Tag Archives: Hulk Hogan

20 Years of IMPACT: 2013

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Invading forces were nothing new to TNA – between Sports Entertainment Xtreme, The Main Event Mafia and Immortal, groups coming together seeking power and control was commonplace. What was unusual though was not even knowing the identity of the attackers. That was what made the masked Aces and 8s attackers so sinister – knowing they could attack from anywhere and could easily hide in plain sight made them all the more menacing. When Devon was revealed as a member of Aces and 8s, the pieces began to click into place. Over the coming months more and more members were revealed including Mr. Anderson, Knux, Garett Bischoff, Wes Briscoe, D’Lo Brown and DOC. The question of what they wanted in TNA still loomed large though.

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20 Years of IMPACT: 2012

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Austin Aries won a TNA contract at Destination X in 2011 and the whirlwind year to follow was beyond anybody’s expectations. Having overcome Low Ki, Jack Evans and Zema Ion to get a TNA contract before swiftly beating Brian Kendrick for the X-Division Title – Austin Aries quickly ruled the roost in the X-Division. With successful title defenses against Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Kid Kash and Zema Ion – Aries was looking to step it up a level and prove he could compete with the very toughest in TNA. A dispute with Bully Ray resulted in an intense match at Sacrifice where Aries improbably dropped Bully with a Brainbuster to win. Aries then made a successful title defense against former TNA Champion Samoa Joe at Slammiversary, proving beyond all doubt that he was ready.

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20 Years of IMPACT: 2011

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Sting, feeling TNA didn’t heed his warnings about Hulk Hogan and Immortal in 2010, vanished for much of the start of 2011. The tide began to turn in February when Fortune broke off from Immortal to stand alone and oppose them. This time Scott Steiner was the harbinger of change announcing “They” were coming as AJ Styles, Bobby Roode, James Storm and Kazarian stood up for TNA. They were soon bolstered as the returning Sting defeated Jeff Hardy to become World Champion in March. Immortal would maintain momentum with new members like Matt Hardy and Kurt Angle but the core dispute to be resolved centered around Hogan and Sting. The two legends of pro wrestling facing off was inevitable.

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20 Years of IMPACT: 2010

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The game changed on January 4, 2010. Hulk Hogan arrived in TNA. In one of the most hotly anticipated episodes of IMPACT ever, the world was watching as “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan stepped inside the IMPACT Zone for the first time. On the same night as “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair also made his debut and “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy returned for the first time since 2006, Hulk Hogan walked out to both an explosive reaction from the crowd and an explosive amount of pyro. TNA would never be the same again as Scott Hall and Sean Waltman confronted Hogan, which drew out Kevin Nash and yet another new face – Eric Bischoff. Unresolved issues from the past 15 years of wrestling were once again rearing their head and it would dominate TNA for the years to come.

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Book Review — Wrestling With Joeylicious: The Saga Continues…

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So far, this year, I’ve read more than 50 books. One of those books was Wrestling With Joeylicious: The Saga Continues… As you may recall, last year I reviewed the first book in this series, and I interviewed the author, Joey Cassata. I loved that book, and Joey has had one hell of a journey, literally enjoying both rock ‘n’ wrestling! If you loved the first Wrestling With Joeylicious book and found it as enthralling as I did, you’ll want to pick up a copy of the new book, which continues the storyline of the first. Read on for my thoughts on this new book.

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Book Update: Kevin Nash!

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On December 13, 2019 I reached out to Kevin Nash for the first time about interviewing him for my books about the history of TNA/IMPACT Wrestling. Yesterday, just a few hours after watching Nash’s “WWE Untold: Two Dudes With Attitudes” documentary on Peacock, he called me. We wound up speaking for five hours! It was easily one of the best conversations I’ve had during this entire process.

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Book Review: WWE Superstar Handbook

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DK Publishing is back with another WWE book, and this one is just in time for WrestleMania: WWE Superstar Handbook! Written by Jake Black, this 208-page paperback book is filled with stats and facts on more than 300 WWE Superstars. Alexa Bliss, The Rock, Roman Reigns, Hulk Hogan, Andre The Giant, Bret Hart, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch — they’re all in here! Check out my video review below to get a look at what’s inside and whether or not you should buy a copy of this new book. Enjoy!

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Book Update: Jason Hervey, D’Lo Brown, Deonna Purrazzo, Eddie Edwards, and More!

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Over the past week, I’ve interviewed a slew of people who played an incredibly important role in the history of TNA/IMPACT Wrestling for my books about the company’s history. One of those people is Jason Hervey, who you may know best for his starring role in The Wonder Years. Jason was a phenomenal interview. We talked about the early days of TNA, when he was working with HealthSouth, the wrestling promotion’s original financial baker, how he joined TNA in 2010, alongside Hulk Hogan and his former business partner, Eric Bischoff, and much more. Other topics discussed include his thoughts on Dixie Carter, Jeff Jarrett, lawsuits he was involved in with HealthSouth and TNA, and Aces & Eights, just to name a few. I was very impressed by Jason’s honesty and respect and admiration for those he’s worked with over the years.

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Book Review: The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers

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I’m always up for a good book about professional wrestling, and a new one is coming out on April 27, The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers: The Masters of the Craft of Professional Wrestling by Dan Murphy and Brian Young. Unlike other wrestling books, this isn’t focused on one particular individual or promotion. Rather, it’s a collection of profiles of elite performers, analyzing what made them your favorite wrestlers’ . . . favorite wrestlers. So, instead of simply being a list of the greatest wrestlers of all time, according to the fans, this book is about the wrestlers that other wrestlers admire. It’s an interesting concept.

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Book Update: Earl Hebner

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I have now interivewed four members of the TNA/IMPACT Wrestling Hall of Fame, with the newest addition being the greatest referee of all time: Earl Hebner. For more than 40 years, Earl has been the gold standard for professional wrestling referees. From officiating matches between Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant to Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, he’s the absolute best at what he does. Earl spent 11 years with TNA Wrestling and he told me that it was the happiest time in his career. We talked about what it was like working with Dixie Carter, taking part in entertaining storylines, including ones with the Knockouts, life on the road, working internationally, and the art of being a great referee, among other topics. It was an honor and a pleasure to speak at length with a man I admire, and I know that his commentary will make a great addition to my books about the history of TNA/IMPACT Wrestling.