Anthony Sulla-Heffinger of the NY Post interviewed TNA star and current on-air authority figure Hulk Hogan about Impact Wrestling’s direction as Hogan teased “momentum-shifting” ideas that he has in store for TNA and its fans.
Hogan on creating stars in TNA vs. WWE: “The only way I could explain it to you is if I talked about John Cena … The WWE has taken about ten years to build up John Cena to that Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock-type level. TNA is the same way, we’ve only been around for 10 years. It’s a very young company and to even say that it is competitive and that the WWE has a little less of a presence, that’s a major statement.”
Hogan on TNA vs. WWE philosophies: “The WWE is doing billions of dollars as a company and focus on the entertainment aspect of things … They don’t want to call their talent wrestlers anymore, I get it, but we are focusing on the wrestling and really feeling the vibe. The media and entertainment business moves so fast, we’re almost going shelf to shelf.”
Hogan on creating a new, “momentum-shifting” moment for TNA and the wrestling industry: “You can have a wrestling idea, but you need to have these momentum-shifting moves … We had the Hulkamania movement, then it shifted to the beer-drinking, Stone Cold era, we reinvented the business with [Hogan] growing the black beard and becoming the bad guy, what’s that next level. I have this huge monster idea that I am going to throw out there that I really think is going to change the business.”
The article references Impact’s new features TNA Gut Check and Open Fight Night, as part of TNA’s new brand movement. Also, Hogan told the NY Post that “former WWE superstars Chris Masters and John Morrison have reached out to TNA in hopes of landing a deal.”
Hogan on TNA giving more (people) power to the fans: “We are going to give more power to the fans, make them more involved and more important … I can’t say much more, but I can say this, I’m either going to be really right on this one or really wrong. If I’m wrong, you probably won’t see me again because I’ll be hightailing it out of here.”
See more Hogan quotes below, and read the full article here:
“If you wanted a quick fix, right now, you would put the belt on Jeff Hardy … That would fix a bunch of stuff right now, but that is not working backwards from where we need to be. Right now, to work to that point, the belt needs to stay with Bobby Roode. He’s a guy who we are bringing up and is a constant. As we build him up it’s like a volcano that ready to explode.”
“I remember the last time this build-up happened … Vince McMahon had Shawn Michaels dress up as Hulk Hogan with a walker and say ‘You’re getting old brother.’ Then we came with the NWO idea and I feel the same thing now. [The WWE] is banging me on TV again, having The Three Stooges dressing up as me, showing footage of Brock Lesnar beating me last week. They’re worried about something.”
“[With WCW,] we were doing three times the numbers [ratings] that WWF was doing back then. We slammed them for a couple of years in the ratings. We had incredible talent and had the two highest rated shows on TNT and TBS at the time.”
“It took me a long time to come to grips with the fact that I can’t be in the ring that much anymore, to set aside that ego, it’s tough … But when I look back at the tape and see myself walking out there and wrestling, it isn’t how I want it to be so I had to realize that I shouldn’t be doing that anymore.”
“[Spike TV] understands the business … They know what to expect and are well aware as to how the business works. They’re supportive and are believing in us more and more every day and as we keep rolling forward you’ll see more support. They’re team players and it will help both of us to be open and take that leap of faith.”
“I’m excited, I really am … If we can get this thing firing on all eight cylinders, get traction and do the right thing, you never know.”
