01-10-2003, 01:28 PM
Quote:Hogan is a no-brainer.
Don't count on it.
Quote:HULK HOGAN TO RETURN TO THE RING...AND NOT FOR WWE
Quote:Hulk Hogan will be returning to the ring on 1/19 for the Wrestle-1 event promoted by All Japan Pro Wrestling and K-1 at the Tokyo Dome.
Hogan arrived in Japan today with his son Nick and was announced as appearing on the show. His opponent has yet to be named.
Hogan's match on 1/19 will be his first since the angle on WWE Smackdown where he was "injured" by Brock Lesnar. Relations between the promotion and Hogan broke down over how he would be handled upon his return, although there was some cooperation in regard to promoting his autobiography. Hogan has been open to returning when making media appearances.
It will be Hogan's first bout in Japan since a 1/4/94 bout with Tatsumi Fujinami at that year's New Japan Pro Wrestling Tokyo Dome event. Hogan worked for New Japan regularly in the 1980s and returned to that promotion in 1993, working there on major events until joining World Championship Wrestling in July 1994.
Wrestle-1 announced that Keiji Muto (The Great Muta) and Bill Goldberg will be teaming on the event on 1/19, and there is speculation in Japan that Hogan may be one of their opponents.
The addition of Hogan will be the start of a major promotion push for the event, which is just over a week away, and has a lot of tickets to sell, as they've yet to announce any matches for the 60,000 seat Tokyo Dome.