I am going to be starting a new blog type setup here on Puroresu Spirit and PWP to talk about all the latest happenings in Japan. Namely on the bigger promotions but also what I personally find interesting in the world of Japanese Pro Wrestling. As most know I enjoy NJPW, AJPW, NOAH, ZERO1, K-Dojo and Michinoku Pro the most out of Japan, but I am still open to the rest of the promotions. Except maybe Dragon Gate, I do not have a real reason why I do not follow them like most of the others, but I just have not in the last few years. I watch their bigger shows throughout the year, but other than that it is just ends up the last on my watch list. Who knows that may change tomorrow for all we know, especially since Mochizuki and Shingo are in the title picture right now.

Anyways getting that off of my mind for most of you, let’s go through what is all happening early on this week in March. I am mainly only going to dedicate the updates every week based on the weekend/Monday shows since they normally are the “build up to” shows for promotions. As in normally they have a few weekly shows that lay the foundation for the bigger shows. WWE normally does the same thing with house shows and on their weekly programing, but in Japan only the bigger shows make it on tv at all.
We have 4 shows that are definitely on my watch list so let’s go through them one by one.
(Or if you want to skip to a certain promotion, just hit the jump buttons below)
1. NJPW 2. AJPW 3. NOAH 4. ZERO1

NJPW

New Japan Pro Wrestling will be kicking off the New Japan Cup on Sunday (3/6), and is definitely aiming to be anyone’s tournament. So many wrestlers who have history are facing off in the first round of the tournament and this alone is going to be switching things up. So let’s run down the cards for this upcoming tour as I will also hit on the talent involved with the Cup. Sort of my rundown’s, that got me started with the site to begin with.

Photobucket

NJPW “Anniversary ~ NEW JAPAN CUP 2011”, 3/6/2011 (Sun)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

~ Special Opening NJPW Greatest Wrestlers Ceremony
(1) Jushin Thunder Liger, Tomoaki Honma & Tama Tonga vs. Wataru Inoue, Koji Kanemoto & King Fale
(2) Giant Bernard, Tiger Mask & KUSHIDA vs. Jado, Gedo & Tomohiro Ishii
(3) Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
(4) New Japan Cup – Round 1: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Yujiro Takahashi
Photobucket
Nakanishi vs. Takahashi is a match pitching the premise of a student vs. teacher match-up. Both men have that amateur background and are both very strong technical athletes. Takahashi is looking to get himself known as a singles competitor like his fellow NO LIMIT compatriot Tetsuya Naito, but Nakanishi is not a push over in any means. Nakanishi is a huge fan favorite and will break Takahashi down in every way possible. So this match is going to come down to the fight that Takahashi has and is able to use against Nakanishi. With these two being almost the same strength and technique wise it is going to come down to who actually wants it more or also a play of youth or experience?
(5) New Japan Cup – Round 1: Karl Anderson vs. MVP
Photobucket
Anderson is coming in as 1/2 of the IWGP Tag Team Champions and has been building himself as one of the tougher Gaikujin’s in NJPW. MVP on the other hand is coming in following his successful debut on 2/20 and is aiming to get to the top in Japan. No better place to due that than NJPW. Anderson is looking to get away from being the one who falls at the tournament’s and will be looking to keep his fellow Gaikujin from overshadowing what he has been aiming to build for years now. Will Anderson finally begin his ascension as a singles competitor or will the man called MVP become the next “MVP” in NJPW?
(6) New Japan Cup – Round 1: Hirooki Goto vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Photobucket
Goto and Nakamura is one of those picture perfect matches. Both have faced off numerous times and both are considered to be about on the same level as Goto is known as the tournament champion and Nakamura is the same when it comes to belts. Though Goto has yet to get the IWGP Heavyweight Championship around his waist he has made a vow that he will become champion within a year following his recent marriage. Nakamura as usual only has his mind on becoming the next champion so both men have the same agenda when it comes to winning the Cup. Goto though is coming in the favorite as he is has won the last two Cups while Nakamura has never made it past the Quartfinals, I believe, in all the Cups he has participated in. Will Nakamura break this trend or will Goto get a chance to win the Cup for an unprecedented 3 times in a row?
(7) Special Six Man Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Toru Yano, Tetsuya Naito & Takashi Iizuka
(8) New Japan Cup – Round 1: Togi Makabe vs. Satoshi Kojima
Photobucket
Makabe and Kojima have been down each others throats since the time of last years G1 Climax and especially after Kojima beat him for the belt. Makabe thought he was on a role with finally getting the title around his waist and he becoming the top man in the promotion. Then to have someone just come back into NJPW after leaving to go to another promotion and become the top guy just didn’t sit right with Makabe. Makabe felt he needed to show that it is his time in NJPW and not Kojima’s, though in the end this as been a hard spot for Makabe as Kojima had picked up the win again at the 1/30 show. So now Makabe is at a hard spot as he is 2-0 against Kojima and they will face again in the first round of the cup. Will Kojima make it 3-0 or will Makabe finally be able to gain some ground against him?

