Junya Matsunaga vs. Masato Tanaka Made Official For ZERO1 25th Anniversary Event

By: Ian McCord

Pro Wrestling ZERO1 celebrates its 25th Anniversary on April 3rd with an event at the infamous Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo. In the main event, Masato Tanaka is set to defend the ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship against Junya Matsunaga.

Matsunaga won the opportunity to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship back on March 6th, defeating Hayabusa in the main event of ZERO1’s event in Itabashi.

The ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship match was made official at a Signing Ceremony that ZERO1 posted on social media earlier this week.

During the ceremony, Junya Matsunaga, who’s also one half of the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champions, talks about his past year in ZERO1. He explains that winning the tag team titles at the end of 2025, and defeating Tanaka back on January 17th at ZERO1’s Saikyou Ketteisen One Day Tournament, were turning points in his career. Matsunaga also shares his ambitions of being the top guy in the promotion stating:

“About a year ago, I came back to ZERO1, but for a whole year, I just couldn’t get any results. However, at the Intercont at the end of the year, and then by winning the One-Day Tournament, I was finally able to make it back here. Now, I’m going to win the World Heavyweight title and build Team ZERO1 with me at the center.”

Later in the ceremony, Masato Tanaka talks about the younger generation looking to take over and how he must overcome as the elder who holds the top prize in ZERO1:

“Well, you know, people talk about the younger generation taking over and generational change, but honestly, I have no intention of losing to the younger guys. It’s not just about the numbers—you know, just being the oldest. If you watch me in the ring, I think you’ll see. Alright. In terms of everything—well, maybe I might lose in terms of speed and agility—but even taking that into account, I want to outperform them and defend the belt.”

(English Translations via DeepL)

Masato Tanaka will get the opportunity to prove that age is just a number when he defends the ZERO1 World Heavyweight Championship against Junya Matsunaga on April 3rd.

Here is the full card for ZERO1’s 25th Anniversary Event on April 3rd at Shinjuku FACE:

• Tatsuhito Takaiwa vs. Kikutaro vs. Gabai Ji-chan vs. Hide Kubota vs. Yasu Kubota vs. Pandita
• Daichi Hashimoto vs. Yuya Aoki
• MIRAI vs. Konomi Hori
• Chris Vice, Quiet Storm & Violento Jack vs. Koji Doi, Kuma Arashi & Tsugutaka Sato
• NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Title Match (vacant): Bryan Ishizaka & Takuya Sugawara vs. Van Vert Jack & Yuki Toki
• BUSHI vs. Hayabusa
• ZERO1 World Heavyweight Title Match: Masato Tanaka (c) vs. Junya Matsunaga