Home » News Archive » News from 09/13/08 to 09/25/08

Hidaka vs. Guido International Jr. Heavyweight title bout in Sapporo!

September 25th, 2008

Although there was some questionable intervention by guest referee Steve Corino in their September 23rd Korakuen Hall match, it was determined that since Ikuto Hidaka officially lost his match to Guido Maritato this day Guido's request for a title match would be honored.

Therefore Hidaka will put his International Jr. Heavyweight title match at the Sapporo Teisen Hall on September 27th in Hokaido.

Current champion Hidaka was reached for comment:

Tanaka Defends Versus Kohei! Corino Threatens Gaijin Invasion!

September 23rd, 2008

The "ZERO1 Spirits '08" show in Korakuen Hall has occurred and reigning World Heavyweight champion and ZERO1 Ace Masato Tanaka has come out victorious. After a hard fought battle that went over 15 minutes, Tanaka managed to survive the hard kicks of Kohei along with his devastating German Suplex Hold. Tanaka also barely survived at one point kicking out at 2.9 seconds from a Dragon Suplex Hold. Kohei also showed great strength by avoiding defeat from Tanaka's bullet elbow and some earlier Sliding D attempts. Eventually Tanaka just wore the heavyweight class fighter down and finished him with a final Sliding-D.

Following the match, Tanaka shook Kohei's hand and grabbed the microphone. He spoke about his upcoming bout with New Japan's Yuji Nagata on October 13th in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan for NJPW "DESTRUCTION 2008." Tanaka said he wanted to put his World Heavyweight title belt on the line in that match, saying "If Nagata is 'Mr. IWGP' then I am 'Mr. World Heavyweight' champion!" ZERO1 and NJPW announced almost immediately that the title bout would happen in the semi-main event of "DESTRUCTION 2008."

Nagata was then reached for comment:

"Now that Tanaka has defended his World Heavyweight title belt he wants to put it up for our upcoming challenge. This is fine with me, and it will be a pleasure as our battle will now mean more. This title belt will surely become a true world title when it's placed around my waist. New Japan's strength will be on display in this match, so our fans should all be looking forward to it."

Masato Tanaka has previously defeated New Japan's Manabu Nakanishi, Koji Kanemoto and Togi Makabe in singles bouts.

When Masaaki Mochizuki first entered ZERO1 several months ago, the DRAGON GATE fighter repeatedly requested a singles bout with ZERO1 President Shinjiro Otani. The two finally met when Mochizuki gained entrance to the same block of the "Fire Festival '08" and was defeated. Finally getting his shot, even in defeat, Mochizuki then teamed with Otani on the final show of the "Fire Festival '08" to battle Kohei Sato and Big Japan's Daisuke Sekimoto. The two showed some unconventional teamwork in the match but in the end came out victorious. Now in the semi-main event of this show the two teamed once again to battle Sekimoto and his partner BattlArts' Munenori Sawa in a match titled "Affection for ZERO1."

Once again Otani and Mochizuki displayed great but unusual teamwork to defeat the two visiting, albeit regular, opponents to ZERO1. Both Sekimoto and Sawa showed their usual fire, such as Sekimoto delivering a hard double lariat after escaping from Otani's facewash in the corner attempt leaving the ZERO1 President sprawled on the mat. However just past the 15 minute mark Otani shoved Sawa into a corner and hit a corner kick leading Mochizuki to deliver his "Twister 2" finishing move for the win.

Directly following the match, former Japanese politician and deathmatch wrestling legend Atsushi Onita appeared in the ring wearing a suit to speak on the microphone. Onita spent few moments on the microphone, announcing once again that he could have joined with any wrestling company to hold a match but chose ZERO1 due to the "hot blood of the wrestlers" and the "future possibilities of the company." He then shook hands with Otani, who he will be tag teaming with in Hokkaido on September 27th alongside Tetsuhiro Kuroda, and the two promised to have a hard fought battle.

