[ZERO1][PREVIEW] “22nd Anniversary Convention” 3/5/23

It was in March 2001 that Shinya Hashimoto and Shinjiro Otani presented the very first ZERO1 event, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in front of 11,000 fans, and live nationally on SKY PerfecTV! via satellite. 22 years later, ZERO1 will celebrate its anniversary on March 5 (11:30 AM start time, doors open at 10:45 AM) at the Korakuen Hall (the Madison Square Garden of Japan).

In the main event, Masato Tanaka will defend his ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship against Shoki Kitamura. Tanaka is currently in his sixth reign as Champion, with his first reign being the third longest reign in the history of the Championship. It is also noteworthy that Tanaka is the first ZERO1 World Heavyweight Champion in history.

The lineage of the ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship began in 1996 when a promotion named American Wrestling Association Superstars Of Wrestling was founded. This is the reason why "AWA" is written on the belt. Many recognizable talents have held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, including former WWE Superstar King Kong Bundy and Matt Wiese, who is best known as former WWE Superstar Luther Reigns, and also wrestled in WCW and ZERO1 as, "Horshu".

In 2004, ZERO1 became an affiliate of American Wrestling Association Superstars Of Wrestling (I was the publicist/columnist of the main governing body that year). After stripping the previous AWA World Heavyweight Champion of the title, ZERO1 was sanctioned to be the site where the new Champion would be decided. ZERO1 was an AWA affiliate for almost three years, and during that time period, most of the wrestlers who held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship were members of the ZERO1 roster (such as Shinjiro Otani and Masato Tanaka). ZERO1 was the biggest AWA affiliate and was the organization most responsible for the popularity that American Wrestling Association Superstars Of Wrestling was quickly gaining. ZERO1 severed ties with them in December 2007, and Tanaka was AWA World Heavyweight Champion at that time. The Championship was then renamed the ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship, with Tanaka being the first Champion.

Masato Tanaka's first ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship defense took place at Korakuen Hall, and it will be the same place where he will defend it as ZERO1 celebrates its 22nd anniversary. Shoki Kitamura is a former ZERO1 World & International Junior Heavyweight Champion who is next in line for a shot at Tanaka's championship, so will Tanaka's sixth reign continue as ZERO1 marks the start of its next chapter, or will it mark the beginning of a new era, with Kitamura as the new champion?

In other action, former WWWA Tag Team Champion Jaguar Yokota and former Goddesses Of Stardom Champion Jungle Kyona will team to face Stardom star Unagi Sayaka and a partner who has not yet been named. Also, All Asia Tag Team Champion Kendo Kashin and former NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion Tatsuhito Takaiwa will be in tag team action, along with much more.

Tickets for this event can be purchased here.

[ZERO1] JUMP UP ~ Fly To The Future 8/12/19

I attended ZERO1's, "JUMP UP ~ Fly To The Future" event on August 12 in Tokyo. A big part of this show was the further utilization of the relationship between ZERO1 and BJW. There was a ZERO1 vs. BJW event in April, then there was another one earlier this month, and at "JUMP UP ~ Fly To The Future", there were two ZERO1 vs. BJW matches.

The first was a tag team match, in which Kohei Sato and Shinjiro Otani (both who have been NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion in ZERO1) defeated Hideyoshi Kamitani & Yuji Okabayashi (both who have been BJW Tag Team Champion) in one of the best matches of the day.

In the second ZERO1 vs. BJW match, BJW's Daisuke Sekimoto successfully defended the ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship against ZERO1's Towa Iwasaki in another great interpromotional match. Sekimoto has held the Championship since capturing it in November of 2018, and him being Champion is of great significance for both ZERO1 and BJW. In BJW's case, they have earned bragging rights for bringing a true World Championship into their camp. Not only has the ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship been defended in Japan, but in the past it has been defended in the United States as well.

In ZERO1's case, it benefits them greatly to have Daisuke Sekimoto as a part of their World Heavyweight Championship's lineage. He has been very successful in Japan- the BJW Heavyweight Championship, BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship, NWA United National Heavyweight Championship, and KO-D Openweight Championship all being on his resume, along with this being Sekimoto's second reign as ZERO1 World Heavyweight Champion. Even when his reign eventually ends, ZERO1 will be able to state that Sekimoto is a part of their World Heavyweight Championship's legacy.

