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| Tomko, tag tournament, Minoru's plans, Nakamura/WWE update by Stuart - 19 Jun 2006 - [Comments (29)] Former WWE superstar, Travis "Tyson" Tomko, enters New Japan for the first time on the upcoming "CIRCUIT 2006 TURBULENCE" series. At 6'6" and around 300lbs, Tomko is another imposing figure, and he will form a "monster" team with another tattooed giant from America, Giant Bernard. Simon Inoki today announced that these two will be part of a "provisional" IWGP Tag Team Title Tournament on 7/2 at Korakuen to crown "tentative" champions. What that means is that if Chono can't return by 9/18, at which point it will be half a year since ChoTen's last defense, the winners of this tournament will be instantly crowned IWGP Tag Team Champions. If he CAN return, ChoTen would probably face the winners of this tournament to determine the "real" champions. Joining Bernard & Tomko in the one night tournament will be Nagata & Yamamoto, Yano & Ishii, and Koshinaka & Makabe. Koshinaka returns after his appearances on the "NEW JAPAN CUP 2006 SPECIAL" mini-series, and this is a good sign that he may return regularly, which could be a boost for the heavyweight roster, which is lacking a little depth right now. If you recall, Makabe and Koshinaka shook hands on that tour, and there were hints of a new alliance, but it was unclear if that would go anywhere after Koshinaka didn't appear on the junior series. Tomko and Bernard are joined by Black Tiger and Mexican legend, Negro Casas (his first New Japan tour for several years), as foreigners working all shows on the next tour. Of course, Lesnar is only appearing on the Tsukisamu Green Dome show, where he will face Tanahashi. http://www.puroresufan.com/ |