As Of This Point, How do You Analyze Hogan/Bischoff's Effect On TNA?

[Calderownz]

As far as I can remember, Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan have been on their respective TNA jobs for about a year now. Hard to believe. Like most jobs, you'd be evaluated in terms of your performance up to this point.

So, this is what we will do. We'll take the five most important categories in terms of careers, and translate them to wrestling categories and evaluate their performances thus far.

Then, you can give them an overall grade.


1. Work Ethic: Do they seem like they've put their best into it? Do you think that they've completely applied themselves to TNA and it's stars?

2. What Did They Bring To The Table: The things they brought to the table.. Did they make the right changes that had to be made? Even if they put their all into it, was it really what TNA needed in hindsight?

3. Morale: Did they inevitably hurt and help TNA as a whole in terms of their impact on the locker room and fans?

4. Did They Help The Company Grow: Simple enough.

5. Do They Still Have Potential: Do they still have something to offer the company?

OVERALL GRADE: What would you give them for the individual categories and then average it off for an overall grade?


I'll go first.

1. In some ways, I think they may have put everything they have into it. I also think that they might not have much left. Bischoff, say what you will about him, had to come up with a lot of concepts and ideas in WCW. It's hard to essentially leave the company, work for another company and then move to your third major company and try to be different than the previous two. With Hogan, he's never been a creative wizard to the best of my knowledge. Grade: C

2. In terms of what they bring to the tables. Hogan, in some ways, still brings something to the table by simply being there. He does still have a certain level of star power. One of the three wrestlers that you can mention by name and have virtually EVERYONE know instantly who you're talking about. However, that can be a two-way street. Some people might know of Hogan and be tired of the old man.

In terms of Bischoff, it's a harder position to analyze. I have a feeling something like the World Championship Rankings was his idea. You could also make a case that he was the guy who scrapped the idea. So, you never know. So far, however, neither has made the impact they were hoping to make, I don't believe. GRADE: D+

3. This is perhaps the easiest of the categories. In all honesty, nothing has dramatically changed. You may get reports that some guys like them, some guys don't. That's bound to happen. However, they haven't made too much of am impact, either way. Young guys are getting chances and the older guys are actually get phased out. So, they don't have that wrap any longer. Realistically, this is the easiest category because they haven't genuinely affected this area of TNA either way. GRADE: B-

4. No. The PPVs don't show it. The ratings don't show it. They still need to tour more. They still tour the same circuit and haven't had fan attendance grow. Obviously, they tape at the same arena, however I'm talking about house shows and PPVs having not changed at all. GRADE: D-

5. Sadly, if they do have potential, I don't see much of it mattering. Hogan can't offer anything in the ring and creatively, he's not that big of an asset. Bischoff, for any of his past glory, he hasn't shown us anything that makes us feel that TNA will be taking over. GRADE: D+

OVERALL GRADE: C- to a D+

That's about as good a grade as I can give them. I'm not a Bischoff/Hogan hater, either. I actually went into this thinking that they'd get a little higher than this. However, I can't seem to think of any way they could.


Your turn.

 

[K4P-Unleashed]

1. Work Ethic: Do they seem like they've put their best into it? Do you think that they've completely applied themselves to TNA and it's stars?

2. What Did They Bring To The Table: The things they brought to the table.. Did they make the right changes that had to be made? Even if they put their all into it, was it really what TNA needed in hindsight?

3. Morale: Did they inevitably hurt and help TNA as a whole in terms of their impact on the locker room and fans?

4. Did They Help The Company Grow: Simple enough.

5. Do They Still Have Potential: Do they still have something to offer the company?

OVERALL GRADE: What would you give them for the individual categories and then average it off for an overall grade?

1. I would say that overall, Hogan and EB have done their best as far as applying themselves. I can't vouch for what goes on behind the scenes, but from what I can see and have heard, TNA's locker room doesn't feel very confident but look at the US today. Business owners are very shifty and employees around the country are nervous because they know that they could lose their jobs at any time. So I feel like unless you're high up in a billion dollar company, of course you wouldn't feel confident.

