# Pro Wrestling Zero1

Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Japanese: プロレスリングZERO1, Hepburn: Puroresuringu Zerowan, stylized as PRO WRESTLING ZERO1), 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

The promotion was founded by former New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) star Shinya Hashimoto who was quickly joined by 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. 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".
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. 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 would later fold in 2009.

### As Pro Wrestling Zero1

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. Later in 2012, the Zero1 Hong Kong and Zero1 Mexico branches opened. In 2013, Yoshiyuki Nakamura opened a new division of Zero1 in Belarus.
On December 17, 2013, Zero1 announced a corporate restructuring taking place at the start of the 2014.
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. On May 22, 2017, Zero1 partnered with the United Wrestling Network to become the group's official Japanese affiliate. 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.
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. A further goal would be 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. In July 2020, it was announced that the company was acquired by Daiko Holdings Group. 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 | Location | Notes |
| World Heavyweight Championship | Go Shiozaki | 1 | July 13, 2024 | 206+ | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Akitoshi Saito at Noah Destination 2024. |
| NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship | Takumi Baba | 2, 2 | January 1, 2025 | 34+ | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Seiki Yoshioka at Tochi Pro Happy New Year & Shinjiro Otani Aid ~ Stand Up Again And Again. |
| International Junior Heavyweight Championship | Takumi Baba | 2, 2 | January 1, 2025 | 34+ | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Seiki Yoshioka at Tochi Pro Happy New Year & Shinjiro Otani Aid ~ Stand Up Again And Again. |
| NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship | MJ2 (Kengo Mashimo and Naka Shuma) | 1 (1, 1) | March 20, 2024 | 321+ | 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 | Notes |
| Zero1 USA Heavyweight Championship | Mad Dog Connelly | 1 | December 9, 2023 | 423+ | Defeated Joey O’Riley in a steel cage match at ZERO1 USA Christmas Chaos. |
| Zero1 USA TNT Championship | B.A. Malkin | 2 | December 7, 2023 | 425+ | 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 | October 21, 2023 | 472+ | 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 | January 20, 2024 | 381+ | 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 (1, 1) | September 23, 2023 | 500+ | 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 | Notes |
| Blast King Championship | Taru | 2 | August 5, 2018 | 2375+ | Defeated Yuko Miyamoto at Super Fireworks Current Blast Festival 2018 in Kawasaki. |
| Blast Queen Championship | Aja Kong | 1 | July 22, 2023 | 563+ | Defeat Hiroyo Matsumoto in a Super Plasma Blast Deathmatch at 23rd Midsummer Festival ~ Fire Festival 2023. |
| Blast King Tag Team Championship | Revengers (Masato Tanaka and Hide Kubota) | 1 (1, 1) | August 18, 2019 | 1997+ | Defeated Taru and Chris Vice at Super Fireworks Current Blast Festival 2019 in Kawasaki. |

### No longer promoted / inactive

| Championship | Last champion(s) | Date won |
| NWA United National Heavyweight Championship | Chris Vice | January 18, 2020 |
| NWA Pan-Pacific Premium Heavyweight Championship | Akebono | May 16, 2012 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| HCW World Women's Championship | Hikaru | December 16, 2007 |
| Sun Championship | Sara Del Rey | March 20, 2011 |
| NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship | Sugi and Raicho | October 4, 2020 |
| WDB Tag Team Championship | Minoru Fujita and Saki Maemura | February 26, 2009 |
| World-1 Heavyweight Championship | Steve Corino | January 31, 2010 |
| 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 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 |
| Pro Wrestling World-1 | New Jersey | 2004 |
| Pro-Wrestling Sun | Japan | 2006 |
| Zero1 USA | Midwestern United States | April 29, 2011 |
| Zero1 Pro Wrestling Australia/Wrestle Rampage | Australia | 2012 |
| Zero1 Ireland/Fight Factory Pro Wrestling | Ireland | 2012 |
| Zero1 Scotland/Scottish Wrestling Alliance | Scotland | 2012 |
| Zero1 Hong Kong/Hong Kong Pro Wrestling Federation | Hong Kong | 2012 |
| Zero1 Mexico | Mexico | 2012 |
| Zero1 New Belarus Pro Wrestling | Belarus | 2013 |
| Zero1 Spain/Super Wrestling Alliance | Spain | 2013 |
| Marvelous | Japan | 2015 |
| Super Fireworks Pro Wrestling | Japan | 2015 |
| Zero1 USA Northeast | Northeastern United States | 2019 |
| Tochigi Pro-Wrestling | Tochigi Prefecture | 2021 |
| Zero1 Hardcore | Japan | 2024 |