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ZERO1 Returns To PREMIUM!

December 26th, 2008

ZERO1 fighters once more returned to PREMIUM today in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall to continue their running battle with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Since PREMIUMs inception ZERO1 has been participating in many of the shows. This event saw seven ZERO1 fighters enter the ring: Shinjiro Otani, Masato Tanaka, Ikuto Hidaka, Kohei Sato, Ikuto Hidaka, Osamu Namiguchi, Tatsuhito Takaiwa and Shito Ueda.

ZERO1 President Shinjiro Otani opened the show in a match titled "PREMIUM FUTURE I" versus re-debuted New Japan wrestler Kazuchika Okada. Okada showed some early brazenness in the bout, getting in Otani's face and then rushing him with elbow shots at the bell. His offensive flurry was short-lived however as Otani quickly moved from defense to hit Okada with a hard German suplex and then a single leg crab hold but Okada was able to crawl to the ropes. As 5 minutes rolled by Otani then applied a Camel Clutch to gain the submission victory as Okada tapped out.

The next bout was similarly titled "PREMIUM FUTURE II" and saw a reversal of veteran and youngster as ZERO1 heavyweight Shito Ueda stood against New Japan veteran monster Manabu Nakanishi. Ueda has good size for a young fighter and brought his strong heart with him to the fight. Ueda came right at the larger New Japan fighter with elbow strikes but was soon lifted off his feet and bear-hugged by the "Yajin." He then received some hard chops sending him backward.

Ueda fought back however using some strong dropkicks, and even managed to fell Nakanishi with a running shoulder block. He quickly tried to capitalize with a body slam and a missile dropkick, but Nakanishi rallied and scored a strong brainbuster and a then a knee drop. He then slapped the young man in the face and hit him with a point blank lariat. Lifting Ueda onto his shoulder also just past the 5 minute mark, Nakanishi then submitted Ueda with his Argentine backbreaker sealing the victory.

The 4th match of the event was called "ROAD to SUPER J-CUP PREMIUM APPETIZER" and had ZERO1 Junior class veterans Tatsuhito Takaiwa and Ikuto Hidaka face off against Milano Collection A.T. and El Samurai. The match began between El Samurai and Takaiwa, with Samurai gaining an early advantage with a chop battle and then a Suicide Tope to the outside. Simultaneously Milano knocked Hidaka off the apron with a hip attack knocking him to the floor. Samurai returned to the ring to face Hidaka now, twisting the ZERO1 International Jr. Champion left arm. He then attacked with a pile driver, and reverse chop and a hard kick before tagging out. Hidaka was able to win a kick battle and tag out to Takaiwa. Takaiwa brought his strong striking to Milano as well, with a body slam and stiff lariat and then a diving elbow drop. Milano attempted to used his Javelin hold only to be lifted in the air and dropped with a Death Valley Driver! He was able to cut back a Powerbomb attempt by Takaiwa and avoided a lariat with a Matrix move, and then a enzuigiri and a tag out to Samurai.

El Samurai quickly went on the offense as ten minutes rolled by, delivering a hard dropkick. The two battled on the top rope, as Takaiwa attempted an avalanche powerbomb El Samurai revered it into a Frankensteiner instead! Hidaka then entered and hit his handspring Shuriken kick and a missile kick. However El Samurai counter attacked with a Reverse DDT and a diving head butt. Milano also entered and the two continued to attack Hidaka until Takaiwa entered to cut them off! Samurai then hit a top rope brainbuster on Hidaka but when trying to do a coordinated attack on Takaiwa he struck his own teammate in error! Taking advantage of this breakdown in teamwork, Takaiwa lifted Samurai and Hidaka kicked him in the head. Following that a Wild Dog Hight kick and the Iwami Silver mine finished him off for the ZERO1 team victory! Milano stormed off in disgust, leaving El Samurai to stumble his way back to the locker room.

