January 4th 2010, is a date that still lives in infamy in the minds of many fans of TNA Wrestling.
When Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff debuted inside the IMPACT Zone thus the began a tumultuous fall from grace for the company that was considered by some as competition to the WWE at one point.
Despite both men’s departures from the company in 2012 and 2014 respectively, it would take the company many years (starting in 2018) to finally regain the intrigue of many wrestling fans and critics alike.
But while this period of time is often held up as a prime example of “LOLTNA”, It’s worthy noting that despite signing wrestlers from years gone by to contracts or implementing conceptions that didn’t work out, there were some geniuely great aspects about this time in TNA.
Whether these entries allow you to look back at early to mid 2010’s TNA more favorable is entirely up to you; So with that said, these are some of the best things during TNA’s Hogan/Bischoff Era.
Ring Announcers are the most overlooked but important part to any wrestling match as it’s the announcers job to info the crowd and viewing audition about who the competitors are, what kind of match they about see and more.
#10. Christy Hemme
When you think about some of the best ring announcer in professional wrestling you’ll often hear names like Sammatha Irvin, Howard Finkel, Dave Penzer, Justin Roberts to name but a few; But one name that often gets overlooked is Christy Hemme.
Christy (the winner of WWE’s 2004 divas search competition) had a forgettable run in Vince McMahon’s company, and soon came to TNA in April of 2006. While her time as a valet, backstage interviewer and pro wrestler were fine, her biggest impact (no pun intended) saw her spend much of the 2010’s as TNA’s main ring announcer and at one point a creative mind for the company.
As someone who grew up watching TNA around this time, one of the best parts of the program was both seeing and more specifically hearing Christy Hemme doing ring introductions, for which she was really good at.
By 2014 Hemme would soon work behind the scenes helping with creative ideas for the Knockouts until her exit in April of 2016. Aside from some sporadic appearances, Christy briefly returned to head TNA’s Marketing Department and helped in developing Killer Kelly’s vintages hyping her debut.
In short, her work both in front and behind the camera might not get the most attention but it certainly was memorable more or less.
#9. Joseph Parks
It’s safe to say that the booking of ‘The Monster’ Abyss was deplorable during the Hogan Era as seen with moments like using the Hulkster’s hall of fame ring as a major plot device to basically becoming a jobber during his time with Immortal.
That said, there was at least one saving grace for Abyss around this time and that would be the introduction of Joseph Parks.
Debuting in early 2012 as the attorney of the Parks Family, Joseph showed up in the IMPACT Zone looking for his ‘brother’, who had gone missing after a violent victory over Bully Ray at that year’s Genesis pay-per-view.
The lovable lawyer turned wrestler eventually began a feud with Bully Ray leading to a match at Slammiversary where Abyss made his return to help his ‘brother’ out thus leading to Joseph picking up the win.
Although it would be revealed that Joseph Parks and Abyss were one in the same, that didn’t stop TNA from bringing the character back every now and then, which must have been really good for the TNA Hall of Famer as the persona allowed him to take a break from all the gimmicky, bloody soaked matches his known for and allowed him to show off his more comedic side.
Even after leaving TNA in January of 2019, the Joseph Parks character would resurface in the WWE alongside fellow TNA Alumni AJ Styles during a few segments on Smackdown.
#8. Aces & Eights
From 2012-2013 Aces & Eights, a group of masked men dressed in biker gear made their presence known when they attacked ‘The Icon’ Sting during a segment on Impact; For 13 months these masked assailants would leave cryptic messages and attack folks at random (in some cases with ballpein hammers).
The angle worked well due to the sense of unpredictability and paranoia surrounding the group as well as the potential idea that someone in the locker room might be a member of the gang.
While the reveals of Garrett Bischoff, Wes Briscoe, D’lo Brown and the inclusions of Brooke Tessmacher and Tito Ortiz only lead to the group becoming over bloated, the overall angle itself became an enjoyable part of the programming.
Highlights include a brawl that took place all over Universal Studios, Ruining the wedding Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan, the shocking reveal of Bully Ray being the club president after winning the TNA world title, Bully Ray explaining his master plan, and of course the disband and burial of Aces and Eight in a funeral home…A Polarizing storyline (maybe), but it certainly a enjoyable.
#7. Making New Stars
One of the biggest criticism TNA has faced since it’s inception was the over reliance of former WWE stars at the expense of younger or homegrown talent, While certainly true, it’s worth noting that some of those former WWE stars like Kurt Angle, Christian Cage, Rhino, Booker T, Scott Steiner and Team 3D did get more eyes on product and they could still go in the ring which is exactly what you’d want from a big free signing.
