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Ryouji's Team Loses To EMBLEM As Title Defense Looms!

June 20th, 2009

ZERO1 World Heavyweight champion Ryouji face will defend his title on July 1st in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan versus former champion Masato Tanaka. Today at the "ZERO1 WRESTLER'S ~ Origin Return" show in Gifu, Japan, Tanaka and EMBLEM tag team partner Shinjiro Otani faced Ryouji and Shito Ueda in main event.

While it was Ueda who took the final fall from Otani's Dragon Suplex hold, Tanaka was in the ring with Ryouji and showed strong dominance. The match lasted just over 20 minutes; afterward Tanaka addressed the media and spoke about his upcoming title match:

The media also wanted to know from Otani about the young heavyweight Shito Ueda, who has shown strong fighting spirit since his debut and held a position in today's Main Event.

"He's at a crossroads now. We have to see how he responds to such a beating. If he can't handle this, it's over."

This show was sub-titled "Origin Return" as Gifu is the hometown of Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE founder and deceased pro wrestling legend Shinya Hashimoto. Mr. Hashimoto's son Daichi Hashimoto was on hand to pay respect to his father with a ten-bell salute. Pro Wrestling NOAH's Mitsuharu Misawa and Osaka Pro referee Ted Tanabe were also honored with a 10-bell salute.

ZERO1 wrestler Ikuto Hidaka spoke about Tanabe, a long time referee in Japanese pro wrestling. He spoke of how when he and Minoru Fujita were in Michinoku Pro with Tanabe he was also very nice to them. He mentioned how Tanabe had just refereed for ZERO1 "ZERO1 WRESTLER'S 1" show on March 20th in Nagoya, and that he'd try to have a match today that Ted would give him a thumbs up for when he returned to the locker room.

Hidaka successfully defended his NWA International Lightweight tag team titles along with BattlArt's Munenori Sawa. The made their successful defense by defeating Hidaka's former tag team partner Minoru Fujita and his partner Yusaku Obata in 19½ minutes when Sawa submitted Obata with the Octopus Hold.

Fire Festival '09 Approaches! First 5 Wrestlers Announced!

June 18th, 2009

Summer is almost here, and Summer means the Annual ZERO1 "Fire Festival" (Himatsuri) is fast approaching. This will be ZERO1's 9th Fire Festival since the company's inception in 2001, and is one of the company's trademark events. This year it goes by the title of ZERO1 WRESTLER'S GRAND PRIX 2009 FIRE FESTIVAL ~ The Ambition of Glory ~, and will kick-off on July 25th at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall. Over the following 6 shows, taking place in Tokyo, Niigata, Gifu, Aichi and Osaka, 10 wrestlers will battle it out in a round-robin tournament to determine the 2009 Himatsuri champion.

The format is familiar: 10 wrestlers organized in 2 separate blocks (A & B) where I win counts as 2 points, a tie as 1 point, and a loss for 0 points. After all matches have been done, the block leader with the most point will go on to a final match versus the winner of the other block. If there is a tie, a playoff match will be held to determine the winner. The five wrestlers currently announced for the tournament are:

Masato Tanaka

9th Fire Festival Participation. 3x Fire Festival Champion (2006, 2007, 2008). Previous World Heavyweight Champion & NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion.

Ryouji Sai

5th Fire Festival Participation. 2x Fire Festival Finals Runner-Up. Current World Heavyweight Champion & NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion.

Shinjiro Otani

9th Fire Festival Participation. 3x Fire Festival Champion (2001, 2002, 2005). Previous World Heavyweight Champion & NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion.

Kohei Sato

9th Fire Festival Participation. 1x Fire Festival Champion (2004). Previous NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion.

Daisuke Sekimoto (BJW)

5th Fire Festival Participation.

That leaves five spots still open. These participants will be announced in the coming days, as well as their block designation and schedule.

ZERO1 President Shinjiro Otani addressed the media about his participation this year, declaring he "...should capture [the victory] this year." He also refereed to the Himatsuri Katana, the sword that is given to the winner as his "beloved Himatsuri Katana." Otani said he has been deprived of the sword since he was last winner in 2005.

"As for this year, I think this is the year Shinjiro Otani perseveres again. In fact my current feelings remind me of 2005 when I defeated Kensuke Sasaki, when Shinya Hashimoto died and I won the tournament. I have that feeling that if I don't win, who will? Already announced are wrestlers who have power and ability, and former champions of the tournament. This year I want to appeal to all the world for support, and for the strength of the professional wrestler. It has been four years since that unforgettable summer. Otani's Hot Summer begins this year."

