The Triple Threat 11.01.09: The 163rd Edition – Hogan and Bischoff To TNA, Kofi Kingston, Ric Flair, More

Posted by David Martell on 11.01.2009

This week we talk about Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff going to TNA, Ric Flair possibly going to TNA, John Cena winning the WWE title and Kofi Kingston's push on RAW. The Submission Match is our Gimmick Match Highlight. Please Enjoy.

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Topic # 1 What are you thoughts about Hulk Hogan signing with TNA?

David Martell: I have to say that I am not happy with this at all but I understand why TNA signed him. Hogan is arguably the biggest name in professional wrestling history. Even people who don't watch wrestling know who he is. This could be the shot in the arm that TNA needs to become a threat to the WWE. With that said, I really don't know if that's enough to make TNA a household name. I was really hoping that TNA would gain credibility and viewership by having quality programming but with Hogan on the show, I don't know if that is possible. What does Hogan really bring to the table besides his name? In my opinion, nothing. He is not suitable to be wrestling, he has never been one to really put over anyone else except himself, and he is just going to take valuable air time from the young guys who deserve it. If Hogan ends up running TNA like the rumors are telling us, TNA is only going to get worse. He may pop ratings for a couple weeks or maybe a couple months, but when it is all said and done, everyone is just going to realize that TNA is a waste of their time. I really thought TNA was going in a new direction with younger talent being the focus but with Hogan running the show, I just cant see that happening. For the love of wrestling, I hope I am wrong. I want TNA to be good because I love watching wrestling. I know that having competition among rival companies brings out the best in the wrestlers and in the product as a whole. What can Hogan do to stir things up? I just don't see it. We are just going to have to watch and see what happens.

Sean Garmer: Well I guess this was bound to happen at some point. Hogan is here for the money and he is here to look out for himself. The thing is he cannot wrestle much at this point so it would probably be best to put him in a manager role for one of the new talents. That's probably not going to happen though, Hogan is eventually going to get back in the ring again. A part of me feels though that Hogan has matured some. I think he realizes that the company can't survive on him and the old guard and for some reason that CCW did that. He is still a huge name, he knows that. I don't know if he is here for the company but I do feel like he will listen if someone tells him, hey let's make some people's careers here. Cause he still has plenty ability to do that. Actually I could see Samoa Joe or AJ Styles benefiting from this immensely.

Zach Brown: The revival of WCW is COMPLETE!!! With Eric Bischoff going along for the ride, it's a hard comparison to ignore. I guess TNA is thinking that signing Hogan is what put WCW on the map, so why not try it themselves! The difference is, that was 15 years ago. Anyway, the severity of this move all depends on what exactly Hogan will be doing. If he's just a manager or an authority figure, that's fine by me. But the press conference makes it sound like he will be an in-ring competitor. If he's going to be wrestling, it's a bad idea. Hogan is getting more and more limited in the ring. For example, his confrontation with The Great Khali at the 15th Anniversary of Raw was nearly unwatchable to me for that exact reason. And just when TNA finally gets the ball rolling on putting over their younger homegrown talent, in comes Hogan. Really, TNA? You make AJ champ, you put over Matt Morgan, you start Desmond Wolfe in a program with Kurt Angle, and then you sign Hulk Hogan? One of these things is not like the others. Now if he were to come in and help Rhino and Team 3D as the "older guys that feel they are being pushed aside in favor of the younger guys," then that could work storyline-wise. But it still doesn't make sense in terms of who TNA should sign in order to help their company grow. Will Hogan add viewers to TNA? Yes. Hogan has die-hard fans wherever he goes, and it's very possible that the addition of Hogan could help TNA finally break the 1.5 or even the 2.0 ratings barrier on a consistent basis. If Spike TV and TNA create a marketing blitz around Hogan, it's certainly do-able. But it seems like nearly the entire IWC agrees that Hogan will only be out for himself, and could potentially drag the company down with him all for his own profit. But if Hogan stays in a role of manager/on screen authority figure/occasional wrestler, there's no reason to get worried about such things. What does scare me are all these tweets from Bubba the Love Sponge and other internet rumors that Hulk will basically be one of the top decision makers in TNA. To sign anyone and give them that much control in the company in such a short amount of time is a nightmarishly bad decision. If those rumors are true, then the house that Jarrett built is definitely in trouble.

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Topic # 2 Eric Bischoff is also coming to TNA. How do you feel about this?