NJPW “NEW JAPAN CUP 2011”, 3/7/2011 (Mon)
Ota City Nitta Bunka Center Airys Hall

() Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Wataru Inoue vs. Jado & Gedo
() Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Satoshi Kojima, MVP, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
() Hiroshi Tanahashi, Manabu Nakanishi & Hirooki Goto vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka

NJPW “NEW JAPAN CUP 2011”, 3/12/2011 (Sat)
Wing Hat Kasukabe

() Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi & Wataru Inoue vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Tomohiro Ishii
() Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Prince Devitt vs. Satoshi Kojima, MVP & Taichi
() Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Tama Tonga vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka

NJPW “NEW JAPAN CUP 2011”, 3/13/2011 (Sun)
Act City Hamamatsu

() Special Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Hirooki Goto vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Yujiro Takahashi
() New Japan Cup ~ Round 1: Wataru Inoue vs. Toru Yano
Photobucket
Inoue has only ever managed to make it in the quarterfinals of the Cup in the past, but since then he has went to become a Heavyweight tag team Champion with Nagata. Will that translate in him having more ground going into this tournament? Yano almost came close in the 2008 Cup but was not able to get the job done against Bernard in the Semi’s. Yano has always been one step back but this year has been giving Yano some decisive wins and he is looking to get that big win to put him up on the ladder as well. This match is a make or break for these two and could easily place the loser with not much to do for a while.
() New Japan Cup ~ Round 1: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Takashi Iizuka
Photobucket
Just when you think these two’s feud is over, New Japan books them against one another yet again. Tenzan got a decisive win over Iizuka at Wrestle Kingdom V and it looked as if Tenzan would finally have some peace. Tenzan has been aiming to get back to the top, but has had this roadblock of Iizuka hovering behind him for years now. Can Tenzan finally rank himself up the New Japan ladder or will Iizuka continue to be that thorn in Tenzan’s side?
() New Japan Cup ~ Round 1: Tetsuya Naito vs. Masato Tanaka
Photobucket
Naito has been building as a future ace of NJPW. Tons of fanfare, charisma, as well as showing a great ability in the ring. Naito broke out last year following an upset win over Tanahashi in the G1 and has been on a role since getting matches against a lot of New Japan’s singles talent. Naito recently had a solid match with Naito at the 2/20 show, but even though losing proved more an more that he is just one step from becoming a great superstar. Tanaka almost needs no introduction one of the most physical in Japan and will all around make his opponents suffer with elbows and the sort before pulling the trigger and hitting them with his Sliding D. Tanaka and Goto had a good series of matches last year and even made it to the semi-finals of last years New Japan Cup before losing to Goto. Will this match be the big win that Naito needs or will Tanaka end up with the win and head to the next round?
() New Japan Cup ~ Round 1: Yuji Nagata vs. Giant Bernard
Photobucket
These two are definitely no strangers and you would be hard pressed to forget these two’s match in 2006 which saw Bernard pick up the New Japan Cup win by beating Yuji Nagata. Nagata though the next year (2007) would beat Bernard in the semi-finals and ended up winning the tournament himself. So these two definitely are no strangers and have of recent also been battling back and forth for the IWGP Tag Team Titles. Bernard is going in as the other half of the IWGP Tag Champions as well as possibly being the GHC Heavyweight Champion considering he has a match in NOAH against Takashi Sugiura on 3/5. Nagata is coming off a big win over Minoru Suzuki at Wrestle Kingdom V and also has a big match against Masato Tanaka at ZERO1’s show on 3/6. These two men, Bernard and Nagata, are getting the main event spot of the day for a reason and should be nothing more than hard hitting and impactful.

