By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

TNA executive Eric Bischoff says he expects TNA to deliver a "higher quality product" on January 4 when TNA goes head-to-head with WWE Raw on the first Monday of 2010.

Bischoff also portrayed TNA as an underdog "David" stepping up to meet WWE's "Goliath." In addition to trying to win over wrestling fans for TNA's side, Bischoff was critical of WWE in a new blog posted today reflecting on what's to come on Monday.

"TNA has ratcheted up their game, and Spike TV has put some nitrous into the tank with a live Monday Night head to head broadcast and some serious advertising and marketing," Bischoff said. "Clearly TNA is up against a Wall Street mega-corp bully with a billion dollar bank account and a Chairman that thinks only he should have any meaningful market share of the professional wrestling business."

Adding to the marketing pitch, Bischoff suggested that WWE CEO Vince McMahon delivering Bret Hart on Jan. 4 indicates McMahon has an eye on TNA. Bischoff also trashed the Dec. 21 Raw that was heavily-criticized by virtually everyone who watched the show.

"Based on the mind-numbingly stupid Raw I had the misfortune of dropping in on last week, perhaps the fact that TNA stepped up and is at least taking a swing at the bully was enough to make McMahon realize that he could not afford to take his audience for granted and continue to shove tripe down the throats of his Goliath 'universe' while David was reaching for a stone," Bischoff said.

Bischoff also played to wrestling fans who sat through the Dec. 21 Raw by saying the "winners" on Jan. 4 will be fans who want to see better wrestling on TV.

"By at least getting into the fight, TNA is most likely going to gain the awareness and respect of a completely different audience," Bischoff said. "And wrestling fans are not only going to have a choice this Monday night, they will most likely see a higher quality product all the way around."

Caldwell's Analysis: Good piece of marketing from Bischoff on TNA's behalf to appeal to (a) wrestling fans who sat through WWE's product on Dec. 21 and (b) human nature of wanting to get behind the underdog and root for change, especially when WWE has had a monopoly on the U.S. wrestling business for nearly ten years. On Monday, we'll see if Bischoff's marketing pitch and Hulk Hogan's various statements over the past two months actually translate into action - not just for Monday, but, more importantly, going forward after Jan. 4.

Link: Read Eric Bischoff's latest blog.

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