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Otani Puts Forth Valiant Effort in IWGP Title Loss to Nakamura!

October 12th, 2009

Back on September 22nd at the ZERO1 "Shinya Hashimoto Debut 25th Anniversary Destruction King Legend In Korakuen" show, Masahiro Chono chose President Shinjiro Otani as the IWGP Heavyweight Title challenger for his own 25th Anniversary event today in Ryogoku Kokugikan. Otani was chosen after his victory in the main event as the wrestler in ZERO1 that "...inherits the gene of Shinya Hashimoto." This would be Otani's 2nd IWGP Heavyweight challenge since February 18, 2001 when he lost to then champion Kensuke Sasaki.

Otani entered Ryogoku Kokugikan to battle champion Shinsuke Nakamura to the former theme music of Shinya Hashimoto, "Bakusho Sengen," as a prelude to his own music. Fans of ZERO1 held many flags up in support along the entrance ramp as he walked in. Several ZERO1 wrestlers as a group appeared with him as seconds to the match, including Hashimoto's son Daichi. Otani said a prayer before entering the ring, and say cross-legged in his corner as the champion entered.

The bell rang and both men locked up in the center of the ring with Otani soon unleashed hard chops on Nakamura's chest. Nakamure went for a front kick and Otani reversed, taking his back and delivering a German suplex hold for a quick 2 count! Otani then took Nakamura to the ground with a sleeper hold, the Nakamura reversed and went for an Achilles tendon hold on Otani. Otani also reversed, aiming for a cross knee bar. Otani then crawled to the rope to escape.

Nakamura attacked again looking for the jujigatame, but Otani blocked it by locking his arms and put his foot on the rope as 5 minutes passed in the match. Nakamura began to stomp and kick Otani in the corner as the boos rained down on him! Nakamura then began a violent assault on Otani with knees, kicks and elbows. A hard elbow shot sent blood trickling down the forehead of Otani as the crowd chanted "Otani! Otani! Otani!" The spirit of ZERO1 fought back and countered with an enzuigiri! Fired up, Otani attacked with rapid fire kicks on Nakamura sending him into the corner!

As all of Ryogoku Kokugikan clapped along with him, Otani delivered his patented Facewash kicks to the fallen IWGP champ! By now Otani was completely energized, as an even bigger "Otani" call broke out from the fans as he delivered yet another facewash! He then leveled Nakamura with a spinning heel kick and dropped him with a Dragon Suplex hold but only for another 2 count! As Otani charged to keep up his attack, Nakamura counter attacked with a surprise jumping cross arm breaker, but Otani again escaped to the rope.

Nakamura then took Otani's back for a Tiger Suplex hold but only a 2 count as the NJPW crowd continued to chant support for Otani! Nakamura then charged with the "Bomaie" knee but Otani hit a German suplex and placed Nakamura on the top turnbuckle! Though Nakamura fought back with elbows in an attempt to knock Otani back, Otani hit an avalanche brainbuster and then followed it up with a springboard dropkick to the champions back! As Nakamura struggled to his feet, Otani held his fist high in the sky and then unleashed with the Hashimoto "Kesagiri Chop" on Nakamura sending him to the corner! As the crowd cheered loudly, Otani rushed Nakamura in the corner with a running Kesagiri chop!

As a dizzy Nakamura spun in the center of the ring, Otani grabbed him up and delivered a perfect Spiral Bomb! Again only a 2 count! As Otani took Nakamura's back again, the champion reversed and locked on a sleeper. As Otani struggled Nakamura hooked his arm and delivered a modified back suplex but Otani kicked out at 1! Again Nakamura went for the sleeper as Otani struggled to the ropes! Otani fought back with the Kesagiri chop as Nakamura dragged him to the center of the ring. Nakamura then landed a high kick right to Otani's skull! As Otani fell dazed, Nakamura then landed two back-to-back "Bomaie" knees and scored the 3 count and the title defense! This was Nakamura's 1st title defense since winning the IWGP title again.

Following the match Otani glared at Nakamura from his corner. He then walked over and shook hands with the champion and handed the microphone to address the New Japan fans:

Again the New Japan crowd chanted "Otani" loudly as he exited.

Also on the card ZERO1's Masato Tanaka alongside Tomohiro Ishii, Jado and Gedo lost their match to Hirooki Goto, Wataru Inoue, Ryusuke Taguchi and Prince Devitt when Goto pinned Gedo. The team of Yuji Nagata and Kohei Sato won their tag team match versus Toru Yano and Takashi Iizuka when Nagata pinned Iizuka.

