While the holiday period has been filled with rest and relaxation for most New Zealanders it has been one of the busiest times of the year for Travis Banks.
The Bulls native has spent Christmas and New Year’s Day in the heart of Tokyo, where he is approximately halfway into a three month stay at the Pro Wrestling Zero1 dojo after winning the company’s second Oceania Fighting Spirit Challenge.
“I’ve been way too busy to worry about the holidays,” Banks said. “I missed my family and everything, but they know I need to do this for my career.”
Banks has stepped through the ropes seven times since December 21, starting with a tag team contest alongside fellow New Zealander James Raideen, formerly known as Dils O’Connor.
The Peak of Perfection picked up his first victory on Japanese soil teaming with Takuya Sugawara against Ikuto Hidaka and Bikuma on December 23 when he took the fall and made Bikuma submit to the Lion Clutch.
After three more matches—including a singles encounter with Ikuto Hidaka at the United States Navy base in Yokosuka—Banks kicked off 2013 with a six-man tag team bout at the prestigious Korakuen Hall.
“Korakuen Hall was always a goal of mine,” Banks said. “That was a pretty big deal. Knowing the history of the building and the amount of wrestlers to step in and out of there … being one of them is awesome.”
Banks will return to New Zealand on February 8.
