BREAKING NEWS: Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff Sign w/ TNA
by Matt Boone
Oct 27, 2009
TNA President Dixie Carter and several top TNA officials are at Hulk Hogan's
press conference at MSG in NYC today.
The WWE Hall Of Famer has signed a contract with TNA Wrestling and is bringing Eric Bischoff of all people with him.
Things just got interesting.
TNA Wrestling Confirms Signing Of Hulk Hogan
by Matt Boone
Oct 27, 2009
The following is from TNAWrestling.com:
HULK HOGAN JOINS TNA WRESTLING
Legendary Wrestler and Pop Culture Icon Returns To The Ring With Fast-Rising Wrestling Organization
“Hulkamania” is back! The biggest name in professional wrestling history, Hulk Hogan, is joining Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling (TNA), the fastest rising wrestling organization in the world and home to one of cable television’s highest rated shows for young men, TNA iMPACT! The announcement was made today by TNA Wrestling in conjunction with Spike TV at a press conference held in New York City.
“Hulk Hogan is one of the world’s top pop culture icons and the biggest superstar in the history of professional wrestling. We are truly excited to welcome him into the TNA family,” said Dixie Carter, President of TNA Wrestling. “Our goal is to become the world’s biggest professional wrestling company. Hulk defines professional wrestling and we look forward to partnering with him in a variety of ways as we continue to grow TNA globally.”
“I’m thrilled to be jumping back into the world of professional wrestling,” said Hogan. “My fans have been asking me to return to the business for many years on a full time basis, but the timing or the opportunity has never been right until now. TNA Wrestling is a great company with an already excellent fan base, business and broadcast partner. I firmly believe now is the time for some change at TNA as they are positioned to jump to the next level in their development and I’m here to work with Dixie to help make that a reality.”
Through Hogan’s partnership with Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Television, the deal with TNA was negotiated by longtime Hogan colleague Eric Bischoff. Additionally, BHE TV has inked a first-look deal with TNA and will be working with the organization to develop new programming extensions of the TNA brand.
“Hulk Hogan adds yet another level of star power that positions TNA iMPACT as Spike TV’s version of ‘Must-See TV’ on Thursday nights,” said Kevin Kay, president of Spike.
Hogan most recently penned an autobiography with Mark Dagostino, “My Life Outside The Ring” with St. Martin’s Press.
EXCLUSIVE: More News On Hogan & Bischoff Signing w/ TNA
by Chris Cash
Oct 27, 2009
Phones are ringing off the hook and I'm the one causing it as we try to get some more information regarding Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff signing with TNA. So far, very little is known about the contract terms. The couple of people I have spoken with so far assume (and pretty much expect) it to be a short-term deal.
It helps TNA, of course, with exposure by having the biggest star in the history of professional wrestling associated with your company. It helps Hogan with promotion for his book.
One source I spoke with started laughing as I read the press release TNA just released. "You know who this helps the most?" he told WrestleZone, "Eric Bischoff. Bischoff made a smart decision with his company (Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Television) as it positions him to have a close, working relationship with Kevin Kay and Spike TV". Another person close to the situation told us that he was concerned about Vince Russo's future with the company. It has been regularly documented that Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff do not respect Vince Russo or his career within the industry. As TNA puts this over as an on-air position for Hulk Hogan (the recent TNA video promoting Hogan on Impact!), one can only speculate what Dixie and TNA agreed to in order for Hogan to sign on.
Whether Bischoff simply negotiated Hogan's deal and will work with TNA through BHE TV or whether he plans on having something to do with the creative end is still unknown. One source told us, "I doubt the agreement has Bischoff working with (TNA Creative) because I don't think he would do it, but if he did, Russo is already on his way out the door or will be momentarily".