List of previous Fire Festival Winners:

• 2001: Shinjiro Otani
• 2002: Shinjiro Otani
• 2003: Satoshi Kojima
• 2004: Kohei Sato
• 2005: Shinjiro Otani
• 2006: Masato Tanaka
• 2007: Masato Tanaka
• 2008: Masato Tanaka

Mitsuharu Misawa: 1962 - 2009

June 13th, 2009

As has been widely reported, it is with a sad heart we address the passing of Pro Wrestling NOAH President and Pro Wrestling Legend Mitsuharu Misawa. Misawa died while wrestling in a match at the Hiroshima Green Arena for NOAH's "SOUTHERN NAVIGATION 2009" tour. He was to turn 47 years old on June 18th. While Misawa gained many accolades during his career, he also appeared on the very 1st ZERO-ONE show back in 2001 in the main event. In a match titled "TOUKON vs. KINGS ROAD" Misawa teamed with fellow NOAH wrestler Jun Akiyama versus ZERO-ONE founder Shinya Hashimoto and New Japan's Yuji Nagata. Misawa won that match when he pinned Hashimoto with a German suplex hold. Misawa would then return to ZERO-ONE for their 2nd event and ZERO-ONE wrestlers would journey to NOAH.

When the news was confirmed, FIRST ON STAGE and ZERO1 released a joint statement.

Tanaka Defeats Kishiwada in Bikkuri Pro!

May 31st, 2009

Masato Tanaka travelled to Osaka on May 31st at the Toyonaka City Ritsu Rose Bunka Hall to take on well-known heavyweight Magnitude Kishiwada in no time-limit "special match." Kishiwada put up a fierce fight versus the ZERO1 Heavyweight, even reversing one of Tanaka's own maneuvers when he placed Tanaka on a table on the outside and then flew from the corner turnbuckle to send them both crashing through! Kishiwada took to their soon after also with a quebrada to the outside.

Tanaka soon began to counter attack, scoring a strong lariat and the "Super Fly" frog splash. Kishiwada showed strong fighting spirit by going toe-to-toe with Tanaka, as both men exchanged hard forearms in the center of the ring. Kishiwada finally lifted Tanaka high in the air and delivered the "Last Ride" powerbomb but couldn't put the former World Heavyweight champion away. This gave Tanaka the opportunity to hit his "Sliding D" elbow and gain the victory in a tough struggle in just over 25 minutes. Following the bout both men shook hands and Tanaka congratulated Kishiwada on a good fight. Tanaka said he is glad for the win heading into his upcoming title challenge versus Ryouji Sai on July 4th at WRESTLER'S 4.

Bikkuri Pro Osaka, Japan May 31st, 2009 Toyonaka City Ritsu Rose Bunka Hall
FIGHT CARD
Special Main Event No-Time Limit
O Masato Tanaka (ZERO1)	vs.	Magnitude Kishiwada X (Bikkuri Pro)
(24:08 → Sliding-D)

Tanaka Defeats Hidaka! NWA Intercontinental Tag Champs Defend!

May 25th, 2009

ZERO1 returned to Shinjuku Face yesterday for the "ZERO1 WRESTLER'S 3" event in Tokyo, Japan. As a company ZERO1 is often represented by veteran President Shinjiro Otani as the face of the company. Not overlooked are the two wrestlers who are also often considered the face of ZERO1 - heavyweight Masato Tanaka and junior heavyweight Ikuto Hidaka.

Tanaka and Hidaka faced off in singles combat for the first time since November 2007 in Osaka for the AWA World Heavyweight title tournament. The match saw a powerful mix of speed, power and technique that one would expect from these two veterans.

It also saw the brawling style of FMW and ECW (where both wrestlers spent some time) when Tanaka took Hidaka outside the ring and began working over his arm with a chair and the ring post. Back in the ring Tanaka kept his attack focused on Hidaka's left arm.

He then brought the heavyweight power to Hidaka with a spear and then a brainbuster. Hidaka attempted to fight back with a German suplex but Tanaka intercepted him and hit a Liger bomb for a 2 count! Tanaka then called for the "Super Fly" frog splash however Hidaka reached him before he could fly and hit a avalanche Dragon Screw leg whip.

With the momentum shifting, Hidaka turned to the precision kicks that he's focused on the last year-and-a-half: a low kick, middle kick and then the Wild Dog high kick.

Tanaka fought through with another brainbuster and repeated elbows to the back of Hidaka's head. Adding an avalanche backdrop and hitting the "Super Fly" frog splash but again for only a 2!

