WWE

[luckysalt]

- Here's the official announcement from TNA on signing Hulk Hogan:

HULK HOGAN JOINS TNA WRESTLING

Legendary Wrestler and Pop Culture Icon Returns To The Ring With Fast-Rising Wrestling Organization

“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.

Edited October 27, 2009 by luckysalt

[luckysalt]

[luckysalt]

Sorry to keep posting but this is bigger than I thought! He's even brought into the company!

Heres the report

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

[Uncle Liam]

The Observer site is down.

You have to wonder, long term, what the benefit of bringing Hogan in is. Do people really want to see 'dream' matches with Hogan v Joe, AJ etc? I'm sure the first match would probably smash the buy rate record, but then what?

Everytime he made a comeback to WWF the novelty wore off in a month. Why should it be any different in TNA?

[Halcyon]

Just when you though TNA couldn't live anymore in the past... they do this and prove you wrong.

[ampersand]

Sorry to keep posting but this is bigger than I thought! He's even brought into the company!

[Uncle Liam]

His ring work may suck, but in terms of name value, maerket value and sponsors to TNA, this is massive for them, the PR they will get out of this will be huge.

Vince didn't keep brining him back and made Shawn Michales lose to him for no reason.

Hogan marketed right equals buys...

I wonder what Vince thinks of this news, I know its 15 years on but when Hogan went to WCW that was the start of the war.

I wonder if the next step will be moving to Monday Nights? If TNA sign RVD too, then TNA could really start up a whole new Monday Night Wars here.

[Uncle Liam]

are people doing this on purpose this week to annoy me or something?

[Halcyon]

I wonder what Vince thinks of this news

[Uncle Liam]

I wouldn't be supprised if Vince didn't even know who/what TNA is.

He doesn't give a toss about ECW, which does about the same rating as Impact, and it's his own program.

[luckysalt]

You guys have to see, Hogan hasn't been brought in it seems to be a week in week out wrestling talent, it appears he's been brought in to invest and make money with TNA, As a figure head, to help grow the organisation via the media.

And in regards to your comments as to Vince didn't make Shawn Micahles lose to Hogan, of course he did, he's the owner, he books the matches, Hogan didn't turn up and say sign me to a contract and im beating Shawn Michales and then f**king off again. Vince signed Hoagn and put him in the programme with Michales, Hogan just used his clause to make sure he won, and Its Vinces fault he agreed to that clause in the first place

If Hogan is a partner in TNA, which he says he is, its in his interest to keep the product strong, he isn't going to come in a steamroll over everyone, cus he may as well be throwing his money down the drain.

End of the day this is a big deal, not as big as the nWo back in WCW, nowhere near, but it is a step in the right direction and will have an effect on the casual viewership of TNA. Hogan is already appearing on Larry King [i think it is] tonight. That will have some effect in a positive light. Hogan is a huge name especially in the US. He can get the TNA name out there, something they've not been able to do to the casual market.

Also the signing of Bischoff is great news, he has a great business mind for wrestling television, he can help grow TNA, like he did WCW. WCW failed because porr people got put in charge once the office went. When Turner merged with Time Warner that was the nail in WCW. Bischoff lost power at that point because they wanted WCW off the air. Spike LOVE professional wrestling and TNA, they're 100% behind the company. They just needed the star power and the right people working the company.

I see nothing but bright things from this. I don't see Hogan v Sting, and then him squashing AJ and keeping the title for a year, Hogan knows people won't buy into that, but his name value they will tune into see, if only once, then the other guys can show what they can do

[luckysalt]

Back to WWE.

Survivor Series, I like the matches announced

Triple Threat WWE Title- Cena v DX

World Title Casket Match- Undertaker v Big Show

I wasn't espected either of those matches, both could be decent.

[Lithium05]

What's Jericho gonna be up to though?

[luckysalt]

Word is Ric Flair will be joining TNA next, already the word is Spike will be showing the Hogan/Flair reality TV as part of the deal signed with Hogan, and that Flair will be coming into TNA as well im guessing to promote the show, I very much doubt Flair will wrestle for TNA, as he said he only wants to wrestle outside the US.

[luckysalt]

What's Jericho gonna be up to though?

[Uncle Liam]

Dunno, but those matches are confirmed

[luckysalt]

Bischoffs company has also stuck a deal with Spike to produce shows for them

Basically its TNA/Spike/Hogan and BischoffHervey all signed one big deal together.

It's only a positive thing I can see. Exposure to TNA to new markets via Hogan. And Hogan gets a cut of the company profits it seems, I can't see him doing anything other than be a company player in this as Ive said.

[luckysalt]

In wake of this whole Hogan thing, TNA will now be shown in the UK Friday Nights on Virgin 1 at 9pm

Great news, basically its avaliable to a even wider auidence than ever now. Bravo will still shown it on Saturday Night in the 9pm timeslot

Edited October 27, 2009 by luckysalt

[Lithium05]

The Raw hosts are so hit and miss. Though I think it's fairly obvious - Actors - Good. Nascar drivers - Bad.

[Lithium05]

Just watching Raw. Kofi is looking like getting a hell of a push. Why haven't they let him talk before? He's awesome on the mic! Now they've got him in a program with Orton by the look of it!

[Lithium05]

Next weeks hosts are a mixed bag.

One of them is an absolute legend.

The other one is pure evil and deserves to be locked in a room and tortured for the rest of her (hopefully short) existance. Seriously I can't wish enough pain on this vile women and I have no idea why the aforementioned legend has put up with her so long. Seriously, possibly the most awful person in the entertainment industry. Including Simon Cowell.

I'll leave it to you lot to figure out who I'm talking about, but if you think about it, it should be pretty obvious.

[Uncle Liam]

They need to get Kimbo Slice as a guest host.

[When Jokers Attack]

Back to WWE.

Survivor Series, I like the matches announced

Triple Threat WWE Title- Cena v DX

World Title Casket Match- Undertaker v Big Show

I wasn't espected either of those matches, both could be decent.

[Halcyon]

it appears he's been brought in to invest and make money with TNA

[Elbear]

Why are Taker and Big Show having another casket match? They had one at Survivor Series 2008 and it sucked. I haven't watched the product since Wrestlemania so maybe I'm missing some background or storyline to this, Just seems odd.