Source: Anthony Sulla-Heffinger of The New York Post
Earlier this week, Hulk Hogan spoke with the New York Post on a variety of issues related to iMPACT Wrestling and the TNA Entertainment brand. Below are some of the highlights from this interview, which you can read in full on the New York Post’s website by clicking here.
On WWE Building Up John Cena vs. TNA Building Up Its Promotion
The only way I could explain it to you is if I talked about John Cena. The WWE has taken about ten years to build up John Cena to that Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock-type level. TNA is the same way, we’ve only been around for 10 years. It’s a very young company and to even say that it is competitive and that the WWE has a little less of a presence, that’s a major statement.
On the Difference Between WWE and TNA
The WWE is doing billions of dollars as a company and focus on the entertainment aspect of things. They don’t want to call their talent wrestlers anymore, I get it, but we are focusing on the wrestling and really feeling the vibe. The media and entertainment business moves so fast, we’re almost going shelf to shelf.
On His Big Idea to Shift the Wrestling Business Again
You can have a wrestling idea, but you need to have these momentum-shifting moves. We had the Hulkamania movement, then it shifted to the beer-drinking, Stone Cold era, we reinvented the business with [Hogan] growing the black beard and becoming the bad guy, what’s that next level. I have this huge monster idea that I am going to throw out there that I really think is going to change the business.
On Jeff Hardy as iMPACT Wrestling’s Potential Quick Fix
If you wanted a quick fix, right now, you would put the belt on Jeff Hardy. That would fix a bunch of stuff right now, but that is not working backwards from where we need to be. Right now, to work to that point, the belt needs to stay with Bobby Roode. He’s a guy who we are bringing up and is a constant. As we build him up it’s like a volcano that ready to explode.
On Why Vince McMahon is Afraid Right Now
I remember the last time this build-up happened. Vince McMahon had Shawn Michaels dress up as Hulk Hogan with a walker and say ‘You’re getting old brother.’ Then we came with the NWO idea and I feel the same thing now. [The WWE] is banging me on TV again, having The Three Stooges dressing up as me, showing footage of Brock Lesnar beating me last week. They’re worried about something. [With WCW,] we were doing three times the numbers [ratings] that WWF was doing back then. We slammed them for a couple of years in the ratings. We had incredible talent and had the two highest rated shows on TNT and TBS at the time.
On Working with Spike TV
[Spike TV] understands the business. They know what to expect and are well aware as to how the business works. They’re supportive and are believing in us more and more every day and as we keep rolling forward you’ll see more support. They’re team players and it will help both of us to be open and take that leap of faith.
On Not Wrestling Any More
It took me a long time to come to grips with the fact that I can’t be in the ring that much anymore, to set aside that ego, it’s tough. But when I look back at the tape and see myself walking out there and wrestling, it isn’t how I want it to be so I had to realize that I shouldn’t be doing that anymore.
