Home » News Archive » News from 01/22/09 to 01/30/09

Ryouji Returns From TV Land, "...Fully Motivated...!"

January 30th, 2009

As previously reported, Ryouji has been off filming a Fuji TV reality program where seven young men and women travel the world riding a pink bus trying to find love titled Ainori. Given the nickname "Wrestler" during the show, Ryouji returned yesterday at the "ZERO1 WRESTLER'S" show in Tokyo's Shin Kiba 1st Ring.

Ryouji's first appearance in a ZERO1 ring for 2009 saw him team alongside current International Jr. Heavyweight champion Ikuto Hidaka versus KAMIKAZE and Namiguchi. While Nami continued his advancement towards his challenge for the NWA International Lightweight Tag Teams, he was unable to get the win here as Ryouji secured a win on his return with the Nachi Waterfalls double foot stomp. Following the match which was the main event of the show, Ryouji spoke on the microphone:

"I'm sorry to have taken a trip so suddenly. Although I left to find true love it was insufficient to the love I have for the company called ZERO1, and I've returned fully motivated. So from now on, please give me and ZERO1 your assistance. Thank you."

Ryouji then led the assembled fans in the "3-2-1...ZERO-1!!" cheer. Afterwards Ryouji spoke to the media and said he really enjoys the job of pro wrestling and is excited to return. He said he is very motivated for his return and added that taking a good trip and returning home is good for self-confidence.

New Wrestler to ZERO1 - Shinobu Takano, Former Yomiuri Giant!

January 29th, 2009

ZERO1 welcomes a new fighter to its ranks, former Yomiuri Giants baseball player, Shinobu Takano (34). Takano was born in Wakayama, Japan and was picked 8th by the Giants in 1998. He played baseball until 2003 when he retired from the sport.

Since then Takano has wanted to enter professional wrestling, and has trained in karate for many years in Nagoya. On that note, his opponent for his debut will be wrestlers/karate fighter Kazuhiko Ogasawara on February 14th in Osaka for the "Wrestler's Belief '09" tour.

Takano's ring name has yet to be determined. Another previous pro wrestler began his professional sports career in a Yomiuri Giants uniform - the legendary Giant Baba.

Atsushi Onita Loans Otani His Leather Jacket For Luck Versus Nagata!

January 26th, 2009

Yesterday former FMW leader and deathmatch legend Atsushi Onita once more entered ZERO1 in Miyazaki, Japan. He teamed alongside EMBLEM in a winning effort versus the "Gikyoudai" team of Minoru Fujita and Takuya Sugawara and BJW's Daisuke Sekimoto. Following the match, Onita took his famous "Jadou" leather jacket and placed it over Otani's shoulder telling him it is good luck for him to win the World Heavyweight title on February 27th from New Japan's Yuji Nagata.

Onita's trusty leather has a history in ZERO1, and not just when he wore it to the ring way back in 2001 to face Otani himself at the ZERO-ONE "SHINGEKI II" show. During the usual brawling and craziness through the crowd at the 2006 "Celebration from the Yasukuni Shrine" show his well-loved and famous leather jacket was stolen by an unknown party. After submitting a report to the Police, Onita sent out a FAX to numerous news outlets:

After reporting his leather jacket stolen following the ZERO1-MAX show at the Yasukuni Shrine, a few days later Onita was happy to report the stolen jacket had been returned to him. Onita was very glad to get it back, once again mentioning the deep sentimental value the beat up old jacket held for him. Onita had made an appeal in the media for the jacket to be returned, and thinks his heartfelt request reached the person who had stolen it. Around 8:30 PM on April 4, 2006, a man in his late 20s early 30s walked into the Nagasaki restaurant that Onita's Mother is the manager of and returned the jacket to her. Onita then withdrew the police report.

Now he's given it to Otani temporarily in hopes its "magic" might aid the ZERO1 President in his quest for the World Heavyweight title.

Nami Chooses The Great Sasuke To Challenge For Lightweight Tag Titles!

January 26th, 2009

Following his teams non-title victory over current NWA Lightweight Tag Team champions Ikuto Hidaka and Munenori Sawa on January 23rd, ZERO1 wrestler Osamu Namiguchi announced his intention of a rematch, this time with the belts on the line. Nami and his partner Big Japan's Daisuke Sekimoto defeated the champions in an almost 18 minute battle when Sekimoto pinned Sawa with a German suplex hold.

