Pro Wrestling Zero1

Template:Nihongo, often referred to simply as Zero1 and sometimes referred to as Pro Wrestling Zero1 Catch as Catch Can (stylized as ZERO1 and PRO WRESTLING ZERO1 CATCH AS CATCH CAN, respectively), is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded in 2001.

Formerly known as Pro Wrestling Zero-One and Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max (stylized as Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE and Pro Wrestling Zero1-MAX, respectively), it was affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) from 2001 until late 2004, and briefly reaffiliated in 2011. It was also affiliated with AWA Superstars of Wrestling (AWA) from 2005 until late 2007, the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance (GPWA) from 2006 to 2009, and was affiliated with the United Wrestling Network (UWN) from 2017 to 2022.

History

As Pro Wrestling Zero-One

Template:More citations needed The promotion was founded by former New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) star Shinya Hashimoto who was quickly joined by Shinjiro Otani.Template:Sfn In 2000, Hashimoto proposed an independent promotion within NJPW called "New Japan Pro-Wrestling Zero", but the idea was shot down.Template:Sfn When Hashimoto was fired by NJPW in November 2000, he registered the Pro Wrestling Zero-One name.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Citation needed These agreements 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".Template:Citation needed

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.Template:Citation needed 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.Template:Citation needed First On Stage renamed the promotion to Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max, with Otani and Nakamura taking over the promotion's general operations.Template:Citation needed 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.Template:Citation needed Due to their new affiliation with the AWA, the promotion's previous National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) affiliation was given to rival promotion NJPW.Template:Citation needed

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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."Template:Citation needed The alliance planned to hold occasional "Super Shows" where all member promotions would send wrestlers to compete under the GPWA banner.Template:Citation needed 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.Template:Citation needed The GPWA would later fold in 2009.

As Pro Wrestling Zero1

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

Following their 2011 departure from the NWA, Zero1 launched an American affiliate, Zero1 USA, taking over the promotion previously known as NWA Midwest.Template:Citation needed 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Later in 2012, the Zero1 Hong Kong and Zero1 Mexico branches opened.Template:Citation needed In 2013, Yoshiyuki Nakamura opened a new division of Zero1 in Belarus.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On December 17, 2013, Zero1 announced a corporate restructuring taking place at the start of the 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On May 22, 2017, Zero1 partnered with the United Wrestling Network to become the group's official Japanese affiliate.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.Template:Citation needed 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. A further goal would be holding a show in the Ryogoku Kokugikan annually, while also providing Zero1 wrestlers with fixed contracts and social security.Template:Citation needed

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In July 2020, it was announced that the company was acquired by Daiko Holdings Group.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> That same month, they hired former Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling women's wrestler Megumi Kudo as their general manager.

On December 27, 2024, during a press conference, it was announced that the promotion was acquired by Studio Backdrop. It was additionally announced that Zero1 affiliate Tochigi Pro-Wrestling would begin operating independently of Zero1 and Masato Tanaka would launch Zero1 Hardcore, a Zero1 affiliate based on hardcore wrestling.

Championships

Pro Wrestling Zero1

Championship	Current champion(s)		Reign	Date won	Days held<ref name="as-of-today">As of August 4, 2025.</ref>	Location	Notes
World Heavyweight Championship		Go Shiozaki	1	July 13, 2024	Template:Age in days+	Tokyo, Japan	Defeated Akitoshi Saito at Noah Destination 2024.
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship	File:20230506baba2.jpg	Takumi Baba	2, 2	January 1, 2025	Template:Age in days+	Tokyo, Japan	Defeated Seiki Yoshioka at Tochi Pro Happy New Year & Shinjiro Otani Aid ~ Stand Up Again And Again.
International Junior Heavyweight Championship
NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship	File:No image available.svg File:20230616nakashu1.jpg	MJ2 Template:Small	[[Intercontinental_Tag_Team_Championship_(Zero1)#Title_history|1 Template:Small]]	Template:Dts	Template:Age in days+	Tokyo, Japan	Defeated Junya Matsunaga and Tsugutaka Sato in a winner-takes-all match also disputed for the 2AW Tag Team Championship at 2AW Grand Slam In Korakuen Hall.

Zero1 USA

Championship	Current champion(s)	Reign	Date won	Days held<ref name="as-of-today"/>	Notes
Zero1 USA Heavyweight Championship	Mad Dog Connelly	1	Template:Dts	Template:Age in days+	Defeated Joey O’Riley in a steel cage match at ZERO1 USA Christmas Chaos.
Zero1 USA TNT Championship	B.A. Malkin	2	Template:Dts	Template:Age in days+	Defeated Anakin Murphy, Chris O’Brien, El DLC, Devonte Knox, and defending champion Theo White in a six-way Gold Rush Challenge match at ZERO1 USA Thursday Night Throwdown.
Zero1 USA Shining Light Championship	Rahne Victoria	3	Template:Dts	Template:Age in days+	Defeated The Luminary at ZERO1 USA 17th Anniversary Event. The championship was previously known as the Zero1 USA Women's Championship.
Zero1 USA World Junior Heavyweight Championship	Devonte Knox	1	Template:Dts	Template:Age in days+	Defeated Victor Analog by cashing in an “any title, anywhere, anytime” contract; Analog had just won the championship by winning a four-way match against Jake Parnell, Gary Jay, and defending champion DaCobra. 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 Template:Small	Template:Dts	Template:Age in days+	Defeated The Premier (Campbell Myers and SK Bishop) at ZERO1 USA September To Remember.

