Hulk Hogan Signs with TNA!

[Hammy]

“Hulkamania” is back! The biggest name in professional wrestling history, Hulk Hogan, is joining Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling (TNA), the fastest rising wrestling organization in the world and home to one of cable television’s highest rated shows for young men, TNA iMPACT! The announcement was made today by TNA Wrestling in conjunction with Spike TV at a press conference held in New York City.

“Hulk Hogan is one of the world’s top pop culture icons and the biggest superstar in the history of professional wrestling. We are truly excited to welcome him into the TNA family,” said Dixie Carter, President of TNA Wrestling. “Our goal is to become the world’s biggest professional wrestling company. Hulk defines professional wrestling and we look forward to partnering with him in a variety of ways as we continue to grow TNA globally.”

“I’m thrilled to be jumping back into the world of professional wrestling,” said Hogan. “My fans have been asking me to return to the business for many years on a full time basis, but the timing or the opportunity has never been right until now. TNA Wrestling is a great company with an already excellent fan base, business and broadcast partner. I firmly believe now is the time for some change at TNA as they are positioned to jump to the next level in their development and I’m here to work with Dixie to help make that a reality.”

Through Hogan’s partnership with Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Television, the deal with TNA was negotiated by longtime Hogan colleague Eric Bischoff. Additionally, BHE TV has inked a first-look deal with TNA and will be working with the organization to develop new programming extensions of the TNA brand.

“Hulk Hogan adds yet another level of star power that positions TNA iMPACT as Spike TV’s version of ‘Must-See TV’ on Thursday nights,” said Kevin Kay, president of Spike.

Hogan most recently penned an autobiography with Mark Dagostino, “My Life Outside The Ring” with St. Martin’s Press.

[Hammy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGQ6VCKSEqA&feature=player_embedded

Also he is bringing Bischoff with him!

[AtariLegend]

Hogan vs. Nash...!


 

[Hammy]

Source: PWInsider

- The press conference at Madison Square Garden today featured Eric Bischoff introducing Hulk Hogan before Hogan talked about TNA and stated that he was becoming a “partner” in the company. Hogan said he feels great and looks forward to being a part of TNA. The conference left the impression that Hogan may be involved as a personality, but might not be wrestling. However, TNA’s official release today gave the impression that he will be wrestling.

TNA’s Dixie Carter gave a short speech talking about looking forward to working with Hogan and that while TNA has great ratings for a Thursday night, Hogan would be the “boost that TNA needed.” Kevin Kay from Spike TV also gave a brief statement about Spike working with Hogan.

There was a Q&A session with fans after the conference. One fan asked Hogan whether working with Vince Russo would be an issue. Hogan responded that as long as Russo stayed in his place and didn’t cross him, there wouldn’t be any issues. Hogan said if Russo did, he would have to take care of it. When the topic of Eric Bischoff came up, Hogan didn’t say Bischoff was working with him in TNA but said they have other side projects they are working on.

They also plugged Hogan’s new book and a camera crew from CNN’s Larry King Live was there filming for Hogan’s appearance on the show tonight

[Izzy]

Hmm

This is gonna backfire

Russo has a plan and he needs 6 months of total control to show what he can do

...if he fails he can go but i imagine he'll be gone pretty soon with arch enemy Hogan taking over

...and i wanted to see what Russo could do

Curious that Virgin 1 in the UK gets Impact the week Hogan arrives...hmmm!

Regardless, this should see TNA's ratings just from 1.1 to 1.5 for atleast a week or two - if TNA delivers a blinding product this could be long term

I have spoken to a few 'older' wrestling fans that joke how they would watch TNA if Hogan returned - bluff has been called!

Bischoff here too...

Bet Vince is a little worried - though he'd never admit it

Get Russo, Bischoff and Heyman on creative and see how long it takes either for TNA to rule the world or collapse - either way it would take them about 4 weeks

[Hammy]

Phones are ringing off the hook and I'm the one causing it as we try to get some more information regarding Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff signing with TNA.  So far, very little is known about the contract terms.  The couple of people I have spoken with so far assume (and pretty much expect) it to be a short-term deal.

It helps TNA, of course, with exposure by having the biggest star in the history of professional wrestling associated with your company.  It helps Hogan with promotion for his book.

One source I spoke with started laughing as I read the press release TNA just released.  "You know who this helps the most?" he told WrestleZone, "Eric Bischoff.  Bischoff made a smart decision with his company (Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Television) as it positions him to have a close, working relationship with Kevin Kay and Spike TV". 

