No doubt that money is ruling the decision, but if reports are to be believed about him refusing rehab and still having issues, then it's a dumb idea to bring him back and doesn't set a great example to the rest of the roster.

I see PWinsider are reporting that Cookie has been released.

PW Insider reports that Hogan v Sting as a singles match is off.

If that's true then it's for the best, but at the same time it is funny/stupid that they've been building this since January 2010, and they've been apparently paying Hogan $35,000 a show for 2 years and have got exactly zero singles matches from him.

Well if Hogans retirement is legit, is does add another question to why TNA and Spike kept him on when he means largely nothing for business, ratings, PPVs and increases costs.

I doubt it's legit. It's a pretty smart ratings grab (remember Sting sendoff in 2006 doing a record rating?); Sting and Hogan will meet in some capacity at BFG, because even TNA isn't dumb enough to build this story for months without any payoff. The likely scenerio is Lethal Lockdown for control of the company:

Sting, Mr Anderson, Jeff Hardy, Kazarian and James Storm vs. Hulk Hogan, Bully Ray, Jeff Jarrett, Gunner, Abyss.

Considering how Jeff Hardys return had no positive effect on the ratings, I don't think Hogans potential retirement will have that much on an effect. I suppose the Jeff Hardy announcement was a lot more low key than Hogans retirement speech in the ring. Also in 06, they was a bit of interest in the TNAs product.

I suppose we will have to wait and see. I hope for TNAs sake that this is just build to Hogans match with Sting and not just a mistake on their part not to check with Hogans health to do another match.

From what I can gather, Jeff rarely impacts ratings (no pun intended). Hogan does seem to have an impact, when placed in a big angle or long segment with the other veterans. I read that a few 1.4 quarter hour ratings came from him in 2011. Obviously a rating like that isn't cause for celebration or worthy of his salary, but it's better than nothing. The hype and long speech, despite most casuals doubting it, should result in a slight ratings boost that week.

Will be interesting to see whether Hogan/Bisc go, or whether Dixie extends the deal for another year.

Because TNA as a collective are idiots and continually fail to learn from their mistakes.

I'm guessing when he first signed he promised them he would wrestle, then had his last set of surgery that has prevented that. He's not impacting the ratings anywhere near what they initially expected, if at all, so Spike (having already lost UFC) may be losing interest in this style of programming and reducing the amount they contribute to it.

Or it's an angle to set up Sting. Which I would not care for at all.

Normally I'd agree it's an angle, but there are reports Hogan's back is so bad he has trouble standing up after being seated; it may well be that he really can't do anything.

I suppose it depends if they advertise it heavily that Hogan will make a big announcement. If they just throw it out there with no build, then it probably won't mean much.

The main event of Bound for Glory is...

Hulk Hogan vs Sting.

Hope Maffew from Botchamania has his video set up for it!

I don't believe at any point TNA has said this will be the main event, and are instead pushing Roode vs. Angle as the main event - which they should.

Giving the latest set of taping spoilers though, it does seem as though the match is going ahead. I'm more curious than anything else, still think it would benefit from a no DQ or similar stipulation.

It will need a No DQ stip. It needs smoke and mirrors because the match will probably be terrible.

The knoxville tapings drew a great crowd, the officials at the arena said it was a 5,000 sell-out.

They were giving away free tickets at the sponsors car dealerships in the town yeaterday, and it was advertised of the TNA website you could get free tix, the number of people there means little as it's reasonable to assume the majority didn't pay.

Did Meltzer say this?

You really cant stand to hear anything positive about TNA.

No I read it on the TNA website. This is the page for the next show, closer to the time it will no doubt point out people can get free tix by visiting their nearest Direct Auto Insurance location, as happened for the last one: http://www.impactwrestling.com/compo...Macon,-Georgia

I'm looking forward to BFG. Not for good reasons by in large I grant you, though Angle/Roode should be good.

Sting vs Hogan will draw, the Flair vs Sting match drew a 1.3, the Flair/Hogan/Sting promo drew a 1.44 a few weeks ago. Sting vs Flair was a bad match, Sting vs Hogan will probably be worse but it makes business sense. People have criticised TNA for wasting money on Hogan and how he has only had 1 match for them but now he is going to have a PPV match and suddenly TNA shouldnt be letting him wrestle. For ages there were calls to focus on the X Division and cut time focusing on the old guys, the X Division would boost ratings/increase PPV buys etc etc. It didnt do either and TNA were ridiculed and criticised for their ratings/PPV performance even after listenting to the IWC. The IWC had their PPV at Destination X and it didnt draw, now Hogan vs Sting is headling BFG and is going to draw a good figure. Credit or just acceptance is due. There seems to be a lot of inconsistencies in people's opnions. Meltzer calling Punk vs HHH's match "really good" made me laugh, TNA put on that type of match all the time and it gets called overbooked and a mess. Be critical if you want, just be consistent

I agree it's irrelevant as far as actual ticket sales go but I think the attendance is very important when it comes to how the product looks on TV, so TNA giving tickets away was the right thing to do.

Aesthetics are very important, it's one of the reasons the Impact Zone gets so much criticism; it looks cheap.

http://wrestleheat.com/stipulation-a...-theater=12315

Hogan vs. Sting to be a No DQ match.

Very good decision. Violence and blood can carry a match, like McMahon vs. Hogan at Wrestlemania 19.

According to the Torch, Hogan has resigned with TNA.

If true he will probably leave after BFG, he must have signed some sort of contract extension for it as apparently it ran out 6 days before it.

From www.pwtorch.com:


Ouch for TNA, especially given it was a well recieved show. Anyone could tell you Hogan/Sting won't draw in 2011. Who wants to see 2 old men try to have a match? Fingers crossed no one gets seriously hurt. Of course TNA will just blame those damn Yankees.

AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels at BFG now an 'I Quit' match.

In addition to this we've got RVD vs. Lynn in a Full Metal Mayhem match, Bully Ray vs. Mr Anderson in a Falls Count Anywhere match, and Sting vs. Hogan in a No DQ match!

As someone who loves gimmick matches and thinks TNA should use more of them, I think this card looks great!

Re-signed, not resigned.