Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff Upset With Sting

[Junox50]

Haven't been much of a thread maker, so I figured I'd give this one a go. I didn't see a topic on this, so I apologize if it's been done all ready.

Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff appeared on The Bubba the Love Sponge Show last Friday for a combination work/shoot interview segment that included one new piece of news, which was Bischoff knocking Sting for missing the last set of television tapings.

Sting missed last month's Genesis pay-per-view and subsequent television tapings due to a family emergency, though it remains unclear what is was exactly. What is known is that nobody is questioning its legitimacy considering that he has been in the wrestling industry for years and has never had a reputation for coming up with excuses to miss dates.

Bischoff said that everyone in TNA has to be completely committed to the organization or things won't work out, with Hogan adding he doesn't see how they can use anyone missing shows. Internally, it was noted as a message being sent to Sting, though it's unlikely he'll get it considering that he pays no attention to the wrestling business except on days when he's working as he doesn't follow it online. Nonetheless, the belief was Sting had a very legitimate reason for missing the last set of shows.

Bischoff said, "Sting's a great talent. Love him to death. My problem is now that we're trying to do this big picture. I understand how big picture it is for the wrestling business. Sting had life-and-death personal issues, but from a business side, it totally screws us up. If at any time that happens, I got a personal issue, now we have to switch gears on who we use, you can't build the world around them. Everybody has got to make a commitment. It's easy to say we want TNA to be No. 1, but if you're not willing to put TNA as a priority above almost every situation, then it's probably not going to work out."

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

So apparently Hogan and Bischoff are upset at Sting. This is one of those issues where it's hard to take sides. I mean, I see where Hogan and Eric are coming from. They're trying to establish TNA, but Sting had family emergencies too. It's annoying when wrestlers miss shows, but emergencies happen and I rarely hear any complaints when it does.

Without knowing the full details, I guess I sort of see where both are coming from. So, getting to the point, what do you guys think? Is Sting right or wrong? Is Bischoff and Hogan right or wrong?

Discuss.

 

[Schizophrenic]

I think this was posted a while back but I don't know if that was here or somewhere else. Anyway I am going to have to side with Sting. They have yet to put him in a major storyline and I don't think that they days he had to miss they were planning on having him do anything major or anything at all. I understand where Eric & Hogan are comming from but in the grand scheme of things, family has to come before buisness, no matter what the buisness.

 

[JackBurton]

Might be wrong but I do seem to remember reading somewhere that Sting rarely worked a full schedule in WCW after around 96/97. Its not the first time his commitment to a company or product has been in question.

Also, most importantly (AND most likely) It smells like a work to me - based in reality but played over-the-top. Like how most angles or characters get over; legitimacy and selling it to the 10th degree

 

[neildittmar]

I don't think there is any clear cut, undeniable right or wrong here.

Family comes first, so Sting missing shows so he could tend to family emergencies was the right thing to do. I mean, hopefully Sting doesn't need wrestling, has made his money already and most important of all, has saved/invested wisely. In other words, I hope Sting is in a good place should he choose to NEVER come back.

For Hogan and Bischoff, TNA as a business interest comes first. How do you build long term storylines (ie; big picture) around someone who can't make it to shows, regardless of the reason? Added to which, Sting isn't a young guy anymore and is subject to the same physical deterioration that any athlete who has been in the business as long as he has will undergo. Couple those two factors together and booking major angles around Sting is a risky proposition at best.

It seems that Sting genuinely wants to participate in TNA. It also appears that Hogan and Bischoff genuinely want him there. Due to the circumstances on both sides, that may simply not be enough. I don't fault any of them, as I truly believe there is nothing to fault either side for.

 

[Mitch Henessey]

Sting doesn't need to appear on Impact on a regular basis. His character still has plenty of mystique, and the fans will pop for him like crazy when ever he shows up. I think the big question right now is, does TNA really need Sting? Their super face world champion just turned heel a little while ago, and sided with Ric Flair. Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff arrived with a huge splash on Jan 4, and there are still plenty of storylines that have yet to unfold. I'm not saying that TNA doesn't need Sting, but it's not NECESSARY for him to return right now.

If Sting has family emergences to take care of, then I see no problem with him wanting to take time off so he can deal with those issues. It's not like Sting works a full-time schedule any way, so what's the big deal? Now if TNA was planning on putting the world title on Sting, and he was missing time, then I might understand where Hogan and Bischoff are coming from when they talk about "business", but that's probably not going to happen any time soon, so I really don't know why they're concerned about this.

 

[klunderbunker]

Hogan and Bischoff need to get over themselves for one simple reason: Sting does not need TNA. Without knowing otherwise, let's say Sting needs money. Are you telling me there aren't a bunch of companies that would pay him to work a one night show? Or maybe, I don't know, the biggest wrestling company in the world?

Also, why should Sting be interested in being there that much? What would happen: he gets beaten up by fat out of shape guys like Hall and Pac for the sake of old times? Sting is worth more than just about everyone on TNA's roster at this point, so why should he be bothered? hogan and Bischoff need to chill out and let Sting do what he needs to do if they want him around. Sting has never seemed like a guy that has a problem with walking away and he wouldn't here either. They need to chill a lot.

 

[moegreen2009]

its clearly over the top with some reality but what do expect from the cancers of wrestling , hulk hogan thinks he is the best thing to ever happen to wrestling he created this hold thig then u have eric bithoff who feeds into this sad shit, i mean if i had to pick im ppicking vince mcmahon hes more about a business instead of let me take all the money and fuck the fans and the wrestlers just let me get my money,tna is dieing and its no bodys fault but dixie numb nuts carter who has run jeff jarrett off now shes going broke for her dumb decision. but in a year tna will be falling with no parachute

 

[Miko]

Yeah this screams like a continuation of the angle that TNA were doing where Sting wasnt turning up for interviews and shit. Hogan and Bischoff were probably just trying to add to that by making it seem even more legit, Sting's commitment being questioned, ratings whopper for sure.

 

[UseYourBrain]

Sting is an old man who never really seemed to LOVE the pro wrestling business in my opinion. He's a nice guy but he's a business man. I don't think he cares a whole lot about whether or not TNA does well because in reality, TNA doesn't care whether or not he does. The smart guy does his best but knows that the corporation wants total commitment but would never give it back to the individual. Sting doesn't get too caught up in the sappy speeches about change or the false sense of loyalty that never last the test of time. I don't think it's right of Eric or Hogan to knock that, but I can see how it forces them to change their plans regarding Sting.

 

[LSN80]

I can understand what Bischoff is saying: That its hard to USE someone LONG TERM when they dont know with what regularity theyre going to be available. He did put over Sting as having LIFE OR DEATH personal family issues as well.

What I dont like about it is they keep using Bubba's show as teir vehicle to send out their messages. The guy has no legitimacy, no credibility, and anything he says, or is said on his show, should be taken with a grain of salt. Thats the biggest problem I have with it. I mean, Im sure Hogan and Bischoff have Stings number. If they want to send him a message, then Im sure they easily can in more private ways.

After all Sting has contributed to the wrestling business, both as a wrestler, and as a human being, hes earned that right. And the bigger picture Hogan and bischoff need to be careful with is this? What IF they DO get under Stings skin? Do you tink he needs them that badly? hardly. TNA needs Sting far more then he NEEDS them. He could go wrestle anywhere. You think WWE wouldnt take Sting if he needed a payday or two? This is an issue where Hogan and Bischoff need to walk a fine line. You dont want to send him packing for good, or somewhere else.

 

[ncwriter2908]

I am a huge TNA fan and Sting fan. I dont think its that big of a deal on either side. I can tell they were working something up for him by showing him in the rafters a couple of times. I hope he comes back to TNA to fued with AJ. But even more if he leaves TNA it would be much bigger to see him in a WWE ring. Now thats a wrestlemania I would order. How about next year he ends the takers streak..lol THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!!

 

[It's Damn Real!]

I'd imagine this type of thing would culminate in a Sting/AJ or Sting/Flair feud at some point, obviously over Flair's "misguiding" of the TNA World Heavyweight champion, but upset with him or not, the beauty of Sting's character and this 97' re-run of his "unknown" agenda while he on-looks from the rafters is that it doesn't need a weekly re-injection to regain instant relevance when it's used.

Yes, it's been a while since they've utilized him on television, but I can all but guarantee any Sting appearance in the iMPACT! Zone (or elsewhere, for that matter) would garner an instant pique in interest from the fans both live as well as online.

 

[NSL]

Wait, wait, wait...They really are upset with him?

Sting is a big enough star at this point, that no matter the reason, he can take some time away. It's not like he was dropped in the middle of a storyline, and no-showed a string of tapings. I'm sure once his business is dealt with, he'll be back, and everyone will be fine.

This is ridiculous.

 

[gd]

If this is legit, which it may not be, than that is rather stupid. They come off sounding like rather big pricks in this interview, which like I said, may or may not be a work. Who the hell knows?

I just don't see why they'd get so pissed off at Sting for not coming to a show that he wasn't even supposed to be on. If they make him choose between TNA and his actual family, the choice will be quite easy for him to make.

 

[Lancer]

If Hogan and Bischoff are legitimately upset with Sting, then that is moronic. How they can come into TNA and act like they are better than Sting, and essentially call his integrity into question, is beyond me. This sounds like nWo-era Hogan and Bischoff to me. Sting has earned Undertaker-like respect, and has the right to be treated as such. I think that Hogan and Bischoff will probably never attain that type of respect.

But then again, it all sounds suspiciously like a work. And that again is the reason to take all of this with a grain of salt. Sting and the two probably have a good work relationship, as they would be foolish for pissing off one of the top stars in the company.