Another person close to the situation told us that he was concerned about Vince Russo's future with the company.  It has been regularly documented that Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff do not respect Vince Russo or his career within the industry.  As TNA puts this over as an on-air position for Hulk Hogan (the recent TNA video promoting Hogan on Impact!), one can only speculate what Dixie and TNA agreed to in order for Hogan to sign on.

Whether Bischoff simply negotiated Hogan's deal and will work with TNA through BHE TV or whether he plans on having something to do with the creative end is still unknown.  One source told us, "I doubt the agreement has Bischoff working with (TNA Creative) because I don't think he would do it, but if he did, Russo is already on his way out the door or will be momentarily".

[D]

This is **** HUGE!!!!!!!!! I am so excited right now, u have no idea.

This will boost ratings big time and give more people a chance to discover the great young TNA guys.


YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[Hammy]

Source: PWInsider.com

- In what has to be a first for TNA, it is listed among the top trending topics on Twitter.com. The draw of Hulk Hogan is also paying off for the company with The Hollywood Reporter picking up the story.

Hogan is scheduled to appear on Larry King Live tonight and it will be interesting to see if he mentions TNA during this.

The scheduled Hulkamania tour for next month in Australia will not be affected by Hogan’s new association with TNA.

[Izzy]

In a conversation a friend once said WCW never actually ended but continued as TNA.

I think he's right - Hogan and Sting as your main men? Transition from NWA? Cruiserweights? Total lack of direction? All check

we just need Nitro girls now

this is the end of TNA, and incidently WCW

Bischoff and Hogan will now control things - and wasn't it Hogan, Bischoff and Russo that killed WCW off last time...

[Hammy]

^ Bit of a morbid view, I'd wait and see how this pans out, the way a lot of it reads its more a case of him being associated with the product rather than being a 100% official/regular.

WCW was a financial disaster, I think TNA is meant to be doing alright money wise.  The ratings might have been slipping when the company went under but it was the financial meltdown that killed it, heck when they went under they were doing double the ratings TNA gets now.

[Rankin]

source: PWInsider.com

-- TNA sources have indicated there have been at least preliminary discussions between the company and the legendary Ric Flair as part of the same deal that brought Hulk Hogan and Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment into the company.

Also, Dave Meltzer has said there will be an even bigger announcement either next week or sometime down the road, didn't say what. People saying it could be Impact moving to Monday nights or a new second show starting on Mondays.

Apparently this is the start of quite afew notable signings for TNA, with some wrestlers from the Hulkamania tour being mentioned. (Possibly RVD, Kennedy ect.)

It'll be interesting to see how this works out, hopefully it will make WWE take it up a notch.

[D]

if they bring in RVD and Kennedy

wow

[Hammy]

Partial source: PWInsider, F4Wonline.com

- It is not confirmed that Eric Bischoff will have an on-air role with Hulk Hogan in TNA and some sources are indicating he won’t be appearing on TV right away, if at all. While he may appear on-air at some point and may help out with creative some, he will be working more behind the scenes with the company. Bischoff is partnering with TNA through his entertainment company, Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment.

Bischoff was a key player in Hogan signing with TNA and will be working with TNA on creating a new TV show and securing new TV deals. There are already rumors floating around that TNA is considering a Monday night show, still keeping iMPACT on Thursday nights.

[Gnrfan]

Am i the only one who thinks this may be a bad idea

Yeah Hogan will raise eyebrows and might even get people tuning in for a few weeks.... but Hogan won't keep them there for his wrestling IMO. Hogan can tell a story well but as a full time wrestler 

Maybe people will discover some TNA talent along the way, but filling the roster with more old guys does nothing for what TNA is best at.... Wrestling!

The more old guys TNA bring the less chance the "real" talent will get. I'm a massive Hogan fan but watching him wrestle now would be average at best. I'd be more excited to see RVD in a TNA arena.

It will be interesting to see where this goes. Maybe Hogan, Steiner, Sting, Nash & Foley can have an Iron man match or a last man standing match where the last breathing wins haha.

Focus on AJ, Morgan, Angle, Joe, MCMG & X-Divison not 50+ year olds that the only way TNA will ever go anywhere.

[Hammy]

There is no guarantee he is doing ANY wrestling with them.

And if he does then it'll be once a month on PPV I'd assume.

It's more a case of him being a MASSIVE name to draw people in.

Speaking of massive names, word is they have someone else in the pipeline bigger than him, is anyone bigger than him though?