Falls Count Anywhere

11-09-09

Day after day, alone on a hill...

Hulk Hogan has signed with TNA.

That may be putting it a little less than what it was. I was going to write this last week, but the information wasn’t as out there as it is now with the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and various other sites up-dating their info. I also managed to get an old friend to give me a little bit of information that was relevant.

First off, Hulk Hogan was announced as having signed with TNA back in 2003. It turned out that he simply played them to get a deal with the WWE. It worked. After he cut ties with Vince McMahon, and started his own promotion to do international tours, Hogan’s decision was likely manifold. His tour probably needed more talent, and TNA probably has some of the better talent that could really add to the Australian tour at the end of the month.

Also, Hogan needs money like Mars needs women. Divorce, new young girlfriend, lawsuits, an epic fail in making Brooke a singing sensation, all of it adds up to the need for cash. It’s likely that he’s in for millions from Panda Energy, which he needs. He also has cronies to feed, like Eric Bischoff, who was apparently part of the deal, and may even have got the deal going himself. Jason Hervey, formerly of The Wonder Years, may also have had a hand in things. According to one person who is around the TNA lockerroom, there were a lot of unrecognized fingers in this pie.

Look out, Angle... there's a new kid in TNA!

Hogan is saying that he made a deal directly with Bob Carter, Dixie Carter’s dad who owns Panda Energy, the parent company of TNA. Hogan’s saying that he answers only to Bob Carter and that he’s above everyone else. This could well be the case, but Hogan would never say anything less. He has an ego which must be satisfied, even if it’s only by his doing interviews.

There is word that he’s started to exert a little control, though not as much as he will once he’s fully integrated. The biggest problem is that he’s going to be very picky about who he chooses to work with and who he will and will not put over. The fact is, I wouldn’t expect Hogan to do a single job. Not one. I also wouldn’t expect him to work with anyone like Samoa Joe, AJ Styles or Kurt Angle. In fact, I’d expect this to be the end of Kurt in TNA.

When the issues with Jeff Jarrett dating Karen Angle started, management backed Angle and gave him a ton of power in the company. With Hogan around, that power is likely going to evaporate and Kurt may well say that it’s time to go. I’d expect it because the money that Hogan costs will likely mean they’ll need to cut a star or two. Angle’s contract is up, I think in January or February, and it’s not likely he’ll re-sign.

On the other hand, he’d be Hogan’s second best opponent (after Sting) so they may try and re-sign him. Hogan would certainly not want to work a physical match like Angle would want, so there’s that. If Angle leaves, expect Bischoff and company to start to fill in the vacuum. I would also expect Vince Russo to be let go because of the history of problems he’s had with Hogan.

There are signs of problems. Hogan’s first TNA segment was actually the lowest-rated on the show. True, it was a good rating for the overall show when you factor in the World Series and such, but it does not look good for Hogan that he was the lowest-rated segment.

There’s been considerable trouble in the eyes of many who see this as a sign that spending all of that money on Hogan won’t help much, if at all, and it could certainly backfire and lead to people tuning out. I think it’s a bit early to say that, and I also think a match with Sting could draw pretty big. So could one with Angle, but I really don’t see Hogan going for it.

The big thing is how much will it cost TNA, not just in cash but in goodwill and morale, and what will it gain them. No matter what, it keeps Hogan in the spotlight, which I really don’t think is a positive at this point in the game.

That’s all for now!

Chris Garcia