Hulk Hogan Announces Live "iMPACT!"

The biggest news to come out of "The Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights" Finale?

That TNA "iMPACT!" will run head-to-head with WWE "Raw" on January 4th, when Hulk Hogan makes his official TNA debut.

Regardless of your present or past thoughts on TNA, you know you're going to be checking out that episode.

Here's the video of Hogan's announcement from last night:



And here's the press release, courtesy of TNAwrestling.com:

The biggest name in professional wrestling history, Hulk Hogan, will make his first live appearance on Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling’s “TNA iMPACT!” in a live 3-hour special on Spike TV Monday, January 4, 2010 at 8:00PM ET/PT. Hogan and TNA President Dixie Carter attended “The Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights” Finale in Las Vegas where Hogan made the announcement in an interview with Joe Rogan.

“TNA iMPACT!” will be going against “WWE Monday Raw” on USA Network, the first time two wrestling companies have broadcast live head-to-head since the “Monday Night Wars” in the late 1990’s between WWE and WCW. This “iMPACT!” special will broadcast live from the TNA iMPACT! Zone at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fl.

Hogan’s first appearance inside the six-sided ring of TNA Wrestling will follow weeks of speculation after Hogan and Carter announced their partnership on October 27 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Hogan has hinted in various media interviews that he’ll have multiple surprises in store for TNA Wrestling fans.

“I knew when I signed with TNA, that it would be important to make a statement with the first episode. Going head-to-head on January 4th, makes the statement loud and clear: Game on!” Hogan said.

“TNA is kicking off 2010 in the biggest way possible with the biggest name in the history of our sport. Hulk Hogan is a pop culture icon, and his arrival will change not only TNA, but the entire professional wrestling landscape. We’re firing that first shot,” Carter said.

Joining Hogan for the three-hour live “iMPACT!” will be TNA World Heavyweight Champion “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles, Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle, Mick Foley, Kevin Nash, “The Samoan Submission Machine” Samoa Joe, “The Boss” Bobby Lashley and “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan.

“TNA iMPACT!” will resume its normal timeslot on Thursday, January 7th at 9:00 PM ET/PT with an encore viewing of the live “iMPACT!” special.

This was a great publicity move for TNA. Hopefully, Spike TV will be heavily involved in continuing to promote the big show.

Moreover, TNA needs to do whatever it takes to make this show as successful as possible. It's time to win back old fans, and win over new ones.

For a long time, I've advocated moving "iMPACT!" to Monday nights to re-start the Monday Night War with WWE. Is TNA ready for such a big step? Only time will tell.

Ric Flair to TNA?

The Nature Boy might be able to help TNA make that next step.

In an interview from earlier this week, Flair made it known that he's available to work for Hogan and Carter.

"I don't want to make any predictions, but I've certainly got a lot left to offer. I think I would be a good addition to (TNA's) program.”

Flair may not want to make any predictions, but I will: He'll be strutting his stuff in TNA soon enough. This interview goes against everything he's said in the past about working for TNA: he's jobbed out the company on WWE 24/7, he's said that he'd never want to compete against Vince McMahon again . . . blah, blah, WOOOOOOOO!!

It sounds to me like he's willing to accept a decent offer.

How about an offer to start Jan. 4th?

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