Those who have seen pictures of the ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship may wonder why, "AWA" is written on it. The reason why is that the lineage of the Championship began in 1996 when a promotion named American Wrestling Association Superstars Of Wrestling was founded. Many recognizable names have held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, including former WWE Superstar King Kong Bundy. In 2004, ZERO1 became an affiliate of American Wrestling Association Superstars Of Wrestling (I was the publicist/columnist of the main governing body that year). After stripping the previous AWA World Heavyweight Champion of the title, ZERO1 was sanctioned to be the site where the new Champion would be decided. Takao Omori of ZERO1 (who has also been an NWA United National Heavyweight Champion in ZERO1) was the winner of the tournament. ZERO1 was an AWA affiliate for almost three years, and during that time period, most of the wrestlers who held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship were members of the ZERO1 roster (Omori, Shinjiro Otani, Masato Tanaka). ZERO1 was the biggest AWA affiliate, and was the organization most responsible for the popularity that American Wrestling Association Superstars Of Wrestlin was quickly gaining. ZERO1 severed ties with them in December 2007, and Tanaka was AWA World Heavyweight Champion at that time. The Championship was then renamed the ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship, with Tanaka being the first Champion.

[ZERO1][PREVIEW] 11/11/18

ZERO1 comes to the Masuda Civic Gymnasium in Shimane on November 11. The card will be as follows:

Syouki Kitamura
vs.
Yoshikazu Yokoyama (former ZERO1 United National Heavyweight Champion)

Gabaiji-chan
vs.
Chris Vice (former ZERO1 United National Heavyweight Champion)

Hiroyo Matsumoto (former Sendai Girls World Champion)
vs.
Aoki Itsuki

Shinjiro Otani (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
Super Tiger
vs.
Kohei Sato (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
Daisuke Ikeda (former FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Champion)

Nobuchika Terado
vs.
Shōta Takiya (former KRUSH 55 kg champion)

Towa Iwasaki
vs.
Masato Tanaka (World Heavyweight Champion)

Ikuto Hidaka (NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion)
Takuya Sugawara (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
vs.
Tatsuhito Takaiwa (former NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion)
SUGI (former NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion)

[ZERO1][PREVIEW] 10/27/18

ZERO1 comes to Mid Garden Shibata in Niigata on October 27 with two great matches.

In the first match, Tatsuhito Takaiwa will face Yoshikazu Yokoyama. It will be a very interesting match, as Takaiwa puts his 26 years of in-ring experience up against Yokoyama's unorthodox style.

In the second match, Shinjiro Otani & Syouki Kitamura will face Shima Shigeno & Makoto Maeda. Otani is bringing impressive tag-team experience into this match, being a former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion. Kitamura will be a part of pro-wrestling's bright future. Shima Shigeno & Makoto Maeda are familiar faces to fans who live in the Niigata area. Shigeno has appeared on Niigata shows of many major promotions, and Maeda is a member of the Niigata Pro-Wrestling roster.

[ZERO1][PREVIEW] "Happy Halloween Night" 10/26/18

ZERO1 presents, "Happy Halloween Night" on October 26 at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring. The card will be as follows:

Towa Iwasaki
vs.
Syouki Kitamura

Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Super Tiger
Hiroshi Yamato
vs.
Laito Shimizu
Asahi Urahiro
Yuta Suzuki

Shinjiro Otani (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
Yoshikazu Yokoyama
vs.
Shogun Okamoto (NWA Intercontinental Tag Champion)
Chris Vice (NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)

SUGI (former NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion)
Yuko Miyamoto (former All Asia Tag Team Champion)
vs.
Ikuto Hidaka (NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion)
Fuminori Abe (NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion)

Takuya Sugawara (former Zero1 International Junior Heavyweight Champion)
vs.
TARU

Masato Tanaka (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
Yuji Hino (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
vs.
Kohei Sato (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
Daisuke Sekimoto (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)

[ZERO1][PREVIEW] 10/13/18

ZERO1 comes to the Kumamoto Shintoshin Plaza in Kumamoto on October 13. The card will be as follows:

Tatsuhito Takaiwa (former AWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion)
vs.
Chris Vice (former ZERO1 United National Heavyweight Champion)

3 Way match
Ikuto Hidaka (former NWA United National Heavyweight Champion)
vs.
Syouki Kitamura
vs.
Yoshikazu Yokoyama (former ZERO1 United National Heavyweight Champion)

Kyoko Inoue (former WWWA World Tag Team Champion)
Takako Inoue (former WWWA World Tag Team Champion)
vs.
Aja Kong (former WWWA World Tag Team Champion)
Sareee

Kohei Sato (former Yokohama Shopping Street 6-Man Tag Team Champion)
SUGI
Yuko Miyamoto
vs.
Masato Tanaka (former FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Champion)
Takuya Sugawara
Yuji Hino (former KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champion)

Shinjiro Otani (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
Koji Kanemoto (former NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion)
vs.
Shiro Koshinaka (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
Kirinowaka Tarō (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)

[ZERO1][PREVIEW] 10/08/18

ZERO1 comes to Pachinko Tamasaburo Itoigawa in Niigata on October 8 with two great matches.