NJPW “NEW JAPAN CUP 2011”, 3/14/2011 (Mon)
Tsubame Citizen Gymnasium

() Hirooki Goto, Tama Tonga & King Fale vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
() Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito
(0 Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Satoshi Kojima, MVP, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi

NJPW “NEW JAPAN CUP 2011”, 3/16/2011 (Wed)
Mito Citizen Gymnasium

() Hirooki Goto, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
() Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Satoshi Kojima, MVP, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
() Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Wataru Inoue vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito

NJPW “NEW JAPAN CUP 2011”, 3/17/2011 (Thurs)
Kumagaya Citizen Gymnasium

() Hirooki Goto, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Tomohiro Ishii
() Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
() Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Satoshi Kojima, MVP, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi

NJPW “NEW JAPAN CUP 2011”, 3/19/2011 (Sat)
Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium

() IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: [Champion] Prince Devitt vs. KUSHIDA
() New Japan Cup ~ Round 2: Tenzan or Iizuka vs. Inoue or Yano
() New Japan Cup ~ Round 2: Nagata or Bernard vs. Naito or Tanaka
() New Japan Cup ~ Round 2: Goto or Nakamura vs. Nakanishi or Takahashi
() New Japan Cup ~ Round 2: Makabe or Kojima vs. Anderson or MVP

NJPW “NEW JAPAN CUP 2011”, 3/20/2011 (Sun)
Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium

() New Japan Cup ~ Semi Final:
() New Japan Cup ~ Semi Final:
() New Japan Cup – Final:
———————————–
ajp icon

I am not going to go much into detail with the upcoming cards as I have already written up somethings for them a while back, but I will post the updated tour cards below as well as some notes into a few of the matches.

All Japan Pro Wrestling “HOLD OUT TOUR 2011″, 3/6/2011 (Sun) 12:00
Korakuen Hall in Tokyo

(1) Masanobu Fuchi & Kazushi Miyamoto vs. Hiroshi Yamato & BUSHI
(2) Seiya Sanada & Manabu Soya vs. Josh Spears & Jake O’Reilly
(3) Minoru Suzuki vs. KAI
(4) Keiji Mutoh, Masakatsu Funaki & AKIRA vs. TARU, Rene Dupree & MAZADA
(5) Taiyo Kea & Takao Omori vs. KONO & Joe Doering [World Tag Team Champions]
~ non-title match, TARU will be the special referee.
This non-title tag team match is going to have an interesting premise with TARU has been announced as the special guest referee. Will he play fairly or will he just aid his Voodoo Murders to get the victory?
Taiyo Kea said “that I know they are plotting something dirty, but I do not care.” Kea’s ambition to regain the tag team belts is not going to let TARU get away with too much as the official referee. Even Omori stated that if TARU crosses the line the next thing he will see is the mat following an Axe Bomber.
This match means a lot for Kea and he wants his tag belts back, but KONO & Doering “won” the belts for a reason and are not a second rate team so even with TARU in their inevitable corner.

(6) Suwama & Ryota Hama vs. KENSO & Zodiac
(7) Team 246 vs. “Junior Stars”: Kaz Hayashi & Shuji Kondo vs. Minoru & Koji Kanemoto
Kanemoto will be stepping in the ring for what is being touted as a one time thing, but if they are successful I would not put it past that we will not see the last of Kanemoto in All Japan. Hayashi & Kondo have sort of put their past behind them following their series of matches to see who will face Minoru next and had this match placed upon them. Both teams have worked together and against one know their partners very well as opponents, so this should be a good match.
If anything I actually have said that I would not mind seeing Minoru and Kanemoto facing off against one another if it actually came down to that. Who knows, but I see it being plausible at least.