New Japan Pro Wrestling "Masahiro Chono 25th Anniversary ~ Aristrist In Ryogoku Kokugikan" Kanagawa, Japan October 12th, 2009 Ryogoku Kokugikan
FIGHT CARD
Match #7 IWGP Heavyweight Title
X Shinjiro Otani (ZERO1)	vs.	© Shinsuke Nakamura O (NJPW)
(19:19 → Bomaie)
Match #6 Tag Match
O Yuji Nagata (NJPW) Kohei Sato (ZERO1)	vs.	Toru Yano (NJPW) Takashi Iizuka X (NJPW)
(14:46 → Backdrop Hold)
Match #3 8-Man Tag Match
O Hirooki Goto (NJPW) Wataru Inoue (NJPW) Ryusuke Taguchi (NJPW) Prince Devitt (NJPW)	vs.	Masato Tanaka (ZERO1) Tomohiro Ishii (NJPW) Jado (NJPW) Gedo X (NJPW)
(13:35 → Shouten)

Shota Makes His In-Ring Return!

October 10th, 2009

Back on July 1st in Shinjuku FACE at the "ZERO1 WRESTLER'S 4" show, Shota Takanishi entered the ring and announced that he plans to return to Professional wrestling. Shota had left professional wrestling on May 29th 2008 to get married. After tying the knot and spending some time in the standard workforce, Shota decided to return to the event halls to perform the artform he loves.

Since July Shota has been preparing to return to the ring and did so today at the ZERO1 Kawasaki show tagging alongside Yusaku Obata versus Kazuhiko Matsuzaki and GUTS WORLD's Yamamoto SAN. At 22 years old, Shota returned in the best physical shape of his young career. His team won the match in just over 10 minutes when Obata pinned Yamamoto SAN.

Previous to his match Shota gave a short statement:

Kawada Returns! World Heavyweight Challenge Versus Tanaka on 10/24!

October 10th, 2009

Japanese Pro Wrestling legend Toshiaki Kawada returns to ZERO1 on 10/24 in Korakuen Hall, and in Kumamoto on 10/31. His Korakuen appearance will be as challenger for the World Heavyweight Title versus Masato Tanaka. This will be Masato Tanaka's first title defense since winning the belt way back on July 1st.

The invitation to Kawada was sent following the ZERO1 "Shinya Hashimoto Debut 25th Anniversary" show on September 21st. Kawada comments:

"I received the challenger offer. I tagged with Kohei Sato on the Shinya Hashimoto 25th Anniversary show the other day, where we faced EMBLEM of Otani and Tanaka. The ZERO1 fans response was great, I could feel their energy. The ring mat of ZERO1 is yellow. I want to bring my style to the yellow ring of ZERO1."

Kawada will also appear on October 31st, 2009 at the ZERO1 "Shinya Hashimoto Debut 25th Anniversary Destruction King Legend In Kumamoto" show in a tag match.

Osamu Namiguchi Announces Retirement!

October 5, 2009

ZERO1 junior class pro wrestler Osamu Namiguchi has announced that he will retire from pro wrestling, his last match will be on October 24th in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall against Kintaro Kanemura. It was in this venue that Nami first debuted in November 2003 after 2 years in the ZERO-ONE dojo, teamed alongside Wataru Sakata versus Kintaro Kanemura and Tetsuhiro Kuroda. In that match Nami was pinned in just under 14 minutes by Kanemura and his Blast YAMA Special finisher.

In his six year career with ZERO1 Nami held two title belts, the WWA World Jr. Light Heavyweight title back in 2005 and the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team title with Ryouji Sai in early 2009. He also had numerous rivalaries and some exciting and hard hitting matches in his time.

Nami made his announcement today at the ZERO1 SAC shop across from the FIRST ON STAGE offices in Tokyo. He appeared alongside ZERO1 President Shinjiro Otani and spoke to the assembled media:

Nami was asked about some of his good memories in pro wrestling. He responded that his debut match was "unforgettable" as well as the first time he had a singles match versus Tatsuhito Takaiwa, as it was a strange feeling to have a match versus a wrestler that until then he had only seen on television.

Otani also commented briefly, saying that if he had to sum up this announcement in one word it would be "disappointment." He said he felt Nami always had something that other young wrestler's didn't have, adding that both he and Shinya Hashimoto did their best to guide him when he was a trainee. "I was disappointed when I heard, but I spoke to Nami and he had thought this over completely. I also spoke to his parents and they too were well informed." In closing he said he hopes Nami does well in the future and that he doesn't feel this is a step backwards, and that he looks forward to his final match in Korakuen Hall.