The Hogan/Bischoff Era continued this trend without question but while some names stood out for good reasons and others not so much, people are quick to forget that around this time a lot of new stars introduced to the TNA Faithful and mainstream audiences as a whole.
People like Zema Ion, Taryn Terrell, Jessie Godderz, Brooke Tessmacher, Robbie E and just some the names were first appeared in TNA during this regime with most playing a crucial part in the company’s midcard, tag team and women’s divisions.
Also, for as much flack we understandably give this point in time for burying TNA originals, we got to see things like Jay Lethal getting into a feud with Ric Flair (which had it’s moments), Madison Rayne’s rise from third wheel of the Beautiful People to Multiple Time Champion, Mickie James being the MVP of the Knockouts Division, Kazarian and Daniels becoming a tag team and that’s not including the likes of Austin Aries, Bobby Roode, Bully Ray, Douglas Williams, Chris Sabin and Velvet Sky winning singles titles as well…Even a terrible regime can make a few good decisions.
#6. The Rise of Austin Aries
It might be hard to remember considering the controversy that’s surrounded him in the previous years, but back in the early to mid 2010’s, Austin Aries became one of the biggest stars to not have a run in the WWE.
It began in the Summer of 2011 when he and a bunch of other high fliers fought to see who would win a contract and become a member of the TNA Roster; Needless to say Aries won, and about two months later he captured his first of six X Division Titles with his inaugural reign lasting somewhere between 298-301 days (still the longest reign in the belt’s history).
Fast forward to 2012 and once again Destination X is on the horizon, Aries decides to surrender his X Division Title for an oppertunity at the World Title thus creating “Option C”. In the main event of that year’s Destination X, Aries defeated Bobby Roode in a high profiled match to win his first TNA World Championship.
Between 2013 to 2015, Aries would bounce around from the main event scene to the tag division to a few returns to the X Division and winning more gold and putting on some of the best matches of the year in the process.
Although his run in 2018 ended on a sour note, his return to TNA in the first half of the 2010’s elevated the braggadocious cruiserweight to megastar status.
#5. Destination 2011 & 2012
As one of TNA’s most celebrated division’s (right next to the knockouts), perhaps no pay-per-views during the Hogan Era demonsrated why the X Division was and still is a cornerstone of TNA Wrestling than the Destination X shows that occurred in both 2011 and 2012.
Looking back, the X Division certainly wasn’t treated like a big deal around this time as stalwarts of the division like Amazing Red, Jay Lethal and Christopher Daniels were all gone by 2010 or 2011…Though Daniels would thankfully return to the company.
Combined with the company’s major focus on hiring muscular guys with tattoos and the fact superweight Abyss became X Division Champion and you can see why fans were tuning out with the product.
Fortunately the company was able to produce a banger of a PPV with 2011’s Destination X centering mainly on the X Division stars of the past and present putting on arguably one the best shows of the year. The following years event wasn’t so X Division centric but for the second year in a row gave us a great match between AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels, a good singles bout between Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle, Zema Ion (aka WWE’s Joaquin Wilde) winning his first X Division Title in an Ultimate X match and the aforementioned single match with Austin Aries and Bobby Roode.
While certainly not the X Division of the mid to late 2000’s, Destination X 2011 and 2012 did remind fans just why TNA’s crusierweights were so essential to the company’s existance.
#4.The Motor City Machine Guns (2010-2012)
One of the most iconic teams in the company’s over two decade existence, Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley of the Motor City Machine Guns were well known for there time as loud mouth heels or heroic babyfaces within the X division, but became legendary for their time as a tag team especially during the Hogan/Bischoff Era.
For much of 2010 the duo went to war against Max and Jeremy Buck (better known as the Young Bucks) in a series of matches that ranged from your standard tag team matches to Ultimate X to Full Metal Mayhem with each one team standing out as some of the best matches of 2010.
Not only that, but the Guns also worked programs with Beer Money and ended the year putting on the best match of the night against Team 3D at that year’s Turning Point.
Heading back to their feud with Beer Money for a moment, both teams managed to shape their legacies with their critically acclaimed best of five series and a memorable tag title match at Genesis 2011.
While injuries would take it’s toll on both men in 2011, the Gun would return in early 2012 where they went on to battle Magnus and Samoa Joe for the tag titles in a losing effort at Lockdown 2012, but managed to put on an incredible performance nonetheless.
#3. Jeff Hardy’s Road to Redemption
At Victory Road 2011, Jeff Hardy battled Sting in the main event for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, however Jeff wasn’t exactly in the best shape (to put it nicely) which resulted in the match being cut short and lasting only ninety seconds.
This incident became a black mark for both TNA and Jeff Hardy, with THE Charismatic Engima being sent home following his “match” at Victory Road.
During a set of tapings in Huntsville Alabama, Hardy returned to TV asking for “One More Shot” at redemption, but many in the locker room were skeptical about bringing Jeff back while others were slowly but willing to give Jeff a second chance.
Hardy would end up in feuds against Jeff Jarrett, Bobby Roode, Kurt Angle and Austin Aries from late 2011 until 2013 were he regained the trust of many by putting in the work in every match he had which arguably produced some of Jeff’s best singles matches of his entire career.
The apex of Hardy’s redemption saw him win the Bound For Glory series at No Surrender 2012 before challenging Austin Aries for the world title at that year’s Bound For Glory with the Charismatic Engima once again becoming TNA World Champion.
While the whole thing came from one of wrestling’s most embrassing moments, the end result became a high point in Hardy’s career and personal life with Jeff remaining clean for the rest of his time in TNA right up his 2017 departure.
#2. The Bound For Glory Series
In June of 2011, a brand new concept was introduced to TNA which saw twelve wrestlers competing in a tournament to crown a number one contender for the TNA World Championship with that match happening in the main event of Bound For Glory.
Dubbed the Bound For Glory Series, the tournament had a point system where every pinfall, submission, count out or disqualification mattered with the final four participates competing at No Surrender in the semi finals and later finals to name a new contender.
The series was used as a launching pad to push wrestlers into the world title scene and in some cases enhance or conclude a wrestlers storyline leading to Bound For Glory. Names like Bobby Roode, Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles all manage to not only win the tournament but became world champions not long afterwards.
Though the series was ended after No Surrender 2013, the tournament itself was a simple but brilliant way to build up hype for the main event of Bound For Glory, but also setting the seeds for future matches, storylines and character development.
It’s a concept modern day TNA Wrestling could easily implement today and do it remarkably well.
#1. Bobby Roode: TNA World Champion
Outside of the BFG Series, this is by far the crowd jewel of the entire Hogan/Bischoff regime in TNA and it’s still (more than a decade later) one of the company’s greatest achievements.
After winning the inaugural Bound For Glory Series, Bobby Roode went on to battle Kurt Angle for the TNA World Championship at BFG, only for Bobby to lose thanks some cheating by Kurt Angle and allegedly some backstage politicking by the Hulkster, who either didn’t think Roode was ready to be champion or didn’t want his title win to overshadow Hogan’s face turn which happened moments earlier.
Regardless of what the actual reason for Roode’s disappointing loss was, what came next might’ve justified the questionable booking that occurred at Bound For Glory.
On the following episode of Impact, James Storm shocked the wrestling world when he become the new TNA World Champion after defeating Kurt Angle in a match that lasted a couple of seconds. Not long after this, James Storm and Bobby Roode fought for the world time on the November 3rd episode of Impact which culminated in Roode smashing a beer bottle over his tag team partners head to win his very first TNA World Championship.
What followed was one the best heel runs of any wrestler in the 2010’s as well as one the greatest world title reigns in TNA Wrestling up to that point. Clocking in at 256 days (the longest world title in company history until 2023), Roode cheated, outsmarted and lucked his way to victory in convincing fashion against a whose who of former world champions like AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy, James Storm, Bully Ray, Rob Van Dam, Sting and so many more.
In addition to capitializing on every opportunity to retain the title, Bobby Roode also assaulted friends, colleagues and traumatized then TNA President Dixie Carter on multiple occasions. At Destination X 2012, Roode would lose his title to Austin Aries and failed to win it back at the following Hardcore Justice event which cleared the way for Roode to continue his feuds with James Storm and Jeff Hardy.
Sure Roode would win the world title a couple of more time before heading off to WWE in 2016, and yes the length of his first reign would be eclipse by Josh Alexander’s 338 day title run, when you look back at it Bobby’s heel turn and title reign cemented the self proclaimed “It Factor of Professional Wrestling” into superstar status and made for great television to boot.
It’s for these reasons why I think Bobby Roode’s time as world champion is one of the Best Things to come out of TNA Hogan/Bischoff Era.
