No Longer TNA?

Hulk Hogan is claiming on his Twitter page that the name TNA has been dropped in favor of Impact Wrestling.

This perplexes me as I was under the impression that they could not get the copyright on the name.

Jason Powell of ProWrestling.Net also informs us that what Hogan is saying goes against what his source had informed him about this, saying it was to be the name of the television show.

Speculation has been running rampant about TNA having a name change for the last little while.

I should also note that a lot of times what Hogan is saying is rife with ... um, "hot air", and might not be anything more than Hogan pandering to the "marks" he and Bischoff despise so much.

LMAO!

Okay, so I had to post this...I don't think I've had such a good laugh in a while.

Anyway, everybody knows that Dixie Carter recently had her Twitter account suspended because she uploaded a verified wallpaper background that was not authorized by the micro-blogging site. As of this writing, she has yet to re-activate it, probably to keep away from the constant TNA criticisms she doesn't want to hear about. But I digress.

Some smart-ass online recreated Dixie Carter's profile and did a pretty good job of it from what I've been told. "Dixie" then tweeted to the WWE Hall of Famer and told him that "she" was back on Twitter. Hogan, without even thinking to verify this, re-tweeted it.

Yeah. Hogan was had by a fan. The real irony here is that Hogan has been a victim of an impersonator -- who his friends actually believed without verifying with Hogan himself! I mean, is it really that difficult to call your boss and ask if her Twitter account has been reactivated?

As of this writing, Dixie's account is still up, but you cannot access her tweets. Apparently TNA will announce when she is back up and running. Through what, I have no idea, since the lifeblood of their advertising seems to rest on Dixie Carter's Twitter page.

Hogan Running Creative?

Hulk Hogan is claiming on his Twitter account -- that you can follow at HulkHogan4Real -- that he took over the TNA Creative team about 3 weeks ago when asked by former WWE Superstar Kizarny why he never got a shot in TNA.

It's no secret that Eric Bischoff has just received a promotion in TNA, and now it appears Hogan may have, too. However, it's important to note that none of the staff in TNA seem to think that this has happened.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com was informed by sources at TNA that there have virtually been no shakeups to the TNA Creative team. He was informed that Hogan has been less involved with creative than he has been in the last year, and that, "He'd have to show up to be running creative." So it appears right now that either Hogan is lying or the sources just aren't aware of anything. He could also be referring to MCW on TruTV, but I don't get why that would come up if Kizarny was asking about TNA.

So it looks like someone else is to blame for their shoddy programming, people!

Hogan Uses Questionable Verbiage At Impact Taping

At last night's TNA Impact taping, Hulk Hogan used some verbiage that is quite questionable thanks in large part to the world conditions at the moment.

Last night, Hogan announced that all the wrestlers wanted to be a part of his "tsunami" of wrestling. Unless anybody is living under a rock, right now with the crisis in Japan, this was not the word to use.

Hogan himself veered off the rails. This was not creative's fault, PWInsider.com reports. Creative did not have the word anywhere in the promo, but Hogan added it. Hogan posted the following on his Twitter (which you can follow at HulkHogan4Real),

"The tsunami of wrestling wasn't cool, it will never air;

it's already been cut, but when you're cuttin' promos old

school and not following the script like other robots

with no skills, sometimes you make mistakes.

I''m sorry, I was on a roll, and made a mistake. Nothing but

love and much respect for Japan, but you guys already know that.

I totally apologize. Keeping it real. HH4Life. Much respect, love for Japan. HH."

While I do want to say that I admire him for apologizing right away, why in the hell did he even say it to begin with knowing full well what's been going on? Also, did he really have to throw out the line about robots with no mic skills? Some guys in TNA may take that as a slight against him. I'm not even going to begin to comment about a guy Hogan's age saying stuff like "Keeping it real"...sigh. Thank God TNA decided after Victory Road that they don't need any more bad publicity and got this cut out.

Hogan Comments on Hardy Drama

2005 WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan responded to a fan on Twitter who suggested that TNA may get rid of Jeff Hardy in light of what happened last night. It is important to note that this is not the first time that Hardy's "mental conditioning" has come into play and created concern in the TNA locker room. You can follow the Hulkster on Twitter at HulkHogan4Real.

Hogan responded to to the fan's question by stating,

"Brother, we're trying to get everything sorted out.

I feel bad about some of the situations that have to be

(dealt) with."

While I'm surprised to see Hogan outright address the problem, I also understand that TNA is on heavy-duty damage control right now over the 90 second main event pay-per-view match pertaining to Hardy and Sting last night. Dixie and Bischoff have found themselves flooded with negative feedback as a result, with many fans demanding a refund.

