Two Years, Too Late?

It’s almost the two year anniversary for Hulk Hogan in TNA Wrestling, but it feels like yesterday that TNA shocked the wrestling world by announcing that Hulk Hogan was coming to TNA at Madison Square Garden. With the anniversary comes the task of either re-signing Hulk Hogan to TNA Wrestling, or letting him go. The rumor mill is swirling about a re-signing, but nothing has been confirmed. If true… is it two years, too late?

When Hulk Hogan signed with TNA Wrestling back in October of 2009, many people had a negative reaction too the signing. Many believed that it was the death sentence to TNA Wrestling, but I remained optimistic. I don’t think the glass is half full, I just believe in giving people a chance before writing them off. I stuck by my opinion that it could be a good thing, but little things started to bother me. Hulk Hogan was out making the media rounds, but wound up promoting his book more than the fact he was coming to TNA Wrestling. I don’t believe that Hulk Hogan ever once made note about when or where you could watch TNA Wrestling, maybe I just missed it. I originally shrugged off it thinking that maybe he wasn’t allowed by the producers to play TNA Wrestling – WWE does have a lot of power with networks – so I don’t freak out.

Once Hulk Hogan made his way to television, we started to see things change. He came out and openly blasted the six sided ring on television, the exact thing that gave TNA its identity from 2004 until 2010. Okay, that’s not a big deal compared to AJ Styles being used as a scapegoat due to the ratings of the “Monday Night iMPACT” move thus losing the championship to Rob Van Dam. That is really when my blood started to boil over Hulk Hogan being in TNA Wrestling. I don’t even want to get started on Hogan’s buddies coming to TNA!

The real gripe I started to have with Hulk Hogan was the same one I had with Sting, he hadn’t done anything to earn his paycheck. I’m not someone who hangs their hat on ratings or buy rates, as I feel both are a very flawed system. I look at the bigger picture which is the work load that the guys have, the position they are in, etc. Hulk Hogan was put over on (and off) screen as the face of TNA Wrestling, but he didn’t do anything to earn it. How many times did Hogan go onto a talk show and promote just TNA Wrestling? Rarely! How many times did Hogan appear at a house show to boost attendance? Once! How is the guy who doesn’t do anything that the public can see, the face of the company?

In comparison to Hulk Hogan, Jeff Jarrett was on every single house show loop once he returned. He didn’t just wrestle at the events, he was up at the crack of dawn out promoting these shows. He would promote all day long, show up and sign autographs, wrestle his match, and sign autographs after the match. This is the kind of person that TNA should have been hanging their hat on, someone who is working their rear-end off regardless if a camera is with them or not. It doesn’t have to be Jeff Jarrett either, it can be anyone… they just have to be placed in that same position. Hogan is NOT the face of TNA Wrestling until he starts WORKING like it.

Hulk Hogan has proven that he doesn’t have time for TNA Wrestling nor does he care about the company. He was at both E3 and Comic-Con this year, yet he wasn’t there to promote TNA Wrestling. Nope, he was there to promote his video game! He appeared on Good Morning America, only to promote his show on TruTV.

So, when the rumors that Hulk Hogan’s contract was about to expire with TNA Wrestling, I really hoped that he wouldn’t re-sign with the company. It’s nothing personal against Hulk Hogan, it’s just that I believe he hasn’t brought anything to the table. Of course, the rumor is now that Hulk Hogan has re-signed with TNA Wrestling. TNA hasn’t confirmed it themselves (neither has Hulk Hogan), but they did announce Hulk Hogan would be making media rounds on ESPN to promote “Bound for Glory”. I hope this is what Hulk Hogan will be doing from now on which is being an ambassador of sorts for the company. He doesn’t have to be on television to help, he has to be in the trenches doing these appearances to promote the company.

I do feel that this is two years, too late. I really hope TNA Wrestling and Hulk Hogan prove me wrong, as I want the best for the company.