It took 12 years of hard work and dedication but I finally was taking the plunge and would make my Japanese wrestling debut. After on again off again talks with Zero 1 in the past, it was finally decided that there would be a spot for me in the upcoming Tenki Ichi Jr Tournament, a best of the world tournament to crown the top Junior Heavyweight of the Year for Zero 1 Max. I was on my way and was excited. In the lead up it was decided to appear as more Australian, I would not work under my usual TNT persona, but would adapt the monicker “Aussie Ozbone” and be more of the Australian stereotype. I decided to embrace this and got my promo photos done.

Aussie Ozbone Is Born !

After moving into my new apartment the day before, I packed my bags and got prepared for the 9 hour flight. A weary TNT left Australia and his girl to become Aussie Ozbone!

Narita Airport with Daisuke Goto

Arrived in Japan July 27 and met with AWF staff Daisuke Goto at Narita airport. Went to Toda Park in the Saitama Prefecture and rested and discussed what was to come. Saw Tenryu’s War Final event at Korakuen Hall to get a vibe for venue.

July 28 went to Zero 1 Office and met staff and then off to Zero-1 dojo with boss Mr Nakamura to see facility and train. The dojo is really well layed out and Pride fighters along with Hustle wrestlers also train at this venue.

At Dojo with Ikuto Hidaka & Masato Tanaka

Next day my leg was completely banged up after the bout. I landed hard on the floor after the tope con hilo dive and now I couldn’t walk too well. I had a mild tear in my quad but there was no turning back.

Went and saw CTU show at Korakuen Hall. Afterwards visited the Samurai Restaurant and saw my match from the day before on Samurai TV and had photo taken for the wall.

Aussie Ozbone tope con hilo Vs. Osamu Namiguchi

Next day my leg was completely banged up after the bout. I landed hard on the floor after the tope con hilo dive and now I couldn’t walk too well. I had a mild tear in my quad but there was no turning back.

Went and saw CTU show at Korakuen Hall. Afterwards visited the Samurai Restaurant and saw my match from the day before on Samurai TV and had photo taken for the wall.

Aussie Ozbone @ Samurai Bar Whilst Match Plays

For the next week I rehabbed my leg and just tried to stay in shape. After a few days the whole leg was bruised. From the top of my quad to bottom of my calf my leg was purple.

Met with wrestling magazines, shops and TV station about AWF and had some good interest. Lots of stairs in Japan! Ouch!

Me @ Samurai TV Headquarters With Management

Some of the Aussie contingent arrived with Mad Dog and Krackerjack being the first. We hooked up and had a fun night checking out Shinjuku and getting our bearings a little. I relocated to stay with them in Asakusa.

Next day Daniel Beaumont, Slexx, Jay Andrews, Cletus Blood, Mike Manson & 69 arrived and we all met up at Asakusa. Went to dinner with referee Daniel Beaumont at the famed Ribera Steakhouse and had a nice dinner and sucked up some cool wrestling nostalgia pics.

Ribera Steakhouse – Dan & Me

Wrestled an 8 man for the Nightmare promotion on 7 August with the Aussie Melbourne crew. Lots of fun but a bloody hot day!! Tested leg here. Me and Slexx started out. Just worked an early spot and a bit at the end. Turned out to be a good match all up. Was part of a street festival.

Aussie Contingent In Japan

Hung out with the Melbourne boys. Had a fun night of karaoke with Krackerjack’s rendition of “I want to know what love is” and the boys singing Metallica’s “Seek and Destroy” being memorable. Had dinner at Matsanaga’s restaurant and watched Jay Andrews and Mad Dog beat the crap out of each other in front of 16 fans at Tarzan Goto’s Resturaunt. Krackerjack, Slexx and myself were three of the crowd, and it was the best match I had seen whilst being in Japan. Met Ricky Fuji after the show and we all hung out for a while. He was real cool and spoke English as he trained and lived in Canada with the Harts.

Aussies & Sei @ Matsanaga’s Restaurant

14 August travelled about 7 hours on a bus to Miyagi to wrestle a tag team bout leading into the Tenka Ichi Tournament. My partner was Takuya Sugawara and we took on Gentaro and Yoshihito Sasuki. The bout ended in a no-contest when we all brawled in the ring, leading to Sugawara slamming his black box into my head. All hell broke lose and all four of us ended up fighting to the back against each other.

Aussie Ozbone & Sugawara whip Gentaro In For A Double Team

Had a magazine interview and photo shoot with Gong magazine, which was really cool. We discussed Australia and the Tenki Ichi tournament, and of course took photos of me wielding boomerangs!

Met up and had dinner with friends including Battle Arts and Freelance wrestler Suwa, who also wrestles as the cheeky Lingerie Muta!

Went to New Japan at Sumo Hall G1 Climax. Koji Kanemoto Vs Yuji Nagata was a great match. I also met a new friend! I love mascots!

Aussie Ozbone With New Japan Mascot

My partner Amanda arrived on the 16th! We had been missing each other a lot so she took the plunge and decided to join me for this madness. We relocated to Ueno. I was happy to be back together with her to say the least.

At train station with Amanda & Gong Magazine spread on Aussie Ozbone.

