TNA Beyond The Mat: The Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff Era After One Year

When Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) announced in October 2009 that pro wrestling’s biggest icon, Hulk Hogan, and former WCW President Eric Bischoff were headed their way, it was a much-heated topic. 

Immediately people saw TNA’s stock rise, while others believed that the organization was in trouble.  After all, both Hogan and Bischoff have their place in both the good and bad of the wrestling business.  TNA made its biggest move in history and people were talking about it.

On Jan. 4, 2010, Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff made their TNA debuts on a special Monday night episode.  That special TNA Impact! episode went head-to-head against WWE Raw, the first night since March 2001 that two wrestling companies competed head-to-head.

TNA had much to celebrate about, as the special shattered company records for highest TV rating (1.5) and viewership (2.2 million).  It was a great way to kick off a new era for TNA. 

Also, the episode was filled with surprises such as Jeff Hardy, Scott Hall and Sean Waltman returning to wrestling.  Ric Flair also made his official debut.

For the first time since 2001, WWE was finally challenged. 

The one big thing that Hogan and Bischoff accomplished was raising TNA’s awareness, a goal that was top on their list.  After the special live broadcast on January 4, TNA spent the next two months back on their usual Thursday night time slot. 

It wasn’t long 'til TNA announced that it would compete head-to-head with WWE starting Monday, March 8.

However, the Monday night experiment didn’t go very well for TNA.  Despite putting on good quality television against WWE Raw, ratings didn’t respond favorably.  Just twice (March 8 and April 19) did TNA go past a 1.0 cable rating.

It was clear that on taped shows TNA struggled mightily, even once scoring an embarrassing rating of 0.5 with under one million viewers.  After nearly three months, TNA moved back to Thursdays.

Since moving back, TNA has been settling into its usual ratings of 1.1-1.2 but at times scored very high numbers, including a record breaking 1.41 rating with 2.1 million viewers in an episode of Impact! in October 2010.  There is plenty to debate about Hogan and Bischoff and there is no doubt many good and bad things have happened.

First, TNA grew quite a bit in 2010.  The best thing to come out of this present era is that the company has gotten to a level where it has never been before.  Record setting numbers were reached both on Monday and Thursday nights, including viewership totals. 

Many stars also debuted with TNA such as Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam, Ric Flair, Shannon Moore, Mickie James, Tommy Dreamer and more.  For the first time, the company had better roster depth than WWE.  Also, TNA  broke a U.S. attendance record at a house show (over 5,000 fans). 

While this seems to be the path that TNA plans to stick with, for some, others point to the poor happenings that have aroused in the Hogan and Bischoff regime.

There seemed to be unnecessary spending (which was the same case made in WCW) such as the signing of the Nasty Boys and “Bubba the Love Sponge.” 

Some stars such as Scott Hall had no business being in the ring.  There was also poor execution with storylines such as "Hulk Hogan mentoring Abyss" and the “Shore” characters (Robbie E and Cookie).  

In the creative department, TNA has three people who have had success in the wrestling business in Vince Russo, Bischoff and Hogan. 

They had problems back in 2000 working for WCW, and although they’ve seemed to have moved on and turned over a new leaf,  this time around TNA has presented plenty of storylines (although some good) that have gone nowhere with fans.   

My biggest gripe wasn’t the practice of putting older, accomplished stars on television, but rather when TNA went back to the four-sided ring. 

My initial reaction was upsetting.  TNA is an alternative to WWE and a big reason why it was of its six-sided ring shape. 

Although smaller and maybe a bit tougher to work with, it presented a different look and feel and represented TNA as a completely different brand.

Another big disappointment was the disappearance of the X Division.  What happened to this division that was seen quite a bit of in the past?  Wrestling needs fast paced action and TNA brought that to the table with the X Division. 

Don’t get me wrong, TNA did indeed have some of its greatest matches in 2010 but I would like to see the company shift its focus. 

It appears the X Division isn’t high on Bischoff and Hogan’s list and that part of wrestling could definitely show why TNA can put on better action than WWE. 

As a whole, I believe TNA will be staying the course and sticking with Hogan and Bischoff.  It has been mentioned that they have one more year left on their contract. With the clock ticking, they still have time to reverse some of their choices. 

TNA has broken company records in the ratings and attendance department and awareness has grown but if they truly want to bring in more fans, the creative side needs to come together and present a storyline that will not just pop ratings for the short term. 

They need an idea to keep ratings steady and rise.  TNA has the talent to do so.  The Hogan and Bischoff era after one year certainly had its ups and downs, but TNA needs to think in the long term.