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[The Headliner]

St. Louis' RiverfrontTimes.com has an interview with Hulk Hogan, who talks about wrestling against Ric Flair in a tag match on March 8th and his financial motivation for getting back in the ring. He also takes a shot at The Rock's movie career. Hogan admits that his body is broken down, but he's getting back in the ring because the fans demanded it. Here are some highlights:

Is He Able To Still Wrestle? "Oh, I can't, brother. I was in Australia recently and did four dates wrestling Ric Flair. The first day I ran into Ric with a shoulder tackle and knocked him down. He popped up and came right back at me. I didn't have my footing right. I was turned in when he hit me and my right hip popped out of its socket. The pain shot like a piece of electricity to my head and right behind my ear. I felt like my head exploded. I fell and dumbed it up against the rope until I could pop my hip back in. That was my first day back. I really didn't want to wrestle, but I got into a situation with TNA when the fans are chanting 'Hogan! Hogan!' It's hard to say no. I painted myself in a corner. Now I'm fighting a tag-team match March 8 with Abyss against Ric Flair and A.J. Styles. I did that to myself, but I really shouldn't be wrestling anymore."

His Financial Situation Pushing Him To Wrestle Again: "I was in a situation where I was kind of lost and I happened to walk by a ring in a gym. I reached out and touched it, and I got goosebumps. I knew I had a problem, kind of like being an addict. I said, 'Oh boy.' It's like driving a fast car or being on a date with a beautiful woman. So, that was part of it. The other was necessity. After the last couple years, financially, I needed to do something. I was devastated financially."

Hogan Takes a Shot at The Rock: "I thought about moving out to L.A. and doing the movie thing cause I have seventeen movies under my belt -- mostly low-budget kid movies, kind of like what The Rock is doing now. My agent said they could put me in supporting roles. I'd never be a Gene Hackman or anything, but there is work for me. But I just wasn't into it. I needed to to work and thought why not get back to what I love, wrestling?"

I'm really not sure the match was made in response to the fans' demands. Sure, they chanted his name before he announced himself as Abyss's partner, but I doubt he had someone else in mind before suddenly taking their place. Jay Lethal wasn't standing at the Gorilla position waiting to come out until Hulk changed the booking on the fly...

Thoughts on the tag match set for next week?

[Hazzy]

I can't wait for this show now. TNA is awesome since Hogan/Bischoff took over. And this show hyped me up for the live show - having everyone tell Hogan he shouldn't do it, and then Abyss getting beat down at the end and the crowd were chanting HOGAN HOGAN HOGAN, I marked. I was chanting it myself... like, in my head obviously....is that less sad?  Whatever, was epic.

Also, Hogan said that there might be some surprises or something since they're going up against RAW, could be cool. Depending on how far they wanna push it, and Bischoff aint afraid to push it.

[The Headliner]

The big news yesterday came from a radio appearance by Hulk Hogan where he talked about a major name that just signed with TNA and strongly implied that the major name is Rob Van Dam. RVD posted a message on his official website stating:

"Wow, my phone has been buzzing all day, and not just because the room's been smokey. Ever have one of those days where you can't send out a text before two texts interrupt you. My attention span has been so distracted, I forget who I've called by the time the phone stops ringing and someone answers all the time. And not just because the room is smokey either."

Van Dam stated that he'll be making a number of radio appearances this morning (Friday) to address the TNA rumors. Van Dam appeared on Greenville, South Carolina's New Rock 93.3 station this morning and said the following about signing with TNA:

"I would say there is a high probability that that's going to happen. The official word is that it's still rumor and I haven't officially signed anything. It's been well-publicized news that I've been talking to both WWE and TNA. But, talks with TNA are sounding really good lately."

Dixie Carter noted on Twitter yesterday that Sting has re-signed with the company and will be appearing on Monday's live iMPACT. Sting hasn't been seen since appearing in the rafters on the January 4th iMPACT. Dixie wrote:

"Spoke w/Sting last nite. We've renewed his contract & he said he wouldn't miss Mondays live show for anything. Can't wait to work w/Hulk"

[Queen Scoop]

I'll set the DVR and watch it.. eventually.. here lately, I've dvr'd everything and I'm lucky if I find the time to watch before the next show comes on...I'll zip through it and see if I see Sting or RVD.. then I'll stop and watch...

[The Gopher]

I'm really excited about this move.

I know TNA's product hasn't been perfect, but it seems everywhere on the internet is filled with negativity about this move to Monday nights, and some of the comments I saw after TNA's ratings dropped Thursday from 'fans' were a little disheartening.

I mean, from a fan's perspective, why would anyone want TNA to fail? It makes no sense. I'm a firm believer that this is better for all wrestling fans, whether we like TNA or not, which is why I'll be tuning in. I'm actually really pumped about it, too, so hopefully I'm not disappointed.

[Purple Marauder]

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Apparently, and correct me if I am wrong, but I think TNA has something planned for the first 5 mins. of Impact.

[The Headliner]

What makes you think that?

[Queen Scoop]

Hopefully there will be more action and less soap opera stuff starting Monday.. between Jarrett and Foley, I coulda thrown up...I don't mind most storylines because you simply have to have them but I prefer ones that don't come off looking incredibly ignorant...Jarrett deserves better and we all know Foley's about as coordinated as a moose on rollerskates...I did stop and watch Mr Anderson's really great impersonation of Angle.. it was pretty much dead-on.. and if I already weren't a fan of Angle, his face turn would certainly guarantee I wouldn't be.. gawd.. he's an awful face..


Am I the only one who thinks AJ being a heel seems a little outta place? It might not be so bad if he weren't trying to come off like a younger version of Flair..

 There are just some wrestlers who should be faces and some who should be heels.. AJ is a born "face" and Angle, despite the fact I really can't stand him.. period.. should always be a heel...


Oh well.. there are reasons I DVR TNA and I will Monday, along with Raw.. but if I'm awake at 9, I'll be watching Raw..

[Queen Scoop]

What makes you think that?

Pardon the double post but Taz is on Twitter mumbling something about the first 5 minutes.. maybe RVD and Sting will both show up at one time...

[The Headliner]

Jarrett deserves better

Did Scoop just say that???

[Queen Scoop]

  Yes, I did....you goofball....I was wondering what Spike would run in place of TNA on Thursdays.. this week, they're re-running the Monday show.. frees up my DVR for Monday, I guess...

[The Headliner]

I hope there aren't too many who maintain the habit of watching on Thursdays, or else the opening shot in this Monday Night War is Spike shooting themselves in the foot.

Also:

Just days ahead of TNA iMPACT's official Monday night premiere, morale is "way down" in the TNA lockerroom, according to a report by F4WOnline.com.

While there has always been some skepticism about how the presence of aging wrestlers like Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair would affect the product, the concerns came to a head in response to the booking of the final Thursday iMPACT! episode.

Numerous wrestlers felt TNA totally missed the mark in terms of promotion, failing to establish the upcoming Monday night special as must-see (including virtually no hype for the various surprises) and even more greatly failing to hype the Destination X pay-per-view.

Intrigue in the rekindling of the 'Monday Night Wars' and viral word of big returns and surprise debuts occurring on the show might save Monday's iMPACT! from a ratings standpoint, but the feeling is that TNA has thus far failed to generate the momentum needed to turn the show into a long-term force against WWE RAW.

[Hazzy]

Fuck sake. This is all just pointless. I don't even care now. TNA finally putting on a show I'm really enjoying, a show that I haven't enjoyed as much since the attitude era when I first got into wrestling, and all I'm reading is people shitting all over it. So I guess it won't last long. So don't seem worth me even caring about the whole monday night war.

[Illusion]

If you like it then who cares if others crapping on it?  I think they've sucked for last couple of weeks but Thursday's was a bit better.

[Hazzy]

Because theres no point liking it, it's not gunna last if all they get is bad press and negative feedback.