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Hulk Hogan shakes up TV wrestling with move to TNA

by John Scott Lewinski, posted Oct 30th 2009 2:30PM

Hulk Hogan is going from Rock N' Wrestling to TNA.I try to cover professional wrestling here on TV Squad only when something happens that hints at a ratings spike, a celebrity tie-in or a television publicity war. Today, we have news that could score a pin on all three fronts, "Brother!"

Hulk Hogan (in yellow, right), the 80s legend that put WWF WWE on the mat map, announced this week that he's returning to the squared circle and joining the ranks of Spike TV's TNA Wrestling. It's a big step up in exposure for the Florida-based promotion as it struggles to pull away a little market share away from Vince McMahon's Connecticut Death Grip.

While the WWE has either live or taped shows on various cable outlets Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights (with occasional weekend specials on NBC), TNA has used the last couple of years to build an ever-growing following in Spike's Thursday night schedule.

The 56-year-old Hogan has a new autobiography to sell and an ugly, humiliating divorce to put behind him -- so it's perfect time to flex his problems away in front of his adoring fans. Though TNA boasts such industry stars as Kurt Angle and Sting, the yellow and red-clad, cross-media celebrity will immediately become the promotion's top star.

The speculation in the aftermath of the announcement includes who might join Hogan at TNA (Ric Flair? Stone Cold Steve Austin?), what Hogan can still handle in the ring, and how long he'll stay with the promotion.

Suffice to say, as long as TNA is helping Hogan put a hammer lock on some greenbacks, it'll be a happy marriage.

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11 Comments

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Jay

Hey come on, even the old people have to make a living some how. Putting on a freak show is one way of making million's of dollars

December 17 2009 at 10:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bearxor

TNA really is becoming WCW Take 2.

October 30 2009 at 11:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Matthew Golem

Hogan's 56, Flair's 60.
What are they going to do in the ring... unplug each other's respirators?

October 30 2009 at 10:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Pierre-Luc Allie

Hogan's creative control is the last nail in TNA's coffin.

Any talks of relauching Celebrity Wrestling on Spike?

October 30 2009 at 5:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JoeBrooks

Grandpa Hogan is gonna nuggie you!

October 30 2009 at 4:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ytoabn

Sorry to be a nerd, but TNA doesn't used a square ring, they use a 6-sided ring.

And yes, as a long time fan of TNA I'm very worried that Hogan will take over and destroy this fledgling company.

October 30 2009 at 4:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rassi

While Hogan does add "name" recognition, I am very suspicious of what he can still do in the ring. He's had numerous back surgeries as well as work on his hips (hip replacement, I believe). From what I understand, he doesn't move very well at all. Now, for someone who has always been "slow and plodding" to begin with, he's really gonna look old now. If he was only a "talking head", that might work.... but for him to be in the ring, that is gonna look pretty bad. And you know that Hogan doesn't "lay down" for the young talent, so the news that he has the booking power means he'll be going over and helping to bury any young talent TNA may have developed over the past couple of years.

October 30 2009 at 3:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rob Stevens

Ric Flair is already confirmed to be coming to TNA as well. And rumor has it that they will launch a Monday night show to compete directly with WWE.

October 30 2009 at 3:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Cander

And apparently he has full creative control. Say goodbye to your title AJ.

October 30 2009 at 2:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Alex Farquharson

Does anyone else remember the epic tv series 'Thunder in Paradise'??

October 30 2009 at 2:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Alex Farquharson's comment
Iyaz

Yes, and it was kind of awful - but in a good way.

October 30 2009 at 5:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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