The match previous to this was titled the "Steve Corino Memorial Match/Extreme Singles Match" between current ZERO1 International Jr. Heavyweight champion Ikuto Hidaka and former WWE Cruiserweight champion Guido Maritato. Steve Corino, who had not appeared in ZERO1 for over a year, was given a retirement ceremony prior to the match. Corino, the company's longtime gaijin booker and ace came out dressed in a white suit and received bouquets of flowers from President Otani and Chick Fight SUN joshi pro wrestler Saki Maemura. Corino then spoke on the microphone thanking former ZERO1 President and Pro Wrestling legend Shinya Hashimoto for his opportunities in the company. They then rang the bell 10 times and the crowd applauded.

Corino himself didn't have a match this show, but instead was the special referee for the "Extreme Singles Match" between Hidaka and Guido. The match started out in solid manner but things started to go South once Hidaka accidentally struck Corino. Corino then began to perform a high-speed count every time Guido went for a pinfall but counted slowly when Hidaka did so. Hidaka kept his composure, protesting calmly about the poor officiating. Corino then began to get physically involved in the match whenever Hidaka had the upper hand on his gaijin opponent. Finally Corino counted Hidaka down at around the 16½ mark of the match to a chorus of boos! Corino then grabbed the microphone:

"Hidaka baka! Japan baka!" he began, taunting the crowd. He then announced that ZERO1 was nothing compared to the old ZERO-ONE and it was for one reason - the lack of gaijin fighters! Corino said he would be brining in foreigners under his control to the company to re-establish it as former boss Hashimoto had always wanted it. "From now on, gaijin will rule the mat of ZERO1!! Because CORINO ICHIBAN!!" He yelled in to the microphone as he left the ring.

The World Dubai Tag Team titles returned to action once more. Back in early 2007 a very rich Sheik named Mr. Burj-al and his wife from Dubai sponsored a pair of mixed tag team titles in Chick Fight SUN. These titles were won by Steve Corino and his partner, joshi pro wrestler Toshie Uematsu, at the SUN "COLORS" show in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall. The titles were eventually stripped from Corino & Uematsu and reactivated this July where Osamu Namiguchi and Hikaru won them in a decision match.

Sheik Burj-al has declared his title belts the "top richest" of all titles and has added the stipulation that any team that can defend the titles 10 times in a row will be awarded a palatial residence in Dubai.

Facing Nami and Hikaru were the team of Saki Maemura and BattlArts' President Yuki Ishikawa. As many are aware, Ishikawa has somewhat of a reputation in mixed tag match of showing undo attention towards the female members of the opposite team. Poor Hikaru indeed found herself on the end of some sexual harassment from Ishikawa, but in the end using teamwork and Ishikawa's distraction, Nami and Hikaru were able to gain win #1 on their path towards owning a palatial estate.

Also on the card, current NWA Intercontinental Tag Team champions Minoru Fujita and Takuya Sugawara continued their devious ways aimed at KAMIKAZE by bringing in their previous target The Great Sasuke. After weaseling their way into keeping the "Green AWA title" (AWA stands for "Ashikaga Wrestling Aniki" in this case, a title KAMIKAZE created himself), Fujita and Sugawara faced both Sasuke and KAMIKAZE in a tag match and won quickly by cheating using powder thrown in the eyes of KAMIKAZE.

In the 2nd match of the show, Tatsuhito Takaiwa defeated XWF's Yuusaku Obata in under 10 minutes with a crab hold. And in the opening "ZERO1 vs. BattlArts" match between Shito Ueda and Yuzuru Saito versus Yuta Yoshikawa and Keita Yano. The ZERO1 fighters were very excited for the match, with Ueda claiming BattlArts an obstacle in the road that needs to be removed. Both sides threw everything they had at each other not leaving an ounce behind, however BattlArts came out on top when Yoshikawa managed to win via sleeper hold on the inexperienced Saito.

Corino and Guido Arrive In Japan! Onita To Appear At Korakuen!

September 22nd, 2008

Gaijin fighters Steve Corino and Guido Maritato arrived in Japan today and appeared at the ZERO1 offices to make a brief statement on their upcoming Korakuen Hall appearances. Guido, recently exited from WWE/ECW is making his first return to Japan in a long time as a freelancer and is scheduled to battle current ZERO1 International Jr. Heavyweight champion Ikuto Hidaka in a non-title "Extreme Rules" match.

