Tiger Mask IV joins New Japan!

[Peru-Yakuza]

According to Stuart Max :

New Japan announced the signing of Michinoku Pro phenom, Tiger Mask (fourth generation). The Great Sasuke, Tiger's mentor and the man who "raised" Tiger in wrestling, called him a "golden brand", a special wrestler. Sasuke said he wants Tiger to flutter in New Japan, and believes the transfer will be useful for the professional wrestling community at large. Sasuke said he wants to see Tiger win the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title, then wants to challenge Tiger himself. Sasuke finished up by saying he predicts big things in 2003 for Tiger Mask. Tiger said that he would now be "New Japan's Tiger Mask" instead of "Michinoku Pro's Tiger Mask", and showed great interest in capturing the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title with either Heat, Kakihara or Naruse from Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. After winning the title, he wants to face Kanemoto and a partner of his choice. Director Uei handed Tiger Mask a New Japan jacket, which he put on (see above), officially making him a member of the King of Sports!

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Great move for Tiger. Now everyone will see what he's really made of, on a larger scale!

[DANGEROUS DAN]

Hopefully Inoki will not try to get him to do a shoot anywhere.

[Luds]

Well 2 things:

1) Got to agree with Peru-Yakuza... Tiger Mask 4 is awesome... HE'll get the IWGP strap in no time now...

2) To DAN... Well it seems that NJ's jenior heavyweights are being devided in 2 groups: Wrestler and shoot fighters...

In the shoot group, Naruse, Kakihara, Heat & TIger Mask
In the wrestlers group, Liger, Samurai, Inoue, Kanemoto, Jado & Gedo also appear to be in that group...

So it won't be an INOKI thing, just a faction...