By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Hulk Hogan says his partnership with TNA and TNA president Dixie Carter is "self-serving" to get his life back on track, but he also feels that wrestling is in his blood and he wants to help "get TNA on track."

"The partnership with Dixie Carter was both self-serving and it was also necessary for me and it's in my blood. When they told me I could turn this thing upside down instead of just coming in as a talent and wrestling - and coming in with 'Vince McMahon' control - then I was interested," Hogan said on the Main Event Radio show this week.

Hogan said he wasn't going to join TNA as just another big-name acquisition that delivers a short-term pop in the ratings. He said he was only going to hook up with TNA if he could have total control of the operations, which he says Dixie Carter offered him a few months ago.

"I wasn't going to just to come in as another wrestler and we do half-a-number (in the ratings) this week, then after three or four weeks of seeing the shirt ripped off and the leg dropped, then nobody cares anymore," Hogan said. "But if it was to really come in and see who can go and who can't - and I'm not coming in with an edge; everyone has something to contribute whether it's Vince Russo, the other writers, or the wrestlers. But, whoever can't pull their own weight will be gone."

Hogan back-tracked from an interview he did in Australia in November where he vowed to "fire the writers" when he joined TNA. Hogan clarified that he doesn't see the need for writers having as big of a hand in the production of TV content.

"The writers have a place. They add like icing on the cake. I understand protocol and blocking shows and segments and I understand why they're necessary, but this is a talent-driven business. There's a feel; there's an 'it' factor for this," Hogan said. "I want to give these wrestlers life and find themselves and become larger-than-life characters. Really do this wrestling business the right way instead of like a bunch of robots that are interchangeable parts and if someone gets hurt, you replace the wrestler with another wrestler who used to work at Walmart."

Link: Download the interview on maineventradio.com.

-- FOLLOW-UP STORY: Hogan talks head-to-head vs. Raw (pt. 2 of interview)

We suggest these recent related articles...

TV RATINGS: TNA Impact & ROH TV viewership - Week 19 on Dest. America - Impact surges post-BFG, ROH draws big audience

TV WRESTLING VIEWERSHIP - Week of Sept. 28: Full Break Down of last week's Pro Wrestling TV with DVR viewing

TNA NEWS: TNA announces TV tapings on January U.K. Tour