14/07 to 02/27/07

Takayama Double Titles Request! Ryouji "Falls!"

February 27th, 2007

Yoshihiro Takayama and Kohei Sato spoke today to the media in front of Tokyo Tower about Takayama's former NO FEAR tag partner and their upcoming Intercontinental Tag Team match on March 8th. Takayama was extremely aggravated and dissatisfied in Takao Omori and was very open in his opinion. He stated the only reason he flew into a rage on the "Make the Emotion ~Strong Ism~" show using tables, chairs and even part of the barrier, was because Omori first attacked him with a chair and showed no respect. Takayama and Kohei were disqualified when Takayama, in his anger, struck down the referee with a chair.

Takayama added that he'd like to make the upcoming Intercontinental Tag Team title match at Korakuen Hall a double titles match. Omori and his tag partner Manabu Nakanishi are both the ZERO1-MAX Intercontinental Tag and the IWGP Tag Team Champions.

Ryouji Sai will once again be defending his UN Heavyweight title on the March 8th "Ex-Impact" show. This time against Big Japan's Daisuke Sekimoto, who attacked Ryouji after his previous defense versus MAmmoth Sasaki. To prepare himself for the match, Ryouji visited the Nachi Waterfalls. The Nachi Falls, located in the Yoshino-Kumano National Park in Wakayama are said to be the number 1 great falls with a height of 436 feet and a width of 43 feet. Since ancient times people have considered the area to be a mythical place and is the location of several shrines.

"Nachi Waterfalls" is also the name Ryouji has given his diving double footstomp off the top rope finisher. Here he used the backdrop of the falls, its sound and energy, to focus on improving his powerful move. Dropping from the observation walkway's handrail to "accomplish growth in mind and body." Ryouji also expressed great confidence in retaining his title at "Ex-Impact."

Shelley & Sabin V2 and PWG Non-Title Defense!

February 25th, 2007

Current ZERO1-MAX International Lightweight Tag Team Champs Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, together known as the "Motor City Machine Guns" successfully made their V2 defense in UWA Hardcore Wrestling against the team known as "Checkmate" of Christopher Bishop and Lionel Knight. The match took place on 2/16 at St. John's Hall in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada based on a challenge issued by Shelley and Sabin at the previous show.

The match was a fast-moving hard hitting affair that had the fans in attendance on their feet. The "Motor City Machine Guns" showed their great teamwork with various double team strikes and submissions. In the end it was Bishop who took the pinfall. After the match Alex Shelley invited the vanquished opponents to join him in the ZERO1-MAX salute, kindly showing them the chant and the form. Knight and Bishop instead decided to attack the champions, causing Shelley to call out Bishop for a UWA Hardcore Lightweight championship match at their next show.

The "Motor City Machine Guns" then led the whole crowd in the ZERO1-MAX salute - "3-2-1-ZERO-1...ooooooo MAX!"

Mike Awesome : 1965-2007...

February 20th, 2007

It is with great sadness that we report Mike "The Gladiator" Awesome has passed away. Awesome was found dead around 10:30 PM on 2/17 in Tampa, Florida, USA. A group of friends were arriving to his home to pick him up for a night out, and found him hanged in his home. It is believed he committed suicide.

"The Gladiator" is remembered not only as a former ECW Heavyweight Champion, but for his long run in FMW in Japan. Beginning in 1990 "The Gladiator" went on to win the FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team titles, the FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Title, FMW Independent World Title, and the FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Titles.

While many of his best matches in FMW came against Hayabusa, it is Mike Awesome's legendary feud with ZERO1-MAX wrestler Masato Tanaka that put both of them on the map. Beginning in FMW and then continuing in ECW, their feud carried over to numerous other promotions. In fact, Mike's final match was a no-holds barred violent affair against Tanaka at ECW's "One Night Stand 2005" pay-per-view. A match many viewed as Match of the Night, with the crowd chanting "This match rules! This match rules!"

Back in 2004 Mike Awesome appeared in ZERO-ONE at their "Manifesto-1" event to once again face his honorable opponent, Masato Tanaka. The match was, at the time, Tanaka's V2 defense of the UN Heavyweight title. After their usual menu of brawling, high impact moves and many broken tables, Tanaka retained his title with the Roaring Elbow in just under 12 minutes. ZERO1-MAX conveys their unified sadness at the passing of a great wrestler.

Nobody is more sad than "The Gladiator's" many time match opponent Masato Tanaka. Tanaka, who is currently rehabbing from shoulder surgery posted the following on the ZERO1-MAX official blog:

Mike is survived by his wife, Delisa, and their children Casey and Carissa.

Return To the Yasukuni Shrine! Omori Angered!

