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Mr. Danger Joins ZERO1-MAX!
El Blazer's Jr. Heavyweight Challenge!
Yoshihito vs. Kengo Mashimo Singles Match!
February 9th, 2008
After many weeks of trying to join ZERO1-MAX, "Mr. Danger" Mitsuhiro Matsunaga finally has joined the roster. Today Matsunaga came to the ZERO1-MAX offices in Tokyo and met officially with President Otani to seal the deal. Otani also announced that Matsunaga will be joining the SWORD ARMY along with him, and on 2/26 at the ZERO1-MAX "SWORD Army Presents SWORD-1" show at Shin-kiba they will team together to face two AXE ARMY wrestlers.
Otani said it was the "Hell's Pincushion" tatami needle deathmatch back on January 24th. He said he saw Matsunaga's honor, mental state and fearlessness of ending up "like food on a skewer" in the dangerous match. He also said that every current member of the roster was polled and the "pros and cons" were split on Matsunaga joining.
He said while there were plenty of "no" responses the "yes" replies exceeded them. President Otani said in the end he made the formal decision himself and Mastunaga now has joined.
"I'm an expert at the deathmatch. Various gaijin fighters will come and I want to defeat them as a member of ZERO1-MAX," Matsunaga stated.
Also present were SWORD ARMY Captain Masato Tanaka and SWORD ARMY member El Blazer to announce El Blazer's challenge for the International Jr. Heavyweight title also on the 2/26 "SWORD-1" show. Current champion, DRAGON GATE's Masaaki Mochizuki, won the title on 1/23 from former champion Ikbuto Hidaka. Directly following the match, El Blazer ran out and attacked the new champion signifying his challenge. Osamu Namiguchi and BattlArts' Munenori Sawa also announced challenges for the title.
SWORD Captain Tanaka said he wants El Blazer to bring the title back to the SWORD ARMY, since it was lost by member Ikuto Hidaka. Champion Mochizuki responded via e-mail to the announcement of the match up, saying he's always thought El Blazer was impressive. He also mentioned their past together and said because of that he sees El Blazer as a friend.
El Blazer was also confident of vitory. Saying that now as a member of ZERO1-MAX this is his first chance to do something for himself by winning the title, and for the SWORD ARMY and ZERO1-MAX as a whole.
In addition to these two matches at the SWORD ARMY Produced show "SWORD-1" the will be and 5 versus 5 Elimination Captain Falls tag match between the SWORD ARMY and the AXE ARMY led by Takao Omori. So the match will continue until Tanaka or Omori are eliminated or all the members of each team are eliminated. Elimination can occur by pinfall, submission, and over-the-top rope. The teams will be chosen by lottery the day of the match so even the Captain's won't know their teams until then.
On 2/11 in Nagoya, Japan current NWA UN Heavyweight champion Yoshihito Sasaki will defend against Hawaii Championship Wrestling's Kamehameha World Heavyweight Champion, SANDY BEACH. Yoshihito comments:
Yoshihito also spoke about K-DOJO's Mashimo Kengo, whom he has been feuding with of late. It all started back on New Year's Eve at the "Pro Wrestling Summit in Korakuen" in the main event when Yoshihito, teamed with Sekimoto and El Dorado's Shuji Kondo, faced Kengo Mashimo, Tetsuhiro Kuroda and DDT's HARASHIMA. Then on 1/6 at K-DOJO's "CLUB-K SUPER Kick" again in Korakuen, Yoshihito tagged with Masato Tanaka agasint Mashimo and K-DOJO Jr. Madoka in a match that saw ZERO1-MAX come out on top.
Now the two will battle in a singles match on 3/2, and if Yoshihito can retain his title against SANDY BEACH he wants to make that match versus Mashimo also a title match.
SANDY BEACH Winter Landing!
February 1st, 2008
SANDY BEACH, the Oahu native and HCW Wrestler returns to ZERO1-MAX. Sandy in his High School days was an amateur wrestler. He's also spent time in WWE developmental and has worked as a pro surfer and a life guard in his native Hawaii. SANDY, the current HCW Kamehameha World Heavyweight Champion, went the following message to ZERO1-MAX office.
SANDY will face current NWA UN Heavyweight champion Yoshihito Sasaki on 2/11 in a title bout. On 2/17 he will battle fellow SWORD ARMY teammate Ikuto Hidaka at Korakuen Hall.