AJPW “Hold Out Tour 2011”, 3/8/2011 (Tues) 18:30
Choshi City Gymnasium

() Shawn Spears vs. Jake O’Reilly
() Ryota Hama vs. KAI
() Manabu Soya & Hiroshi Yamato vs. Minoru Suzuki & Takumi Soya
() Shuji Kondo & BUSHI vs. Minoru & MAZADA
() Seiya Sanada & Yasufumi Nakanoue vs. Daisuke Sekimoto Big Japan & Yuji Okabayashi Big Japan
() Masakatsu Funaki, Taiyo Kea & Takao Omori vs. TARU, KONO & Joe Doering
() Suwama & Kaz Hayashi vs. KENSO & Zodiac

AJPW “Hold Out Tour 2011”, 3/9/2011 (Wed) 18:30
Chiba Togane Arena

() Seiya Sanada vs. Jake O’Reilly
() Ryota Hama & Shawn Spears vs. KAI & Hiroshi Yamato
() Masakatsu Funaki vs. Takumi Soya
() Kaz Hayashi & BUSHI vs. Minoru & MAZADA
() Manabu Soya & Yasufumi Nakanoue vs. Daisuke Sekimoto Big Japan & Yuji Okabayashi Big Japan
() Minoru Suzuki, Taiyo Kea & Takao Omori vs. TARU, KONO & Joe Doering
() Suwama & Shuji Kondo vs. KENSO & Zodiac

AJPW “Hold Out Tour 2011”, 3/11/2011 (Fri) 18:30
Ishinomaki City Gymnasium in Miyagi

(1) WAVE Promotional Match: Yumi Okha vs. Haruhi Moeka
(2) Seiya Sanada vs. Takumi Soya
(3) Manabu Soya vs. Yasufumi Nakanoue
(4) Ryota Hama & BUSHI vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Hiroshi Yamato
(5) KAI vs. Jake O’Reilly
(6) Masakatsu Funaki & Minoru Suzuki vs. KONO & MAZADA
(7) Taiyo Kea & Takao Omori vs. KENSO & Zodiac
(8) Suwama, Kaz Hayashi & Shuji Kondo vs. TARU & Joe Doering & Minoru

AJPW “Hold Out Tour 2011”, 3/12/2011 (Sat) 18:00
Hirosaki Kasai Phys. Ed. Center in Aomori

() Ryota Hama & Jake O’Reilly vs. Hiroshi Yamato vs. Shawn Spears
() Zodiac vs. Takumi Sano
() KENSO & Yasufumi Nakanoue
() BUSHI vs. Minoru
() Masakatsu Funaki, Minoru Suzuki, Taiyo Kea & Takao Omori vs. TARU, KONO, Joe Doering & MAZADA
() Suwama, Kaz Hayashi & Shuji Kondo vs. Seiya Sanada, Manabu Soya & KAI

AJPW “Hold Out Tour 2011”, 3/13/2011 (Sun) 17:30
Aomori Industrial Hall

() Kaz Hayashi vs. Takumi Soya
() Manabu Soya & Yasufumi Nakanoue vs. Shawn Spears & Jake O’Reilly
() Shuji Kondo & BUSHI vs. Minoru & MAZADA
() Minoru Suzuki & Hiroshi Yamato vs. Seiya Sanada & KAI
() Masakatsu Funaki, Taiyo Kea & Takao Omori vs. TARU, KONO & Joe Doering
() Suwama & Ryota Hama vs. KENSO & Zodiac

AJPW “Hold Out Tour 2011”, 3/15/2011 (Tues) 18:30
Mutsu City Stadium in Aomori

() Yasufumi Nakanoue & Shawn Spears vs. Takumi Soya & Jake O’Reilly
() Takao Omori & Manabu Soya vs. Ryota Hama & BUSHI
() Kaz Hayashi & Shuji Kondo vs. Minoru & MAZADA
() Masakatsu Funaki vs. Hiroshi Yamato
() Taiyo Kea & Minoru Suzuki vs. KENSO & Zodiac
() Suwama, Seiya Sanada & KAI vs. TARU, KONO & Joe Doering

