Former ECW World Heavyweight Champion Terry “Rhino” Gerin, who was also the NWA World Heavyweight Champion for TNA in 2005, is reportedly close to accepting a role with New Japan Pro Wrestling, reports The Heyman Hustle website.
The word comes after Rhino and Togi Makabe fought in a South Philly Street Fight – Falls Count Anywhere Match as the main event of the New Japan Pro Wrestling Northeast Tour Finale earlier this evening at the old ECW Arena in South Philadelphia.
“Rhino made Makabe look like a killer in the match, which was put on last, as the main event, at the Arena,” WrestleZone was exclusively told by a source backstage at the event, “he especially impressed Mr. Hattori, whose word carries a lot of weight with New Japan, and who has had his eye on Rhino for a long time.”
Additionally, WZ has exclusively learned through several TNA sources that Rhino is “very happy” working Internet Pay Per Views for Insane Clown Posse’s “Juggalo Championship Wrestling” group in Michigan, and has no plans on returning to TNA. “Rhino feels he had a good run with TNA, but now he’d like to concentrate on a role in New Japan, and maybe even a return to WWE if the situation was right.”
We were also told, “Rhino is one of those guys who really does like working the indies. He doesn’t mind traveling, and he enjoys busting his ass on these shows. That’s why Jersey All Pro (who co-promoted the New Japan shows) loves him, and that’s why the Juggalo group values him so much!”
In related news, you can check out a new gallery of photos featuring Rhino’s surprise appearance at New Japan’s New York City Press Conference, by clicking on the photo below.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
