A Look at the 2021 ZERO1 Fire Festival and the Participants

A Look at the 2021 ZERO1 Fire Festival and the Participants

July 1, 2021

By Ryan Porzl

With the summer approaching, it means one thing for Pro Wrestling ZERO1 which is the Fire Festival. The Fire Festival is ZERO1's G1 Climax or Champion Carnival or N-1 type tournament. This year, it's twelve wrestlers who will compete in a round robin tournament with the winner receiving the fire sword as the prize for victory. After missing last year's tournament, I decided to look into this year's tournament despite not being able to watch ZERO1. I must admit, this probably won't be my best as I'll be going into this blind so if I'm off then that's a big reason why.

Bold indicates a year that participant won.

Block A

Hartley Jackson

Number of Fire Festivals: 2 (2018, 2020)

Pluses: Former Fire Festival winner and World Championship contender

Minuses: Won last year and they may not want to book him to win two years in a row

Thoughts: Jackson is the returning champion having won the fire sword a year ago. Obviously, that carries a lot of weight and someone to consider as a possible winner. Another is he is a former World Championship contender so he would be credible contender against Tanaka. Then there's the fact that like a lot of the participants, he is a fresh challenger. The only real minus I can think of is he did win last year and while it's common for wrestlers to win back to back and ZERO1 doesn't have a lot of options, there's just something that makes me think he won't win a second year in a row. Call it a gut instinct. That being said, he's someone you can't completely count out so I still think he has a decent chance but I feel there could be other options. He should place high, if not make it to the finals.

Chances of Winning: Decent chance

Masato Tanaka

Number of Fire Festivals: 20 (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

Pluses: Current World Heavyweight Champion, Multi time Fire Festival Winner, and one of the few Z1 Main Eventers

Minuses: Not a fresh choice, someone else winning builds a future contender

Thoughts: From the look of his stats, Tanaka is no stranger to the Fire Festival as he's competed in every one to date while having won a record five which means he's won a quarter of the FFs. Tanaka is also the World Heavyweight Champion so he has a lot going for him. Perhaps the best thing for Tanaka is he hasn't exhausted his options regarding challengers as he's only defended once and that was again CIMA so Z1 could give him the Festival since they don't need to establish a fresh contender. He's also one of ZERO1's few remaining main eventers. However, I still feel Tanaka won't win as he is a stale pick and even if they fresh challengers, ZERO1 could use the Festival to really establish the next challenger and it wouldn't make sense for Tanaka to win when he's already the World Champion. You can't count Tanaka out but like Jackson, I feel there's better options. Nevertheless, he'll place high and maybe make it to the finals.

Chances of Winning: Ok chance

Yoshiki Inamura

Number of Fire Festivals: 0

Pluses: Fresh opponent for Tanaka, has tons of potential

Minuses: Not in his prime yet, never competed in a Fire Festival, and nowhere near a main eventer yet

Thoughts: Inamura is one of the best prospects in Japan right now and has potential to be a big star for home promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH. That being said, Inamura is someone I could see winning big tournaments one day but not now. Inamura isn't in his prime right now so I doubt he's winning the Fire Festival when he hasn't entered his prime. He's also never been in a Fire Festival before and he's not in a position where he's winning in their first try. Inamura would be a fresh opponent for Tanaka but others higher up the food chain are fresh options as well. There's no reason to think he's winning this year. Inamura has the potential for plenty of titles and tournaments in his future but this won't be one of them. He should do ok as a show of good will for NOAH but nothing more.

Chances of Winning: No chance

Fuminori Abe

Number of Fire Festivals: 0

Pluses: Fresh opponent

Minuses: Mostly a junior heavyweight and never competed in a Fire Festival

Thoughts: Abe is a talented guy but again, he has a lot going against him. He would be a fresh opponent but there are others that would be too. The biggest issues with Abe is he's never been in a FF before and I don't know if ZERO1 will give him the Festival in his first try. He's also a junior heavyweight and it feels like he's only in this because there were several departures last year and they need to fill slots. I just feel like a junior isn't going to win it. Given he's a junior, I do think he'll place in the bottom three, maybe 4th place. I suppose it's possible he can win as ZERO1 doesn't have a lot of great choices but

Chances of Winning: Possible but unlikely

Tsugutaka Sato

Number of Fire Festivals: 1 (2020)

Pluses: Fresh opponent and former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion

Minuses: Not in his prime and not a main eventer

Thoughts: Sato is almost in the same position as Inamura as he is a young wrestler with a lot of potential but the problem is, he's not in his prime or a main eventer yet. He does have some advantages as he's been in a Fire Festival before and has held gold in ZERO1 by holding the Intercontinental Tag Team Championship. However, he could use more experience. I definitely feel if he makes the improvements that he could be a future Fire Festival winner but not this year. Maybe a year or two. Like the previous year where Sato beat Chris Vice, I can see Sato getting a good win somewhere in the tournament and do ok but not anywhere the top. ZERO1 has no where near the stacked roster but even then, Sato isn't ready for a tournament win like this right now.

Chances of Winning: No chance

Shinjiro Otani

Number of Fire Festivals: 17 (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018)

Pluses: Former World Heavyweight Champion, current NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion, and multi time Fire Festival winner

Minuses: Past his prime, has spent recent years as a junior heavyweight

Thoughts: Otani is one of those guys where you think as a possible favorite because he's a former World Heavyweight Champion, currently one half NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champions, and has won four previous Fire Festivals. However, in spite of all this, Otani has pretty much no chance. Otani is a legend but he's also pushing 50 years old and his best days are clearly behind him. He's also coming off an injury which he suffered while competing in All Japan's Champion Carnival tournament. Otani has only returned to heavyweight not too long ago and has been a junior in recent years. Overall, there's too much going against Otani as I can't see him returning to the tournament after a three year hiatus and just win it. ZERO1 also gains nothing from booking Otani to win as he's over the hill and there's better choices to go with like wrestlers currently in their prime like Chris Vice or an up and comer who could be groomed like a Takafumi or Tsugutaka Sato. Where he places, I'm not sure as he could do well but given he's past his prime, I could see him placing low.

Chances of Winning: No chance

Block B

Takuya Sugawara

Number of Fire Festivals: 3 (2018, 2019, 2020)

Pluses: Fresh opponent, former World Championship contender, long time ZERO1 wrestler

Minuses: Hasn't challenged for the World Championship in years

Thoughts: Sugawara is in an interesting position as I wouldn't consider him in normal years but this year is different. Sugawara does have things going for him as he moved up to heavyweight awhile back, he's a former contender to the Z1 World Heavyweight Championship, and like most of the people participating, he is a fresh opponent. Perhaps another reason I could see him winning is loyalty as I can see ZERO1 giving him this as a thank you for all the years he's been there and the fact he's remained with the promotion when so many others bailed in the last year. Another reason for his possible victory is his only real minus is he hasn't challenged for the World Championship in a long time but even that's not a big minus as ZERO1 doesn't have a lot of options right now. Given everything I said, don't count out Sugawara. He's not my first pick to win but I could see him as a dark horse.

Chances of Winning: A possible dark horse

Shigehiro Irie

Number of Fire Festivals: 0

Pluses: Fresh Opponent and enjoyed success in many promotions

Minuses: Never competed in a Fire Festival and has almost no history in ZERO1

Thoughts: Irie is another in a unique situation. He's never competed in a Fire Festival and has almost no history in ZERO1 as most of his appearances are recent and there are only a few. That being said, Irie is someone to possibly look out for. Again, Irie is a fresh opponent and someone who is believable as an opponent for Tanaka. He's also been very successful in many promotions including having a big run in DDT while enjoying championship and tournament success in All Japan, Wrestle-1, and Big Japan. While, he never has competed in a Fire Festival, he is a big enough name for ZERO1 standards that he could be booked to win on his first try. The only thing I think hurts him is I do think there are options ZERO1 may go to, ones that are more closer to home than Irie. However, I still think Irie has a decent chance of winning and while he's not my first or second choice, I wouldn't be surprised if he won. Worst case scenario, he should place high.

Chances of Winning: Decent chance

Shogun Okamoto

Number of Fire Festivals: 5 (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

Pluses: Fresh opponent, former World Championship contender, former United National Champion, and former NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion

Minuses: Never been a main eventer for ZERO1, ZERO1 has never booked him to do well in Fire Festivals

Thoughts: Okamoto is one of those guys that has things going for him as he's held several titles in ZERO1 such as the United National Championship and the Intercontinental Tag Team Championships while having also won ZERO1's yearly tag tournament The Furinkazan and is a former World Heavyweight Championship challenger. Along with that, he is a Fire Festival vet as he's been in the past five of them. In theory, you think he could be a favorite but not quite. I'm not sure why but ZERO1 isn't the highest on Okamoto as far as top act. With the exception of 2017, Okamoto usually doesn't do that well in FFs so it's not like he's been on the cusp of victory or gotten closer or closer as the years have gone on. ZERO1 seems to find him a good addition especially to fill a slot but not willing to go all in with him. Also, like last year, I feel if they want a heel to win that Chris Vice is higher up the food chain. Given how he's been most of his Fire Festival runs, I think he'll place low especially compared to the other participants in this block.

Chances of Winning: Not that good

Takafumi

Number of Fire Festivals: 1 (2020)

Pluses: Fresh opponent

Minuses: Not in his prime and not a main eventer

Thoughts: Takafumi is in the same position as Inamura and Sato as he could be a future winner and has potential but is still inexperienced and not in his prime. He, like everyone here, would provide a fresh challenge to Tanaka but I can't see him being booked to win the Fire Festival. His history with the Fire Festival is also interesting as he competed in one before but missed most of it due to injury. He's also no where near a main eventer right now so that hurts his chances. He did get a big win over runner up Hayato Tamura last year so maybe he gets a good win somewhere during this tournament but I don't think he'll go far especially given the other participants in this block.

Chances of Winning: No chance

Ayato Yoshida

Number of Fire Festivals: 0

Pluses: Fresh opponent and Top star in 2AW

Minuses: Hasn't competed much in ZERO1 and Never competed in a Fire Festival

Thoughts: Yoshida is in the same position as Irie. He has almost no history in ZERO1 and never competed in a Fire Festival but he has things going for him. He is a top star in 2AW and a former 2AW Openweight Champion so for ZERO1 standards, he is probably big enough to win it on his first try. A match between Yoshida and Tanaka for the championship could be good for ZERO1. Yoshida is definitely someone to look out for. I think he has a solid chance of winning despite his lack of history of ZERO1. Regardless of whether he wins or not, he should place well especially as a show of good will to 2AW.

Chances of Winning: A good chance

Chris Vice

Number of Fire Festivals: 3 (2018, 2019, 2020)

Pluses: Former World Heavyweight Champion, Fresh opponent, In his prime, a ZERO1 regular

Minuses: Not much

Thoughts: Vice probably has everything going for him. He's a former World Heavyweight Champion so that should help his chances. He too is a fresh opponent and a match with Tanaka could be good for ZERO1. Vice is also a top star in ZERO1 and has competed in three Fire Festivals so he seems like the perfect choice, especially if ZERO1 wants one of their own to win it. As far as weaknesses, I can't really find any. As mentioned, he's a former World Champion, a fresh opponent, a ZERO1 regular, and in the prime of his career instead of being too young or too old. He's also a heavyweight which can be another plus. Simply put, just about every minus the others have, Vice really doesn't. He also did very well last year so I can see ZERO1 booking him to win this year. While I haven't been able to watch ZERO1, I feel Vice is the one who will win it all.

Chances of Winning: Possible favorite