In an interview with Time Magazine, Hulk Hogan says that he chose to partner with TNA Wrestling instead of returning to World Wrestling Entertainment mostly because he wants to help the younger generation of wrestlers.
"When I woke up and realized I should be my own man and be responsible for being happy, I realized I still have a lot to contribute to the wrestling business," Hogan said. "And jumping into TNA and being a part of that company is huge. I have a chance to give back and help these young wrestlers who don't understand the business and the art form."
Hogan explains how the business has changed dramatically since the 1980s. "The business moves so much faster now," he responded. "It used to be if Andre the Giant and I had a feud, it'd probably play out six or seven months later at a big event. Nowadays, if Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan have a feud at 9 o'clock, it's usually over by 9:30. It's a story-telling art form to create emotion and drama and I just think a lot of that is lost."
Here's a classic Hogan quote .. The interviewer asked him about steroids, and how commonplace they were in the industry when he was coming up. Hogan said, "I just drank an iced tea here with lunch. If next year they say iced tea is worse than steroids, I'll probably quit drinking that too. But at the time it was legal, just like drinking an iced tea is legal." Sort of ..... except you don't inject ice tea into your body, grow freakishly huge from it and it doesn't dramatically change the chemistry of your body and cause horrific side effects. Steroids ... Lipton .... Hmmm.
To read the full interview, visit Time.com.
In a recent interview with SkySports, WWE Raw superstar Kofi Kingston explains why he's dropped the Jamaican gimmick and is now billed from his real birthplace, Ghana, West Africa.
"I was actually born in Ghana, West Africa," Kingston said. "As far as the whole Jamaican thing is actually concerned, growing up I actually loved everything about Jamaica. I loved the food, the culture, the laid-back attitude. When I came to the WWE initially I wanted to come out to something that attributed both my love for wrestling and the Jamaican heritage.
"I wanted to come out to something unique and something people had never seen before. But at a certain point it becomes about being real and true to yourself, as opposed to playing a character. You look at guys like Triple H. When he first started out he was Hunter Hearst Helmsley and before that he was Terra Ryzing - I don't know if a lot of people know that.
"Stone Cold Steve Austin was Stunning Steve Austin before he became Stone Cold. The Rock
was Rocky Maivia before he became The Rock. Shawn Michaels was a Rocker before he became the Heartbreak Kid. I think in wrestling and the WWE you see a trend of guys who make transitions. And I think for me I'm in that transition stage into coming into my own."
To read the full interview, visit SkySports.com.
- After several months of inactivity, DJ Gabriel has been dropped from the main WWE roster. His profile was removed yesterday from the ECW roster section. It should be noted, however, that he has not been released as he's been appearing in the company's developmental promotion as of late.
The young British wrestler has not appeared in a WWE ring since being split from his manager, Alicia Fox, during April's 2009 Supplemental Draft. He recently begun donning a mask and going under the name "Mr. FCW" in Florida Championship Wrestling.
- Mickie James recently hired Nashville-based image consultant/stylist Lori Bumgarner to help further her burgeoning country music career. Click here to see a photo of the two together backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. The multi-time Women's Champion is listed as a "singer/songwriter." (Mickie James pictures)
- Today is Edge's birthday. The nine-time world champion turns 36 years old.

