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PWINSIDER Q&A: TAZZ, ROYAL RUMBLE, THE FAKE IWGP TITLE, TOMKO AND MORE

Answered on 12/21

With Tazz now leaving ECW and going over to replace JBL on Smackdown and the talk of who's going to replace Tazz on ECW, why don't they just have Tazz commentate on BOTH shows?  I understand that might be a little more work for him, but I think a little bigger paycheck might help that.  If they want a storyline reason, they already have one:  the cross promotions between Smackdown and ECW that's been happening for months.  It just seems that Tazz is that good that he cannot be replaced.

First, we should make it clear that WWE has yet to make a final decision on the Smackdown announcing situation, and that as of right now, Tazz has not "left" ECW, nor is he the permanent replacement for JBL.  Do I think Tazz could do both shows? Absolutely, and given the cross-promotional storyline, it would work.  However, Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn have always liked the idea of having separate announce teams for the different brands, so it is unlikely they would have Tazz work both shows regularly. 

What's with WWE letting Smackdown main event the few past PPV's?  I don't have a problem with it, in fact I think they should be the main event, but it's no secret that WWE's pride and joy is RAW and RAW has been the last match on a PPV for awhile now (including Wrestlemania, even though Undertaker won the Royal Rumble and was supposed to headline Wrestlemania, the match didn't headline the PPV).  I was just curious as to what made WWE give Smackdown a chance?

I think it can all be wrapped up in three words: John Cena's injured.  Prior to Cena's injury, he was in the main event (final match) of almost every 2007 WWE PPV.  With Cena injured, WWE has been going with the stronger feud (Batista-Edge-Undertaker) for main events, while keeping Randy Orton's title match in the middle of the card. 

I was doing some thinking about the upcoming 2008 Royal Rumble and I have to say, I have next to zero idea on who is going to win it.  Any deserving #1 contenders are already going to have a title match on the show.  Triple H seems about the only one left, but I guess I don't want to see that. Anyway, what would be your top 3 or so potential Royal Rumble winners.  Also, any chance we see a Bobby Lashley surprise return in the match? 

Personally, I like it when the Rumble winner isn't predictable.  Obviously, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker or Batista (and figure one of them will face Edge at the Rumble) are all favorites, but Ric Flair, JBL, Chris Jericho, CM Punk, Rey Mysterio or Matt Hardy could all get the win as well.  Remember, WWE also has two months in which the Rumble winner could "lose" his title shot before Wrestlemania. As for Bobby Lashley, if he is ready to go, I think the Rumble would be a good place to have him make his return.

In a recent recap of the matches for the Tokyo Dome card, it said that Kurt Angle held the "fake" IWGP title. What gives? Is he the real champ or not?

He's not.  Here is what happened, in a simple version.  Brock Lesnar was the reigning IWGP Champion for New Japan Pro Wrestling when the two sides had a falling out in 2006.  Brock Lesnar, still in possession of the championship belt, joined Antonio Inoki's IGF in 2007 and "defended" the belt on a show, losing it to Kurt Angle.  So, while Hiroshi Tanahashi is the IWGP Champion for New Japan now, Angle has possession of an IWGP Title belt that is NOT recognized by New Japan. That is why we refer to Angle as having the "fake IWGP title". 

I've recently seen Tomko refereed to as Travis Tomko. Is that his real name? Is he related to the old time wrestler of the same last name, who has popped up with some frequency on the "This Year in Wrestling History"?

Yes, that is his real name, but he is not related to anyone else in wrestling.

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