Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX (Redirected from Z-1)
| Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX
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| Details
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| Acronym
| ZERO1-MAX
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| Established
| March 2001
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| Style
| Strong style
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| Location
| Japan
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| Founder(s)
| Shinya Hashimoto
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| Owner(s)
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| Formerly
| Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE
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Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX, formerly known as Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE, is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded in 2001. It was affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance until late 2004. The promotion's name seems to refer to the year it was created.
The promotion was founded by former New Japan Pro Wrestling stars Shinya Hashimoto and Shinjiro Ohtani. Over the years, they attracted talent from both New Japan and the independents, such as Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Masato Tanaka, and former RINGS fighter Wataru Sakata.
ZERO1-MAX has had agreements with Pro Wrestling NOAH, All Japan Pro Wrestling, RIKIPRO, HUSTLE, and Dragondoor which enabled its wrestlers to challenge for and hold their titles. Hashimoto won the Triple Crown heavyweight title, while Takaiwa held NOAH's GHC junior heavyweight title. ZERO1-MAX top Junior tag team of Ikuto Hidaka & Minoru Fujita also placed 2nd in the 2005 "Differ Cup" tag tournament run by NOAH.
ZERO1-MAX's structure was, until recently, very much like Genichiro Tenryu's old WAR promotion: the focus on the top star (in this case, Hashimoto), with other talent ranking below him. This is no longer the case however as Shinjiro Otani runs things much different than Hashimoto.
On November 30, 2004 Hashimoto gave up ownership of the promotion, telling the press that due to financial problems he has decided to step away from the company. Hashimoto had been very injured physically the past year and needed surgery, but looked to be heading back to New Japan Pro Wrestling after recovering.
The promotion continued without any delays, stoppages or cancellations. 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. The promotion was re-named Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX with Otani and Nakamura taking over the booking duties.
Several foreign wrestlers also work, or have worked for the promotion. For example: Low Ki, A.J. Styles, Steve Corino, Spanky, Alex Shelley, Sonjay Dutt, Super Crazy, Matt Striker, C.W. Anderson, Ryan Sakoda and Aaron Aguilera.
Among the major changes to the federation's structure was the revival of the old AWA World Heavyweight World Heavyweight Title after the owner of their NWA promoting liscense, Antonio Inoki, took the license back for his own use in New Japan.
On July 11, 2005 former owner and top star, Shinya Hashimoto, died suddenly of a brain aneurysm at the age of 40.
ZERO1-MAX hold a Heavyweight tournament every Summer called the "Fire Festival" where the winner holds the "Fire Sword" (a katana) for a whole year until the next tournament. They also hold a yearly Junior Tournament called the "Tenka-Ichi Jr tournament."
Championships
- AWA World Heavyweight Championship
- ZERO1-MAX International Jr. Heavyweight Championship
- NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championships
- NWA Lightweight Tag Team Championships
- ZERO1-MAX US Openweight Championship
- NWA United National Heavyweight Championship
Roster
See: Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX roster
External links
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