Ex-Mrs. Hogan's New Book

This book should be an interesting piece of eye candy...

Just released this past week is the cover for Linda Bollea's (ex-Mrs. Hulk Hogan's) book, titled, Wrestling The Hulk: My Life Against The Ropes. We knew this book was coming, and in June, it will be out on bookshelves across the world.

Let me first say that I'm not crazy about the cover. Why is she in a boxing ring? Why does she have to wear such gaudy clothing, and why in the hell is she so orange? She looks like a Real Housewife or a Jersey Shore-castoff. Anyways, this book should be real interesting, and, considering how nasty their divorce was, be really juicy and probably even backhanded.

Eric Bischoff has already put in his two cents about this book, writing on his official Facebook page:

"Just saw the cover of Linda Bollea's new book. That

picture of Linda Bollea looks about as much like Linda

Bollea, as I do Tom Cruise! She is clearly NUTS!! Can't wait for this piece

of fiction to hit the bookstores."

While I do agree with Bischoff that a) Linda is airbrushed to oblivion in this ridiculous cover, and b) the authenticity of some things are going to be contested by Hogan and crew, I think that Bischoff is a bit of a biased source here, considering how close he is to Hulk Hogan. He may know quite a bit about how the marriage of Hulk and Linda was, but nobody ever truly knows what goes on behind closed doors.

The book summary goes as follows:

"Linda Bollea's book is an uplifting tell-all that details her life, the traumas,

and how much better life is now that she is no longer married. She will include

all the trials she endured during her marriage, Nick's accident, and the other

things she has accomplished."

I have no doubt that this book may be nasty, and will more than likely take potshots at the WWE 2005 Hall of Famer and current TNA Personality -- after all, in his last book, he described Linda as an "abusive alcoholic". I'll probably pick this book up in June; I have yet to read Hulk's account of things, but maybe it's time I do that as well. Anyways, I have a feeling that this is going to open up a whole new can of worms, and perhaps even lawsuits, between Hulk and Linda. If that's the case, all I can say is it's unfortunate for Brooke and Nick, who must be devastated with the prospect that their parents can't seem to be civil or in the same room with one another.

Is Hulk Hogan Going to Leave TNA?

Is Hulk Hogan going to leave TNA?

That seems to be what former WWE Superstar the Honky Tonk Man seems to think.

The Honky Tonk Man has been on quite a roll lately, spewing forth opinions and rants on his website about the 2005 WWE Hall of Famer, talking about problems that arose between them regarding TNA and his Hulk Hogan & Friends Tour (not to be confused with the first few months he showed up at Impact).

Some people have dismissed HTM as a bitter individual who is just jumping on the "Hate Hulk Hogan Bandwagon", but HTM has made a fair point about the fact that the Hulkster is set to appear in WWE's new "All-Stars of Wrestling" game. I actually agree with HTM; it is insulting to TNA, Dixie Carter and the people in charge that Hulk Hogan is doing a deal with WWE. I know his contract allows for outside merchandising deals, but good grief -- there should be a limit! That would be like Christian showing up in a TNA game while in WWE. Does anyone think Vince would allow it? No! Dixie shouldn't either.

What is interesting right now is that HTM is claiming that Hulk Hogan is getting ready to leave TNA, considering he and Eric Bischoff have not helped the program one iota since their arrival last January. This comes hot on the heels of news that Hogan's longtime friend and manager, Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart, has left his post at TNA, to return to WWE, where Hogan claimed he would be involved in the speculated Jerry Lawler-Michael Cole match. On a side note, Hogan claims he did not give the surprise away, but frankly, Hogan should know that Vince tries to keep stuff like this a secret during WrestleMania time, so his "ignorance" is not going to fly here. I should note, however, that he also claims that he assumed this, as he hadn't talked to the WWE Hall of Famer in a month.

On HTM's website, recently, he wrote:

"HTM has been told Hogan will bolt to WWE if asked. Sources within

TNA have said that Hogan will leave EB behind ike a rat. Hogan is on his

way out of TNA. Dixie has had to advance money to Ric Flair to pay

off his debts. Strange things are happening at TNA! Hogan's TNA

contract is results and incentive based so either can walk any time.

HTM said it first, Hogan is on his way out."

Not much is known about the TNA contracts of Hogan and Bischoff, but I think it would be safe to assume that WWE could pay Hogan more than what TNA is paying him, on top of the merchandising deals, so Hogan probably would go back if he was asked. This is purely speculation, by the way. I have to agree with HTM, here, though; how can we buy him being so staunchly behind TNA when he's more than okay with appearing in the competition's video game?

If he is on his way out of TNA, let him take Bischoff with him. The product has suffered (just in my opinion), and it would be nice to not have an opening segment that starts with either of them.