Went and saw Big Japan at Korakuen Hall. Main event featured a Light Tube Deathmatch which was off the charts. Jun Kasai was awesomely insane! Pondo & 2 Tuff Tony Vs. Abdullah Kobayshi & Kenzo Suzuki was entertaining also. Briefly caught Pondo and the American crew working the show.

BJPW Deathmatch Tag

Met Masahiro Chono at Aristrist Shop Headquarters. We spoke about the current wrestling scene in Japan and how to build good relations with Australia in the future. He is a true gentleman.

Future Tag Team? Aussie Ozbone & Masa Chono With Manager Daisuke Goto

In holiday time now. The Melbourne boys headed home, and me and my girl got to hang out, visiting Harijuku, Akihabara, Ghibli Museum and Tokyo Disneyland.

It was time for business now. The Tenki Ichi Jr Tournament to crown a new AWA Jr Heavyweight Champion was at hand. On the 23rd after a long day at Disneyland I trecked to the Zero-1 Dojo and met with other competitors. Re-aquainted myself with Americans Billy Mareno & Chris Sabin, and met Alex Shelly.

On the 24th after a few card changes, I ended up being bracketed with last years tournament winner Yoshihito Sasaki. There was an opening ceremony featuring crystal balls and they aired footage of matches leading to our tournament on a screen at the Shinjuku Face arena. The bout turned out to be a really good match, and despite not advancing, I was happy with my performance.

Aussie Ozbone vs. Sasaki From Weekly Pro

The 25th saw my return to Korakuen Hall. This time it would be a tag bout with me teaming with Billy Mareno Vs. Namiguchi & Gentaro. Our team went over in the end after I cracked Namiguchi with my trusty boomerang and Mareno followed up with a firemans slam for the win. Our team had good chemistry, and ref Mister Fred really liked us.

Aussie Ozbone & Mareno Double Team Namiguchi

The 25th was the last date of the tour. It was a 7 hour bus trip to Kyoto. The bout was a 6 man with Aussie Ozbone, Billy Mareno & Alex Shelly taking on Ikuto Hidaka, Gentaro & Macho Pump. The bout turned out well and was a fast paced affair. Gentaro pinned me with the shooting star press at the 17 minute mark after all hell broke loose. The venue was really cool with a beautiful stained glass window as the backdrop. Later in the evening the Tenki Ichi tournament final was decided, and after a solid back and fourth encounter Minuro Fujita bested Tatsuhito Sugawara to win the 2006 Tournament and the AWA Jr Title. At the conclusion of the bout all of the tournament participants shook hands and posed for pictures.

Tournament Participants & A Giant Cheque!

After the show said my goodbyes to some who would be leaving from Osaka, and then made the bus trip back and said good byes to the rest of the crew. Zero 1 Max is a good company, and it’s guys are all easy going and good to get along with. It was a pleasure to be involved in the tournament and I look forward to touring again in the future with these guys. Finally made it back to Ueno after the last train ride with Gentaro & Ricki Fudo, and then rested.

On the 27th did some shopping and sight seeing at Harijuku and Akihabara and then met with Zero-1 Office staff member and wrestler Fugo Fugo Yumeji and wife, along with AWF’s Daisuki Goto and Mr Hijikata for a traditional Japanese sit down dinner. We discussed Australia and future relations between AWF and Zero 1 Max.

Fugo Fugo Yumeji & Aussie Ozbone

The 28th had arrived. It was time to go home. In the morning we checked out of our hotel and trecked to the wrestling shops at Suidabashi to get some presents for those who had been keeping AWF going whilst I was away. My princess bought me a Liger figure! I was stoked. We then went and picked up our bags and caught the train to Narita. It was an 8 ½ hour plane ride home and a taxi and then I could finally live in my new abode with my girl. Despite the good time in Japan, 34 days away from Australia makes you relies how much of a great country it is, and it was good to be back home.

Thanks to all those in Japan who made this trip possible.

Daisuke Goto, you are a legend and someone who I call a true friend. Thanks for all your hard work. This is just the beginning, and I know in time the things we spoke about for AWF will come true.

Thanks to my Manah for coming to meet me and lift me up when I was hurting. You mean the world to me and we must never be apart.

Daniel Beaumont, thanks for all your efforts and enthusiasm. You’re a champ.

Thanks to Future Shock for organizing AWF stuff while I was away, Mark Hilton for sorting privates, and Billy Flyswat for running the School whilst I was away.

Takish, thanks for your hospitality.

Hijikata, thanks for keeping us informed and for being a really cool guy.

Podgee, thanks for being a true fan of the sport of kings and a real nice guy.

Sei, thanks for a fun night at the restaurant with the boys, and the sumo’s.

Aussie Ozborne & Japanese Friends!

Thanks to Weekly Pro Magazine, Gong Magazine and Samurai TV for meeting with me and giving me positive exposure. And of course a massive thank you to Zero-1 Max for all their help in arranging things and giving me my start in Japan. Thank you to Mr Nakamura and Mr Yumeji for the time and effort they put into thinking about Aussie Ozbone. It is really appreciated and I hope when I return I can make an even larger impression with your audience, and in time build a rock solid working agreement with Zereo-1 Max and the Australasian Wrestling Federation.