Yuji Nagata finally relinquished his grip on ZERO1’s World Heavyweight Title today, falling to generation rival and 01 boss Shinjiro Otani in a 20 minute thriller. Nagata seemed unstoppable in 01, having beaten Otani himself previously, as well as the two victories over Masato Tanaka, so had suggested that if he beat Otani again, 01 should be absorbed into New Japan. It wasn’t to be, as Otani edged out Mr. Saikyo with a Dragon suplex to recapture the belt. Nagata told Otani that he had raised the value of 01’s belt and now it was Otani’s responsibility to act as a strong pillar for the struggling company. The ZERO1 fans applauded Nagata, who will now likely focus on New Japan activities again.

ZERO1 “WRESTLER’S BELIEF ‘09″, 2/27/09
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- World Heavyweight Title: Shinjiro Otani (c) beat Yuji Nagata (20:48) with a Dragon suplex to become the new champion.

Nagata made a successful V2 defense of his World Heavyweight Title at today’s ZERO1-MAX show at Shinjuku FACE. He downed the Tenka-Ichi Jr. Tournament winner and former dojo mate, Tatsuhito Takaiwa, after a pretty tough fight. Nagata was then confronted by who else but ZERO1-MAX ace and the man he took the belt from, Masato Tanaka, who demanded their Tokyo Dome match be a title defense. Nagata accepted and it looks all set! 01 also announced that from January their organization name will become just ZERO1.

ZERO1-MAX “ZERO1 DELIGHT ‘08″, 12/17/08
Shinjuku FACE

- World Heavyweight Title: Yuji Nagata (c) beat Tatsuhito Takaiwa (17:53) with a backdrop suplex (2nd defense).

After overcoming Kohei Sato in his V1 defense of ZERO1-MAX’s World Heavyweight Title, Nagata has an interesting second defense set for 12/17 at Shinjuku FACE. He’ll battle Tatsuhito Takaiwa, a fellow member of the 1992 New Japan dojo class, and someone it has been a very long time since Nagata took on in a singles match. Takaiwa earned this shot by winning 01’s Tenka-Ichi Jr. Tournament recently, where he pinned NJ’s Minoru in the final. Nagata will be the heavy favourite, but Takaiwa has plenty of experience and took part in the 2000 G1 Climax, where he pulled off an upset over Koshinaka.

ZERO1-MAX “ZERO1 DELIGHT 2008″, 12/17/08
Shinjuku FACE

- World Heavyweight Title: Yuji Nagata (c) vs. Tatsuhito Takaiwa

And just to confirm, Liger & AKIRA will be challenging the power fighter team of Daisuke Sekimoto & Mammoth Sasaki for the BJW Tag Team Title at Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium on 12/19. The tough man duo overcame Daikokubo Benkei & Yuichi Taniguchi recently in their latest defense to confirm this. Liger isn’t daunted by having to face two heavyweights, as he’s used to it and has scored plenty of wins over bigger opponents in the past. AKIRA, if you recall, was actually part of the heavyweight division for years, before moving back to the junior division earlier this decade.

BJW, 12/19/08
Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium

- BJW Tag Team Title: Daisuke Sekimoto & Mammoth Sasaki (c) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA

He has conquered ZERO1-MAX for longer than anyone expected, winning three Fire Festival tournaments in a row and reigning as ace and champion for a long time, but now Masato Tanaka must face the one and only Yuji Nagata and see if he can really hang up there with the big boys. Tanaka overcame Kohei Sato in his latest World Heavyweight Title defense on ZERO1 soil, a match many thought could be the one where he finally let go of the belt. But a victory in close to 16 minutes meant he held on to the belt and now he is risking it against Nagata. It is now official, Tanaka will make his next defense of the title in his match against Nagata at Sumo Hall on the 13th, meaning two big singles title matches go up one after another!

NJPW “DESTRUCTION ‘08″, 10/13/08 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Minoru & Prince Devitt (c) vs. Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito
2. Jushin Thunder Liger, Koji Kanemoto & Tiger Mask vs. Jado, Gedo & Low Ki
3. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Satoshi Kojima , KAI & Hiroshi Yamato
4. Masahiro Chono & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Yutaka Yoshie
5. Hirooki Goto vs. Giant Bernard
6. Chain Death Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Takashi Iizuka
7. World Heavyweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) vs. Yuji Nagata
8. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Keiji Muto (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura