Home » News Archive » News from 09/13/09 to 09/24/09

Fudo & Ueda Form Tag Team!

September 24th, 2009

Today at the "ZERO1 WRESTLER'S - Shizuoka University Assembly" show in Shizuoka, heavyweights Rikiya Fudo and Shito Ueda faced off in a singles match that saw Fudo win in 12:45 with the U-39. Following the match Fudo announced he planned to form a tag team with Ueda.

"Today I was happy to return the debt of my loss to Ueda during the "Fire Festival Decision Tournament" in July. Though we had hard fight then and today, I feel we understand each other. I want to team with Ueda and aim for the top! We can have a common purpose teaming together, and do well enough to challenge for the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team title. If we both work hard, we can fly to the top rank of ZERO1!"

Can the long time ZERO1 veteran Fudo, himself recently returned to the company, help guide young Shito Ueda forward?

"Hakai Ouji" Makes Emotional Debut! Otani Chosen as IWGP Challenger!

September 22nd, 2009

ZERO1's "Shinya Hashimoto Debut 25th Anniversary Destruction King Legend In Korakuen" show yesterday saw many wrestlers with connection to the company, both past and present, appear to pay tribute to the founder of the original Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE. The show proved that the soul of Shinya Hashimoto, who died suddenly 4 years ago of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 40, is still alive in the heart of ZERO1. Hashimoto's son, 17-year old Daichi Hashimoto made his in-ring debut in the semi-final of the show. And while pro wrestling is still in his future, he faced "Wild Dog" Satoshi Kobayashi in a kickboxing exhibition match.

Before the 2nd generation Hashimoto entered the ring, New Japan Pro Wrestling's Masahiro Chono came out to his own "FANTASTIC CITY" ring music being played live by "Mr. Professional Wrestling Theme" Osamu Suzuki:

The "Destruction Prince" (Hakai Ouji) then entered wearing his karate gear and boxing gloves to his father's music "Bakusho Sengen" being played live by Suzuki. Photos of a young Daichi and his father were displayed on the big screen in Korakuen Hall. He did the same cross-armed pose his father used to do before his ring entrance. Chono met Daichi in the ring and both men took commemorative photos, then pointed towards the heavens and left the ring as the bell rang.

Across the ring from Daichi stood retired kick boxer Satoshi "Wild Dog" Kobayashi, seconded by his student and ZERO1 pro wrestler Ikuto Hidaka. Kobayashi retired from kickboxing 2½ years ago, but returned to face Daichi in this exhibition match as a sign of respect to Shinya Hashimoto. NJPW ring announcer Kero Tanaka then announced "The first step to become the best and strongest pro wrestler! Let this battle on earth resound in heaven! HASHIMOTO DAICHI!" White streamers flew from the crowd in support of Daichi.

Obviously nobody expected 17 year old Daichi to dominate the match against such a veteran fighter but he showed little hesitance in attacking with kicks right off the bat. While showing good knowledge and technique, he had difficulty with the lighting fast combination strikes of the "Wild Dog." After a high left kick Daichi found himself on his behind with a well place leg kick. Daichi got right up and continued to feel out his opponent with straight punches and movement, but Kobayashi dropped him with a right hook to the body. Daichi got up at the 8 count and Kobayashi kept up the attack as the crowd chanted "Hashimoto! Hashimoto! Hashimoto!" until the 1st round ended.

Daichi came out on fire in the 2nd Round, rushing at Kobayashi with rapid fire punches right at the bell! He kept up the pressure looking for the Muay Tai clinch and using his long legs for knee strikes to the head! A moment of hesitance with a low kick left Daichi wide open for a left hand punch to the top of his head which dropped him again. Again Daichi stood up right away, but his energy began to fade as he clinched and attempted some knees to the body before the time ran out on the match.

As Kobayashi held Daichi's hand aloft, Chono could be seen smiling a broad smile across the hall. Daichi then spoke on the microphone and thanked the fans for their support and Kobayashi for the opportunity as the spectators applauded. The "Wild Dog" also spoke briefly, saying that this year he had lost his own father and he promised to protect Daichi and his family in the future.

Daichi then made his way to the dressing room of Korakuen Hall, only to hear his name called through the throng of reporters. He turned to see ZERO1 President Shinjiro Otani preparing to enter for his own match. He approached Otani who spoke briefly with the young fighter. "This is the ring that your father fought in. Did you feel anything?" Otani asked Daichi as the young man began to weep openly.

"I wasn't able to do much. I'm embarrassed and sorry to my father," he sobbed. "I want to become a professional wrestler like my father." Daichi said by entering the ring in front of the fans he sensed his father's greatness, adding that this has only deepened his desire and devotion to learning. An emotional Otani then gave him words of support, patted his head and embraced the young Hashimoto before heading to the ring.