Previously Maritato had sent a message to the ZERO1 fans declaring his readiness to battle Hidaka whom he's met previously in a ECW and ROH ring. Guido comments:

"I've returned to Japan and I'm very excited. I promise I will put on a good match tomorrow in Korakuen. I want to win the match so I can challenge Hidaka for his International Jr. Heavyweight title before I leave Japan."

Long time ZERO1 gaijin fighter Steve Corino returns to the company for the first time in over a year for his announced retirement from Japan. Corino, who among other championship titles, is a former ECW World Heavyweight champion. Therefore ZERO1 has determined that since Ikuto Hidaka and Guido Maritato will be having an E-Style Extreme match, what better choice but for Corino to referee the bout and make it a true "Extreme Memorial" match. Corino made the following comment from the ZERO1 office today:

"It's great to be able to return to Japan, and while I'm glad to return I also have a nervous feeling of anticipation. Although it's been a little sad being away from the great Japanese fans who have been familiar with me for years, I'm happy to be able to once more enter a ZERO1 ring perhaps to say goodbye for the last time. I can't wait to see you all at the arena. CORINO ICHIBAN!!"

Previously announced was the appearance and participation of legendary Japanese death match wrestler Atsushi Onita on the upcoming 9/27 show of the "ZERO1 Spirits '08" Hokkaido swing of the tour.

It has been announced that Onita will now be appearing tomorrow for the Korakuen Hall show to address the fans and his tag team partner Shinjiro Otani. Onita will be teaming with Otani and former protege Testuhiro Kuroda versus Kohei Sato, Minoru Fujita and Takuya Sugawara in Sapporo's Teisen Hall.

ZERO1 & BattlArts Head-On Collision! Ueda & Saito Comment!

September 20th, 2008

On September 23rd at the "ZERO1 Spirits '08" show in Korakuen Hall, the young ZERO1 trueborn tag team of Shito Ueda and Yuzuru Saito will take on the young BattlArts team of Yuta Yoshikawa and Keita Yano.

As two of the newest members of the ZERO1 roster, Ueda and Saito teamed together in a first round losing effort in the "Passion Cup Tag Tournament '08" that took place at the beginning of the month in Kimitsu, Japan. Ueda and Saito gave statements to the media about their upcoming match with the BattlArts fighters.

Shito Ueda: "BattlArts is just an obstacle in the road on my route forwards. Any person that gets in my way will be blown off the road."

Yuzuru Saito: "I haven't been able to sleep because of the mortifying first round loss in the 'Passion Cup Tag Tournament.' Every chance offered is one that needs to be taken advantage of. Although it seems the BattlArts wrestlers think they are special, so in Korakuen let's fight head-on!"

The "King of Old School" Steve Corino Returns!

September 16th, 2008

ZERO1 Announced today that long time ZERO1 gaijin wrestler Steve Corino will return to Japan on September 23rd for the "ZERO1 Spirits '08" show in Korakuen Hall. Corino, the former company Gaijin agent/leader of not only ZERO1 but the old Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE hasn't entered the company's ring since June of last year during the "DYNAMO" tour.

Now Corino will be appearing once again for a tribute to his "distinguished service" in ZERO1 including the showing of a video of some of his more memorable moments. Corino, who prematurely retired in the United States last year only to return, will apparently also announce his Japanese retirement at the show. Corino sent the following message to ZERO1 regarding the event:

"Hello ZERO1 fans and all Japanese Pro Wrestling fans, it' Steve Corino. Although I wanted to announce my retirement last year and hold my final retirement match in the ZERO1-MAX ring, that wish did not come to fruition. Although I have not been to Japan for a long time, I will appear at Korakuen Hall on September 23. I will have a special announcement for the Japanese Pro Wrestling fans. I am thankful to ZERO1 to be once more invited to Japan and to President Otani for inviting me."

No matches or opponents have been announced thus far for Corino.

Tanaka Loses Patience and Directly Invades New Japan To Challenge Nagata!