David Martell: Having Bischoff come to TNA with Hogan doesn't sound to bad. I really think Bischoff is a great wrestling mind and has a lot to offer to any organization. He is a very creative person and if anyone could book TNA to make it more interesting, it is him, or maybe Paul Hayman. Bischoff is a very smart business man and could help TNA on a lot of different levels. He could bring more exposure to the company and help them shop out to other networks for more programming. I personally think he is a great on screen character. People love to hate him and that makes good television. It is just hard to see how big of a role he is going to play. Is he going to help TNA go to Monday nights? It certainly is a possibility. Personally I think that move would be the end of TNA but it some how they could survive, it could be a good thing for the wrestling business as a whole. I think I would have been much happier if TNA brought in Bischoff by himself but we can't get everything we want. It will be interesting to see where his place will be in the company and I am interested in seeing what he can bring to the table for TNA.

Sean Garmer: Now this is a smart business move, unless we find out Vince paid Bischoff and Hogan a bunch of money to kill TNA, just kidding. If Larry is right in the roundtable about the possiblity of G4 being interested, I would take it. I wouldn't put it on CMT, you honestly do not need wrestling to be on a channel that will get it made fun of in the media. Only because many of the southern people that like country music may already watch wrestling, they don't need it on a channel that is so centralized like CMT. G4 works better because it has some variety to it, though you could make a case that G4 is on the same level as Spike TV. And Versus is too segregated of a channel right now to put yourself on it, I'm sure its not helping the NHL either, its at war with DIRECTV and many cable operators don't carry it, or charge extra for it.

Ok, getting off the stuff about the TV channel, Eric Bischoff is a business man first and he is going to help TNA with international deals, marketing their PPV's better, and even marketing themselves better. Guess what? WCW was in this very situation too and he is the perfect man to help TNA get them to that next level. As long as he doesn't get the idea that we need to keep the same guys that eventually destroyed WCW in TNA, they are ok. It's quite funny that is happening at a time where WWE has once again decided to go PG. I think the difference though is WWE is slowly trying to make new stars and the kids are eating up everything that happens. I don't know if its going to be simply a case of doing the opposite and boom getting fans to switch. Bischoff is smart though and if he does the marketing part, I think the creative team can handle the rest. It's not going to happen overnight, but Bischoff may be the golden egg in this deal, not Hogan.

Zach Brown: I think this move is considerably less shocking. Bischoff, however controversial he may be, can be pretty good at running a wrestling company. I think that if it was only Bischoff that went to TNA, the reaction would be largely indifferent. I mean Vince Russo is already there and he hasn't run the company into the ground just yet! Could Bischoff be much worse? It's the fact that Bischoff and Hogan are going together that just immediately give me unsavory memories of WCW. When it comes to who can cause more damage to TNA, I have to pick Hogan. If all these rumors about Hogan calling the shots are true, then I think Hogan is much worse for TNA than Eric Bischoff is. I think it would be a good idea for Bischoff to be in charge of the marketing of TNA. It would be away from the booking side of things, he wouldn't be making company changing decisions, and you'd have to try hard to make TNA's marketing worse than it already is. After all, there is still a good chunk of casual WWE fans that don't even know that TNA exists. Overall, if it were only Bischoff going to TNA, I think most of the IWC would have called it predictable and just plain old "meh." I think it's Bischoff and Hogan going to TNA together that makes people run for the hills.

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Topic # 3 There are rumors going around that Ric Flair might make his way to TNA in the near future. Your thoughts?

David Martell: I feel like we are going on repeat talking about people going to TNA. If Flair decides to go to TNA that is a complete slap in the face to WWE. WWE gave him probably the best retirement someone could of asked for. He ended his career on a high note and it became one of the best moments in wrestling that I have ever watched. Some people just can't let it go. I understand that he needs money but he should be able to earn it in different ways besides wrestling in the ring. I a sure that if he actually wanted a job in the WWE, he could have one. He just has too much pride and it is sad. I don't want to see Flair in TNA or in a wrestling ring period. He is way past his prime and he just doesn't have the ability to give us great matches any more. It will be a sad, sad day if Ric Flair joins TNA. I will lose a lot of respect for him.