The main event of the show was a tag team match between EMBLEM, Otani & Tanaka versus Kohei Sato & Toshiaki Kawada. Kawada and Shinya Hashimoto had several fierce battles, and now he is teaming with Hashimoto's last student in Kohei Sato versus the strongest tag team to ever come out of ZERO1, EMBLEM. The match began with Kawada and Otani in the ring exchanging hard chops! Kawada also attacked Tanaka with a high kick and soccer kick. Otani and Tanaka landed a double team face kick to Sato sending him outside. Both teams continued to attack each other with speed and aggression!

As 10 minutes passed, Tanaka looked for a pinfall on Kohei with a "Super Fly" frog splash and a Sliding-D but missed! Kawada continued to attack with another soccer kick which saw Otani fight back with the Facewash. Kawada then went for a jumping kick only for Otani to block it with the Hashimoto "kesagiri chop!" Kohei quickly attacked with a German suplex hold but Tanaka was able to break it up! Otani then unleashed with the kesagiri chops on Kohei, feeling the presence of Hashimoto! He held his right hand high and then delivered a hard running kesagiri chop in the corner! EMBLEM then unleashed on Kohei with Otani delivering a Dragon Suplex, Tanaka a Sliding-D and then a final Spiral Bomb from Otani for the 3 count and the win!

Following the match, Chono entered the ring with the microphone while keeping his declaration short and sweet:

Chono had announced previous to the show that he would choose an IWGP champion contender for his own 25th Anniversary show on 10/12 in Ryogoku Kokugikan and has chosen Otani! After delivering these words Chono simply left the ring and began to walk out, as Otani quickly picked up the microphone:

"Hold on Chono-san! You did not yet hear my answer? IWGP? Great, I'll see you there. Offer accepted. I go to Ryogoku. Though I don't know who the champion is right now, I'll win...! Otani of ZERO1 will go take the IWGP by all mean!"

Otani said to the crowd that it's not possible to turn down a IWGP title challenge, especially when Shinya Hashimoto is involved. He then called Daichi Hashimoto into the ring to thank the crowd and give the cheer of "3!2!1!ZERO1!" as his father's music once more played and the crowd chanted "Hashimoto! Hashimoto!"

Before the semi-main event Osamu Suzuki played several famous pro wrestling entrance themes live on his guitar from the stage in Korakuen Hall.

The third match of the show was another tag match between former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team champions Ryouji Sai and Osamu Namiguchi versus former ZERO1 roster members Wataru Sakata and Shinsuke Z Yamagasa in his HUSTLE identity as "Jeto" Wakataka. While Sakata has continued to wrestle in HUSTLE, Jeto has not entered the ring since his retirement three years ago. Ryouji wasted no time attacking Yamagasa before the bell, even as the crowd chanted "O kaeri" (Welcome back) to the former ZERO-ONE wrestler. Yamagasa was quick to fight back with a dropkick.

Sakata entered and attacked Ryouji who soon tagged out to Nami. Nami traded chops wit Sakata, who soon grew irritated and dropped the ZERO1 junior with a middle kick and then a soccer kick. Sakata then took Nami outside and hit him with a chair before returning him to the ring where Jeto continued to stomp him and deliver a body slam! Sakata then hit a high speed brainbuster and locked on a single leg crab hold. Nami escaped and tagged out, and Ryouji and Sakata traded chops until Ryouji hit his own brainbuster. Sakata counter attacked with another soccer kick and a brain buster.

Nami and Jeto back in, as Nami hit a running elbow and a dropkick. He furthermore got a 2 count from a diving head butt. Then Ryouji misfired and accidentally hit Nami with a hard kick! Sakata then delivered his own middle kick and an elbow but Nami tried to reverse with a neck breaker but again for 2! Finally Sakata levelled Nami with a hard super kick and scored the 3 count as Jeto held Ryouji back.

Following the match, Sakata spoke to the fans on the microphone:

Also on the card, Don Arakawa returned to defeat Kikufuji-san with a stiff KANCHO and a backslide. In the opening 6-man tag old ZERO-ONE and new ZERO1 met as Ikuto Hidaka Minoru Fujita and Akio Kobayashi took on Tengu Kaiser, Kuroge Wagyuta (Rikiya Fudo's original gimmick) and Alexander Otsuka. Otsuka was part of the original ZERO-ONE with Hashimoto. Fujita won the match for his team when he reversed a powerbomb into a small package roll-up for the 3 count.

