Press release!
B4W AND 3KWRESTLING BECOME PRO-WRESTLING WORLD-1
In the middle of 2003, promoters from Pro-Wrestling ZERO-ONE in Japan and the Premier Wrestling Federation in Pennsylvania came up with a concept to incorporate American pro-wrestling with Japanese pro-wrestling rules. This project started in February of 2004 and featured such wrestlers as CM Punk (WWE), Brian Kendrick (WWE), Masato Tanaka (ZERO1), Kohei Sato (ZERO1), Low Ki (WWE), Homicide (TNA), Justin Credible (former ECW), Steve Corino (former ECW), and other great stars. But the company could not gain the steam it needed to stay in business.
After attempts to re-start the company in 2005 and 2007, the doors of Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1 closed for what looked for good. But there were always a few members of the W-1 team that wanted to give it one more chance and that brings us to today.
Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1 will be reborn starting on Friday, August 28 in Morganville, NJ with the Shinya Hashimoto Memorial Tournament!
The original concept will stay the same. American wrestling with Japanese style rules including a 20 count out of the ring, over the top rope disqualification, and a focus on title matches. This time, former 3KWrestling owner Steve Corino, former PWF owners Rob Dimension and Bryan Riegal, and B4W owner Ryan Kavangh have gotten together to produce the new Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1. Our goal is to produce good independent wrestling with a young and hungry generation of fighters. W-1 is not going to claim to make our mark on the independent wrestling scene, we just want to give the fans that attend our live events an entertaining evening of real professional wrestling.
When W-1 ended in 2007, the tag team champions were The Patriot and Kid America (who were also PWF tag team champions). Those titles continued in 3KWrestling with champions Kid America & Ricky Landell, Kid America & Steve Corino, The Inner Circle, Ryan Sawyer & Kevin Payne (who unified them with the B4W tag team titles in 2009), and now with current champions Tommy Thunda & Chris Rockwell. They will be recognized as WORLD-1 tag team champions.
Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1’s heavyweight champion at the time of closing, Ricky Landell was given the chance to join the new W-1 but declined as he is taking a “leave of absence” from the sport. We would have rather had Mr. Landell lose the title in the ring but it the championship is vacated and will be filled on Sunday afternoon, August 16 in Jackson, NJ in a 4-way match involving B4W heavyweight champion Greg Spitz vs. The Beast vs. Mr. Wrestling Steve Corino vs. GPS.
B4W North American champion Alex Anthony and 3KWrestling & Collison Division champion Chris Rockwell will clash on August 16 in Jackson to crown an undisputed North American champion.
Also the W-1 North American Women’s title will be reinstated and a new champion will be determined in the near future. Former champions include Sumie Sakai, Allison Danger, Amazing (Awesome) Kong, Natuski Taiyo, & Kyoko Kimura.
The Dungeon Wrestling School and Revolution Dojo in Blandon, PA will be the official training center of Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1.
The new W-1 website will be at www.WORLD1Online.com and will feature not just W-1 news but results and news of W-1 wrestlers in other federations. W-1 looks forward to working with as many companies as possible to increase the exposure of great indepedenet wrestling.
On August 28th live from Morganville NJ, B4W Fighting Athletes will be this years host to the 2nd annual Shinya Hashimoto Memorial Tournament. The eight man tournament participants will be announced every day here at 12 noon, each day until all 8 men have been announced so check back every day!