Following the victory Namiguchi said he wanted to challenge for the NWA International Lightweight tag team titles and asked Sekimoto if he'd be willing to team with him. Sekimoto responded that he's a heavyweight and could never make weight for the challenge, so Nami swore he'd find a partner and be the next challenger anyway.

So today at the ZERO1 offices, a message arrived from The Great Sasuke! It read:

The office then informed Nami of this very bizarre message from the veteran pro wrestler.

The champions accepted the challenge and on approval of the ZERO1 office the title bout will be held on February 7th in Chiba, Japan during the upcoming "ZERO1 Wrestler's Belief '09" tour

Otani Vs. Nagata World Heavyweight Title Match Time & Date Decided!

January 25th, 2009

Ever since his last World Heavyweight champion defense versus Masato Tanaka at the Tokyo Dome, the collision between New Japan's Yuji Nagata and ZERO1 President Shinjiro Otani has been unavoidable. Otani first challenged Nagata directly after his victory over Tanaka, and then once again the other day at Shinjuku FACE after EMBLEM defeated both Nagata and Inoue in a tag match with Otani pinning Inoue to win.

It's now been announced today that the date of the challenge has been determined and it will be on February 27th in Korakuen Hall during the upcoming "ZERO1 Wrestler's Belief '09" show. If successful this will be Nagata's 4th defense of the title since winning it back in October 2008, his challengers thus far have been Kohei Sato, Tatsuhito Takaiwa and Masato Tanaka. This is Otani's first challenge for the title. The last time the two met in a singles match was on August 29th, 2008 when Nagata defeated him in 19 minutes with a back suplex hold.

Ryouji's Urgent Homecoming! 1/29 Shin-Kiba!

January 24th, 2009

Last appearing in ZERO1 back on December 17th for the final show of the year at Shinjuku FACE, Ryoji Sai told the assembled media, "I cannot save ZERO1 right now...my findings for myself are insufficient." He added "Thank you ZERO1 and you the ZERO1 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..." This after he had took much of the Summer off, only returning a few matches previous to that day.

In the interim, Ryouji has been off filming a Fuji TV reality program where seven young men and women travel the world riding a pink bus trying to find love titled Ainori. Now he's contacted ZERO1 that he will be returning to the company on January 29th at Tokyo Shin-Kiba 1st Ring. He added that since the young pro wrestling fan is the future of the sport, all those with a student ID card will be allowed into the show for free! Has Ryouji finally discovered himself and is now ready for a full time return?

EMBLEM Victorious! Otani Challenges World Heavyweight Champ Nagata!

January 23rd, 2009

ZERO1's Shinjuku FACE event that commemorated the 1st Anniversary of Shinjiro Otani's promotion to company president happed in Tokyo, Japan today. In the main event Otani teamed alongside his friend and EMBLEM partner Masato Tanaka versus two New Japan outsiders - World Heavyweight champion Yuji Nagata and Wataru Inoue. Former champion Tanaka had attempted to regain his title in a re-match at NJPW's Tokyo Dome show, but failed. Following Tanaka's loss Otani entered the ring and approached Nagata.The two had words and Otani challenged Nagata to a title match.

The ZERO1 fans showed their feeling for New Japan and Nagata when he entered Shinjuku FACE to a chorus of boos that continued throughout the match. EMBLEM rushed forward and attacked the New Japan fighters before the bell. Nagata was prepared for this and countered Otani, receiving more boos as he facewashed the ZERO1 President! He followed that with a armbreaker and a jujigatame but Otani was able to break the hold.

Inoue than entered and Otani was able to fight back with a front kick and back suplex before tagging in Tanaka. Tanaka struck with a swinging DDT and a "super fly" frog splash. The two exchanged elbows in the middle of the ring, and though Tanaka struck with superior speed Inoue used his power to deliver a counter brainbuster. Nagata than entered to deliver some rapid fire kicks to Tanaka's chest and kick that sent him flying to the corner! Tanaka fought back with a spear that in turn sent Nagata into a corner post! Otani then returned to hit his own facewash on the downed World Heavyweight champion!