Super Fireworks Pro Wrestling

Championship	Current champion(s)	Reign	Date won	Days held<ref name="as-of-today"/>	Notes
Blast King Championship	Taru	2	Template:Dts	Template:Age in days+	Defeated Yuko Miyamoto at Super Fireworks Current Blast Festival 2018 in Kawasaki.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Blast Queen Championship	Aja Kong	1	Template:Dts	Template:Age in days+	Defeat Hiroyo Matsumoto in a Super Plasma Blast Deathmatch at 23rd Midsummer Festival ~ Fire Festival 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Blast King Tag Team Championship	Revengers (Masato Tanaka and Hide Kubota)	1 Template:Small	Template:Dts	Template:Age in days+	Defeated Taru and Chris Vice at Super Fireworks Current Blast Festival 2019 in Kawasaki.<ref>Zero1/Super Fireworks Current Blast Festival 2019 in Kawasaki Cagematch.net Retrieved August 18, 2019</ref>

No longer promoted / inactive

Championship	Last champion(s)	Date won	Ref
NWA United National Heavyweight Championship	Chris Vice	Template:Dts
NWA Pan-Pacific Premium Heavyweight Championship	Akebono	Template:Dts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
NWA World Heavyweight Championship	The Sheik	Template:Dts
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship	Craig Classic	Template:Dts
NWA World Super Heavyweight Championship/Zero-One O-300 Super Heavyweight Championship	Matt Ghaffari	Template:Dts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
AWA World Heavyweight Championship	Masato Tanaka	Template:Dts
AWA United States Championship	Ricky Landell	Template:Dts
AWA Japan Women's Championship	Saki Maemura	Template:Dts
WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship	Noiz	Template:Dts
Tenka-ichi Junior Heavyweight Championship	Yoshihito Sasaki	Template:Dts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
HCW World Women's Championship	Hikaru	Template:Dts
Sun Championship	Sara Del Rey	Template:Dts
NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship	Sugi and Raicho	Template:Dts
WDB Tag Team Championship	Minoru Fujita and Saki Maemura	Template:Dts
World-1 Heavyweight Championship	Steve Corino	Template:Dts	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
World-1 Junior Heavyweight Championship	Yoshihito Sasaki	Template:Dts
UPW Heavyweight Championship	Tom Howard	Template:Dts
Zero-One United States Heavyweight Championship	Mr. Wrestling III	Template:Dts
Zero1 Mexico International Championship	Sicodelico Jr.	Template:Dts
Zero1 Australian National Championship	Ryan Eagles	Template:Dts
Zero1 Ireland Heavyweight Championship	Robbie Morrissey	Template:Dts
Zero1 USA Indiana State Heavyweight Championship	Brutus Dylan	Template:Dts
Zero1 USA Heartland States Heavyweight Championship	The Sadist	Template:Dts
Zero1 USA Northern States Championship	Osyris	Template:Dts
Zero1 USA Illinois Heavyweight Championship	Frank Wyatt	Template:Dts
Zero1 USA Underground Championship	Brutus Dylan	Template:Dts
Zero1 USA Underground Tri-State Championship	Lance Storie	Unknown
Zero1 USA Underground Tag Team Championship	Caden Ames and Lance Storie	Template:Dts
Zero1 USA Northeast Heavyweight Championship	Bear Bronson	Template:Dts

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 Festival	Daisuke Sekimoto	July 31, 2022
Furinkazan	Hide Kubota and Yasu Kubota	December 16, 2022
Tenkaichi Jr.	Shoki Kitamura	October 19, 2022
Lion King Cup	Yoshihito Sasaki	December 4, 2003

Affiliates

Promotion name	Location	Partnered on	Ref.
Pro Wrestling World-1	New Jersey	2004
Pro-Wrestling Sun	Japan	2006
Zero1 USA	Midwestern United States	April 29, 2011	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Zero1 Pro Wrestling Australia/Wrestle Rampage	Australia	2012	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Zero1 Ireland/Fight Factory Pro Wrestling	Ireland	2012	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Zero1 Scotland/Scottish Wrestling Alliance	Scotland	2012	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Zero1 Hong Kong/Hong Kong Pro Wrestling Federation	Hong Kong	2012	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Zero1 Mexico	Mexico	2012	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Zero1 New Belarus Pro Wrestling	Belarus	2013	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Zero1 Spain/Super Wrestling Alliance	Spain	2013	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Marvelous	Japan	2015
Super Fireworks Pro Wrestling	Japan	2015
Zero1 USA Northeast	Northeastern United States	2019	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tochigi Pro-Wrestling	Tochigi Prefecture	2021
Zero1 Hardcore	Japan	2024

See also

• Professional wrestling in Japan
• List of professional wrestling promotions in Japan
• List of National Wrestling Alliance territories

References

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:Official website
• Zero1 English language website