Hulk Hogan and TNA shocked the world with a press conference at Madison Square Garden announcing that he had signed with the company. The press conference had been publicly billed as promotion for Hogan's second autobiography. Hogan did a morning signing session at a Barnes & Noble, then went to Madison Square Garden for the conference.
The conference today featured Eric Bischoff introducing Hulk Hogan. Hogan talked about TNA and stated he was becoming a "partner" in the company and that he was feeling great and looking forward to being a part of the company.
TNA President Dixie Carter gave a short speech saying she was looking forward to working with Hogan and that while they have great ratings for a Thursday night, Hogan would be the "boost that TNA needed." SpikeTV's Kevin Kay was also in attendance and gave a brief statement about the network working with Hogan.
A Q&A session was then held, but was said to mostly be fluff fan type questions, although one fan did ask Hogan whether working with Vince Russo would be an issue. Hogan responded that as long as Russo stayed in his place and didn't cross him, there would be no issues. Hogan then said that if he did, Hogan would have to take care of it.
When the topic of Eric Bischoff came up, Hogan did not say Bischoff was working with him in TNA but noted they have other side projects they are working on. Obviously, Bischoff came into the company with Hogan.
Hulk Hogan discussed signing with TNA during the final few minutes of an interview on CNN's Larry King Live.
King asked Hogan whether he would be wrestling for the company after they aired footage of today's press conference from New York City. Hogan responded that he didn't know what he would be doing for the company yet and that he would be testing himself on the upcoming Hulkamania tour of Australia.
Hogan also threw out the idea of doing an American Idol-type of reality series to find the "next" Hulk Hogan, a reality show concept Jimmy Hart had discussed wanting to see in a 2008 pwinsider.com interview.
source: pwinsider.com
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October 27, 2013
This Day In Wreslting History - Hulk Hogan Signs With TNA Wrestling
This Day In Wrestling History
Frank Gotch defeated "British Champion" Alex Monroe in Kansas City. Gotch again announces his "retirement" and states that the only American he wished to face was Dr. Benjamin F. Roller, and that he would pin Roller "six times in an hour."
October 27, 1911
Sweet Daddy Siki defeats Sam Steamboat for the Hawaii version of the NWA North American Heavyweight Title.
October 27, 1971
Tito Santana & Rick Martel defeated the Hart Foundation for the WWF(E) Tag Team title.
October 27, 1987
Brian Pillman defeated Richard Morton in a tournament final to become the first WCW World Light Heavyweight Champion.
October 27, 1991
Shawn Michaels defeated Davy Boy Smith for the WW(E)F Intercontinental title.
October 27, 1992
Scott Hall & Kevin Nash defeated Harlem Heat for the WCW Tag Team title.
October 27, 2001
October 26, 2013
Rumor Mill - Why Ryback Has Heat with WWE Officials
There has been lots of internal talk about the future of Ryback lately. He has heat on him for several different things.
For one, officials feel he hasn't really developed well in the ring like they were hoping. There's a feeling that Ryback has actually regressed in the ring. He also has heat on him for roughing up several different talents, most recently CM Punk.
Officials also feel that Ryback doesn't present himself well when making appearances for the company. WWE has gotten feedback on several appearances he's made over the past few months where people said he didn't look happy to be there, and this began before they turned him heel. One source described it as Ryback seeming to be annoyed by making public appearances. Vince McMahon has lost so much faith in Ryback that he may remove Paul Heyman from him so Heyman can move forward.
Divas and Knockouts Top PWI Female 50
Diva Dirt reports that the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Female Top 50 will be released on newsstands soon but the top 10 looks like this:
1. Cheerleader Melissa
2. Mickie James
3. Saraya Knight
4. Jessicka Havok
5. Kaitlyn
6. Gail Kim
7. Kacee Carlisle
8. Tara
9. AJ Lee
10. Mercedes Martinez
This Day In Wrestling History
Dan McLeod defeats Martin Burns in Chicago, Illinois, to win the American Heavyweight Title.
October 26, 1897
The Executioners (Killer Kowalski & John Studd) were stripped of the WWWF World Tag Team title when they had a third member (Nikolai Volkoff) participate in a title defense against Chief Jay Strongbow & Billy White Wolf in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Strongbow & White Wolf would go on to win the belts in a three team tournament with the Executioners and, ironically, Volkoff & Tor Kamata.
October 26, 1976
Sweet Brown Sugar defeats Ernie Ladd to win the Florida version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Lafayette, Louisiana.
October 26, 1979
Bret Hart announces his retirement from professional wrestling on his official website, ending his 23 year run in the business.
October 26, 2000
October 25, 2013
Backstage Complaints About Controversial WWE Name Reach Triple H; What He’s Doing To Evaluate The Problem & Who It Involves
While WWE is still hoping to sign 30-40 more guys in the next couple of months, a lot of workers currently in developmental aren’t happy. Many of the more experienced workers feel they aren’t learning anything and are just doing the same drills day after day, week after week. The complaints have gotten loud enough that Triple H has decided to pay a little more attention to what’s going on. Normally Hunter flies in for the NXT tapings and right back out afterwards, however, he stayed the night on Thursday to spend Friday at the WWE Performance Center. He was there as of early Friday afternoon and everyone was on their “best behavior.”
A lot of the complaints deal directly with head NXT trainer Bill DeMott, but complaints against him are fairly common. However, no one really wants to step up and complain directly to Triple H but he actually heard through the grapevine that morale was low enough that he needed to see what was going on. Hunter re-arranged his week to spend the day at the developmental complex to get more of a handle on the issue.
Rob Van Dam Reveals His WWE Contract Status
WWE star Rob Van Dam revealed in his iPadio audio show that he will be back with the WWE soon and noted that he needed time off after his first ninety-days to gain some “physical and spiritual alignment.”
He added that he really enjoys the renewed atmosphere in the WWE locker room and the seniority that he now has among his fellow competitors.
On his WWE contract which has been rumored to be a ninety-day run before taking ninety-days off, he says that is not the case an he simply let his current deal expire so he could have a rest.
Big Show Comments on Triple H as a WWE Executive
I’ve started my career in WCW and Triple H’s was one of the guys that was working with me and developing me when I first started. We were young together in the Power Plant together in WCW. A lot of things that I started out on, I owe a lot to Hunter, just helping me with basic things in the ring where he was already ahead of me. Hunter has been one of the guys where his entire career he has lived the business, drank the business and everything about it has been sports entertainment and now moving into that executive position, it’s almost like a natural evolution. If he is going to have an ego as an executive, he does have a point. He has the knowledge, he is a multi-time World Champion, he is a guy that has sold Pay-Per-Views, and he has been the superstars of superstars. He has been head-to-head with the Rock, Stone Cold, Undertaker, and all the cool things he did in DX so when he is talking, he is not talking with an empty hat-trick. He is actually done some very impressive and legendary things in our business. As an executive, he is moving forward and molding the business in the way he wants to see it because it’s his responsibility. If you look at Hunter as executive, he is really no different as a competitor. When he was a competitor in the ring, he was a very determined, focused and get things done at all cost no matter whose feelings get hurt and it’s only natural that would transfer over to him as an executive.