Otani and Nagata stood face-to-face in the ring and exchanged hard elbows and chops as things began to move quickly. Nagata tried a brainbuster and a back suplex but could only get a 2 count! Inoue then re-entered with a missile dropkick on Otani, but only just avoided a pinfall from Otani's counter German suplex. Otani eventually took full control with a enzuigiri followed by a dragon suplex that Nagata struggled to break the count on. Then as Tanaka fought with Nagata outside the ring, Otani delivered a missile dropkick, dragon suplex and then the Spiral Bomb for the 3 count on Inoue in just under 15 minutes.

As Nagata exited the arena he began to quarrel with a ZERO1 fan in the front row causing Otani to get on the microphone to announce the thing he wanted to do most on his 1st Anniversary of becoming ZERO1 President - challenge Nagata to a world heavyweight match. At first Nagata brushed him off, saying "Why should I accept a challenge from Otani, who has already been defeated by me?" But with Otani challenging him directly and the ZERO1 found heckling him he relented and accepted the challenge. The last time the two met in a singles match was on August 29th, 2008 when Nagata defeated him in 19 minutes with a back suplex hold.

Also on the show saw current NWA International Lightweight tag team champions Ikuto Hidaka and Munenori Sawa in a non-title match face Osamu Namiguchi and BJW's Daisuke Sekimoto. Early on Sekimoto was able to throw around his Heavyweight muscle, throwing the junior class opponents around and unleashing hard chops. Despite Hidaka and Sawa's teamwork in breaking Sekimoto down early, he was still able to finish Sawa with a German Suplex hold for the victory. Following the victory, Namiguchi said he wanted to challenge for the NWA International Lightweight tag team titles and asked Sekimoto if he'd be willing to team with him. Sekimoto responded that he's a heavyweight and could never make weight for the challenge, so Nami swore he'd find a partner and be the next challenger anyway.

As reported earlier here, Minoru Fujita and Takuya Sugawara the long time tag team known as the "Sworn Brothers" (Gikyoudai) were scheduled to have a singles match on this show. At the New Year's Day "Genesis 2009" show at Korakuen Hall, Fujita once more teamed with former tag team partner Ikuto Hidaka in a match titled "One Day Bond" versus Minoru and Munenori Sawa. This caused Sugawara to questions Fujita's dedication to their own team and he laid down the challenge. This was the first time the two men have faced each other in singles match since the day Fujita won the "Tenka-Ichi Jr. Tournament 2006" by defeating Sugawara.

This time the two went back-and-forth on offense and defense, both seemingly to know the other fighters move. Finally Fujita was able to win the match with an inside cradle. Following the bout the two men shook hands and congratulated each other signaling their friendship was not in danger. The two had also come out together earlier in the show and done some comedic dialogue joking about their scheduled confrontation.

Soon-to-be-retired wrestlers Hikaru and Saki Maemura joined opposite team in a tag match labeled "Final Countdown for SMILE Part 2." Included were the charismatic Shirai Sister, Mio and Io. Saki teamed with Io and Hikaru with older sister Mio in a match that was received well by the Shinjuku FACE crowd. Hikaru finished Io with her "Lanakilla-H" finisher for the victory.

Also on the card Kohei defeated KAMIKAZE in a singles match. And ZERO1 young fighter Shito Ueda and Yuzuru Saito teamed together in losing effort to Mineo Fujita and XWF's Yusaku Obata.

Congratulations Arrive For President Otani From Overseas!

January 22nd, 2009

Several messages of congratulations have arrived at the ZERO1 office from foreign wrestlers that have appeared in ZERO1. Most are to commemorate President Otani's 1 Year Anniversary assumption of that office, which will be celebrated at the Shinjuku FACE show tomorrow. Some Examples are as follows:

"Congratulations President Otani-san. I'm still training young boys for pro wrestling in Pennsylvania. I'm doing my best in the hopes they will be sent into the ZERO1 ring some day. I hope you'll take the belt off Nagata and then come to the United States to wrestle. Good luck for your 2nd year." - Steve Corino

In addition to those excerpts, several messages were also received from current WWE and TNA wrestlers who have previously wrestled in ZERO1.

Another promotion also made itself known once again - the nefarious WPF (World Premium Federation) who in 2008 declared war on Japanese pro wrestling beginning with ZERO1. Back in November the WPF was even able to seize the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team titles when Mr. Wrestling 3 and Charles "The Hammer" Evans defeated Minoru Fujita and Takuya Sugawara. Following that the WPF contacted ZERO1 and said they were going on vacation for the US Holidays but would re-connect in the new year. They to sent a message to the company offices regarding Otani's 1st year anniversary.