The 5th bout was the "PREMIUM ENTRÉE" and saw Big Japan heavyweight Daisuke Sekimoto team with New Japan legend Riki Choshu against the ZERO1 team of Kohei Sato and Osamu Namiguchi. The match began with Sekimoto and Sato, two men who have faced each other numerous times before and have traded many a hard German suplex. Soon after the match begun the two were on the outside, were Sekimoto hit his Bullet Tope against Kohei who was against the metal fence! Kohei also then used the fence to his advantage, pushing Sekimoto against it and delivering some hard kicks! Returning to the ring Kohei continued with the kicks and tagged in Nami who also tried with the soccer ball kick, though Sekimoto rose to his feet to chop him down. Choshu then entered and began to twist Nami's arm! Kohei kicked Choshu hard in the face, until Choshu caught his leg and ordered Sekimoto to drop elbows on the ZERO1 heavyweight. Both Choshu and Sekimoto his a union elbow attack on Nami, and as Choshu began to twist him into the Scorpion Deathlock Kohei quickly broke it up with a hard kick! Sekimoto then misfired with a lariat striking Choshu and Kohei capitalized with a kick and piledriver almost gaining the pinfall save for Choshu breaking it up.

Soon Kohei and Sekimoto were faced off once more, with Sekimoto struggling and then finally lifting Kohei high in the air for a brainbuster! And impressive feat considering Kohei is almost 20cm taller than the BJW fighter. He then stretched him with an Argentine backbreaker before attempting a frog splash from the top rope. Kohei got his knees up just in time to block it as he rolled to tag Nami. Nami quickly attacked with a running elbow, and attempted his own German suplex but couldn't lift Sekimoto. Kohei re-entered to help, but during the fray was accidently struck by Nami's missile dropkick. All alone as a Junior versus heavyweights as Kohei was downed, Nami was floored by a Riki Lariat-O and then finished off by Sekimoto's German suplex hold.

Finally in the main event, a bout labeled "Wolf Alliance vs. Complete Players," New Japan's Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Hiro Saito faced the former FMW and indy team of Masato Tanaka, Jado and Gedo. Tanaka started versus Chono, and the two exchanged elbows until Chono answered with a kick. Next Hiro Saito and Gedo faced off with Tenzan joining in for some combined chops before Saito locked on the surfboard stretch.

As 5 minutes went by, Tenzan and Jado exchanged chops, until Tenzan landed a nasty headbutt and the his Mongolian Chops. Tanaka then through Tenzan to the outside as the two began to brawl through the seat. Saito rushed to intervene only to find himself battling Jado. Soon the Complete Players isolated Tenzan in their corner, with Tanaka using a Cobra twist, a chinlock and stomping him down. Setting him in the corner Tanaka and Jado held Tenzan as gedo chopped him some more.

As ten minutes passed, Tenzan stretched to tag his corner but Gedo held him back. Eventually Tenzan escaped and tagged in Saito who unleashed a flurry of offense with a spinebuster and 2 rapid firing running sentons on Gedo. Then Chono and Tenzan delivered a combined brainbuster followed by yet another senton! Chono then threw a diving shoulder at Jado as Gedo was dropped by lariat and almost submitted by an STF save for Tanaka's interference. Jado and Tanaka then scored a 3-D on Chono, but as Gedo and Tanaka tried stereo "Super Fly" frog splashes Tenzan and the other prevented it. Tenzan then dropped a diving headbut on Jado and Chono finished and pinned him with a Yakuza kick at about the 15 minute mark.

Hidaka & Fujita Reunite for "One Day Bond!"

December 22nd, 2008

Former longtime tag team partners, Ikuto Hidaka and Minoru Fujita held a press conference today to announce their reformation as a tag team for "Genesis 2009" on 1/1 at Korakuen Hall. This is the first time the two have teamed for several years, as Hidaka has followed a single path until he recent teaming with Munenori Sawa. Fujita also originally went it alone until teaming with Takuya Sugawara for a long run of mischievous behavior. As well as holding the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship and NWA Lightweight Tag Team Champions together, Hidaka and Fujita also were co-tag team MVPs for 2005.

Both men are also former BattlArts fighters, and it will be a BattlArts themed bout on 1/1 as Hidaka and Fujita will take on Hidaka's current tag partner Munenori Sawa and New Japan Pro Wrestling's Minoru. Both Hidaka and Fujita showed excitement in reuniting and Fujita, who wore a suit to the interview, said he plans on doing his best and won't betray Hidaka. Hidaka added that it is only a temporary reunion for the festivities of New Year's Day.

