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CALDWELL: Is Hulk Hogan the piece of the puzzle TNA needs to improve the company's visibility? Oct 27, 2009 - 3:03:35 PM
Hulk Hogan is joining TNA in a role to be determined. We know he will be appearing on TV in some capacity, but we don't know what his role will be behind-the-scenes or on TV just yet.
We also don't know if this is another band-aid on a larger problem or the key to TNA finally generating significant visibility for the promotion.
The additions of Christian Cage, Sting, Booker T, and Kurt Angle over the past two-to-four years have been short-term solutions leading to slight increases in TV ratings. A slight bump here, a slight bump there, but no long-term increases beyond the standard 1.2 ratings level.
TNA's TV ratings even slipped back to 2007-levels earlier this fall season when three shows were under the 1.0 ratings benchmark.
The company simply hasn't had the right product mix or the right "vibe" for their TV show in the year 2009 with tapings taking place in a studio at a theme park. It hasn't mattered who has been featured, what has been featured, or why it's been featured. The problem has been much larger.
TNA has an image and visibility issue that has yet to be addressed with each new addition to the roster or change in the creative direction. Now, TNA will find out whether the addition of Hulk Hogan to the company is part of the answer.
Hogan has constantly been in the news the past two years related to his son's car accident, his messy divorce, two reality shows, and a new book out today talking suicide. His brand name is strong based on the constant exposure.
However, will this lead to wrestling fans finding TNA on Thursday nights with any consistency? It hasn't mattered before because TNA has still remained in a TV studio setting similar to WCW's D-Level Worldwide show during the 1990s without expanding the brand's reach in the marketplace.
TNA needs an image and production upgrade. Hulk Hogan can provide the image boost. Eric Bischoff can provide the production upgrade. We'll see if TNA finally found the right combination to deliver a material bump in notoriety following today's big news story of the day.
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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?
