On May 12, 2011, we learned Mick Foley is the TNA Impact management executive that has been making life difficult for Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff. We also learned that Mick Foley plans on making some major changes to TNA and the way its brand is marketed. For example, Foley made it clear that the business would be re-branded as “Impact Wrestling.” However, Mick was not clear whether or not the letters TNA would be completely eliminated.
Many people believe it would be a mistake for management executives at TNA to completely remove the letters of “TNA” that they spent eight years building as a brand. However, a lack of pay-per-view sales seems to be the motive for management executives making these changes. Hulk Hogan is a TNA executive that recently appeared on a radio show called The Law. Hogan was asked why the TNA Impact audience does not order pay-per-views. Hogan was also asked why Spike TV is not available in as many homes as competition such as the WWE, which is offered on channels such as USA and SyFy.
Hulk Hogan made the following statements regarding these topics:
“A lot of it has to do with awareness and the fact that we can get to the people. If I go into my hotel room in Chicago there are certain cable networks that are on like USA Network – there is no Spike TV. I mean a lot of it depends on who you can get to and who you can reach there is a lot more than ‘the fans aren’t buying it’ there is more to the equation and that’s a very shallow statement and that’s not a fact. The people that see it are buying it, there just aren’t enough people seeing it.”
Hulk Hogan then went on to say:
“That’s what it is – it’s creating awareness, a marketing plan we have to work with Spike TV and boost them up the ladder. I don’t know how many cable networks there are in the States if it’s 25 or 35 but in the paper it shows you who the top ten are so if we can get Spike up to that number one position the whole equation would change on how many people are buying it and change the equation and someone wouldn’t say ‘no one is buying it’ well the people that are seeing it are buying it so it’s creating that awareness to make people more aware that the product is there and that they can get it and when they walk into a hotel in Brantford that Spike is available.”
These statements made by Hulk Hogan may sound like intelligent forms of reasoning to someone listening and taking his word for what is being said. But when you do some research to investigate the statistical facts for yourself, you realize that Hulk Hogan is just making bogus excuses. The USA Network used by the WWE is in 86.2% of homes in the country – approximately 99.95 million homes. However, the Spike TV network used by TNA is in 85.8% of homes in the country – approximately 99.49 million homes.
With that in mind, Hulk Hogan needs a much better excuse for determining the reasons why TNA pay-per-view programs are not being purchased by viewers of TNA Impact. Perhaps this is the reason why TNA is changing their brand to “Impact Wrestling.” Mick Foley has made it clear that TNA wants to place an emphasis on “wrestling.” This is different from the way the WWE places an emphasis on “entertainment.”
My family and friends enjoy the real-life wrestling point of view presented by TNA Impact far more than the entertainment point of view presented by the WWE. The way Hulk Hogan, Dixie Carter, Eric Bischoff, and Mick Foley present themselves as management executives involved in real-life legal battles with genuine personal grudges is far more enjoyable than the way WWE admits everything you see is fake.
The same can be said about Jeff Jarrett, Karen Jarrett, and Kurt Angle. The fact is, Kurt and Karen really were married and really were divorced. This is an excellent environment for a plot that TNA takes excellent advantage of! Yeah, I realize that there are soap opera style plots and storylines in TNA just as much as in WWE. However, the simple fact that TNA tries to present it with an element of realism is what makes TNA better than the competition.
This Thursday we learned that Chyna is the woman Kurt Angle has been talking about for the last several weeks. I like the way Chyna tossed Jeff Jarrett out of the ring at the end of the 25-man Battle Royal. However, Chyna was not a participant in the Battle Royal when it started. I now wonder if Jeff Jarrett will use this as an excuse to cheat Mr. Anderson – the winner of the Battle Royal – out of being the #1 contender for the TNA heavyweight championship.
I’d like to compliment Mick Foley on the “Impact” style of wrestling he bought with him Thursday night! I literally don’t remember the last time I saw a Battle Royal. This Battle Royal was action-packed and intense! Keep up the great work, Mick!
For the record, I believe there is still an excellent chance Bill Goldberg will be coming to TNA. Hulk Hogan has talked about Bill Goldberg on his Twitter account, telling everyone how Bill Goldberg would blow the roof off of TNA with his popularity. The name Bill Goldberg has even been mentioned multiple times on episodes of TNA Impact! I believe Bill Goldberg truly is an untapped wrestling resource that TNA should take advantage of.
I’d also like to let the TNA executives know I am very disappointed that Jay Lethal has not seen a contract extension with TNA. The way Jay Lethal has the ability to imitate Randy Savage and Ric Flair is absolutely incredible – truly entertaining! The whole reason why I purchased tickets for my family to attend a TNA event in Port Huron, Michigan is because my sister loves Jay Lethal! When we saw Jay Lethal imitate Ric Flair, we laughed so hard it literally brought tears to our eyes!
What are your thoughts about Mick Foley being the TNA executive? How do you feel about TNA being rebranded as Impact Wrestling? And do you think the rumors about Bill Goldberg coming to TNA are true?