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GARDNER'S KEY MOMENT OF THE WEEK: Is Hulk Hogan a difference-maker for TNA or just another addition to the aging roster? Nov 1, 2009 - 9:37:33 AM
The announcement has been made. Just when the exit of Booker T brought the average age of the TNA main event down, Hulk Hogan has agreed to work with the company.
Anyone can work together when there is money to be made. After all, it appeared that Hogan used TNA for leverage to return to the WWE in 2003. That TNA was willing to even negotiate with him again is a testament to TNA's confidence this time around.
Hogan has a new book to sell, and TNA is looking to increase its market share, so it's easy to see how the two sides have come to an agreement. But what can a broken-down 56-year-old bring to TNA, which is selling itself as a growing company and viable alternative to WWE?
Credibility is not a word normally associated with a man who has a fictional autobiography before his new book and whose matches consist of Superman comebacks against men half his age. Yet, it's something that Hogan brings to TNA.
Hulk Hogan is the most famous wrestler in the world, and that can only help when negotiating sponsorship and television deals. Whether his presence is wrestling or ambassadorial role, long-term or for a few weeks is irrelevant; Hulk Hogan's endorsement raises the profile of TNA amongst groups that have never heard of it before, and his appearances will yield footage that can be used for years to come.
Hogan is a big enough name to drive Pay-Per-View revenue, and a series of "dream matches" against TNA's biggest names may help the company in the short term. However if Hogan was used monthly, the novelty would surely wear off before too long. Would Hogan, the master politician, be willing to put over the likes of A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe, or even Kurt Angle in meaningful programs? Would he be willing to work with anyone lower down the card?
Then there is the question of match quality. Anyone who bought Halloween Havoc '98 on the basis of the Hogan-Warrior re-match will have witnessed one of the worst Pay-Per-View main events of all time. It's eleven years later and Hogan has spoken publicly of his mobility problems, which raise doubts over whether even the most talented workers on TNA's roster could carry him to a passable match. A series of bad matches and the novelty of Hulk Hogan in TNA will wear off fast, as will his drawing power.
Hulk Hogan has already begun to overshadow others on the TNA roster. Although Kurt Angle had his first match against Desmond Wolf on Impact this week, footage from the Hogan press conference was presented as though it was the real main event. If Hogan is coming to wrestle, he will expect to be at the top of the card and justifiably so, but his presence will block the path of young wrestlers to the main event. This might work for a short-term ratings boost, but the longer he stays, the less TNA will look like an alternative to the WWE with exciting young wrestlers.
The success of Hulk Hogan's stay in TNA may hinge upon how long he is there for, and how motivated he is to help the company. A short stay could be of great benefit if he is willing to put over some of TNA's stars, but if his stint in TNA is merely a glorified publicity tour for his new book, then Hogan's presence may end up having a detrimental effect on the product. The disappointing crowd that his match with The Big Show drew to the FedEx Forum in Memphis in 2007 proves that Hulk Hogan is no longer the guaranteed draw that he once was.
Despite the potential negatives, there is no bigger name than Hulk Hogan and if he is used correctly, it could turn out to be the most important signing in the history of TNA.
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AND NEW FOR 2009! Monthly "Vintage Audio Torch Talks." We are releasing for the first time ever audio versions of our text Torch Talk updates, the historical first series of insider interviews ever. Wade Keller's newsmaking in-depth interviews with wrestling's biggest names are now being made available exclusively to VIP members. But you must be a member each month, as these are not archived, so they are replaced with a new one each month! This debuted in January 2009 with a 68 minute interview with the late "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith. Who's next? Hulk Hogan? Eric Bischoff? The Rock? Goldberg? Jeff Hardy?
