Zero-One Championships

[RoaringElbow25]

I was looking at Hisa's title historys and I saw Zero-Ones and I noticed their titles are just pretty much the NWA titles...so does Zero-One have any championships of their own or how does it work?

[El Fiasco]

They used the NWA Heavyweight title until Hashimoto lost it to Severn, but they still make use of the NWA International Tag Team titles...I think Tom Howard and Matt Ghaffari are still the champs. Low Ki is also still defending the NWA International Junior title in Zero-One as well. I'm not sure exactly what their connection is with the NWA, but I know they do exchange talent a lot, aside from the titles.

However, about a month ago, they had a tournament for the Zero-One United States title, the first official Zero-One title.

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Originally posted by El Fiasco
they still make use of the NWA International Tag Team titles...I think Tom Howard and Matt Ghaffari are still the champs.

NWA Intercontinental tag team titles.

Low Ki is also still defending the NWA International Junior title in Zero-One as well.

NWA/UPW/ZERO-ONE International Jr. Heavyweight title.

I'm not sure exactly what their connection is with the NWA, but I know they do exchange talent a lot, aside from the titles.

ZERO-ONE is listed as a member on the NWA official website.

[El Fiasco]

Ah, thanks for all the corrections, Hisa.

[RoaringElbow25]

I guess with them getting their own championships they are trying to make their own identity & such, where would Zero-One rank against other Puroresu promotions?

[Jason]

This is just my opinion, of course, but I'd rank them 4th at the moment. I would rank the 5 major promotions the following way:

1. New Japan
2. NOAH
3. All Japan
4. Zero-One
5. WJ

I think New Japan is the obvious pick at number 1. I think NOAH is next because they have much better depth than All Japan and more star power than Zero-One. I believe NOAH sells out a lot of shows and brings in good tv ratings too. Zero-One arguably has better depth than All Japan as well, but All Japan has more top names and the strength of their tradition going for them. It wouldn't surprise me though if Zero-One climbs out of the 4 spot by the end of this year since they certainly have a lot going for them and seem to be the most progressive promotion out there right now and everyone wants to work with them. The sky is the limit for Zero-One. WJ is last for obvious reasons.

[Luds]

I'd rank them 3, they passed AJ and might soon pass NOAH if they merge with AJ...

1) NJ
2) NOAH
3) Z1
4) AJ
5) WJ !!!

[RoaringElbow25]

who are Zero-Ones top names??? Masato Tanaka and such?? that guy can flat out wrestle he was the reason I found this site, I was looking for info on the Dangan (hence the screen name)

Also its weird seeing All Japan in 3rd and even 4th...espicially considering a few months ago, on this board the Triple Crown was voted the most prestegious title in all of wrestling, with the IWGP in a close second(I think thats how it was)

[Jason]

Their top names include Shinya Hashimoto, Shinjiro Ohtani, Naoya Ogawa, and Tanaka. They also have a lot of American talent you may be familiar with such as Low Ki, Steve Corino, C.W. Anderson, and until recently Spanky (or Brian Kendrick from WWE).

I'd still say the TC is the most prestigious title in wrestling despite AJ's troubles since 2000.

[Haiku Warrior]

Also there is the ZERO-ONE United States Title. This title will most likely be defended in America when and if they tour here. Corino beat Tanaka for it in a decision match a few weeks back.

The NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Title was introduced to ZERO-ONE in 2001, becoming the company's first ever championship. It was briefly abandoned in late 2001, but brought back at the beginning of 2002 and has been a fixture since.

In mid-2002, ZERO-ONE created a new junior title in conjunction with NWA and UPW, called the NWA/UPW/ZERO-ONE International Jr. Heavyweight Title.

The Fire Festival is a yearly concept that was designed by Shinjiro Otani to compete with New Japan's G1 Climax and All Japan's Champion Carnival, both of which are singles tournament. The debut version in 2001 was hurt by the last minute pull-out of several wrestlers, but the 2002 version was the real pick-up point, with many of ZERO-ONE's and the independent scene's top stars gathering for the round-robin event.

Established in 2002, the World 1Jr. Tournament was designed to determine ZERO-ONE's top junior heavyweight. The "world" billing was no gimmick, as juniors from both Japan and America competed for the same prize. Whether this is an annual event remains to be seen.

[Luds]

Add Naoya Ogawa and Tatsuhito Takaiwa (an awesome junior heavyweight) to the list of ZERO-ONE superstars...

Hashimoto is Mutoh's close friend, which explains all the recent relationship between AJ and Z1 and talk about a possible merge. Hashimoto and Mutoh were 2 of the New Japan "3 musketeers" (other is Chono)... They exchanged the IWGP title and held it for a very long time...

August 92 to September 93 - Muta
September 93 to April 94 - Hashimoto (lost to Fujinami)
May 94 to March 95 - Hashimoto
March 95 to January 96 - Mutoh (lost to Nobuhiko Takada)
April 96 to August 96 - Hashimoto...

Overall... in 4 years, they held the IWGP title for 3 years 89 months!!!

[RoaringElbow25]

if 0-1 does tour north america is there anywhere I could find info on it it see if they are hotting up my region??

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Originally posted by Luds
Hashimoto is Mutoh's close friend, which explains all the recent relationship between AJ and Z1 and talk about a possible merge. Hashimoto and Mutoh were 2 of the New Japan "3 musketeers" (other is Chono)...

And if they really merge as it's been rumored (which for some reason I doubt), it would only become "New Japan II" as it was originally planned.

How about WJ as "New Japan III" or "New Japan Rejects"?

Or, Muga as "New Japan Classics"?

[edgehead1984]

I agree with Elbow I would like to Zero-One if they tour here, America does not get enough live puroresu.

[Haiku Warrior]

Their official website is currently working on an English translation for the site. I would imagine all of this North America talk would be touched on in the upcoming months.