Sean Garmer: Do I think this will happen? No, unless Ric just wants to go help out another company for shits and giggles. Because if he ever needed money, Vince would bring him back to be in a couple of storylines. Not to mention hasn't Flair talked about his displeasure with Russo, Bischoff, and Hogan being in a position of power enough through the years? Can he help TNA? Sure he can. He is the foundation of the sports part of pro-wrestling and isn't that something TNA has tried to pride itself on through its time. I just don't see how he could gel with so many people in the business side and creative side, that he has issues with personally.

Zach Brown: This would be an awful move by Ric Flair in my opinion. WWE gave Ric Flair the classiest send off possible in the wrestling business. When I watched his last match at Wrestlemania 24, his induction into the Hall of Fame, and his farewell ceremony on the Raw after Wrestlemania, it brought tears to my eyes every time. So I think it would be a little low for Ric to go to TNA. Then again, I think it's also pretty bad to auction off your NWA title and to owe several people money, including ROH. Oh well. It sucks to see Ric going through obviously hard financial troubles. But is TNA the answer? On principle alone, I don't think it should be. Ric Flair has celebrity to his name, and there has to be other ways for him to make money other than for him to join WWE's competition at 60 years old. But putting company loyalty quibbles aside, if Ric does join TNA, I think he should only be a manager or authority figure for obvious reasons. His match with Shawn Michaels needs to remain his last match. And even if keeping that match as his last isn't important, Flair is simply too old to be in the ring anyway. I see no positive coming out of Ric Flair joining TNA.

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Topic # 4 John Cena won the WWE title this past week on Bragging Rights. How do you feel about this?

David Martell: Man, WWE really teased Cena losing with how they way them made it seem that he was going to end up on Smackdown. I personally thought Cena's match at Bragging Rights was damn good. It is definitely one of the best matches I have seen him or Orton wrestle. It just told so much story and in the end I was satisfied. To be honest, I thought the PPV was solid. It has been a long time since I have watched a PPV and came out of it completely satisfied. I really don't understand why some people dogged this PPV. None of the matches were bad at all. Hell, even the women's match delivered. The fatal four way was surprisingly good and the Iron Man match was a great way to end the show. It wasn't your technical wrestling masterpiece, but it was a lot of fun and it ended their feud in a grand way. I really think people should give this PPV a shot because it good. It wasn't the best thing I ever seen but it definitely was one of the better PPVs of the year. I am perfectly fine with Cena having the belt at this point and I am looking forward to the Triple Threat match at Survivor Series. When HBK is in the title picture, I am a happy camper. Hopefully Cena will hold the title for awhile so they can stop playing hot potato with the belt.

Sean Garmer: We all know many people enjoy Cena more when he is chasing, but this is one of those points where I think he could help by being champion. I really don't know if its a good idea or bad idea to have that triple threat at Survivor Series. It says a lot about the RAW main event picture that you basically have Big Show, Triple H, HBK,Cena, and Orton, the same people that have been in that picture for probably a little too long. I guess its fine since they have to figure out a way to outdo the last PPV and make Survivor Series feel like the major PPV that it is with the two triple threat matches, both in the same vein. WWE is setting up for some nice things for after Survivor Series though, and that's where Cena can help. I'm loving this Kofi vs. Orton storyline, and Cena vs. Legacy, Miz, or Jack Swagger sound good to me. He also has the ability with the big mixed reaction he gets to go after the faces as well. So if WWE continues to move the rising stars in the right direction, this could be a great thing.

Zach Brown: I really dug the Iron Man match at Bragging Rights. It was a four star match in my eyes, and the obvious pick for Match of the Night. Sure, the match got kind of goofy when Orton tried to blow Cena up with the pyro control panel. But moments like Orton countering the Attitude Adjustment with the RKO or when Orton hit Cena in the head with the mic really redeemed it for me. I was pulling for Orton to win, but Cena winning wasn't a bad decision either. But where are the days when we had long reigning champions? Nowadays, belts seem to change hands every two months. Wrestling in general needs a little more stability. Case in point, when Orton won the title at Hell in a Cell, it didn't feel fresh at all because he had just held the title before Breaking Point. I never thought I'd say this, but I hope Cena has the title for a good length of time.

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Topic # 5 What are your thoughts on Kofi Kingston getting a huge push against Randy Orton this past week on RAW?

