Source: The Sun
IT’s quite possibly the biggest shock the wrestling world has ever seen.
But just what does Hulk Hogan’s jump to TNA mean for the company and its loyal fans — and should his former boss Vince McMahon panic just yet?
There’s no denying the signing of wrestling legend Hogan and Eric Bischoff is a major coup for TNA president Dixie Carter.
But it does seem to be a backward step for the company as current storylines and booking concepts seemed to be pushing the younger roster members to the fore.
TNA were shifting attention to them, instead of the limelight-hogging Main Event Mafia members consisting of former WWE and WCW stars.
The Hulkster and business partner Bishoff are not only very shrewd operators in the wrestling world, they both had a hand in the success and downfall of the WCW.
Taking the company to a level where it almost put its bitter enemy WWE out of business, could Carter be hoping for that scenario to happen again?
As highlighted many times, ego, bad booking and spending obscene amounts of cash soon saw WCW lose money hand over fist until it eventually folded.
As a result, the McMahons bought the grappling group for next to nothing before wasting a long-awaited invasion angle.
The reason WCW went under can be traced back to a few individuals — and that’s where TNA need to be wary.
Hogan’s huge wages, entourage, hangers-on, final say in storylines and ego all helped bring WCW down.
But when you factor in his dodgy relationship with then head writer Vince Russo, things get messy.
Russo and Hogan regularly butted heads and that led to many bizarre situations both on and off screen.
The Hulkster even walked away from the company and sued them over Russo’s booking decisions.
In my book, to have those two behind the scenes in TNA is trouble waiting to happen in my book.
But with Bischoff coming as part of the Hogan package, it all looks like TNA may wish for a short relationship with the pair in that camp, or to dump Mr Russo, before things get nasty.
With Jeff Jarrett gone and TNA now seemingly cashing in on the huge amount of free publicity Hogan will bring, it’s only a matter of time before old wounds open and we see a new version of WCW unfold before us.
Here’s hoping this is a short-term deal for TNA and one that benefits them financially and publicity-wise.
Hogan is most probably working to his own agenda anyway, like when he almost signed with TNA in 2003 and set up a feud with Jarrett, only to return to the WWE when the money was right.
If played right by all, this high-profile deal could benefit both parties hugely.
However, Carter and Co need to remember that while we all love a nostalgia trip, it’s the homegrown stars and established TNA acts we tune in for each week.
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