Hidaka again shifted momentum and moved in for the kill with a tiger suplex and another Wild Dog high kick to the side of Tanaka's head. Still the most he could get was a 2 count, as Tanaka fought off his numerous attempts at Hidaka's Misty Flip maneuver.

The match then became a flurry of back-and-forth with each man countering each other finishing attempts. Hidaka even locked on his Shawn Capture leg hold but Tanaka escaped to the ropes. Hidaka hit the savate kick and Tanaka rushed back with a lariat! Hidaka scored another head kick and aimed for the Iwami Silver Mine.

Here Tanaka found his opening and dropped Hidaka to the ground hitting him with the Sliding-D to both sides of his head, but Hidaka stilled survived. A Falcon Arrow and another Sliding-D finished the match in 21 minutes. Each man threw everything at each other and proved their mettle.

Following his victory over Shinjiro Otani on 4/29 at Korakuen Hall, Masato Tanaka had declared that he is still in the running for the World Heavyweight title. Now following the match current champion Ryouji Sai entered the ring an challenged Tanaka to a match on July 1st back at Shinjuku FACE for "WRESTLER'S 4."

The 5th match of the show was the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team title between current champs Ryouji Sai and Osamu Namiguchi versus SOUL CONNECTION's Toru Owashi and Takuya Sugawara. As has been reported, Owashi has been particularly brutal to Nami since the two first met in the ring back on 4/29. Then at the title signing ceremony both he and Sugawara attacked Nami, whipped him with a belt, stole his wallet and then threw him in a taxi!

Nami received lots of support and many white streamers from the FACE crowd. He fought hard against Owashi in the match, who again took attacking both Nami and Ryouji with a belt stolen from the referee. In the end it was Ryouji who scored the win in just over 19 minutes after Nami sent Owashi outside the ring, leaving Sugawara alone against the ZERO1 heavyweight. Ryouji then hit the Sidmouth, body slammed Sugawara and set him up for the Nachi Waterfall diving double footstomp for the victory. This is Ryouji and Nami's first title defense since winning the belts on 3/15.

Following the match Owashi was very angry. He cursed Nami and said he promises to take the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team titles off of the champs.

The fourth match of the show was titled "ZERO1 Scrambling Survivor 1" and saw Shinjiro Otani face Minoru Fujita in a singles match. The last time they faced was back in February 2007 when Otani was the victor. Otani and Fujita are also from the same native district in Japan, Yamaguchi Prefecture and both men attended the same high school when younger as well as the same wrestling club. Fujita put up a strong fight against the veteran Otani until hit by a leg lariat, a dragon suplex and then the Spiral Bomb and the 1-2-3.

The 3rd match of the show saw the return of KAMIKAZE, who had lost a "Loser Leave the Company" match back on February 26th, 2009 versus Mr. Wrestling 3. The WPF had set-up that match as well, and now had the Z1 veteran returned to face Heavyweight Kohei Sato. Kohei had been calling for the reinstatement of KAMIKAZE for some time and now the WPF granted his wish.

As ten minutes passed in the match KAMIKAZE gained the advantage on Kohei, with a lariat and then a body slam to set up the moonsault press from the 2nd rope. Kohei kicked out at 2, and he did so again when KAMIKAZE followed up with a vertical drop brainbuster! Then Kohei fought back with more kicks, and a Falcon Arrow, however it was KAMIKAZE who kicked out this time! Kohei quickly followed up with a painful Northen Lights bomb but again could only get 2! While KAMIKAZE struggled to fight back he gave all he had and Kohei finished him with a German suplex hold for the victory!

The 2nd match was titled the "Pride of B" with the "B" standing for "BattlArts" or maybe Bachi-Bachi, as Munenori Sawa faced off versus BIG MOUTH LOUD's Katsumi Usuda. The two had met back in April when Hidaka and Sawa successfully defended their NWA International Light Tag titles versus Minoru and Usuda, and Usuda had impressed ZERO1 fans with his aggressive fight versus Sawa. This time Usuda gained victory in a match of kicks and submission attempts when after repeated palm strikes and dropping him with a hard middle kick he delivered a running "soccer ball kick." Sawa tried to pull himself up at the 10 count but couldn't as his BattlArts' Senior took the win.

The opening bout of the show saw BJW young boys return to take on Shito Ueda and Yuzuru Saito. This time the BJW team consisted of Shinya Ishikawa and Ryujichi Kawakami. The ZERO1 wrestlers came out victorious in the this specific confrontation when Saito pinned Kawakami after a low running kick.