David Martell: I would have never thought in a million years that Kofi could cut such a good promo. It seems like WWE had big plans for him all along. The dropping of his accent really made me take him more seriously. This is the first time that we are seeing Kofi in a REAL storyline and it couldn't have started any better. Having Kofi face off with Randy Orton is a huge push. Kofi certainly has the talent but now it is his time to prove himself against one of the top dogs in the company. I wouldn't be surprised if Kofi ends up losing the feud as a whole, but this could be his chance to become a legit main eventer. I can't believe I am saying that! His promo with Orton's car was truly fantastic. He had so much emotion and just everything seemed to work. We wernt getting normal happy Kofi Kingston. We were getting the REAL Kofi Kingston. Things are starting of great but I hope it continues that way. This is definitely the hottest new feud in the WWE.

Sean Garmer: Seeing Kofi get pissed off at Orton on RAW and destroy the car was awesome. I'm glad they dropped the whole Jamaican thing and made him get serious. Randy played it up they way he should have and it sets up something nice for SS. This could put Kofi ahead of the pack in the mid-card if its done right. Kofi can get it done in the ring and if they can improve him on the mic, he could be a star some day. I expect Orton to get the win at SS, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Kofi get the win later and it could do wonders for him because Orton is such a big name. Kudos to WWE for trying something new for Kofi and for Orton.

Zach Brown: Man, WWE sure gave Kofi an instant push. Vandalizing Orton's car reminded me of some sort of stunt that WWE would have pulled a long time ago. Like Stone Cole stealing Kurt Angle's gold medals, for example. This promo was an instant classic in many ways, and could really be the start of something big for Kofi. I never would have thought that Kofi would have worked in that kind of segment. It really made me realize not only that dropping the Jamaican accent was the right decision, but also that there is more to Kofi Kingston than he originally let on. Overall, it was a well pulled off spot, and I can't wait to see what WWE does with Kofi next week.

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Gimmick Match Highlight

Submission Match


Our thoughts on the Submission Match.

David Martell: I have always been a fan of submission holds in general and now a days they just are being used enough. The submission match to me is something special. To watch someone tap out is always satisfying to me, well, when it means something. I do often hate when people tap out to the STFU instantly. When the WWE came up with the Breaking Point concept I was kind of excited. I really thought Punk vs. Taker would be something special and if Punk would of won we could have had an amazing moment. During that time I wanted the WWE to make the match an Ultimate Submission match. With the added time limit, they could have had Undertaker submit Punk during an early part of the match and CM Punk make Taker tap just before time ran out. It would of kept Undertaker strong and it would of made CM Punk look amazing. Of course the WWE dropped the ball on that match as a whole. I hope someday soon, they make submission moves more prominent. To see a legit submission match between two guys who are talented at doing submissions, would be something that would freshen things up in wresting today.

Sean Garmer: Submission matches are awesome because they usually involve having good to great matches and lots of false finishes. Punk vs. Undertaker recently was very good and I think I liked WWE's all submission PPV. WWE's had the luck to have great submission wrestlers in the past and you can tell that has left a mark on superstars today. Undertaker has even taken the ground type of style and made it cool. Kurt Angle vs. Benoit from Backlash 2001 is a standout if I remember right.

Zach Brown: Submission matches are not really my thing. You know what is my thing? More submissions IN regular matches. If wrestling companies wanted to concentrate more on submissions, they should make them a more integral part of their matches instead of building an entire PPV around them such as WWE's Breaking Point. Submission matches are just a little silly to me. You do know that EVERY regular match is potentially a submission match, right WWE? I think submissions meant much more in WWE back when Kurt Angle was there. The Ankle Lock was as over as a submission could get. Now all WWE has is a weak ass STF for John Cena, a Gogoplata that Taker uses once in a blue moon, an Anaconda Vise that CM Punk forgot he had, and a Walls of Jericho that ‘ol Y2J can never seem to win a match with. And it's startling when you realize how many wrestlers in both WWE and TNA don't employ any sort of submission maneuver. But I digress. Submission matches don't necessarily equate to bad matches. I just don't prefer the match type. For example, the submission matches at Breaking Point weren't bad by any stretch of the imagination. Same goes for TNA's submission match at Bound For Glory. They were well done matches. Do I wish they were different match types? Yes. Because to me, it's like these companies suddenly realize that they haven't had submissions to finish their matches in a long time, so they suddenly throw in a submission only match type to make up for it. Just do away with Submission matches altogether, and make submission endings a more regular occurrence in matches. Do that, and no one will miss the Submission match at all.

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That is all for this week. Feel free to comment at the bottom of the page and have a great week in wrestling. CYA!