Previously to the show, ZERO1 had asked fans to submit their top 3 Hashimoto matches of all time. The matches were then played on the big screen in Korakuen before the show. The top three matches were:

1. Shinya Hashimoto vs. Nobuhiko Takada (NJPW, 4.29.1996)
2. Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs. Shinya Hashimoto & Yuji Nagata (ZERO-ONE, 3.2.2001)
3. Shinya Hashimoto & Naoya Ogawa vs. Keiji Muto & Satoshi Kojima (AJPW, 5.2.2003)

The Past and Future Appear for "Destruction King Legend In Korakuen!"

September 19th, 2009

"Silver Week" is a Japanese term applied to a sporadic string of consecutive holidays that take place in September. That makes Monday September 21st a holiday in Japan, and that's when ZERO1 will present the "Shinya Hashimoto Debut 25th Anniversary ~ Destruction King Legend In Korakuen" show.

This show will celebrate the 25th Anniversary pro wrestling debut of ZERO-ONE founder and legendary pro wrestler, the "Destruction King" Shinya Hashimoto. Not only will Hashimoto's son Daichi debut in-ring with a exhibition kickboxing match along with a full card of matches, there will also be interviews and several special guests.

Hashimoto's former partner in the "Three Musketeers" of New Japan Pro Wrestling, Masahiro Chono, announced that he will be on hand to watch the 9/21 ZERO1 show with the intent on choosing a future IWGP champion contender for his own 25th Anniversary show on 10/12 in Ryogoku Kokugikan:

"Togi Makabe versus Shinsuke Nakamura will happen on 9/27 in Kobe for a IWGP Heavyweight Title decision match, and I want to have the next challenger lined up and with me on that day. Therefore, since we're talking about the IWGP, I want to look for the next challenger at Shinya Hashimoto's 25th Anniversary show. I will go to ZERO1 on 9/21 and I will observe which wrestlers shows the will of Hashimoto. I'll decide with my own eyes who deserves to be the challenger..."

Hashimoto was IWGP Heavyweight champion a total of 3 times in New Japan Pro Wrestling and was well known as one of their strongest heavyweight champions of all time. He defended the title belt a total of 20 times, a record that still stands.

Two other non-wrestler guests will also make an appearance at the show - one will be New Japan ring announced Kero Tanaka, who will announce Daichi Hashimoto's ring entrance on 9/21. It was Kero who likewise first announced a young Shinya Hashimoto 25 years ago in his pro wrestling debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling:

"Incredibly I remember the debut match of Shinya Hashimoto. The match took place outside at the Nerima Nanbu baseball stadium and it was raining. The ring microphone was broken and the show start was delayed by about 30 minutes. The wrestler's waiting room was a nearby barn and it was swarming with mosquitos!

Daichi Hashimoto gets to make his debut in Korakuen Hall on a TV broadcast, his father didn't receive this type of fanfare. Shinya Hashimoto was an virtual unknown at that time..."

Kero said he's happy to announce for Daichi's debut and he hopes he can provide a good call for Daichi's entrance.

Also appearing on the show will be Osamu Suzuki, one of the most prolific authors of pro wrestling entrance music. So much so that his nickname is Osamu "Mr. Professional Wrestling Theme" Suzuki! He is the creator of entrance music for the likes of Keiji Muto, Masahiro Chono, Satoshi Kojima and of course Shinya Hashimoto. Suzuki will be on hand to perform many of these themes live and to sing Hashimoto's old entrance theme "Bakusho Sengen" for Daich Hashimoto's entrance.

On the wrestling front, "Dangerous K" Toshiaki Kawada will return to the ZERO1 ring after a long absence. It is however Kawada's distant past with the old ZERO-ONE that is often viewed as a defining moment for the company. Hashimoto was nursing a serious knee injury going in to a ZERO-ONE versus All Japan Pro Wrestling tag team match back on July 6th, 2003 in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. Hashimoto was teamed with longtime partner Naoya Ogawa versus the AJPW team of Keiji Muto and Toshiaki Kawada.

Late in the match as Hashimoto and Kawada faced off, Kawada unleashed with one of his jumping kicks only for Hashimoto to counter with his patented kesagiri chop! This collision of high powered strikes caused Hashimoto to dislocate his right shoulder on impact! Though he was able to win the match, Hashimoto would take time off but never fully recuperate. Unable to perform to his ability with the two constantly nagging injuries and seeing debt build rapidly on ZERO-ONE without his presence, Hashimoto sold the company and then moved on. Kawada will team alongside Kohei Sato in the main event of the show versus EMBLEM - Shinjiro Otani and Masato Tanaka.