AJPW “Hold Out Tour 2011”, 3/17/2011 (Thurs) 18:30
Kesennuma City Gymnasium in Miyagi

() Yasufumi Nakanoue & Shawn Spears vs. KONO & Minoru
() Kaz Hayashi & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. KAI & Hiroshi Yamato
() Minoru Suzuki vs. Takumi soya
() Seiya Sanada & Manabu Soya vs. Ryota Hama & BUSHI
() Masakatsu Funaki, Taiyo Kea & Takao Omori vs. TARU, Joe Doering & MAZADA
() Suwama & Shuji Kondo vs. KENSO & Zodiac

AJPW “Hold Out Tour 2011”, 3/19/2011 (Sat) 18:00
Akita Selion Plaza Hall in Akita

() Yasufumi Nakanoue vs. Shawn Spears
() Seiya Sanada & Manabu Soya vs. Takumi Soya & Jake O’Reilly
() Kaz Hayashi & Hiroshi Yamato vs. Ryota Hama & BUSHI
() Taiyo Kea & Shuji Kondo vs. KONO & Minoru
() Minoru Suzuki & Takao Omori vs. Joe Doering & MAZADA
() Suwama & KAI vs. KENSO & Zodiac

AJPW “Hold Out Tour 2011”, 3/20/11 (Sun) 13:30
Furusato Village Dome Theatre in Akita (Yokote City)

() Yasufumi Nakanoue vs. Jake O’Reilly
() Ryota Hama & BUSHI vs. Takumi Soya & Shawn Spears
() Seiya Sanada & Manabu Soya vs. Minoru & MAZADA
() Minoru Suzuki & Shuji Kondo vs. Minoru & MAZADA
() Masakatsu Funaki, Taiyo Kea & Takao Omori vs. TARU, KONO & Joe Doering
() Suwama & Kaz Hayashi vs. KENSO & Zodiac

AJPW “2011 Pro Wrestling LOVE in Ryougoku”, 3/21/2011 (Mon) 16:00
Ryougoku Kokugikan in Tokyo

() Special Tag Match: Masakatsu Funaki & Minoru Suzuki vs. Yuji Nagata & Jushin Thunder Liger
() All Asia Tag Team Championship Match: [Champions] Seiya Sanada & Manabu Soya vs. Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi
() World Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: [Champion] Minoru vs. Shuji Kondo ~ Minoru’s 1st Defense.
() Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship Match: [Champion] Suwama vs. KENSO ~ Suwama’s 3rd Defense.
“Voodoo Murders Be prepared on 3/21 at the Tokyo Ryogoku!
What time is it?
It’s time…It’s Time….It’s VADER TIME!”

These words came from All Japan that Vader had sent to their offices. They quickly posted it on the site and TARU was left with something to act upon.
TARU, soon after hearing these word from Vader, held a meeting last week to announce that he indeed has in turn should be the one who has words for him for not going through with the union that TARU wished to have had formed. TARU Said he has been angered for 2 years now and it is now the time that he rectifies the situation. TARU has called Vader to indeed come to the 3/21 Tokyo Ryogoku show. TARU also mentioned Vader’s son Jesse White and that if he wants to come, bring him as well.
Could Vader (and his son) definitely be showing up to confront TARU and the Voodoo Murders, or will it be the other way around of VDM intercepting Vader?
———————————–
NOAH

NOAH’s big show coming up tomorrow is going to big on may levels, for one it has been over 6 years since all 4 GHC titles have been on the line on the same show, as second this show is also aiming to be start building NOAH back up. Will that happen only time will tell. NOAH has had it’s ups and downs in the past few years, but last year we saw some big drops and some controversy forming around NOAH and their tv deals. NOAH is still on tv, but their shows are now on a time gap by at least 6 days after they first happen.
I am personally pulling for NOAH to start getting better, but being in the USA it is hard to support them.
Anyways this show gives some mixed opinions, but still it should be one worth seeing. So let’s run down the card.