Nagata Defends Against Takaiwa! Tanaka Challenge for Tokyo Dome!

December 18th, 2008

ZERO1 held their last event yesterday at Tokyo's Shinjuku FACE that saw current World Heavyweight champion Yuji Nagata defend his title versus challenger Tatsuhito Takaiwa. Following his victory during the Tenka-Ichi Jr. Tournament 2008, Takaiwa used his dragon ball wish to challenge for the World Title. The fans in attendance were solidly behind Takaiwa, booing Nagata who taunted them by saluting. Both men threw everything they had at each other for almost 18 minutes, and late in the match Takaiwa was on a roll. Following an Avalanche Death Valley Driver on the champion, Takaiwa unleashed three hard lariats trying to take the New Japan fighter down. Nagata was able to reverse a final attempt into with a back suplex and a enzuguiri.

While Takaiwa was able to survive this, Nagata motioned "one more" to the crown and hit hid back suplex hold for the three count. Defeating Takaiwa adds to Nagata's impressive lists of victories over ZERO1 wrestlers, including Masato Tanaka, Kohei Sato and Shinjiro Otani. To a continuing chorus of boos, Nagata got on the microphone to address the ZERO1 fans:

Tanaka, the man who lost the title belt to Nagata, instantly appeared from the locker room. He accepted Nagata's challenge and swore to return the World Heavyweight title to ZERO1. He then walked out as fast as he appeared, leaving Nagata nodding in response at the center of the ring. The two will face each other in a title match labeled " Crusade for Justice" on January 4th at the New Japan Pro Wrestling "WRESTLE KINGDOM III IN TOKYO DOME."

The semi-main event of the show saw two tag team partners collide, as current ZERO1 International Jr. Champion Ikuto Hidaka defended his title against BattlArts' Munenori Sawa. Sawa, Hidaka's partner for the NWA International Lightweight Tag Team titles challenged Hidaka following his victory over the WPF's Tyson Dux. Though this surprised Hidaka, he accepted the challenge of his tag partner.

Sawa rushed Hidaka at the bell, going right to his kicks on the attack.Hidaka, who has been training in kickboxing, soon returned to the offense, striking Sawa in the corner with middle kicks. The two fighters then went to their arsenals as Hidaka aimed for the "Shawn Capture" out of a Dragon Screw leg whip. Sawa struck back with his Great Muta "Love Pose" and a Shining Wizard! Sawa then tried to lock on the Octopus Hold that won the two men their Lightweight tag titles this Summer but Hidaka was able to escape. The two battled with strikes again, with Hidaka finally unleashing a Wild Dog high kick, dropping Sawa for a 9 count! As Sawa rose to his feet he had a big smile on his face! Hidaka shouted "aibou!" and unleashed another Wild Dog High Kick and finally got the 3 count. Following the bout Sawa was helped to the dressing room by fellow BattlArts wrestler Yuta Yoshikawa.

Former FMW wrestlers collided in the 5th match of the show as Masato Tanaka fought Mr. Gannosuke in a "Trace of F" match. Mr. Gannosuke entered ZERO1 looking to face Tanaka before he retires later this month. He faced him in a tag match back on 11/28 at the Korakuen Hall show "ZERO1 Beat '08," where Gannosuke and another FMW alumni BADBOY Hido defeated Tanaka and Munenori Sawa when Gannosuke pinned Sawa. Following the match, Gannosuke let it known his wish to have a singles match with Tanaka before he hangs up his boots.

Although Gannosuke is retiring, Tanaka spent no time bringing the fight right too him, and it wasn't long before both men were brawling outside the ring. The two swung chairs at each other and Tanaka finally put Gannouske through a table. It wasn't long before the veteran Gannosuke was back on offense, splitting a table fragment in two over Tanaka's head! Tanaka landed a lariat and swinging DDT, but was intercepted before he could use his "Super Fly" frog splash with Gannosuke "Praying Power Bomb." Tanaka finally did hit his frog splash after a Diamond Dust, but Gannosuke kicked out! His survival was short-lived however as the Sliding-D soon finished him off in just over 16 minutes. Following the match the two men embraced and spoke to the crowd, thanking them for their support.