2. Was it what TNA needed? Probably not, but who's to say that they have helped or hurt TNA? iMPACT has been getting solid ratings, low, but still solid since they have taken over the reigns of TNA. There is always room for improvement and if you compare TNA to WWE right now, both are on downhill slopes. Dixie looked for someone who could help put them over and who wouldn't want a big name like Hulk Hogan on your roster? Like it or not, it's a huge draw.

3. Like I said above, it's hard to blame Hogan/EB for the morale of everyone involved in TNA. From a fan's perspective though, I'm very optimistic about where TNA is going. Since Hogan and Bischoff have come in, I've been more and more enthralled in the company. That has to speak for itself, yet, it's only one fan's opinion.

4. I think they helped the company grow tremendously. Hogan brought them to the national spotlight, whereas before, they were more of a cult promotion. EB hasn't done an awful job with the booking and together, the fan base of TNA has changed. Right now, it's the casual wrestling fans they are out to persuade. With that, it's obvious TNA has grown because TNA did not appeal to the casual fan before the expansion.

5. Yes, they have a lot left to give. I feel like Bischoff is a wrestling genius and he hasn't been given much wiggle room with the other writers on the staff, so it would be interesting to see what he could do on his own. Hogan, on the other hand, still needs to put a few young talents over. Someone like D'Angelo Dinero could benefit from a confrontation with Hulk and being in the hospital doesn't give him the chance to do so.

OVERALL: For me, it's a solid B. I've been marking like hell sometimes, and banging my head against the wall others. So if they can sustain the progress they are making, I'm very excited to see where TNA goes from here on out.

PS: Tonight is huge for TNA and this regime. I don't think it's fair to grade what they've done until their biggest event has taken place and their biggest storyline ideas haven't played out yet.

Bound for Glory will be the climax of the Hogan/Bischoff era in TNA.

 

[Calderownz]

1. I would say that overall, Hogan and EB have done their best as far as applying themselves. I can't vouch for what goes on behind the scenes, but from what I can see and have heard, TNA's locker room doesn't feel very confident but look at the US today. Business owners are very shifty and employees around the country are nervous because they know that they could lose their jobs at any time. So I feel like unless you're high up in a billion dollar company, of course you wouldn't feel confident.

2. Was it what TNA needed? Probably not, but who's to say that they have helped or hurt TNA? iMPACT has been getting solid ratings, low, but still solid since they have taken over the reigns of TNA. There is always room for improvement and if you compare TNA to WWE right now, both are on downhill slopes. Dixie looked for someone who could help put them over and who wouldn't want a big name like Hulk Hogan on your roster? Like it or not, it's a huge draw.

3. Like I said above, it's hard to blame Hogan/EB for the morale of everyone involved in TNA. From a fan's perspective though, I'm very optimistic about where TNA is going. Since Hogan and Bischoff have come in, I've been more and more enthralled in the company. That has to speak for itself, yet, it's only one fan's opinion.

4. I think they helped the company grow tremendously. Hogan brought them to the national spotlight, whereas before, they were more of a cult promotion. EB hasn't done an awful job with the booking and together, the fan base of TNA has changed. Right now, it's the casual wrestling fans they are out to persuade. With that, it's obvious TNA has grown because TNA did not appeal to the casual fan before the expansion.

5. Yes, they have a lot left to give. I feel like Bischoff is a wrestling genius and he hasn't been given much wiggle room with the other writers on the staff, so it would be interesting to see what he could do on his own. Hogan, on the other hand, still needs to put a few young talents over. Someone like D'Angelo Dinero could benefit from a confrontation with Hulk and being in the hospital doesn't give him the chance to do so.

OVERALL: For me, it's a solid B. I've been marking like hell sometimes, and banging my head against the wall others. So if they can sustain the progress they are making, I'm very excited to see where TNA goes from here on out.

PS: Tonight is huge for TNA and this regime. I don't think it's fair to grade what they've done until their biggest event has taken place and their biggest storyline ideas haven't played out yet.

Bound for Glory will be the climax of the Hogan/Bischoff era in TNA.

EVen though we came to different grades, I respect how you made your points. And I also agree that tonight could have us swinging grades around. You never know. Hopefully, BFG kicks ass.

 

[Fire Marshall Bill]

Personally, I judge them specifically on what they've done for the company. Like everything else on your list you can say they've had their share of good things and bad things. The old guys like Hall, Waltman, Nasty Boys, were all huge mistakes. That didn't start them out well cuz all they did was prove people right who said "they're gonna try and take over and bring in all their friends." IMO, their biggest mistake was the ECW guys. OMG they are just horrible. Their average age is nearing triple digits practically and they're not interesting at all. In fact, I find Tommy Dreamer to be one of the most boring wrestlers on the planet.

Part of this goes to Dixie. Does she cause some of this stupid stuff, or is she simply not stopping it? If that's the case she needs to put her foot down and tell them not bring in anyone else right now. If anything they need to cut people. I forget that some people are even on the roster because you don't see them for weeks.

Some good things they've done though are bringing in some of the WWE cast outs. Mr. Anderson is liked by most people. Same with Hardy. Mickey James is a great addition to an already good KO division. Also, the formation of Fortune, I think, has a huge potential. They just need to cut some members out of it like Kaz and Douglas Williams. Leave it Flair as the manager, Styles, Morgan and Beer Money. They could change it back to Fourtune as long as Flair keeps his old ass out of the ring (Another thing they need to stop doing with their elderly). With ECW gone this would leave a great faction to have in TNA for years to come.

But for the posts sake I'll cover each number individually...

1. I think they've definitely tried. Bishoff sometimes I question, because frankly, if he's not a heel, he's not very good. But Hogan, when his back is able to let him work, I feel does everything he can to keep the fans interested.

2. Covered mainly in my top portion. Take the good with the bad. They brought in their old friends, and ECW(?), but they also help draw bigger names from WWE. Would people like Anderson and Hardy have come anyways? Probably, but you can't say that all the publicity that TNA has gotten because of Hogan and Bishoff this year alone doesn't help.

3. I think the morale is rollercoaster as well. People like that changes are being made, but not all of them. There was some grumbling especially when the old ECW guys came back. The rosters too big as it is, now they want their piece of the pie? Come on.

4. Grow literally with too many people yes. But I think in the future their Fortune idea might be a major lift in the company. Just get them away from the AARP fellows first.

5. Definitely. They just need to wake up first. Cut the damn roster geez. It's not even just the old people. Eric Young, either keep him as one character for more than 2 weeks, or get rid of his ass. You can send his tag team partner with him Orlando Jordan. I like Rob Terry, but if they're not gonna do anything with him... Lacey Von Erich, if she's not coming to the ring nude, there's no reason to see her. I'm sure there's a ton others, but just start there PLEASE.

Overall, I'd say a C - Average. Yes they've done some things right, but there's still so many things wrong. If you fix the roster, I think fixing the storylines (which I didn't even get into here, but is obvious to most people) will be easier.

 

[Tougie]

1. Work Ethic: I think they honestly tried their best, and their best at this point cannot run an entertaining wrestling company. To me, they did give it their best effort and gave it all to TNA, but it failed. They're done, they're dragging TNA down. Now if I were to include Dixie Carter, I think the three of them are just a terrible match, have different ideals, and can not run a company together. Hogan and Bischoff know what they're doing, and I strongly believe they tried/are trying the best they can, but are being held back by Dixie Carter.

2. What Did They Bring To The Table: They brought a lifetimes worth of experience and knowledge of the wrestling business to TNA. Experience is the most valueable thing you can have. But unfortunately, that experience has cost them. They took away the main thing that made TNA different, say it with me, The Six Sided Ring. Could a company with a six sided ring be taken seriously by the masses? According to what Hogan on Genesis when he debuted, no. But considering they got a TV deal with a six sided ring, clearly Hogan was wrong. Doesnt matter what the ring is shaped like, it matters what the product is that takes place inside the ring.
The other main change they did, bringing impact to mondays. I dont even need to get into that. It failed, clearly didnt have an "Impact" on the ratings. I'm not going to say hirings that didnt need to be made, people who have been released and people who havent been fired but should be because ultimately its not their decision. But bottom line I havent seen any changes that have positively affected TNA. The Outsider angle? Who cares. They? Who cares. Fourtune? No one cares. Changing the ring? Pissed every true TNA fan off. Moving Impact to Monday's? Fail. Basically killing the X Division and Knockouts division? This is getting ridiculous.....the changes they have made, werent needed. Disagree? Look at the ratings from this past year to others.

3. Morale: Clearly they hurt TNA as a whole. When people are unhappy and leave or get suspended because they speak out, your locker room is in trouble. Daniels, left after 7-8 years because of the product. And he had just main evented for them. Homicide got jobbed for months then managed to get himself released. And we all know Joe got suspended. The locker room is in ruins and the casual TNA fan went from "Wow TNA is really cool." To either "Wow this sucks." or "Its ok, not as good as it used to be." That right there can be the different between a good buyrate for a ppv and a terrible one. The die hard TNA fans will always stand by it because in my opinion they feel like they have to. But come on even the die hards are pissed the ring is gone, hate some of the new "talent". Source: Watch Impact and switch to the Shore debut.

4. Did They Help The Company Grow: It took a major step back. There is no way they can be making money after signing this new talent, but having a few more house shows a month. If this company isnt hemorrhaging money I'd be shocked.

5. Do They Still Have Potential: Do they still have something to offer the company?: I dont see it. I truely dont. Simple enough.

OVERALL GRADE: D-
Work Ethic: B+
Brought to the table: C
Morale: F
Help: D-
Potential: F

Their ideas have failed, the company isnt doing well it terms of TV ratings and PPV buyrates, the product has taken a major hit. Eric Young and Orlando Jordan vs. Ink Inc is a major reason. I think Bischoff has done a bit better because of his on screen character. TNA has a solid authority figure. Wait they have three, fail. TNA is a sinking ship, Bischoff and Hogan will jump off that boat the second they realize they've basically killed the company. They'll go as long as they can for the money, then backout. Its not like Hogan needs the money, we all know he is doing well after his divorce....wait a second

I am rooting for BFG to be an amazing show tonight and I really hope that tonight is a turning point for them. They drop the ball....no hope.

 

[rondiesel2005]

1. Work Ethic: Do they seem like they've put their best into it? Do you think that they've completely applied themselves to TNA and it's stars?
I think they did their best to help the company, but at the same time as i remember Eric Bishoff stated that he doesn't have a specific job title depending on what day it is. With that being said I don't know what to say about that. But it kind of ask us a question, exactly what is their job because it seems like everybody is putting all the ideas out and look what's been happening?? nothing good

2. What Did They Bring To The Table: The things they brought to the table.. Did they make the right changes that had to be made? Even if they put their all into it, was it really what TNA needed in hindsight?

This question, I don't see anything that they brought that help the company. Sure Hogan brought his boys and look what happen to them. TNA needs a to concentrate on using the guys that been in the busy for a long time and help build the company around them. I thought Eric had a lot of ideas because of the way he ran WCW, but i am not seeing any ideas from him.

they moved to Monday, come on we knew it wasn't going to work. Just because Hogan arrives doesn't mean that's the answer to all of their problems. And took away 6 sided ring that was a part of something that was so different from WWE

3. Morale: Did they inevitably hurt and help TNA as a whole in terms of their impact on the locker room and fans?

look at the guys that left the company. Before Hogan and Bischoff arrive in TNA, the guys would go to Jeff Jarrett for their ideas, now Hogan and Bischoff in the company they made some of the key players in TNA leave because they can't communicate with either of them. Daniels left because he felt that he wasn't liked by Bischoff

4. Did They Help The Company Grow: Simple enough.
Since their debut, i don't see anything that they helped the company grow. Hulk Hogan comes from a company that he helped build around and don't understand he i don't see anything from him. Hogan brings politics in the ring which is one of those things that some of the fans don't want to see. I was expecting more from Bischoff. I want to see him turn heel which i hope he does that soon enough

5. Do They Still Have Potential: Do they still have something to offer the company?

I do not see Potential, as weeks goes by they look like they are running out of ideas. I mean Hall of fame ring vs Hall of Fame ring who came up with this idea?? Abyssamania terrible. They might as well work somewhere else. As for tonight since i am not going to watch BFG, don't get my hopes up. TNA always have a hard time keeping things a secret.

OVERALL GRADE: What would you give them for the individual categories and then average it off for an overall grade?

I would give Hogan a F, i don't see anything that he did that help the company. Bischoff I would give him a D, he needs to step up. From the beginning if Their debut, TNA does not need Hulk Hogan, they don't

 

[Agent-67]

My final vote is not in yet on Hogan & Bischoff. This ppv better be lights out with some amazing storyline. They have built up every ppv since they have arrived as a turing point, change of direction, the company will never be the same ppv & nothing major happens. The possiblity of a final nWo run was ruined by Waltman & Hall. Whos to say if it would have been interesting anyhow? This amazing future group Fortune was put together, only for us to watch their members lose matches every week on Impact. ECW was an okay idea as a filler, but they had small fan support 15 years ago, what made you think they could draw major numbers when they are all past their prime & less people care now? This Sting knows something angle has been going on for a long time now, it better be good. Its the actual only interesting angle in TNA. But if this turns out to be a letdown or nothing really happens again at this ppv...

 

[CAPT SPAULD1NG8]

overall i believe hogan and bischoff are trying to make tna a big wrestling organization. which is a good thing, it gives people a choice. wwe or tna. honestly before hogan and bischoff came in i was a huge tna mark. i was all about tna and couldnt stand wwe. now that they are here they really havent done anything. in my opinion they have been a huge dissapointment. i really dont like the fact that they are basing storylines around them. they are not wrestlers at least anymore. give the tv time to the up and rising stars.

what they brought to the table....jeff hardy, rvd, ric flair, mr anderson, brian kendrick, tommy dreamer. yes they are good but when they brought these guys in they pushed their other stars to the side and put these guys in the main event picture. before they were here guys like samoa joe, desmond wolfe, amazing red, hernandez, and suicide were on tv all the time. now where are they.

morale. from what i have been reading theres alot of problems in the back. samoa joe, kevin nash are having problems and i just feel tna is different now that they have arrived.

i dont think they are helping tna grow. in my opinion they are not even close. look who has all the tv time. hogan bishoff, ev2, hardy and angle, sting and nash, and ric flair. they have all already been to the top. they need to build guys like desmond wolfe, the pope, matt morgan, jay lethal, robert roode, and theres more. these guy are the future on wrestling.


in my opinion they need to stay behind the scenes and make their decisions there. they dont need to be on tv.

 

[Mr. Artistic guy]

Work ethic: This to me is the category where I was most suprised. You should never go into business if you can't put into it the effort and time it needs. People argue about them being there for the money etc... and this doesn't change the fact they would still have to work hard especially eric. All hogan has to do really is walk out to the ring, cut a 3 minute promo and because of the crowd reaction he's earned his pay, thats just the way it is for him. Eric was a renound heel for his whole career and has had to market himself as a neutral mediator and has done it well. It's opbvious something he had to work at because it aint really second nature to him. TNA has not gone down the pot and it surely would have if they had come solely for the money, you can't walk in do no work because the company would have died by NOW. It hasn't and I call that evidence of at least partial success. hogan wrestled (although whether he should is a different matter) in between back surgerys, gotta give him some credit and they have spent time with wrestlers trying to put people over (not necessarily in the right way) and it has been stated by angle that other guys will get a chance, we can see this with gen me, so to me they have spent a lot of time evaluating their assets so on work ethic I gotta say B

They brought to the table primarily their own names, naturally that comes with them anyway but some loyal fans will watch whatever hogan does and whatever flair does, whoo came in shortly after. you can tell flair loved the WCW style because he stayed there after his WWF run up until the end so it was a likelihood. They brought in a very well known creative team incl. russo who got vince the market in attitude era because this team brings contraversy...it brings originality. Some of the things they are responsible for are some of the best angles in wrestling history from a golden age. I'm a real fan of their writing style case and point I have no idea who 'they' are and neither does anyone for certain and i really want to know. Good writing team I'll say it anytime. They can make the kindof stories that make wrestling headlines and that to me is golden. I give them a B+

Morale: OK this is far more mixed. Hernandez recently fell out with creative, that said hernandez is not a massive part of TNA's market, he gets a goood response but thats it, hes a mid-carder for life to me. Some wrestlers have been left out of the fray like amazing red for a while now but it's been made clear all talent is going to be showcased at some point so not massively worried about that. I do think it was a slap for some wrestlers to see EV2.0 Nash, Sting and Flair out there but since fortune was created I think it has gotten far better, fortune are heel but everybody wants them to succeed ultimately to the point I think flair may get jilted by them along the line just to show the passing of the torch in the grandest way since the rock beat hogan. It probably went downhill for the knockouts when about half of them got cast out, and lets not forget daniels. But if you look at the top guys right now I think angle, rvd, hardy and especially anderson and all of fortune apart from AJ are loving it right now. I can imagine samoa joe and AJ as two guys there that will be airing on the side of unhappy so overall kindof neutral gotta say C

Did they help the company grow: I'd say they have at least kept it stable but perhaps not made it relevant well at least not all over tag teams wow, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world right now whereas X divison, well it's clinging to life by a thread. I think they helped the company to get recognized and ratings are fairly good compared to the past and I see only good things after BFG so no not yet but in time IA think they will, they haven't been there long enough to see yet and could slip up flingerpoke major style but until then I'm optomistic so B-

Do they still have potential? Yes, I covered this mostly in the what they brought to the table part but I think that their script writing and ability to do contreversy is a real selling point. It is the difference between where they were and where they could be for me. I'll give a B+ because I find this so fundamental.

OVERALL GRADE:B

honestly right now it's more like a B- or C+ but because I can see so much potential in them from past experience I jacked it up a little, well it was the overall anyway but. The only thing I'm concerned with is whether TNA needed them in the first place. I think if they had not been there TNA would be roughly in the same place as they are, but in my eyes they may have the final edge that means it was worth it. Too early to say, I think heyman said in an interview that these kindof major changes take 2/3 years to be seen AT ALL so there we go.

 

[Mr. Artistic guy]

ALL THAT ASIDE BFG WILL BE THE REAL TELLING POINT OF WHETHER THINGS WILl SKYROCKET, STABILISE OR PLUMMET

 

[rmbishop]

I thought TNA was kind of boring before hulk and eb came along. i like it way more with the wcw guys. i try to wath wwe but it is boring as hell. hasnt the cain and undertaker fued been going on for like 10 years now. and im praying Nash leaving is just a work

 

[cam1126]

They have made TNA worse and anyone that can't see that is not very observent. TNA is going to become WCW/NWO 2. You heard it here. Overall grade is a definate D, and I am being nice.

 

[CyDeez]

All I can say is they have brought a bit more of a "WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT?" element to the overall product.

I don't just mean with Impact as a show. But the overall company has that element.

Who will they hire? Who with they fire? Who is mad? Who is happy? Who is suspended? Etc...

I think at that side of the coin, they have succeeded. But they still have not changed what their company profits, or ratings, to a significant degree! Yet...