Pro Wrestling NOAH “GREAT VOYAGE 2011 in Tokyo”, 3/5/2011 (Sat) 17:00
Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo

(1) Takeshi Morishima vs. Makoto Hashi
(2) Akitoshi Saito & Masao Inoue vs. Taiji Ishimori & Kentaro Shiga
(3) DISOBEY vs. Kensuke Office: Mohammed Yone, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, KENTA & Genba Hirayanagi vs. Kensuke Sasaki, Takashi Okita, Kento Miyahara & Jun Nishikawa
(4) Jun Akiyama vs. Yutaka Yoshie
Akiyama has already stated that he is aiming to give it another go at the GHC Heavyweight belt, but first he as to get through someone who had a descent year in 2010. Though coming up short, Yoshie has fought harder than he has in years. One of my favorite matches last year was Yoshie vs. Sasaki and I am expecting to see something almost similar between these two. I mean does Akiyama have the strength anymore to give the big Yoshie an exploder? I want to see it though. Yoshie is always a threat though because of his size. He can easily overpower his opponents and before you know it he is sitting on top of you. Akiyama has to be aware of this and could be his reality if he can’t outsmart the big man. But look who I am talking to it’s Akiyama, just piss him off and he will go ballistic without a second thought.
(5) GHC Junior Tag Team Championship Match: [Champions] Naomichi Marufuji & Atsushi Aoki vs. Yoshinari Ogawa & Ricky Marvin ~ Marufuji/Aoki’s 2nd Defense.
Marufuji has taken the helm at helping push Aoki up the ladder and both are making themselves into a strong cohesive unit. Marufuji is no stranger to gold and knows the limits that one most go to remain champion. This is Aoki’s first title in Japan and has been aiming for this title reign for a long time. Aoki has grown into a strong wrestler and he will need that Ogawa being very crafty in the ring and Marvin being more physical and intense than his has been in years. I expect a descent showing in this match and I can probably guarantee it should play out well.
(6) GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: [Champion] Kotaro Suzuki vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima ~ Suzuki’s 3rd Defense.
Suzuki is in his first ever reign as the GHC Jr Champion and is looking to remain that for quite sometime, though things looked close in his match against Eddie Edwards and he just recently defeated Genba Hirayanagi. Suzuki has in-cooperated more things in his repertoire to be more in remembrance to his late idol and mentor Mitsuharu Misawa. So Suzuki wants to show his fight in the ring as a show how far he has come as a true wrestler. Nakajima though is still looked at as one of the strongest up and comers in the business in a long time. Nakajima is still called Supernova by a lot of people and he is shown how well he can hang with those his own size and even to those who are bigger like Takayama. Nakajima is as stiff as they come and is going to bring the fight to Suzuki.
(7) GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match: Yoshihiro Takayama & Takuma Sano vs. Go Shiozaki & Shuhei Taniguchi ~ Taka/Sano’s 3rd Defense
Shiozaki and Taniguchi are aiming to become the next champions but a big hurdle sits in front of them as the current champions have the experience on their side. Shiozaki is aiming to get the GHCE Tag Belt around his waist, something that has eluded him for quite sometime now, and Taniguchi is looking to take his career forward with winning a championship. It is looking to me that we could be seeing some new champions crowned following the event, but at this point who knows what will happen. Shiozaki is going into the match with a broken finger, but Taniguchi has been just one step from becoming a big player in Japan. Definitely this is going to be a much needed win for him.
(8) GHC Heavyweight Championship Match: [Champion] Takashi Sugiura vs. Giant Bernard ~ Sugiura’s 9th Defense.
Sugiura has been the fighting champion for NOAH for over a year now and has made the call out that he wants the biggest and the baddest that he can possibly face. He has beat a lot of the big names in Japan and has now set his eyes on, the New Japan IWGP Tag Team Champion, Giant Bernard who is going to be the biggest he has faced yet. Sugiura is looking to prove that he is one of the strongest in Japan and he is definitely doing that in my eyes. If he can get passed Bernard there has already been talk that another Gaikujin, Trevor Mudock who is the current WLW Heavyweight Champion would not mind taking a crack and facing off against Sugiura.
———————————–
Photobucket

Saving to be what I believe to be the best card of the weekend, is ZERO1’s 10th Anniversary Show that is coming up on the 6th.

