Aside from the press conference at Madison Square Garden, Hogan has barely mentioned TNA or TNA’s talent, the most notable example being “Larry King Live.” Hogan apologists say that King’s questioning didn’t facilitate conversation about TNA. That’s nonsense. If King had failed to mention Hogan’s book, Hogan would have produced a copy and bashed Larry over the head with it.
Bischoff’s involvement with TNA, meanwhile, has barely been mentioned since the initial press release.
Hogan is hedging his bet. He’s with TNA. The word is out. If the buzz builds, Hogan will proceed down what Dixie Carter presumes to be the already agreed-upon path. If the buzz fades – and there’s certainly every sign that’s already happening – then Hogan gets “hurt” during his tour of Australia, his involvement with TNA becomes peripheral and suddenly he has that retirement match with WWE because he’s correctly ascertained, through trial and error at somebody else’s expense, that’s all there is out there. Hogan had a false start with TNA before, don’t forget.
Hogan will not be culpable for a loser at this stage of his career. He will avoid that by hook or by crook. Sure things only.
Hogan is like a Vulcan. He has the power to warp the thinking of sane people. Carter is his next victim. He absorbs everything he can from a particular person, situation or entity, then moves on. He’s a big, bald, blond locust. Witness his WrestleMania X8 match with The Rock in 2002. Hogan used one of the most popular stars in WWE history to maneuver himself into a “spontaneous” babyface turn on wrestling’s biggest stage, and The Rock NEVER SAW IT COMING. He always cost WCW way more money than he brought in, and his booking veto damaged countless storylines and characters.
