Sting-Hulk Hogan Was a Great Feud for TNA

Half of the people who open this article will do so just to backlash against the title. It seems like unanimous agreement that Sting vs. Hulk Hogan was a giant waste of time and should have never happened.

While at first I agreed, I have since changed my mind. Before you go down to comments and tell me how ridiculous my thinking is, please hear me out: Sting vs. Hulk Hogan was a great feud.

The crowd ate it up every time Hogan and Sting were out. My interest and excitement in Impact rises when the crowd in the Impact Zone is behind it. Very often in episodes, the crowd appears to be dead quiet. When Hogan and Sting were out though, the crowd showed its disdain for Hogan and its love for what Sting was trying to accomplish.

If the crowd is cheering and interacting with the wrestlers, then I stay tuned in. Hogan and Sting made sure this happened.

The story of Hogan-Sting, while albeit ridiculous at times, was good and kept the viewer interested. From the confrontation in the beginning of the feud (found here), I was always wondering what crazy stunt Sting would be up to next and when Hogan would finally snap. When Hogan did snap, the feud stepped up to another level. Despite the criticism, it's hard for a TNA fan to turn away when the company is in the balance of the feud, you just naturally want to know who will be in charge of the show you watch every week.

The feud also incorporated other talent, as Immortal was showcased every week representing Hogan. Gunner got plenty of TV time and made himself out to be a legitimate future champion. Bully Ray made himself the top heel TNA has to offer. With Sting out of the title picture, Mr. Anderson, Bobby Roode and Kurt Angle got chances in the spotlight.

Most of all though, Bound for Glory 2011 made this a great feud. While I admit the Hogan-Sting match in itself wasn't that great, the result and what happened after was. All the fans got what they wanted with Dixie Carter back in control of the company, which made me happy. That was just the beginning of the underdog triumphing with the odds against them.

Immortal came down after the match to attack Sting and take him out, and for what seemed like every other episode or pay-per-view, until Sting crawled to Hogan's corner and asked for his help. A fan could almost feel Hulkamania rushing through the building, with the crowd roaring and eager to see what Hogan was gonna do. When Hogan did do his trademark shirt tear and punched out Immortal, the crowd was through the roof.

It was an exciting moment, not just because of the crowd but for the result as well. Immortal, a group everyone loves to hate, was being thrown around by a newly face Hulk Hogan, something the fans in Philadelphia clearly enjoyed.

These two legends showed how to put a great feud on the mic, while bringing up other talent with them. While many despised this feud, I enjoyed it and think it gives TNA a little momentum heading into future Impacts.