After taking some time off this Summer, Ryouji Sai returned to ZERO1 with the request to face Kohei Sato in a singles bout. He gained his chance at the 11/28 "ZERO1 Beat '08" show. There Kohei defeated his former tag team partner in 15 minutes with his German Suplex hold. Here again the two would meet, this time in a tag match that saw Kohei team with ZERO1 President Shinjiro Otani versus Sai and Big Japan Pro Wrestling Daisuke Sekimoto. This time Ryouji was able to gain the victory as after Sekimoto hit a hard German suplex on Kohei, Ryouji dropped his "Nachi Waterfall" double footstomp on him for the win! Following the match, Ryouji spoke to the media claiming "...my findings for myself are insufficient," adding "Thanks you ZERO1 and you the fans. Let's meet again. Thank you." This led the reporter to ask Ryouji if he was planning on retiring, only for him to repeat "Let's meet again..."

Speaking of retirement, following their participation in a 6-person tag match, Hikaru and Saki Maemura announced that they will retire in April. The both said they have chosen retirement and want to give the fans their best until that day. The fans were shocked at this surprise announcement as it came somewhat out of the blue. They told reporters that they had decided this course together, and Hikaru said she still hope to defend her WDB Tag Team Titles alongside Osamu Namiguchi a total of 10 times so they can win a palace. Saki for her part said she wanted to face some opponents she hasn't wrestled yet.

Also on the show, ZERO1's Yuzuru Saito faced XWF's Yusaku Ohata in the opening bout.

GBH Bloodies Takaiwa in Mito!

December 13th, 2008

Today as part of ZERO1's "Delight '08" tour in Mito, Ibaraki, saw a main event of Tatsuhito Takaiwa and Shinjiro Otani versus the Great Bash Heel contingent of Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma. Well it wasn't long until GBH began their usually "tactics" as they surprised the ZERO1 fighter before the bell! The fight soon spilled outside the ring and soon a chain appeared! Soon after Takaiwa, who will be facing Yuji Nagata in 4 days for the World Heavyweight title, was a bloody and beaten down mess.

GBH showed great cooperation in this match, inflicting the maximum amount of damage as it could. It was a mis-fire in team coordination that helped ZERO1 team pull out the victory in the end, as Makabe inadvertently struck teammate Honma with a chain lariat. And as Otani kept Makabe busy, Takaiwa finished off Honma with a Death Valley Driver and then a hard lariat to gain the pinfall.

Following the match, Takaiwa was sure to get on the microphone and thanked the fans who supported him. He said he hoped to see everybody at Shinjuku FACE as he needs continued support to gain victory over Nagata. Takaiwa also spoke to the media afterwards in the locker room:

Also on the show former and current tag partners teamed to battle each other, as the former "Stonehenge" team of Ryouji Sai and Kohei Sato split with current NWA International Tag Team champions Ikuto Hidaka and Munenori Sawa as Sai teamed alongside Hidaka and Kohei teamed with Sawa. The match concluded very much the same as Ryouji and Kohei's singles match at "ZERO1 Beat '08" on November 28th as Kohei pinned Sai with a German Suplex hold. Also of note is that Hidaka and Sawa will face each other in a singles match for the ZERO1 International Jr. Heavyweight title at Shinjuku FACE.

Coming off his Tokyo Sports "Fighting Spirit" 2008 win, Masato Tanaka faced young heavyweight Shito Ueda in a short bout where he secured a win. The "Real Evil Makers" (REM) of Aja Kong and Toshie Uematsu returned to fight Hikaru and Saki Maemura, where Saki fell to Aja's diving elbow drop. The "Gikyoudai" team of Minoru Fujita and Takuya Sugawara, who went from being double tag team champions to having no titles pulled out a win over KAMIKAZE and Osamu Namiguchi, and XWF's Yusaku Obata defeated ZERO1 young boy Yuzuru Saito with a crab hold.