February 20th, 2007

ZERO1-MAX announced today that for the 3rd time in a row they will return to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Japan for the "Celebration from the Land of Gods" show. This year it will take place on April 7th, 2007 at the Sumo ring.

Until ZERO1-MAX returned professional wrestling to the shrine in 2005, the place had not seen wrestling since 1961 when Rikidozan wrestled in the main event of a show that drew 15,000 people. Also appearing on that card was a young Shohei Baba and Antonio Inoki.

Recognizing the symbolism of the shrine in martial arts and Pro Wrestling, ZERO1-MAX returns to once more show allegiance and support to Pro Wrestling. Shinjiro Otani's goal in 2005 was to make Pro Wrestling an annual event at the Yasukuni shrine, and previous guest have been All Japan's Keiji Muto, former ZERO-ONE and UFO fighter Naoya Ogawa, and last year Atsushi Onita wrestled on the card.

Otani is just as excited this year, saying the shrine can hold 4,300 spectators and he'd like to see if the can fill that. The show has grown more and more each year, and there's hope that the 3rd year will be a good showing.

And while a light rain fell today at the shrine in February, both previous shows have been held on days with beautiful weather under the cherry blossom trees.

In other news, Takao Omori had severe criticism for Yoshihiro Takayama in regards to his 2/18 performance at "MAX Satisfaction ~Strong Ism~. This coming along with the announcement that on the upcoming March 8, "Ex-Impact" show at Korakuen Hall, Intercontinental Tag Team champions Takao Omori and Manabu Nakanishi will defend their titles against Takayama and Kohei Sato.

Omori spoke about how Takayama raged at Korakuen Hall, calling his behavior of tearing up the place and attacking Omori with chairs, tables and steel door a "child's tantrum."

Omori also called the Intercontinental Tag titles bait for Takayama. Omori and Nakanishi are already scheduled to defend their IWGP Tag Team titles on March 11 versus Giant Bernard and Travis Tomko. Omori said he feels since the monster gaijin team just lost that they're not the opponents he wants to face.

"~ Strong Ism ~ "

February 18, 2007

ZERO1-MAX held its Korakuen Hall 2/18 event of the "Make the Emotion" tour in front of 1,800 fans. And with a double titles match for the AWA World Jr. heavyweight title and GHC Jr. Heavyweight title, and a singles match for the ZERO1-MAX UN Heavyweight title, there was plenty of hope for good action. On top of the card, disgruntled former "NO FEAR" partner to Takao Omori, Yoshihiro Takayama returned alongside Kohei Sato to battle Omori and Otani in a tag match.

Omori, currently one half of the ZERO1-MAX Intercontinental tag team champions with New Japan's Manabu Nakanishi, won numerous tag team titles alongside Takayama including the GHC, All Japan, and All Asia titles. Now along with former champion tag partner Shinjiro Otani he clashed with Takayama!

The match started and immediately ever body began to brawl outside the ring, with Takayama bleeding profusely from the start. Takayama continued to bleed and then the participants began to use chairs and tables as weapons. Finally in a blood-soaked rage, Takayama attacked Otani with a table, then Omori with the chair, and the finally the Referee!! With the referee out of action another referee called for the bell and disqualified Takayama's team.

Takayama began to punch Omori in the face, ROWDY attempted to pull him off as the bell continued to ring. They had to wrestle him all the way to the back. Apparently Takayama isn't done with his former tag partner!

The Semi-Main event of the evening was the double titles match for both the AWA World jr. Heavyweight title and the GHC Jr. Heavyweight title.

Earlier in the month Ikuto Hidaka had asked Real Japan Pro Wrestling owner and pro wrestling legend, Tiger Mask I, to be the official representative of the AWA in the double titles match. Sayama accepted and along with Pro Wrestling NOAH's Joe Higuchi read the ceremonial declaration previous to the beginning of the bout.

The match itself went almost 19 minutes with Tatsuhito Takaiwa coming out victorious as the brand new AWA World Jr. and GHC Junior Heavyweight. There were numerous high impact moves throughout the match brainbusters, DDTs on the apron, top rope Death Valley drivers, lariats, kicks and finally a decisive Death Valley Bomb combo from Takaiwa for the win.

After the match, the two fighters shook hands and Takaiwa spoke on the microphone, "from now on there will be two junior champions to entertain the crowd!" he said.

Going into the ZERO1-MAX UN Heavyweight Title match, Apache Army's Mammoth Sasaki was vexed by a string of recent defeats at the hands of Satoshi Kojima and Togi Makabe. In the 5th match of "~Strong Ism~," he took on current champion Ryouji Sai in a contest that soon spilled outside the ring into the Korakuen Hall audience.