ZERO1 “BIG MARCH Presents PRO-WRESTLING 2011 in Ryogoku Kokugikan ~ 10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW”, 3/6/2011 (Sun) 15:00
Tokyo Ryougoku Kokugikan


~ card and order subject to change.
(1) 10 Man Tag Match: Fujita “Jr” Hayato, Shota Takanishi, Kenta Kakinuma, Diamond Konley & Nick Primo vs. Shiro Koshinaka, Sito Ueda, Yoshikazu Yokoyama, Zuffa & Buffa
A mix of a lot of the up and comers and established from Japan and from all around the world. Every man in the ring has a style of their own and will be aiming to showcase what they can offer in hopes of next year being placed higher up the ranks with the best of them. The inclusion of Koshinaka in this match is cool in my opinion because it is putting a bit more pressure on the other team to try and outclass him, that is if they can. Should be a great opening contest.
(2) NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Title Match: [Champion] Craig Classic vs. Munenori Sawa
Craig Classic is coming in with the news that ZERO1 and the NWA are working together again. Craig has been a fighting champion as long as he has held on to the belt and Sawa is definitely going to have a good match coming his way. Sawa is one of a kind in my book, knows how to wrestle multiple styles, as well as can fancy wearing a bra in some matches as Lingerie Mutoh, a play off one of his favorite wrestler Keiji Mutoh. No matter what Sawa does he is still a great talent in the ring and will bring it to the current champion.
“Munenori Sawa is a great wrestler from BattlArts, and an easy contender for my NWA World Jr. Title. I am looking forward to the challenge, and we will see who the best Junior Heavyweight at the end of the night.” – Craig Classic

(3) NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Title Match: [Champions] Takuya Sugawara & Kaijin Habu Otoko vs. Minoru Fujita & Mineo Fujita ~ SUWA special referee.
Yes you read that correctly SUWA has indeed returned in the ring and as a referee, something he seemed to despise while as a wrestler, but whatever works for him. It’s is also weird to see him coming in and sort of being a non-heel ref. He spent his career being one of the best heels there ever was in the 00’s and it’ll be interesting if he remains that character. Sugawara has already been playing off of SUWA by utilizing the John Woo as well as the FFF, Sugawara is either playing some strong mind games or he has an ace up his sleeve. The Fujita’s who are cousin’s in real life are looking to get the gold and no one knows Sugawara better that Minoru Fujita. Both were champions together as well as friends, that seemingly changed and they have been feuding since. I expect a descent enough match from these 4 men and personally SUWA still has me interested in seeing what he may do?
(4) “Destruction Prince” Daichi Hashimoto Debut Match: Daichi Hashimoto vs. Masahiro Chono
Definitely the match that has a lot of hype coming into the event. The debut of the son of the late great and founder of ZERO1 Shinya Hashimoto. Daichi’s training has been documented, well somewhat, online since he has been in training to be a pro wrestler. Daichi though is getting a big introduction to the sport by being put up against his fathers friend and long time rival in the ring Masahiro Chono.
Daichi in my eyes does have a lot of weight to carry, but also he is someone that pro wrestling needs in Japan. The last decade was sort of an odd time in wrestling, with seeing a big decrease in the general carrying for it. The Japanese culture as a whole has sort of stop watching and getting into combat related sports. I fully believe that this next generation with start to see some live coming back to the sport, if not we could start seeing a lot of things happening that we wish would not happen. Daichi though I believe we be a major part of this generation and I know a few people would love to see Daichi carry his fathers image as well as bring some emotion back to the sport. I mean I can tell you right now the moment that Daichi throws a leg trip or a Brainbuster, I’ll probably mark out.