Fudo & Ueda Want NWA Intercontinental Tag Challenge!

October 4, 2009

As reported earlier, at the 9/23 "ZERO1 WRESTLER'S - Shizuoka University Assembly" show in Shizuoka, veteran ZERO1 heavyweight wrestler Rikiya Fudo formed a tag team with young heavyweight Shito Ueda.

Today before a charity event in Koshigaya the two power fighters practiced together and fought in the ring, showing tests of strength and running shoulder blocks. Following the exercise Fudo spoke about their upcoming match versus Kohei Sato & KAMIKAZE and how they want the match to be changed to a NWA Intercontinental Tag Team title match:

Ueda added that teaming with Fudo gives him a chance at holding a title belt early in his career. He said they will "rush forward recklessly" and that their tag team is "kairiki" (the Japanese word for superhuman strength.)

Current champions Kohei Sato and KAMIKAZE became NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champions this summer on July 16th in Tochigi. The ZERO1 office contacted the champions about Fudo & Ueda's challenge and received an immediate respoke: They will defend their title belts on October 10th in Kawasaki.

Kohei openly laughed at the challengers, calling them "fools" and saying he will bet any amount of money that they will easily defend their titles. KAMIKAZE wasn't as dismissive of the challengers but seemed confident.

Otani's IWGP Championship Opponent - Shinsuke Nakamura!

September 30th, 2009

Following his pinfall victory at the ZERO1 September 21st "Shinya Hashimoto Debut 25th Anniversary ~ Destruction King Legend In Korakuen" show, Shinjiro Otani was nominated by Masahiro Chono to battle for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Otani accepted the challenge, though the current champion had yet to be determined as former title holder Hiroshi Tanahashi had to vacate New Japan Pro Wrestling's top title due to injury in August.

This set up a decision match between Shinsuke Nakamura and Togi Makabe on September 27th in Kobe World Hall for NJPW's "CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN GENERATION" tour. The results of the match was Nakamura coming out on top in 20:51 with the Boma Ye, winning his 3rd IWGP Heavyweight title. This puts Nakamura on a collision course with Otani on October 12th in Ryogoku Kokugikan for Masahiro Chono's 25th Anniversary show. Following his match Nakamura called Otani a "wonderful opponent" for his first title defense, saying combined they will be able to show "strong style" at its finest.

Otani and Nakamura both appeared today at Ryogoku Kokugikan for the official signing ceremony of the title match. Otani spoke about how this is his 2nd IWGP Heavyweight title challenge, his first back on February 18, 2001 against then champion Kensuke Sasaki. Soon after this defeat Otani then left with Hashimoto to form the original ZERO-ONE. Otani said that he Chono picked him out of respect for Shinya Hashimoto, and while it's normal to think of Hashimoto on this 25th Anniversary that Otani wants to win the title for himself:

Otani said he will be seconded by Daichi Hashimoto to the ring that day, as he wants Daichi to be close to the ring for the IWGP match. He said he doesn't want to be over protective of Daichi and wants him to understand and to learn close to the action.

Shinsuke Nakamura also spoke, saying there is a part of Shinya Hashimoto tied up in the decision to pick Otani since Otani at the President of ZERO1 is the face and soul of the company. He said Otani will be a tough opponent and he wants to show the fighting spirit of strong style and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Otani reminded Nakamura that he was part of NJPW a long time and might have a few tricks that Nakamura hasn't learned. "Otani carries a whole company on his back," Nakamura said. "It's possible he might have something I don't have."

Otani won't be the only ZERO1 wrestler present on 10/12 for Chono's event. Also on the card Masato Tanaka will continue to team with his partners in the "Complete Players" Jado and Gedo, adding Tomohiro Ishii to take on Hirooki Goto, Wataru Inoue, Ryusuke Taguchi and Prince Devitt. Kohei Sato will also team with Yuji Nagata against NJPW regulars Toru Yano and Takashi Iizuka.

Tanaka in NJPW's G-1 Tag League!

September 29th, 2009

New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced their teams for the "CIRCUIT 2009 TRUTH ~G1 TAG LEAGUE~" annual tag team tournament. One of the participant will be ZERO1's Masato Tanaka who has been invading NJPW along with his stable mates Jade and Gedo for some time now. Tanaka will be teamed with Riki Choshu's student Tomohiro Ishii.

His tournament schedule is as follows: