[Official] Hulk Hogan Discussion

[johnbragg]

When TNA announced at No Surrender 2006 that Kurt was on the roster, their official website had so much traffic that it literally shut down, and their ratings were pulled from the average of .6 to an average of 1.0.

I don't think your numbers are right here. From Gerweck.net, the average Impact rating in 2006 was a 0.89, in 2007 it was a 1.04. The number from fall 2006 don't look that dramatically different from summer or spring. The Spring ratings are a little less, more 0.6's and fewer 0.9's, but that was before the move to Thursday nights.

I agree that the product is more important, but big name wrestlers are still needed for ANY wrestling product.

It's not how big the wrestler's name is. It's what the wrestler can add to the product.

 

[NYSandman]

I like it, but who's more credible, Hogan or TNA? Hogan's real life antics are known in the IWC, but most fans just drool at Hogan's name.

So, TNA buries him, and Hogan in turn publicly roasts TNA. He says he backed out because they have a bad product, a mismanaged product, a product not worthy of the Hogan name.

Non-IWC fans will buy that shit hook, line and sinker. Also, Hogan joining TNA is probably so newsworthy, that it's the first time most fans have even heard of the company. Right now, Hogan is putting TNA over, which is great.

But, if Hogan decided to publicly ridicule them, then that would instantly turn Hogan marks, and there are a lot of them, against TNA.

This is why him backing out could be an absolute nightmare for TNA. Hopefully, he won't, but they probably should have waited to push it so hard until they were sure.

If his contract is iron, then sue his ass. I think the last thing Hogan wants is to be drawn into court yet again!

 

[NYSandman]

Here is the disaster I'm worried about. Let's say Dixie hasn't made sure Hogan's contract is platinum-clad, and Hogan backs out. What does creative do now?

My God! How do they explain weeks and weeks of Hogan promos and pushes, and now he's not coming!

They'd either have to do a shoot, saying how Hogan betrayed the company and all the TNA fans, or they'd have to do some dumb work where certain groups or factions kept Hogan out or made him change his mind.

I don't think Hogan is their last shot, but I certainly think he can be a huge draw, especially with the right people. If he doesn't make it all about him, and he actually helps out the talent they already have get over, it could be gold.

Or, it could be Hell.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

Here is the disaster I'm worried about. Let's say Dixie hasn't made sure Hogan's contract is platinum-clad, and Hogan backs out. What does creative do now?

My God! How do they explain weeks and weeks of Hogan promos and pushes, and now he's not coming!

They'd either have to do a shoot, saying how Hogan betrayed the company and all the TNA fans, or they'd have to do some dumb work where certain groups or factions kept Hogan out or made him change his mind.

I don't think Hogan is their last shot, but I certainly think he can be a huge draw, especially with the right people. If he doesn't make it all about him, and he actually helps out the talent they already have get over, it could be gold.

Or, it could be Hell.

At that point, there's nothing they can do except shit on him the way Joe did Scott Hall at the 2007 Turning Point PPV.

Call him every name in the book. Tell the fans that Hogan screwed them, and that he deserves all the criticism he can handle (and then some), because he tried to take advantage of TNA, and of TNA's fans for money, or personal gain.

Trying to spin Hogan's bail into a work would explode in their faces, IMO. TNA is too much of a 21st century company to try that kind of stuff. Their fans are often part of the IWC, and know what's going on. You can't just pull the wool over the eyes of a group of fans (generally speaking) like the ones who watch TNA. It's just not going to work.

You burn Hogan, in that instance. No if's and's or but's about it. Burn him at the stake.

 

[mayhem]

Hogan just got bloodied on the Hulkamania tour so i feel that Hogan is still willing to make sacrifices for the wrestling business.

Hogan knows he has maybe got one last run to have matches in the business and TNA is the place where certain established washed up stars partially are present so Hogan will likely put himself into major feuds with them.

I see a Hulk Hogan v Kevin Nash match likely on pay per view. Imagine Sting v Hogan again that would be great seeing as Hogan has never beaten Sting.

 

[mayhem]

Once Hogan comes into TNA on Impact presumably what do you think they will book him to do?

Obviously the first thing he will do is maybe cut a promo in the ring but do you think he will go into a match straight on the following ppv or Impact or will they build up a storyline with him and then lead into occasional matches?

I think he will hold down a lot of the young talents spots on Impact once he debuts but won't expect him to be on every Impact after he debuts.

Also anyone want to predict how long he will be in TNA for? Thoughts?

 

[Genius_Deadman]

i wouldn't be surprised if he pulls a WrestleMania IX again:

comes out after the title match to help the face, the heel challenges him, and Hogan wins the title in less than a minute.

Hogan is talent, he's not a manager or announcer, i don't think he's a creative mind unless it comes to his character. it'll be interesting, but i can't see this as a plus in any aspect.

 

[FloydFixation]

You mean what will he book himself to do? He'll probably beat AJ Styles for the TNA World Championship and Nash will win the Global Championship and a new type of nWo will form and TNA will thus fall apart just like WCW did.

Anyway, that's my opinion.

Oh. I also saw Turning Point; giving TNA a try and out of seven or so matches, only two were good. I'll probably see the next TNA PPV, but none of iMPACT, because nothing big caught my eye on Turning Point.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

30 second AJ Styles squash, reform the nWo under the name "Knew World Hors D'oeuvres" since TNA does not have the proper copyright.

If anyone believes for a second that Hogan is not going to be a main event wrestler, well, there's just no helping you.

And why is that such a bad thing? Why do people like you simply presume that means he'll squash every single young wrestler, just because he did it a decade ago?

Foley was a main event guy in TNA for about two months, and now he's back to the mid card. Who fuckin' cares? Guys slot up and down all the time. I doubt Hogan comes in as just a mouth piece too, but I'm not inherently against the guy main-eventing ever just because he's not 25 years old.

That's the same bullshit mentality that professional sports teams think when they can hire a team of mercenary veterans and build a championship winning team just because they paid for it, and on the total opposite end of the same spectrum, there are teams who think they can put a team of rookies out and win, just because those rookies aren't "old".

What both sides don't realize is that it takes a mixture of both to build a championship caliber team, and that translates perfectly into the wrestling industry. No one is asking for Hogans Graveyard crew to come in and stomp on all the youth, but conversely, just because youth is there doesn't mean it's (a) worth pushing, and/or (b) going to do anything even if it's pushed.

Some youth matters, just as much as the veteran presence.

 

[cowpiewi]

I expect very little from Hogan. Even when his health was good, his wrestling was awful. He'll book all his washed-up cronies into championships. He'll give himself a title. In other words, he's poison. TNA will rise to the top, much like a turd in a clogged crapper.

 

[phlewfy]

Hulk Hogan will book himself to win the title. THAT'S GOOD!!! Hogan is a much more compelling character even at his age then AJ, Joe, Daniels, or most of the other guys in TNA. No one tunes in to watch Daniels fight Joe. Dixie figured that out and did the only thing she can do to try and gain some attention. She went and got the biggest name in the history of the game. I enjoy TNA very much and like AJ, Joe, Daniels, and most of the wrestlers in the locker room, but the casual fan doesn't give a crap about the Fallen Angel or the Phenomenal One. I don't think Hulk will be booking the Nasty Boys to win titles, nor do I think any of his chumpy buddies will be getting any major exposure. Sure there might be some Beefcake sightings, but he isn't going to be a major player. Hogan will have a title run to be sure, however I don't see him as a long term champ. I envision Hulk winning the title early in his tenure to establish his presence in TNA and then dropping it to someone like Angle relatively quickly. Hogan will be a main focus on TNA but I don't see him being the whole focus. There is just too much talent in TNA that Hogan cannot compete with in the ring. I know it, you know it, and I am sure he knows it.

 

[StopFantasyBooking]

And why is that such a bad thing? Why do people like you simply presume that means he'll squash every single young wrestler, just because he did it a decade ago?

History (and a combination of it being in TNA) shows that this will happen.

Foley was a main event guy in TNA for about two months, and now he's back to the mid card. Who fuckin' cares? Guys slot up and down all the time. I doubt Hogan comes in as just a mouth piece too, but I'm not inherently against the guy main-eventing ever just because he's not 25 years old.

Hogan, Sting, Foley, Nash, Steiner...these guys just can't do it anymore. TNA's strong point is its younger wrestlers' abilities. They sure as hell don't bring it in terms of storyline.

That's the same bullshit mentality that professional sports teams think when they can hire a team of mercenary veterans and build a championship winning team just because they paid for it, and on the total opposite end of the same spectrum, there are teams who think they can put a team of rookies out and win, just because those rookies aren't "old".

Are you agreeing with me or what? I don't even know.

What both sides don't realize is that it takes a mixture of both to build a championship caliber team, and that translates perfectly into the wrestling industry. No one is asking for Hogans Graveyard crew to come in and stomp on all the youth, but conversely, just because youth is there doesn't mean it's (a) worth pushing, and/or (b) going to do anything even if it's pushed.

Some youth matters, just as much as the veteran presence.

I wonder what it's like to live in a fantasy world where all "rookies" (or young talent for the sake of argument) are shit. TNA has plenty of "young" talent to push that is worth pushing.

AJ Styles, Joe, Morgan, MCMG, Beer Money...these are the talented people they should be pushing. Hell, Angle is still awesome. Desmond Wolfe is going to be huge even with that terrible name.

I'm just glad Sting is finally taking a backseat. You're delusional if you think Hogan is going to be putting ANYONE over in TNA.

 

[wrestling fan 666]

The problem here is the fact that Hogan is so past his prime, yet still wants to still be the main event title holder. His knees, hips, and back are all gone. I know, "look at Steiner", but look at him. He's content to work mid-card and help the younger talent get a push. Hogan's ego won't let him do that.

In a perfect world, he would be like Sting. Still main event, but not always winning to let the others get the push. Sure, give him the title for a little while, but then lose it to a better contender. Basically, give respect to the new regime.

I would like to say Hogan to TNA would be a good fit; but his past speaks for itself. He looks out for number one, then leaves. If he were hired without creative control, there would be no issue...that's the problem. Does he deserve respect? definitely. But why does he have to control every territory he goes into? Smart businessman, but bad for TNA business.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

History (and a combination of it being in TNA) shows that this will happen.

No, history shows that it had a tendency to happen. History repeats itself, but not always.

Hogan, Sting, Foley, Nash, Steiner...these guys just can't do it anymore. TNA's strong point is its younger wrestlers' abilities. They sure as hell don't bring it in terms of storyline.

And? Hogan couldn't do it when they wanted him to face Cena either, but that's doesn't change the fact that it would have drawn major ratings. People getting fucked over draws heat, man. Not all heat is bad. While I don't want them to squash AJ out of the title picture, having Hogan steal it only to drop it a month or two later strengthens AJ's character exponentially. It isn't a slight against him, and AJ v. Hogan at a PPV = ratings. So again, like I said, this predetermined to fail nonsense is just that – nonsense. It's all a matter how how it's booked – not that it actually happens, but how it happens.

 

[StopFantasyBooking]

If you think Hogan will put anyone over or can seriously have a series of good matches, well then sir we have nothing more to talk about. Hogan is going to be the exact opposite of what TNA is claiming. It's going to be beautiful.

And? Hogan couldn't do it when they wanted him to face Cena either, but that's doesn't change the fact that it would have drawn major ratings. People getting fucked over draws heat, man.

You're conveniently forgetting that Cena is a huge draw, whereas people don't give a fuck about AJ Styles. I personally don't enjoy the John Cena character, but it's undeniable that the man is an amazing draw.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I'd very much like to see Hulk Hogan be a positive addition to TNA. Is it possible? Sure, just about anything in the world is possible. Do I think that it's likely to happen? No, not really.

It's hard to ignore Hulk Hogan's history and be enthusiastic about his presense in TNA. Like most, I'm interested in seeing exactly what Hogan is going to do once he gets there. Also like most, it's hard not to feel that Hogan is going to do what he can to put himself over at the expense of other talent and the company overall itself. I think that in order for Hogan to be the sort of positive addition to TNA's roster that TNA fans are hoping for, Hogan is going to have to show something that he just simply is not really known for. That something happens to be humility.

When Hogan was in WCW, the company was his own personal playground almost the entire time he was there. He had creative control over his character and whatever situations he found himself in. According to Hogan himself, his role in TNA is going to be the same he had in WCW. Hogan has also said that he is going to "run TNA" and, given his history in combination with statements like that, nobody can be blamed for being skeptical about Hogan being a good thing overall for TNA.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

If you think Hogan will put anyone over or can seriously have a series of good matches, well then sir we have nothing more to talk about. Hogan is going to be the exact opposite of what TNA is claiming. It's going to be beautiful.

Then we have to agree to disagree here, because I believe there is still potential for it to happen. The man he was ten years ago is not necessarily the same man he is today. People said the same shit about a guy like Kevin Nash, and look what he's done for TNA of late, and since he joined the company. It took him nearly three years before he even saw gold.

You're conveniently forgetting that Cena is a huge draw, whereas people don't give a fuck about AJ Styles. I personally don't enjoy the John Cena character, but it's undeniable that the man is an amazing draw.

Respectively, "no one gives a fuck about AJ Styles", because you are referring to the WWE audience – e.g. casual wrestling fans who may not even know about TNA's existence. It has nothing to do with "no one" giving a fuck about AJ Styles. It has to do with no one know who he is.

AJ is the TNA equivalent of John Cena in that he is both the face of the company, as well as one of their biggest draws.

 

[StopFantasyBooking]

Respectively, "no one gives a fuck about AJ Styles", because you are referring to the WWE audience – e.g. casual wrestling fans who may not even know about TNA's existence. It has nothing to do with "no one" giving a fuck about AJ Styles. It has to do with no one know who he is.

AJ is the TNA equivalent of John Cena in that he is both the face of the company, as well as one of their biggest draws.

No really, John Cena is a draw no matter who he's facing. It's not really fair to compare him to AJ, that was my point. My parents who don't watch wrestling know who John Cena, Triple H, and Hogan are.

People aren't paying (well, if the event isn't 90% papered) to see AJ Styles.

 

[pepsiboycoke]

No really, John Cena is a draw no matter who he's facing. It's not really fair to compare him to AJ, that was my point. My parents who don't watch wrestling know who John Cena, Triple H, and Hogan are.

People aren't paying (well, if the event isn't 90% papered) to see AJ Styles.

And this is EXACTLY why TNA have brought Hogan in. Hogan is a big enough name to get himself on shows and PROMOTE. Fans will check him out, for nostalgia, for interest, or because they love Hulk.

They check him out against AJ Styles, straight away, thats a bunch of new visitors who know who Styles is. They watch AJ perform amazing flips, brilliant wrestling, and loosing to an over the hill Hogan in a cheap, heelish, way. Et Voila, a bunch more people who give a shit about AJ styles.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

No really, John Cena is a draw no matter who he's facing. It's not really fair to compare him to AJ, that was my point. My parents who don't watch wrestling know who John Cena, Triple H, and Hogan are.

People aren't paying (well, if the event isn't 90% papered) to see AJ Styles.

And how do you think people learn to "give a fuck" about AJ Styles if everything the promotion is doing to this point hasn't made him a household name? Bring in a bigger name to help.

How do you think guys get over in the first place? They're put over – by the established names of the game. Angle helped – he took them from .7 ratings to 1.3 ratings. That may not be a jump in your eyes because you're used to the 3.0-8.0 (depending on what year you were watching) rating the major WWE/WCW promotions managed to pull in with BILLION dollar television contracts. Well sorry, but TNA doesn't have that luxury. They have to do this the hard way.

 

[StopFantasyBooking]

And how do you think people learn to "give a fuck" about AJ Styles if everything the promotion is doing to this point hasn't made him a household name? Bring in a bigger name to help.

If you think Hogan of all people is going to put over AJ Styles, you are smoking some good shit my friend.

How do you think guys get over in the first place? They're put over – by the established names of the game. Angle helped – he took them from .7 ratings to 1.3 ratings. That may not be a jump in your eyes because you're used to the 3.0-8.0 (depending on what year you were watching) rating the major WWE/WCW promotions managed to pull in with BILLION dollar television contracts. Well sorry, but TNA doesn't have that luxury. They have to do this the hard way.

Oh, I don't know...maybe get some real advertising? Maybe stop billing your guys as ex-WWF rejects. Maybe don't paper your shows. Maybe don't increase your PPV prices. TNA seems to do everything wrong in this regard.

It's pretty funny to say that TNA is getting 1.3 now, since they are already back to their normal 1.1. Also, Kurt Angle is not Hogan. Angle puts people over. Angle is also routinely asked why he retired. That should throw up huge red flags for TNA management.

Bringing in Hogan is going to do one thing and one thing only - put Hogan over.

 

[johnbragg]

Angle helped – he took them from .7 ratings to 1.3 ratings.

No, no, no. I'm sorry. Kurt Freakin' Angle is my favorite wrestler. I started watching regularly when he was a rookie and I liked him from the beginning, from the days of the Three I's, Intensity Integrity and Intelligence, when he told a live crowd in Texas that they were known for their intensity, they were known for their integrity, and that one day, with hard work, they could be known for their intelligence. Gold, pure gold.

But my Olympic hero Kurt Angle did not bring ratings success to TNA, even relatively.

The 2006 average Impact rating was a 0.89. Angle was there for the last couple of months, but the uptick isn't much, and happens at the same time as Impact moving to from 11pm to 9pm.

The 2007 average was a 1.04, the 2008 average was a 1.06, 2009 so far stands at a 1.16.

http://www.gerweck.net/ratings.htm

Could Angle have made a bigger ratings difference? I believe so, with better booking. But the fact is that measuring ratings pre-Angle and post-Angle there isn't a huge difference. 0.89 vs 1.04 is about a 15% increase, which is significant, but came at the same time that TNA moved from 11 pm to 9 pm, which would help any show in the ratings.

They have to do this the hard way.

You know it. They have to do it 0.1 by 0.1 by consistently putting a good, watchable, logical product on TV that a curious viewer wants to see more of. Not by hotshotting used up names with a dangerous history into positions of power in the promotion.

 

[TheHitMark-SirJoseOle]

This post is to address all these people that say "Hogan's gonna do this." or "Hogan's gonna do that".

What I find funny about all the people on these IWC forums, is that they act as if they are a part of this business. Well wake up folks, people like you and I are merely fans. We only know so much and as long as we're not behind those curtains it's going to stay that way.

You can go on and on about how Hogan's whole career he's been holding this guy back or that guy back. Please let's just remember who we are talking about here. Now this post isn't a "let's exonerate Hulk Hogan" thread. Since, I am more than aware that the wrestling business like any other entertainment medium is full of its egotists. But, nothing gets me more angered than seeing Hogan be the only one that gets the grief for being the business' biggest diva.

Is Hogan well past his prime? That doesn't even need to be answered, because even I am going to acknowledge that this isn't the 1980s anymore. But let's be honest all you punks out there that are sitting in your recliners with your laptops rested on your gooey thighs think you know everything about this business but you don't.

As far as this being "WCW 2.0", well let's just remember one thing, that wasn't all Hogan's doing. Again, unless someone on this board can come forward and prove without a single doubt that they were there to see the inner workings of how WCW ran, then please feel free to bury everyone under the sun like Kevin Nash, Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan, Vince Russo and so on.

Otherwise all you little nerds really need to sit back, shut up and let things happen with this whole Hogan/TNA deal. Because whether we like him or not, Hulk Hogan is going to bring interest to this company, and while it may not happen overnight, the potential for a change in this company is going to be very likely. I'm of the wait and see mentality and I'm not going to make any assumptions until I see Hogan become a regular part of the roster.

In closing, you IWC armchair critics, are the most pathetic and sickening little freaks that take away from what I used to love about the world of professional wrestling.

 

[johnbragg]

But, nothing gets me more angered than seeing Hogan be the only one that gets the grief for being the business' biggest diva.

Why? Who would you say is a BIGGER diva?

As far as this being "WCW 2.0", well let's just remember one thing, that wasn't all Hogan's doing.

Yeah. It will all be fine unless he teams up with Bischoff, Russo, Nash and a clueless money mark. Ooops.

Hulk Hogan is going to bring interest to this company, and while it may not happen overnight, the potential for a change in this company is going to be very likely.

I expect that Hogan will bring changes. Like, they're in business now rather than shut down. That could change.

In closing, you IWC armchair critics, are the most pathetic and sickening little freaks that take away from what I used to love about the world of professional wrestling.

And you have a nice day too, Spats.

 

[TheHitMark-SirJoseOle]

This post is in reply to johnbragg and StopFantasyBooking, first let's address you johnbragg:

Why? Who would you say is a BIGGER diva?

I prefer to take a more neutral stand on that. I have my wrestlers I like and dislike. I have heard the stories like many of you people on here have. Again, like I mentioned in the last post, my point isn't to exonerate Hulk Hogan. Again, I've never taken part in any creative team meetings or discussed plans on how to book a professional wrestling organization, have you?

I mean, have you ever had to arrange a professional wrestling event from top to bottom and with everything else booked in between? I mean maybe you have, I don't know. If I'm wrong at any point just inform me and tell me that you have a whole slew of experience in the world of professional wrestling and then I'll gladly shut up.

Bottom line dude, you or I have never dealt with these people on a regular basis to determine how a pro wrestling company is going to be promoted. I'm not someone that's put it the time or effort to become a part of the professional wrestling business to know what really goes on with running it. You or I are not Vince McMahon or Eric Bischoff, we haven't dealt with people the likes of Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, The Rock, Triple H or Hulk Hogan. Unless you're someone whose paychecks were signed by Ted Turner/WCW and you were there at some point during WCW's run to see what went down, then you have no more ground in your stance than I. What you've had to say about Hulk Hogan or any other person in this business is just mere opinion not fact.

So who do I think is a bigger diva in this business, to be honest I am not sure. I don't know any of these people personally like you seem to think you do. That's the best answer I could give you, because anything I would say would just be mere opinion based on speculation. I'm someone that prefers fact.

Now on to you StopFantasyBooking:

Oh sweet delicious irony.
IWC nerds calling other people IWC nerds, and then ranting about it. This is TOO SWEET!

You see my good man, I don't consider myself the IWC type, you see because I am not like you or your other armchair friends on this board. I'm not a critic, I'm just someone that misses the good old formula of wrestling where you had the good guys and the bad guys, and the winners and the losers. I believed in a little thing called kayfabe and as far as who these people were in real life I could care less. As long as I am being entertained is what matters to me. People like you StopFantasyBooking and johnbragg are obviously more concerned with the backstage politics than the actual artform itself.

Now that's just my opinion, I'm not saying that my viewpoint is the only valid one and I am not trying to stop you folks from having an opinion. But just remember what you guys are saying is going to happen with Hogan being in TNA is based on what you think you KNOW about Hulk Hogan. That's all just opinion combined with speculation. Again, unless you guys have paystubs with the words World Championship Wrestling, or Total Nonstop Action Wrestling then all your words are just opinion and not fact.

Because if you guys think you can do a better job than people like Hulk Hogan or Dixie Carter can do, go out there and raise the capital for it folks. Until then, just remember what you guys have said about everything (that includes Hogan's politicking and everything else) is just opinion. And you know what they say about opinions...