(5) NWA International Junior Heavyweight Match: [Champion] Ikuto Hidaka vs. Takafumi Ito
Hidaka made the call out to face Ito following his win in the Junior Heavyweight tournament late last year. Hidaka wanted to face someone who would tak him to the brink of fighting for his belt as well as someone who would test him with his MMA abilities. Both men are skilled in being able to knock one someone out as well as making someone tap quickly. This match should be a great skill based match, as well as a match that tests abilities of both men. It will be interesting to see how well Ito transitions into pro wrestling or if he will strictly rely on grappling and blows. There is nothing wrong with that style and I expect more of the feel of the old UWF days with this match.
(6) NWA International Tag Team Match: [Champions] Kohei Sato & KAMIKAZE vs. Atsushi Sawada & X (to be announced soon)
Sawada has definitely been getting under the skin on Sato and has his eyes set on getting the belts. Though the under-lying factor is that Sawada has not named his partner. I believe he is not going to announce it till the day of the show and to be honest I am thinking that it could be his mentor Naoya Ogawa. Considering Ogawa has held this belt in the past and has history with ZERO1, I mean who else could it be?
Alright just go in a way of showing what I originally thought and what has actually happened. This news was released last night in Japan.
Atsushi Sawada has finally announced who his partner is and I never even thought of this man as a choice, but all I gotta to say is I never thought this card would get any better than it already was to begin with. I mean his name crossed my mind and someone who should be at the show, but even when he mentioned he was flying out I took nothing from it since it was a few days back. This is good news though, at least it turned out be someone who has tremendous history with the promotion.

~ NWA International Tag Team Match: [Champions] Kohei Sato & KAMIKAZE vs. Atsushi Sawada & Steve Corino

(7) ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship Match: [Champion] Daisuke Sekimoto vs. Ryouji Sai
Sai has held the Heavyweight belt in the past, but Sekimoto is known as one of the toughest and strongest in Japan today, as well as the world. Sekimoto is a powerhouse and is even not afraid to be in a deathmatch as well, though today he tends to sway from those matches. This match already has some controversy going into it as Kohei Sato just recently pinned Sai clean last week. I mean this does not look good for someone who has a title match, but it was still said to have been a good match. If anything this is going to give Sai a chance to fight harder against Sekimoto, but whoever wins the title can expect to see Sato coming for them next.
(8) Masato Tanaka vs. Yuji Nagata
Two heavy hitters and two who have some of the strongest fighting spirits in Japan, neither will tap too easily and neither will take a fall without being taken to the brink of exhaustion. I am expecting what I said in the last sentence and it is making for this event to be one of the best of the event.
(9) Shinjiro Otani vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
“Mr. Pro Wrestling” Otani is looking to take on the biggest and the baddest in Japan for this event to show of the fighting spirit to the fullest. Takayama is known for being a straight up brute in the ring, he is known for his devastating knees and strength. He may not be the best looking guy in Japan, but that is him showing his battle scares for his love for being a fighter. This match will be a fight and I expect this match to show why ZERO1 was formed and why it still stands today.

This is a solid card and looking to be a great event all in all. ZERO1 has been doing very well in my opinion this year and I am hoping that this event does very well for them. I have always enjoyed ZERO1 since their inception, and being a big fan of Shinya of course I would like the promotion. Even following his death the promotion sort of went a bit down, but there was something there. Even know there are a lot of up and coming talent in the promotion from Sai, Sato, Kakinuma, Takanishi & Ueda there is a bright future. Not too many promotions in Japan have a solid new generation like this in the promotion. Even New Japan only has a few young guys coming in at a time. So if anything I recommend people to actually go and pick up a couple ZERO1 shows from IVPvideos.com. Look for talent that you may recognize or just take a shot at some of the resent stuff. If you can get the New Year show from 1/1/2011 I would recommend that one.

I have been promoting this show since the first match was announced as best as I could. Now it is coming down to less than a few days and the show has been getting bigger and better and is already turning out to be the “do not miss” show of the year.

I will be back next week with the results of what happened this weekend and what that means going forward. Each one of these events will be shaping what will be happening this month and next and hopefully you can start getting into Japanese Pro Wrestling as much as I do.

So in the meantime, please follow the Puroresu Spirit Facebook page for all the latest news and happenings. I tend to post early in the morning and at night as I try to work on the Japanese schedule and getting all the news out ASAP. So please check the page daily for all the latest news.
Also my twitter @PuroresuSpirit is there as well and acts as a quicker way to get all the latest happenings as well as some random comments from myself on all thins pro wrestling related.

This Week in Japanese Pro Wrestling Vol.1 (3/4/2011-3/10/11)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *