Hulk Hogan Talks Tomorrow's Show, New Faces of TNA and More

[Brad]

In an interview with Sports Vibe, TNA Legend, Hulk Hogan discussed a variety of topics:

About tomorrow's show in London, England
Wembley is the most important day for this company. This is going to be the most important day this company has ever had so far because we are filming the TV show here and it's going to be in front of the greatest fans in the world.

It will make a statement to Spike TV and it'll make a statement to Dixie Carter. Even though you send the TV signal out and all these people watch us, you can't just leave it at that, you need to follow up and can't just stay in Universal Studios. You need to go on the road and play the big game. I think Wembley is the most important day ever for TNA.

About a PPV in the UK
I think we are moving in that direction. This is a huge pivotal point and unless we have some sort of natural disaster everything is set perfectly for the extra shot in the arm and greatness. It's TNA's destiny to become great.

Who to watch in 2012
There are a lot of great guys in TNA, with the current champion Bobby Roode, AJ Styles and Samoa Joe. There are a lot of talented guys but the wrestling part in the ring is only ten per cent of this business and they have to learn more than just that. There's a lot more to the business than having a five-star match, there's the media cross over, being in character, knowing when to break character, knowing how to deal with a locker-room full of men or knowing how to deal with a room full of kids that have cancer.

As soon as these guys figure that out and get off this 'I'm a TNA original' out of their mindset and look at the bigger picture, I think more of them will be like Bobby Roode and start to step up.

One guy that is doing that is Christopher Daniels, he's starting to step out of that mould. When I see Daniels and shake his hand I say 'Good morning super hero.' I call him super hero because that's what he's going to be. He's got the look, he's got attitude, plus he's so smart and is really stepping up.

Comparisons between TNA and WCW
They're similar, one of the things is that it's a slower burn here because when Eric Bishoff and I came in, the original thought process was if we had a great idea like putting AJ Styles and Ric Flair together or putting the belt of Robert Roode we could move like WCW, we thought things would happen a lot quicker.

Once we got here, and no disrespect intended, there is a chain of command. There is a check and balance system so instead of the company getting hot shotted with a great Hulk Hogan idea, the check and balance system is in place to make sure everything moves along at the right pace and that we don't do something too big, too fast that we may not be able to follow up with.

There are a lot of safety precautions in place and now that I've learned the system, I'm trying to work through it gracefully, but still be pushy because I want things to happen fast.

Difference between Vince McMahon and Dixie Carter
When I worked with Vince McMahon it was more of an outlaw situation at the time. I would call Vince up at 4 o'clock in the morning saying 'I've got to drop the belt to Macho Man because that's what I feel' and Vince would go 'okay'.

Basically for the first twelve years it was me and Vince McMahon running the WWF. I lived in Stamford, Connecticut, just a couple of blocks away from Vince's house and we worked out every day together and we rode motorcycles everyday together and we were together everyday and made all the decisions.

With TNA if I say I want to drop the belt tomorrow, everyone will say it's a great idea but maybe it will happen or maybe it won't, or maybe it'll happen in six months, so thats the difference.

But things aren't like what they use to be. It's a new era and a new age and I don't have the luxury of lacing the boots up and doing it myself and that's what I'm used to, doing it myself, but I'm getting used to taking a back seat a little bit.

On Ric Flair Appearing in WWE's Hall of Fame
I think it's great, everybody is being very open and Dixie Carter is open and the lines of communication are open. It's great that the two companies can agree on this and have a common bond because Ric Flair has been a staple in this industry, and as they are going to induct the Four Horsemen in the Hall of Fame it's only right Ric Flair is there.

It's like the WWE saying Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair were never here just because we're now with TNA. It doesn't make sense because people know we were there and helped build that company. I think with the lines of communication opening it's good business for everybody.

TNAsylum

[KANESHOW]

Hogan taking a back seat

[We_Want_WCW_Back]

It's been great to see Hogan not in the spotlight. He says a lot of things in this that make sense, but I do agree that TNA looks very cautious on how they opperate. I think TNA should be a lot further than where they currently are.

[NWAFAN]

It's been great to see Hogan not in the spotlight. He says a lot of things in this that make sense, but I do agree that TNA looks very cautious on how they opperate. I think TNA should be a lot further than where they currently are.

I agree. IMO, at this point, they should not be holding PPV's at the Impact Zone. Every PPV should be on the road at this stage.

The one thing I disagree with Hogan is, "Ric Flair didn't help build the WWE." The WWE was plenty established when he came there in the 90's.

[bret77]

The only problem with this is there is a difference between what Hogan says and what he really means. You can tell he is talking about AJ regarding the TNA orginals comment. If he can stay in the background and not stop guys that have talent for his ego sake then I'll believe him. When I see AJ and Joe with the mainevent strap again as a face getting mic time, and great matches then I'll give him props. Lethal is gone, AJ,Daniels and Joe are jobbing. The guy stopped Rude from getting the title at BFG because he thought his promos where to heelish. Which is stupid because Austin never talked like a traditional face but everyone loved him. You had people who bought the BFG to see the pay off of Rude getting the title. How about let Rude get the title at BFG then slowly turn him into a heel with him cheating to beat his friend James Storm to get the title back. Then people don't feel rob. Also his 'I can't do what I want'line is suspect because Kurt admitted they were told at the last minute that the BFG ending was changing.

[kingofstings]

It's been great to see Hogan not in the spotlight. He says a lot of things in this that make sense, but I do agree that TNA looks very cautious on how they opperate. I think TNA should be a lot further than where they currently are.

First of all get rid of Bischoff ,secondly Jeff Jarrett should stick to behind the scenes shit in TNA he doesn't deserve to be wrestling anymore period and bury his wife Karen(annoying bitch she is) third use Samoa Joe more properly instead of burying him. He desperatly needs a PUSH

[Swinny]

First of all get rid of Bischoff ,secondly Jeff Jarrett should stick to behind the scenes shit in TNA he doesn't deserve to be wrestling anymore period and bury his wife Karen(annoying bitch she is) third use Samoa Joe more properly instead of burying him. He desperatly needs a PUSH

Jarrett doesn't "deserve" to be wrestling anymore? By what logic?

Not to mention Jarrett, or Karen, haven't been on TV for months, not at all this year in fact.

[RasslingFanatic]

Agree with Hogan with most of what he said, especially regarding Daniels. I never thought he was worth a major push, but like Bully Ray he has really stepped up.