September 14th, 2008

Yesterday at the New Japan "CIRCUIT 2008 NEW JAPAN GENERATION" show in Sagamihara, following a 6-man tag match that New Japan's Yuji Nagata won for his team, ZERO1 Ace Masato Tanaka charged the ring! Entering in street clothes, Tanaka hit a hard lariat on Nagata, and then added a Sliding-D for good measure! Tanaka then got on the microphone and demanded a single match between the two. Nagata responded by attacking Tanaka back with kicks as the New Japan wrestlers, along with ZERO1's Shito Ueda and Yuzuru Saito began a large brawl in the ring.

As Tanaka exited the ring, Nagata then picked up the microphone and responded:

"You have your wish, it is you and me in a 1 vs. 1 match!"

It has since been determined that Masato Tanaka vs. Yuji Nagata will be held on October 13 at New Japan's "DESTRUCTION 2008" show in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. Nagata further bragged to Samurai TV that he will "strike Tanaka exhaustively and crush him" and win "a great victory."

Will Nagata be able to put his money where his mouth is and defeat the 3x "Fire Festival" winner and current ZERO1 World Heavyweight Champion?

ZERO1 & BattlArts Announce Working Agreement!

September 14th, 2008

As any fan of ZERO1 and BattlArts know, the two companies have worked together in mutual cooperation for a long time, mostly through the sharing of their respective roster fighters. BattlArts originally had a working agreement with the old Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE going as far back as 2001 when Shinjiro Otani and Yuki Ishikawa both held the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team title belts. Current ZERO1 Intercontinental Jr. Heavyweight champion and top Jr. Class fighter Ikuto Hidaka first battled in a ZERO-ONE ring as a member of BattlArts as well. And while this relationship faltered in the mid-2000s, fighters like Munenori Sawa have participated to their utmost ability in ZERO1 for several years, culminating in his winning the NWA International Lightweight Tag Team titles on August 3rd along with Ikuto Hidaka.

Now today both companies announced a further evolution in the technical and developmental relationship of the two organizations. In cooperation both companies will try to offer more intense and hot battles going forward into the future. ZERO1 and BattlArts will also support each other by providing their respective fans the ability to purchase event tickets of both companies at their events.

The first such promotional decision will begin on September 23rd at ZERO1's Korakuen Hall show where each fan purchasing a BattlArts ticket will receive a free photographic print of a BattlArts fighter.

Atsushi Onita Returns to Riot In Sapporo For ZERO1!

September 14th, 2008

ZERO1 announced today that Japanese Pro Wrestling death match legend Atsushi Onita will take part in the September 27th "ZERO1 Spirits '08" show at Sapporo Teisen Hall. This will be the first time in 5 years that Onita has returned to Sapporo, his last trip in 2003 for World Japan Pro Wrestling.

Onita sent a FAX to the ZERO1 offices as well with the following message:

"My previous ZERO1 appearance was at the Aomori show back on July 20th, where I tagged with former protoge Masato Tanaka and Shinjiro Otani. Then I felt the strong heat and energy of the ZERO1 ring, and wanted the opportunity to return once more. There is no reason ZERO1 would refuse! I have the intention of burning with the strongest fire and rioting in Sapporo! Also after a long time I will team with another former pupil in Testuhiro Kuroda and ZERO1 President Shinjiro Otani as a trio!"

Onita will team with Otani and Kuroda to take on the team of Kohei Sato and the "Sworn Brothers" tag team of Minoru Fujita and Takuya Sugawara in the main event.

Guido Sends Hidaka a Message!

September 13th, 2008

As announced last month, former ECW and WWE wrestler Guido Maritato will participate in the upcoming "ZERO1 Spirits '08" tour begining on September 23rd in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall. Guido, a former 2x WWE Cruiserweight Champion is scheduled to open his first ZERO1 participation facing current International Jr. Heavyweight champion Ikuto Hidaka in a non-title "E-Style" extreme rules match. Previously Guido and Hidaka have met as opponents in both the original ECW and ROH.

Guido sent the following message to the ZERO1 office and fans:

"ZERO1FANS...I hope you are ready for me, because I am ready and excited about coming back to Japan to wrestle. I have wrestled my opponent, Ikuto Hidaka, before in the United States and now get a chance to wrestle him in his home country. I hope he is ready, because I am. Let's have an extreme match!"