SHOCK WAVE Returns! MECHAJIRO??!
February 1st, 2008
New ZERO1-MAX President Shinjiro Otani has received many congratulations since taking his new office. One of the most surprising was Shock Wave the Robot contacting the office to wish him luck and lay down a challenge! His previous visit to ZERO1-MAX last Summer saw some problems for Shock Wave, as his circuits had trouble with the harsh Summer heat and he lost several matches due to his re-chargeable batteries failing. Shock Wave transmitted to the FIRST ON STAGE offices that he's loaded new and improved batteries.
Otani accepted Shock Wave's challenge and made him a temporary member of the AXE ARMY for his February return. He scheduled the match for the first show of the "Solidarity" tour on February 9th, 2008 in Osaka. Shock Wave responded with the following:
Accompanying this message was the below image sent by Shock Wave. Can Otani escape defeat and pending mechanization in Osaka?
Then on February 17 in Korakuen Hall at the final show of the "Solidarity" tour, Shock Wave will have a Mecha vs. Robot battle versus the legendary MECHA Mummy. MECHA Mummy, recently entering the freelance ranks after the ending of his contract with the Dramatic Dream Team, will have a ZERO1-MAX "Try Out" match against the robot from California's LA Dojo. Can Shock Wave survive against Japan's veteran mechanism? Will MECHA Mummy enter ZERO1-MAX?
Tanaka & Hidaka Victorious in New Japan!
January 27th, 2008
Heat continues to build between ZERO1-MAX and New Japan Pro Wrestling as Heavyweight champion Masato Tanaka and former International Jr. Heavyweight champion Ikuto Hidaka entered the 1/27 NJPW Korakuen Hall show to battle Koji Kanemoto and Tetsuya Naito. Following his match on the January 23rd ZERO1-MAX Anniversary show, Koji Kanemoto called out SWORD ARMY captain and World Heavyweight champion Masato Tanaka and challenged him.
For the 4th match of the "Circuit 2008 New Japan Ism" show at Korakuen today, to chorus of boos from the NJPW fans, Tanaka and Hidaka entered the ring and handed the home field wrestlers a sound defeat. In response to the pro-ZERO1-MAX chants at their 1/1 show, the crowd began to chant "New Japan! New Japan!" in support.
The match concluded as Hidaka and Kanemoto argued outside the ring, Tanaka hit the dangan elbow, the Super Fly splash, and then finally the Sliding D on Naito for the pinfall victory.
New Japan Pro Wrestling
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| FIGHT CARD | ||
| Match #4 | ||
| O Masato Tanaka Ikuto Hidaka |
vs. | Koji Kanemoto Tetsuya Naito X |
| (17:07 → Sliding D) | ||
"Hell's Pincushion" Deathmatch Presentation!
January 24th, 2008
Today ZERO1-MAX President and wrestler Shinjiro Otani will enter into a deathmatch against "Mr. Danger" Mitsuhiro Matsunaga in Tokyo's Shin-kiba 1st Ring. Originally designed as a "hell" deathmatch where one-side of the ring was open without the ring ropes and the tatami needle board would be placed on the floor below. FIRST ON STAGE deemed this as far to dangerous of a match and therefore adjusted the rules.
Now a "Hell's Pincushion" tatami needle board, containing 1000 needles will be placed in the center of the ring. Barbwire boards will then be placed in all four corners of the completely roped-off ring. Victory will be determined by 3 counts, KO, submission or when somebody is thrown on the board of tatami needles. Matsunaga had the following comment:
"ZERO1-MAX is an organization which deserves respect. Currently Pro Wrestling is at the height of using variety shows to gain prosperity. I want to continue to represent the old-school."
Shinjiro Otani had his own way of preparing for the match today. In order to conquer a slight aversion to needles, Otani went for acupuncture on his hurt right shoulder. He had the following remarks in regards to the situation:
The acupuncturist of the shop in Tokyo, Mr. Okido, added that tatami needles are very broad and long, and that landing on one it could absolutely pierce a person's lung. Otani responded:
"As for Matsunaga joining, I have no prejudice towards him. I just want to know what his goals are and what's in his head when he enters the ring..."
Otani added that this will be his first match as President, and fighting Matsunaga in this type of match definitely gives his opponent an advantage.