After the brawling with tables and chairs, Mammoth tried to fight his way back with a hard lariat only to receive a Nachi Waterfall double foot stomp on the outside! Mammoth had another final offensive run before Ryouji nailed the "Sidmouth" suplex for the win.

As he had his title wrapped around his waist, Ryouji was suddenly attacked by Big Japan's Daisuke Sekimoto from behind with a German suplex! Sekimoto then declared himself the next challenger to Ryouji's belt and this received a positive reaction from the crowd for his challenge.

In the 4th match, Kazunari Murakami's partner turned out to be BattlArt's fighter, Yuki Ishikawa. Murakami and Ishikawa teamed against former ZERO-ONE Jr. Champion Wataru Sakata and Hirotaka Yokoi. Yokoi and Murakami had developed a rivalry leading to this match, titled "Hell-1 MAX" or sometimes just "Go To Hell." Murakami got the final victory with a straight punch on the younger Yokoi in 8:53.

Osamu Namiguchi finally put an end to a long losing streak in a tag match alongside Yoshihito Sasaki. On the opposing team were Sasaki's BJW Tag Team champion partner Sekiimoto and Shota Takanishi. Nami won the match when he hit Takanishi with a running elbow smash.

Also on the card, Kamikaze faced Gha-Cha-Ping in a singles match and won with the moonsault press. And the opening tag saw Minoru Fujita and BattlArts' Munenori Sawa versus BIG MOUTH LOUD's Katsumi Usuda and Manabu Hara. Fujita submitted Hara with his BONEYARD hold.

Tag Titles News and Notes!

February 14th, 2007

Big Japan Pro Wrestling tag team champions, Yoshihito Sasaki and Daisuke Sekimoto, successfully defended their titles on February 12th "Make the Emotion" show in Nagoya. The champs defended against Team ROWDY, Kohei Sato and Hirotaka Yokoi in 15:26 when Sasaki pinned Yokoi after a hard lariat for the victory.

Previously on the 9th the two teams faced in a non-title match, and it was ROWDY who took that victory when Yokoi submitted Sasaki in 14 minutes. On top of this, ZERO1-MAX has booked the champions against each other in several tag matches where they have used the opportunity to display their mettle to one another. Their most notable match to date was the Main Event for the 12/27 show.

They will once again face each other on opposite teams for the big 2/18 "Make the Emotion ~Strong Ism~" show in Korakuen Hall. Yoshihito will team with Osamu Namiguchi and Sekimoto with Shota Takanishi.

ZERO1-MAX International Lightweight Tag Team champions, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, return to St. John's Hall in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada on February 16 to defend their titles on the UWA Hardcore Wrestling show. Their opponents are Bishop and Lionel Knight.

Alex Shelley		Chris Sabin

Big Japan Pro Wrestling tag team champions, Yoshihito Sasaki and Daisuke Sekimoto, successfully defended their titles on February 12th "Make the Emotion" show in Nagoya. The champs defended against Team ROWDY, Kohei Sato and Hirotaka Yokoi in 15:26 when Sasaki pinned Yokoi after a hard lariat for the victory.

Previously on the 9th the two teams faced in a non-title match, and it was ROWDY who took that victory when Yokoi submitted Sasaki in 14 minutes. On top of this, ZERO1-MAX has booked the champions against each other in several tag matches where they have used the opportunity to display their mettle to one another. Their most notable match to date was the Main Event for the 12/27 show.

They will once again face each other on opposite teams for the big 2/18 "Make the Emotion ~Strong Ism~" show in Korakuen Hall. Yoshihito will team with Osamu Namiguchi and Sekimoto with Shota Takanishi.

ZERO1-MAX International Lightweight Tag Team champions, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, return to St. John's Hall in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada on February 16 to defend their titles on the UWA Hardcore Wrestling show. Their opponents are Bishop and Lionel Knight. You can visit the UWA Hardcore Wrestling website here.

Sky Perfect TV is once again holding a one night "Hina Battle" at the Tokyo Westin Hotel on March 14, 2007. This is a pro wrestling show targeted at the ladies and featuring fighters from several promotions considered "ikemen" by Japanese female wrestling fans.

This year the theme is "Cool Men" vs. "Hot Guys" war, with older wrestlers going against younger wrestlers. The show is open to the first 1,000 women.

At the Samurai TV offices, representatives of the four companies took photos and commented on the show. On hand were Naomichi Marufuji and Takashi Sugiura (NOAH), Manabu Nakanishi and Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJPW), Ryouji Sai and Takao Omori (ZERO1-MAX), BxB Hulk and Masaaki Mochizuki (Dragon Gate). They all received chocolate for Valentine's Day from women at the press conference.

Omori made some additional comments, first mentioning that "Wild Child" will be present on the show he still will only represent ZERO1-MAX as he knows there are many female fans of the company.

The current talent list is: