Pro Wrestling Zero1

Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Japanese: プロレスリングZERO1, Hepburn: Puroresuringu Zerowan, stylized as Pro Wrestling ZERO1), formerly known as Pro Wrestling Zero-One and Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max (stylized as Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE and Pro Wrestling Zero1-MAX, respectively) and often referred to simply as Zero1, is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded in 2001. It was affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) from 2001 until late 2004 and briefly reaffiliated with the NWA in 2011. It was affiliated with AWA Superstars of Wrestling (AWA) from 2005 until late 2007 and has been affiliated with the United Wrestling Network (UWN) since 2017.

Pro Wrestling Zero1
AcronymZero1
FoundedJanuary 25, 2001
StyleStrong style
HeadquartersJapan
Founder(s)Shinya Hashimoto and Shinjiro Otani
Owner(s)iFD
Daiko Holdings Group
SisterPro-Wrestling Sun (2006–2009)
FormerlyPro Wrestling Zero-One (2001–2004)
Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max (2004–2008)
Websitewww.z-1.co.jp

History

The promotion was founded by former New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) stars Shinya Hashimoto and Shinjiro Otani. In 2000, Hashimoto proposed an independent promotion within NJPW called "New Japan Pro-Wrestling Zero", but the idea was shot down. When Hashimoto was fired by NJPW in November 2000, he registered the Pro Wrestling Zero-One name.

In its early years, Zero1 had working agreements with Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah), All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), NJPW, Riki Pro, Hustle, Big Mouth Loud, King's Road, and Dragondoor, which enabled Zero1 wrestlers to challenge for and hold the other promotions' titles. The promotion also operated their own dojo, which was referred to as the "Takeshiba Coliseum".

On November 30, 2004, Shinya Hashimoto gave up ownership of the promotion, telling the press that due to financial problems he had decided to step away from the company. A new parent company "First On Stage" was formed consisting of president Yoshiyuki Nakamura, ring announcer Oki Okidata, Shinjiro Otani and a company named Baltic Curry. First On Stage renamed the promotion to Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max, with Otani and Nakamura taking over the promotion's general operations. Among other major changes made to the promotion's structure was the decision to join AWA Superstars of Wrestling (AWA) as the alliance's only Japanese member. Due to their new affiliation with the AWA, the promotion's previous National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) affiliation was given to rival promotion NJPW.

Since April 2005, Zero1 has held yearly pay-per-view events at the Yasukuni Shrine, which is controversial for its relation to World War II.[1] Larger Japanese wrestling promotions like NJPW, AJPW, and Noah have traditionally stayed away from such venues due to their controversial nature.

On September 12, 2006, Zero1-Max joined 12 other wrestling companies to form the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance (GPWA), a professional wrestling alliance that intended to "foster an environment of cooperation rather than competition." The alliance planned to hold occasional "Super Shows" where all member promotions would send wrestlers to compete under the GPWA banner. Noah's CEO Mitsuharu Misawa was inaugurated as the first chairman of the GPWA, while Zero1-Max's Yoshiyuki Nakamura was announced as the alliance's president. The GPWA folded in 2009.

In 2008, the promotion shortened its name to Pro Wrestling Zero1. In 2011, the promotion returned to the NWA as their Japanese territory. In March 2011, NWA presented Zero1 with the NWA Pan-Pacific Premium Heavyweight Championship in celebration of the promotion's tenth anniversary. In July, Daisuke Sekimoto won the Fire Festival to become the first NWA Pan-Pacific Premium Heavyweight champion. Later in 2011, Zero1 left the NWA, renaming their NWA-branded championships to "New Wrestling Alliance" championships.

Following their 2011 departure from the NWA, Zero1 launched an American affiliate, Zero1 USA, taking over the promotion previously known as NWA Midwest. In 2012, an Australian division of Zero1, known as Zero1 Australia, opened in Adelaide taking over what was previously known as NWA Pro Australia; in 2014 the relationship between Zero1 and Zero1 Australia ended with the Australian-based promotion renaming to Wrestle Rampage.[2] Later in 2012 the Zero1 Hong Kong and Zero1 Mexico branches opened. In 2013, Yoshiyuki Nakamura opened a new division of Zero1 in Belarus.[3][4]

On December 17, 2013, Zero1 announced a corporate restructuring taking place at the start of the 2014.[5]

During a September 16, 2016 press conference, Dream On Stage was announced as Zero1's new parent company. Also announced was a partnership between Zero1 and Akebono's Ōdō company.[6] On May 22, 2017, Zero1 partnered with the United Wrestling Network to become the group's official Japanese affiliate.[7] On July 3, 2018, it was announced that the promotion be undergoing a management change, with Yoshitaka Ono stepping down as the CEO. Katsumi Sasazaki would be appointed the representative director and president of the promotion, while Shinjiro Otani took on the chairman of the board position and Masato Tanaka and Kohei Sato split the vice-president role of the promotion.[8]

On February 1, 2020, Zero1 president Kazuhiro Iwamoto announced that the ownership of the promotion would be transferred from the previous management company Dream On Stage to iFD. Iwamoto additionally announced a plan to reform the promotion, which would include holding a show in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan on April 13, 2021, as part of the promotion's 20th anniversary, with a further goal of holding a show in the Roygoku Kokugikan annually, while also providing Zero1 wrestlers with fixed contracts and social security.

During a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the promotion suffered from severe financial problems. Kazuhiro Iwamoto resigned from his position as president while wrestlers Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Ikuto Hidaka, and Kohei Sato all departed the promotion.[9] In July 2020, it was announced that the company was acquired by Daiko Holdings Group.[10] That same month, they hired former Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling women's wrestler Megumi Kudo as their general manager.

Personnel

Championships

Pro Wrestling Zero1

ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)ReignDate wonDays
held[11]
LocationNotes
World Heavyweight Championship Chris Vice 2 May 26, 2023 152+ Tokyo, Japan Defeated Masato Tanaka at ZERO1 Fibromyalgia Charity Show.
United National Heavyweight Championship Chris Vice 2 January 18, 2020 1376+ Tokyo, Japan Defeated Towa Iwasaki at Skill Up To The Future ~ Towards A Dream.
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship Takumi Baba 1, 1 July 15, 2023 102+ Tokyo, Japan Defeated Leo Isaka at ZERO1 23rd Midsummer Festival.
International Junior Heavyweight Championship
Intercontinental Tag Team Championship Kubota Brothers
(Hide Kubota and Yasu Kubota)
1
(1, 1)
January 1, 2021 297+ Tokyo, Japan Defeated Junya Matsunaga and Takafumi at Zero1 Happy New Year 2023.
International Lightweight Tag Team Championship
Sugi and Raicho 1
(7, 1)
October 4, 2020 1116+ Osaka, Japan Defeated Billy Ken Kid and Hub at Zero1 20th Autumn Flame Festival.

Zero1 USA

Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days held[11] Notes
Zero1 USA Heavyweight Championship Joey O'Riley 1 October 22, 2022 368+ Defeated Marvin Moser to win the vacant title at a live event.
Zero1 USA TNT Championship Theo White 1 June 24, 2023 123+ Defeated CMC and B.A Malkin in a triple threat title match at Thursday Night Throwdown.
Zero1 USA Shining Light Championship Jaques Kennedy 1 January 19, 2023 279+ Defeated Max The Impaler at a live event.
The championship was previously known as the Zero1 USA Women's Championship.
Zero1 USA World Junior Heavyweight Championship WarHorse 3 August 19, 2023 67+ Defeated Victor Analog at zero1 USA Homecoming.
The championship was previously known as the Zero1 USA Midwest X Division Championship.
Zero1 USA Tag Team Championship Constant Headache
(Anakin Murphy and Kenny Kalix)
1
(1, 1)
September 23, 2023 32+ Defeated The Premier (Campbell Myers and SK Bishop) at September To Remember.

Super Fireworks Pro Wrestling

Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days held[11] Notes
Blast King Championship Taru 2 August 5, 2018 1907+ Defeated Yuko Miyamoto at Super Fireworks Current Blast Festival 2018 in Kawasaki.[12][13]
Blast Queen Championship Hiroyo Matsumoto 1 February 24, 2020 1339+ Teamed up with Aja Kong to defeat Saori Anou and champion Mayumi Ozaki in a Super Plasma Blast Deathmatch at Super Fireworks Anniversary Show.[14]
Blast King Tag Team Championship Revengers
(Masato Tanaka and Hide Kubota)
1
(1, 1)
August 18, 2019 1529+ Defeated Taru and Chris Vice at Super Fireworks Current Blast Festival 2019 in Kawasaki.[15]

No longer promoted / inactive

Championship Last champion(s) Date won Ref
NWA Pan-Pacific Premium Heavyweight Championship Akebono May 16, 2012 [16][17]
NWA World Heavyweight Championship The Sheik April 23, 2011
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship Craig Classic November 6, 2010
NWA World Super Heavyweight Championship/Zero-One O-300 Super Heavyweight Championship Matt Ghaffari July 6, 2003 [18][19]
AWA World Heavyweight Championship Masato Tanaka October 26, 2007
AWA United States Championship Ricky Landell June 13, 2007
AWA Japan Women's Championship Saki Maemura October 10, 2007
WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship Noiz April 6, 2008
Tenka-ichi Junior Heavyweight Championship Yoshihito Sasaki May 29, 2005 [20]
HCW World Women's Championship Hikaru December 16, 2007
Sun Championship Sara Del Rey March 20, 2011
WDB Tag Team Championship Minoru Fujita and Saki Maemura February 26, 2009
World-1 Heavyweight Championship Steve Corino January 31, 2010 [21][22]
World-1 Junior Heavyweight Championship Yoshihito Sasaki May 29, 2005
UPW Heavyweight Championship Tom Howard October 22, 2003
Zero-One United States Heavyweight Championship Mr. Wrestling III November 9, 2008
Zero1 Mexico International Championship Sicodelico Jr. September 5, 2012
Zero1 Australian National Championship Ryan Eagles January 11, 2013
Zero1 Ireland Heavyweight Championship Robbie Morrissey November 25, 2012
Zero1 USA Indiana State Heavyweight Championship Brutus Dylan June 1, 2012
Zero1 USA Heartland States Heavyweight Championship The Sadist March 16, 2012
Zero1 USA Northern States Championship Osyris December 9, 2012
Zero1 USA Illinois Heavyweight Championship Frank Wyatt September 18, 2014
Zero1 USA Underground Championship Brutus Dylan June 1, 2012
Zero1 USA Underground Tri-State Championship Lance Storie Unknown
Zero1 USA Underground Tag Team Championship Caden Ames and Lance Storie May 5, 2012
Zero1 USA Northeast Heavyweight Championship Bear Bronson August 3, 2020