Also appearing will be two former ZERO-ONE roster members, Wataru Sakata and Shinsuke "Jet" Wakataka (also known as Shinsuke Z Yamagasa) teaming together against Ryouji Sai and Osamu Namiguchi. Both wrestlers not only participated in ZERO1 but also in HUSTLE during their time working with FIRST ON STAGE. Wataru Sakata comments:

"I haven't been to ZERO1 in a long time. I met Hashimoto-san through RINGS and martial arts, and ZERO1 was the starting point of my pro wrestling career. I'm appearing on this commemoration show to repay that favor. One of my opponents is Ryouji Sai. I've wrestled him numerous times in ZERO-ONE and teamed with him together in HUSTLE. I'm interested to see his growth since last we met. I look forward to it. As for Nami..I have nothing..."

"Jeto" Yamagasa retired from professional wrestling in September of 2006. After a trip overseas "Jeto" returned on March 28th and his opponents was Wataru Sakata. "Jeto" comments:

"I retired from ZERO1-MAX three years ago and it feels great to be back. To sit here once more at a press conference with Kohei, Ryouji and Nami is a deep feeling. I don't want to be to sentimental because in 3 years I'm out of practice, but I've been studying carefully the growth of my former co-workers. I'm excited."

Also on the event will be appearances by Tengu Kaiser, Kuroge Wagyuta, Don Arakawa, Akio Kobayashi and Alexander Otsuka all names familiar to longtime fans of ZERO1/ZERO-ONE/ZERO1-MAX.

Sawa Injured!

September 19th, 2009

BattlArts wrestler and ZERO1 regular Munenori Sawa has injured his neck and will take time off. Sawa did the damage during practice and was in lots of pain. After going to a doctor for a MRI his injury was diagnosed as a cervical spine hernia.

Sawa is recovering and hopes to return soon.

Colby Corino's Message For Daichi Hashimoto!

September 16th, 2009

During Steve Corino's many tours of ZERO1 through the company's history his son, Colby Corino, was invited to join his father on tour by Shinya Hashimoto. During these tours Colby became good friends with the "Destruction King's" own son Daichi and the two have kept in contact ever since.

Now with the announcement of Daich's in-ring debut on 9/21 at a tribute show for his father, Daichi's childhood friend, Colby Corino issued this statement at www.corinowrestling.com:

"It is great to see that Hashimoto-chan is making his debut on Monday. I wish that my father and I were there to witness it but I know that he will not only please the Japanese but the memory of his father."

"Although it is a few years away, it is a dream of mine not only to travel to Japan and train but to one day wrestle Daichi one on one like our father's did. I hope one day to become the NWA World's champion and defend it against Daichi just like my dad, Steve, did in 2001 against Mr. Hashimoto. But this time I hope for a better outcome! And after we have our one on one match we can become tag team partners! Good luck HAKAI OUJI!!!"

Could we see a Daichi Hashimoto vs. Colby Corino match selling out Korakuen Hall in 2013???

Both Steve and Colby wish Daichi Hashimoto good luck and LONG LIVE THE DESTRUCTION KING!

Daichi Hashimoto Makes In-ring Debut on 9/21!

September 13th, 2009

The son of deceased founder of Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE Shinya Hashimoto, Daichi Hashimoto, has been scheduled to make his in-ring debut on 9/21 at the "Shinya Hashimoto Debut 25th Anniversary ~ Destruction King Legend In Korakuen" show. While still in High School and only just beginning his pro wrestling training, Daichi has been training in MMA for some time. Therefore his match will be a 2 Round/2 Minute Exhibition Kick boxing match versus Ikuto Hidaka's kick boxing sensei Satoshi "Wild Dog" Kobayashi.

Shinjiro Otani said he chose Daichi's first opponent carefully, and called the youngster the "Destruction Prince," (Hakai Ouji) a reference to his Father's nickname the "Destruction King" (Hakai Ou).

Daichi is currently aiming for a career in pro wrestling following his graduation from high school. He currently trains in MMA in his hometown of Kanagawa.

"Right now I'm learning kickboxing and karate training, but wrestling is my future. I decided I wanted to show my progress to everybody who gathers to pay respect to my father, and enter the ring. I will do my best so my Father's name will not be shamed."

Previous to the matches held in Nagano today, Daichi and Kobayashi appeared in the ring to officially announced the bout and pose for photos with Otani and Hidaka. Daichi said that the sports media had been announcing this as his "ring debut" and while it is, he made clear he does not have the pro wrestling ability to debut as a pro wrestler. Though that is his final goal, he said for now he wants to show his fighting spirit to his father's fans and ZERO1 decided the best way to do that is in an exhibition match.

Satoshi Kobayashi also commented, saying that while he retired from active competition 2½ years ago he was always a big fan of Hashimoto. He said it's his honor to "hand down the Wild Dog" spirit to Daichi and he hopes to "feel the soul" of Shinya Hashimoto on 9/21 in Korakuen Hall.