In the first match, Yoshikazu Yokoyama will face Chris Vice. It will be a very interesting match, as Yokoyama puts his unorthodox style up against Vice's strength.

In the second match, Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa will face Ikuto Hidaka & Syouki Kitamura. Having had made his debut this past February, Kitamura will be a part of pro-wrestling's bright future. The other three competitors are bringing an impressive amount of tag-team experience into this match, with Otani being a former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion, Takaiwa being a former NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion, and Hidaka being a current co-holder of the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship.

[ZERO1][PREVIEW] 9/30/18

ZERO1 comes to the Korakuen hall in Tokyo on October 30. The card will be as follows:

Ikuto Hidaka (NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion)
Takuya Sugawara (NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
vs.
Tatsuhito Takaiwa (former NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion)
Syouki Kitamura

Yoshikazu Yokoyama (former ZERO1 United National Heavyweight Champion)
vs.
TARU

NWA UN Heavyweight Championship match
Shogun Okamoto (NWA UN Heavyweight Champion)
vs.
Shinjiro Otani (former World Heavyweight Champion)

Kohei Sato (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
SUGI (former NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champions)
vs.
Yuko Miyamoto (former All Asia Tag Team Champion)
Isami Kodaka (former NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion)

Hartley Jackson (former NWA United National Heavyweight Champion)
vs.
Chris Vice (former ZERO1 United National Heavyweight Champion)

Masato Tanaka (former NWA International Tag Team Champion)
Takashi Sugiura (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
vs.
Yuji Hino (former NWA International Tag Team Champion)
Daisuke Sekimoto (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)

[ZERO1][PREVIEW] 9/23/18

ZERO1 comes to Morioka Gymnasium in Iwate on September 23. The card will be as follows: The card will be as follows:

Ikuto Hidaka (former NWA United National Heavyweight Champion)
vs.
Hartley Jackson (former NWA United National Heavyweight Champion)

Takuya Sugawara (former Zero1 International Junior Heavyweight Champion)
vs.
SUGI (former WWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion)

Shinjiro Otani (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
Kohei Sato (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
vs.
Shogun Okamoto (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
Yoshikazu Yokoyama

ZERO 1 vs Michinoku Pro Wrestling
ZERO 1
Tatsuhito Takaiwa (former NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion)
Syouki Kitamura
vs.
Michinoku Pro Wrestling
Yasutaka Oosera
Koji Kawamura

NWA International Tag Team Championship match
Masato Tanaka (NWA International Tag Team Champion)
Yuji Hino (NWA International Tag Team Champion)
vs.
TARU (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
Chris Vice

[ZERO1][PREVIEW] "Dream Series" 3/4/18

ZERO1 presents, "Dream Series" on March 4 at the Korakuen Hall. The card will be as follows:

Yoshikazu Yokoyama (former ZERO1 United National Heavyweight Champion)
vs.
Akira Kitamura

TARU
KAMIKAZE
Hartley Jackson
Chris Vice
vs.
Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Super Tiger
Towa Iwasaki
Shoji Fukushima

NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship match
SUGI (NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion)
Masamune (NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion)
vs.
Takuya Sugawara (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
ASUKA

ZERO1 17th Anniversary Special Tag match
Shinjiro Otani (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
Naomichi Marufuji (former GHC Tag Team Champion)
vs.
Ikuto Hidaka (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
Yuko Miyamoto (former AJPW All Asia Tag Team Champion)

NWA World Junior & International Junior Double Championship match
Sean Guinness (NWA World Junior & International Junior Double Champion
vs.
Isami Kodaka (former BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Champion)

NWA Intercontinental Tag Championship match
Shogun Okamoto (NWA Intercontinental Tag Champion)
Yutaka Yoshie (NWA Intercontinental Tag Champion)
vs.
Masato Tanaka (former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion)
Yuji Hino (former KO-D Tag Team Championship)

ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship match
Yusaku Obata (ZERO1 World Heavyweight Champion)
vs.
Kohei Sato (former ZERO1 World Heavyweight Champion)