Tournaments

Zero1 holds a heavyweight tournament every summer in the last week of July called the "Fire Festival" (Himatsuri) where the winner holds the "Fire Sword" (a katana) for a whole year until the next summer's tournament. They also hold a Yasukuni Shrine show every April and a yearly junior tournament called the "Tenkaichi Jr."

Tournament Latest winner(s) Date won
Fire FestivalDaisuke SekimotoJuly 31, 2022
FurinkazanHide Kubota and Yasu KubotaDecember 16, 2022
Tenkaichi Jr.Shoki KitamuraOctober 19, 2022
Lion King CupYoshihito SasakiDecember 4, 2003

Affiliates

Promotion name Location Partnered on Ref.
Zero1 USA Midwestern United States April 29, 2011 [23]
Zero1 Pro Wrestling Australia/Wrestle Rampage Australia 2012 [24][25]
Zero1 Ireland/Fight Factory Pro Wrestling Ireland 2012 [26][27]
Zero1 Scotland/Scottish Wrestling Alliance Scotland 2012 [28]
Zero1 Hong Kong/Hong Kong Pro-Wrestling Federation Hong Kong 2012 [29]
Zero1 Mexico Mexico 2012 [30]
Zero1 New Belarus Pro Wrestling Belarus 2013 [31]
Zero1 Spain/Super Wrestling Alliance Spain 2013 [32][33]
Marvelous Japan 2015
Super Fireworks Pro Wrestling Japan 2015
Zero1 USA Northeast Northeastern United States 2019 [34]

See also

References

  1. "Yasukuni Shrine Sumo Wrestling Place". Cagematch. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  2. "Wrestle Rampage begins now". January 1, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  3. "Pro-Wrestling Zero1 (Japan)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
  4. Philip Kreikenbohm. "Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1)".
  5. ゼロワン来年から新団体名に変更. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  6. 新体制のゼロワンが「王道」と業務提携. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). September 17, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  7. "Pro Wrestling ZERO1 Joins the United Wrestling Network". May 22, 2017.
  8. "News Listings for July 3, 2018 – Puroresu Spirit". Archived from the original on 2018-07-07.
  9. "La empresa japonesa Pro Wrestling ZERO1 atraviesa por problemas económicos". 2 July 2020.
  10. "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
  11. As of October 25, 2023.
  12. "Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database". www.wrestlingdata.com.
  13. "Blast King Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
  14. Pro Wrestling Zero1 (February 24, 2020). 超花火超花火プロレス旗揚げ記念大会. z-1.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  15. Zero1/Super Fireworks Current Blast Festival 2019 in Kawasaki Cagematch.net Retrieved August 18, 2019
  16. "NWA Premium Heavyweight Title (ZERO1)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
  17. "NWA World Premium Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
  18. "NWA Super Heavyweight Title (Japan)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
  19. "ZERO-ONE O-300 Super Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
  20. "ZERO-ONE Tenka-ichi Junior Heavyweight Title".
  21. "WORLD-1 Heavyweight Title".
  22. "WORLD-1 Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 2014-03-07.
  23. "Zero1 USA". Wrestling-Titles.com.
  24. "NWA/ZERO1 Pro Wrestling Australia". Wrestling-Titles.com.
  25. "Pro Wrestling ZERO1 Australia (ZERO1 Australia) « Promotions Database « CAGEMATCH". Archived from the original on 2012-10-21.
  26. "Fight Factory Pro Wrestling / NWA Ireland / Zero1 Ireland". Wrestling-Titles.com.
  27. "Pro Wrestling ZERO1 Ireland (ZERO1 Ireland) « Promotions Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 2014-09-25.
  28. "Scottish Wrestling Alliance". Wrestling-Titles.com.
  29. "Pro Wrestling Zero1 Hong Kong". cagematch.net.
  30. "Zero1 abre su filial Zero1-Mexico". Planeta Wrestling (in Spanish).
  31. "Pro Wrestling Zero1 New Belarus Pro Wrestling". cagematch.net.
  32. "Super Wrestling Alliance (Spain)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
  33. "Pro Wrestling ZERO1 Spain (ZERO1 Spain) « Promotions Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 2014-07-15.
  34. "Pro Wrestling ZERO1 USA Northeast (ZERO1 USA Northeast)". Cagematch. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
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