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Masato Tanaka - Super Man!

July 20th, 2009

ZERO1 World Heavyweight Champion Masato Tanaka is currently aiming for his 4th consecutive "Fire Festival" victory, as well as a victory in the NJPW G1 CLIMAX, this Summer. In preperation for such a grueling schedule Tanaka participated in a routine medical examination to make sure he was in good health. As a result of the examination, Tanaka's impressive physique, non-stop stamina, and ability to absorb severe punishment was determined by a doctor.

The doctor was very surprised, announcing that Tanaka's bone density is 1.8 times more than the normal man. He also determined that Tanaka's cardio-pulmanary fuction and lung capacity is beyond average. With a normal man in the 3,500ml-4,000ml range but Tanaka clocking in at a massive double plus 8,200ml! The Doctor said he has never seen anything like Tanaka in his career, and that somebody with Tanaka's physical abilities will be able to endure the continuous fighting he's about to embark on. Tanaka wasn't shocked when told the news:

Ueda Returns Home To Awaken the Power Within for the Fire Festival!

July 19th, 2009

Young ZERO1 Wrestler Shito Ueda surprised everybody back on July 9th when he won the one-day "Fire Festival Decision Tournament" to gain the final slot in the tournament.Now he has traveled back to his hometown of Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture, to engage in specialized training.

Ueda felt it was necessary to return to his hometown and recharge his strength for the ZERO1's annual tournament. From the photos sent to the ZERO1 offices, Ueda says he has been doing "special night and day rock training" by climbing among the rocks of Niimi and lifting many large stones. Finally after all his effort he lifted a giant rock!

"Some may think that because I am young and this is my Fire Festival debut, that I will be an easy target. I am aiming to win! I will win all my matches and then win the tournament! You can see from my photo that I have much power! With the difficult training I've endured the other wrestlers will all fall victim to me. Even Akebono who weighs over 200kg! Please look forward to my match in the Fire Festival! Fighting spirit! Daaaaa!"

Kohei & KAMIKAZE Win NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Gold!

July 17th, 2009

Yesterday at the "ZERO1 WRESTLER'S" show in Tochigi, the tag team of Kohei Sato and KAMIKAZE defeated the current champs of Ryouji Sai and Osamu Namiguchi in just over 22 minutes to become the 23rd title holders. Back on May 24th, Kohei won a stipulation match versus the WPF to reinstate KAMIKAZE after he had lost a loser-leaves ZERO1 match earlier in the year. Since that time the two have formed somewhat of an alliance. After losing in the finals of the "Fire Festival" Decision Tournament at Tokyo's Shin-Kiba 1st Ring on July 9th, KAMIKAZE requested a title challenge to redeem himself.

He was granted the request, and won the pin himself with a KAMIKAZE Driver over Osamu Namiguchi. This is KAMIKAZE's first reign as NWA Intercontinental Tag team champion, and Kohei's fourth reign.

ZERO1 Heavyweight Champ Tanaka Affirmed for NJPW's "G1 CLIMAX!"

July 13th, 2009

As reported earlier here at www.zerooneusa.com, World Heavyweight champion Masato Tanaka stormed the New Japan Pro Wrestling ring on July 6th at that company's CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN SOUL" show in Korakuen Hall. Following his victory in a tag match current IWGP champion Hiroshi Tanahashi was celebrating his victory when Jado and Gedo entered the hall to confront him.

They distracted Tanahashi and while his back was turned Masato Tanaka entered the ring and delivered a hard spear to Tanahashi! As Tanaka's former partners in 'The Complete Players' watched and laughed Tanahashi struggled to sit up, only to be leveled by Tanaka's "Sliding D" elbow!

Tanaka then told the fans in attendance that he just beat their champion in 1 minute as the boos rained down on him from the crowd. The Complete Players then walked out of the arena together. Following the match the three allies announced that they planned to enter Tanaka in to NJPW's annual G1 tournament, and made it clear that IWGP Heavyweight Champion Tanahashi was on their hit list.

Now it has been decided that Tanaka will officially enter the G1 CLIMAX tournament in BLOCK A. This block includes champion Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Toru Yano, Giant Bernard and Takao Omori. Aside from his recent targeting of Tanahashi, Tanaka has history with other in his block.

In last year's "Fire Festival '08" the finals came down to Tanaka vs. Makabe in a match Tanaka won. Tanaka defeated Makabe with rapid fire "Sliding D" elbow smashes to win his 3rd consecutive tournament victory. With the "Fire Festival '09" overlapping the G1 CLIMAX, will Tanaka have enough left in the tank? Last year ZERO1 President Shinjiro Otani participated in the G1 CLIMAX following the "Fire Festival '08" and put on a strong showing.

Also facing Tanaka is former ZERO1 roster member, Takao Omori. When the ZERO1 World Heavyweight title split from the AWA Heavyweight title back in 2007, it was Omori whom Tanaka had defeated to win the belt for the first time.

Shinya Hashimoto - Four Years Ago Today...

July 11th, 2009

It was four years ago today that ZERO-ONE founder and legendary Japanese pro wrestler Shinya Hashimoto passed away suddenly of a brain aneurysm at the age of 40.

Hashimoto, who along with Masahiro Chono and Keiji Muto once formed the "Toukon Three Musketeers" in New Japan Pro Wrestling, is well known to long time followers of Japanese pro wrestling. In his 21 years as a wrestler, Hashimoto left an indelible impression on the sports and on all those he wrestled and the fans who supported him. It is safe to say that without Shinya Hashimoto there would be no ZERO1, nor would any of the successes achieved by the wrestlers in the company exist.

Fire Festival '09 Full Blocks & Schedule Released!

July 10th, 2009