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The Pro Wrestling News Report for November 1rst, 2009

TNA Pro Wrestling News Report

- The biggest pro wrestling news of last week was definitely the signing of Hulk Hogan to TNA. While it’s still unclear what kind of repercussions, if any, will occur. It has, undeniably, boosted their ratings and will continue to do so as the word gets out that there is an alternative to World Wrestling Entertainment’s PG-TV stance that includes big name players. But, the under-reported story here is the package deal that came with Hogan, Eric Bischoff.

Eric Bischoff took World Championship Wrestling (WCW) to a new height of wrestling entertainment in the 90s and brought the production successfully in head to head competition with the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment or WWE). This was in an era when PG-TV was not an issue with either the WWF or WCW. Currently, Vince McMahon has decided to keep marketing to young children which takes the product out of direct competition with the Total Nonstop Action (TNA) wrestling promotion and Mixed-Martial Arts (MMA) fighting. Here is where Bischoff can, potentially, take the teenage, young adult, and older wrestling crowds out of WWE arenas.

The word ‘controversy’ surrounds Eric Bischoff because he is a known performer on screen, and a shark behind the scenes. He was involved in one of the biggest wrestling screw jobs in history when Kevin Nash laid down for Hulk Hogan passing him the belt and revealing an elaborate hoax upon wrestling fans everywhere. He was seen regularly in New World Order (nWo) spots with the biggest wrestling names on history and was many times seen (by the viewer) as ‘one of the boys’.

During Eric Bischoff’s time in WCW, some of the most creative matches were performed and some of the most stunning wrestling times on television were recorded for posterity sake.

Hopefully, Eric learned lessons from the past and will allow younger talent to flourish within the company by bringing up fresh wrestlers and not beleaguer careers bypassing new talent for names sake. All televised wrestling promotions should know by now that if they do not build young talent, their business is doomed to eventually fail having nothing to fall back on or promoted when established names are either injured or unable to perform well professionally.

- Something I reported earlier that quickly turned into a rumor (I hate that) is that Hogan will have control over booking in TNA. This is false. The only things being reported that Hogan will control are his story lines and he may have some influence on talent being brought into the show.

- Not everyone in the TNA locker room is happy with the Hulk Hogan signing situation. Hogan, obviously, likes to be the center of attention. From Larry King to the Madison Square Garden signing, Hogan has proven already that he’s interested in shameless self promotion. WWE has already been quoted as saying TNA just signed a death warrant.

- After reading an article that Lance Storm wrote here it seems that he and I are in agreement about the problem with TNA lies in creative (namely Vince Russo). Lance, who quit watching TNA due to the unremarkable creative aspects of the show, has tuned in to see what Bischoff and Hogan will bring to the brand.

WWE Pro Wrestling News Report

- The November 2nd edition of RAW will feature guest host GMs Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne and boxing star Ricky Hatton will be the guest host GM for RAW on November 9th.

- While Shane McMahon’s silent departure from World Wrestling Entertainment took everyone by surprise and created an endless stream of rumors. The absolute stupidest rumor I’ve seen to date is that Shane jumped ship to work for TNA. I like to keep an open mind, but this sounds completely ridiculous and would show a complete lack of business sense on Shane’s part. Why would the vice-president who is related to the CEO quit and start over again? It, simply, makes no sense whatsoever unless WWE secretly acquired TNA.

- The newest World Wrestling Entertainment ruling seems to be not to show any of the ring announcers during the show. While I’ve not really seen why this is taking place, it’s definitely happening since the Hell In A Cell pay-per-view. Finding someone with Lillian Garcia’s talents and looks, combined with the love of wrestling may be a hard find for World Wrestling Entertainment.

- Courtney Taylor’s profile has been removed from World Wrestling Entertainment’s profithat le list…. and pretty darn quietly too.

- Sources close to the wrestling scene say that the Miz/Eve Torres story line started last Monday Night on RAW will continue.

Other Pro Wrestling News

- Former WWE superstar Mr. Kennedy (now Mr. Anderson) has been pursuing an acting career and has not shown interest in signing any wrestling contracts.

- Terry Funk has been nominated to be inducted in the Professional Hall Of Fame for the Dan Gable’s Wrestling Institute. It is a BIG honor since usually the spots are reserved for wrestlers with STRONG amateur backgrounds.

This concludes the Pro Wrestling News Report for Sunday, November 1rst, 2009.

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