So here’s an opportunity to offer thoughts and prayers for a fellow who has entertained wrestling fans for three decades now. Hall originally rose to prominence in the WWE as Razor Ramon and later achieved his greatest prominence in WCW as Kevin Hall’s frequent tag partner, under his own name. Hall, 52, began his pro ring career in 1984, with stops in CWF, NWA, AWA, WCW and WWC, to name a few. Despite working for nearly every promotion at one point or another, Hall never landed the lucrative endorsement deals others did, be it for beef jerky or maternity clothes.

By 1993, he landed in WWE and became the company’s Intercontinental Champion and his star was launched from that point on. Let’s hope the ring legend recovers and returns to full health ASAP.

Not that I watch TNA all that much. Why would I? I saw most of their roster when they were in their prime, in WWE. So I’d almost need Moen faucets to work up any tears over the idea that most of these guys are still around.

Hogan was huge in the 1980s and still relevant, though less so, in the 1990s. That’s around 20-30 years ago. Entertaining as he was for his era, he’s now a couple generations past it.

Foley made his name by taking falls through tricked-out steel cages, as well as off them; landing on tacks and broken glass; and otherwise redefining pro wrestling as the work of stuntmen rather than the work of athletic-entertainment performers. He’s a nightmare to get decent insurance quotes for as a result. Like all angles in TNA, the roles played in the debate by Foley, Flair and Bischoff are all self-serving and therefore come off feeling disingenuous.

But the main problem with TNA mimicking the WWE format of long, drawn-out sketches to start the show is that TNA uses them to put over retired wrestlers and suits. In recent years, WWE has focused their opening sketches to putting over their in-ring talent… often by focusing on their younger stars rather than established vets like Cena.

If TNA wants to mimic WWE, they should focus on putting over their young, in-ring talent. That’s where the future lies.

It’s hard to argue with his logic. Even MMA fans who still need a home remedy for acne would agree. That’s the biggest proof-match Lesnar could have that would show he’s ready to challenge the man who took the title from him, Cain Velasquez.

But lets take Hogan seriously for a moment; as seriously as one takes selecting the best diet pills.

You want me to buy into this new gimmick, Hogan? Fine. Here’s how you do it: First, drop the Abyss gimmick. Unmask him, nix the costume and have him wrestle in standard trunks as Chris Parks. That would be a good start.

Then, let’s drop the old ECW gimmick of Brother Ray and Brother Devon. Let’s just wrestle them as Mark LoMonaco and Devon Hughes. While you’re at it, let Magnus be Nick Aldis. Make Raven be Scott Levy. Forget RVD; he must now wrestle as Rob Szatkowski. Sabu can go back to being Terry Brunk, Stevie Richards can be Michael Manna, and forget Sting… he’s now Steve Borden.

Oh, almost forgot one. Hulk, from here on you, you gotta just be Terry Bollea.

Of course, none of that will ever happen. Which is why Hogan’s promo is so blatantly bogus.

Matt, meanwhile, said that since his brother Jeff had left WWE for TNA a second time, he felt pushed down and held back in his own career. He vows to go on to “bigger and better things,” perhaps outside of wrestling, while admitting that wrestling used to be his life.

With Jeff the new heel champ over at TNA, only contractual obligations related to his release would seem to be a barrier to Matt joining his brother in TNA. Unless he’s been taking too many prenatal vitamins.

Bischoff. Hogan. And they’re the two names that matter. Then there’s Abyss and Jarrett and Flair and… Jeff Hardy.

The “new ownership” fired Carter on-air on Impact this week, and seized control of the company. Of course, it’s a work; Carter’s TNADixie Twitter account is still going strong. Yeah, watching Bischoff and Hogan run a company into the ground never gets old, does it?

Oh wait. Yes. It. Does.

So let Bischoff huff is cigar for now; but I don’t see this storyline increasing TNA’s ratings.

Waltman returned to TNA back in January but was subsequently released in June. This past weekend represented his return to the indie wrestling circuit, but in light of his arrest and release, that return could prove to be short-lived.

It now appears that Reaction is the “big surprise” Dixie Carter mentioned on her Twitter account about a month ago; if so, Reaction is potentially interesting if they can incorporate the content into a compelling overall TNA product. Unfortunately, that’s been the ongoing problem with TNA; they have some interesting pieces, but too often fit them like cell phone batteries into a laptop computer.

RVD made the cover then for the win.

It was classic booking designed to keep up the four-way feud, although it’s sad that in TNA, their main event consists of three WWE castoffs and only one home-grown star in the person of Abyss.

People critique WWE all the time for over-relying on establishes stars, but TNA is worse, if you ask me. Or at least just as bad.

Following UFC 116, Heyman announced that while he’s considered going to TNA, he has strict conditions on such a move; otherwise, he has no interest at all.

The upshot is this: if he could come in and have Vince McMahon-like control over the roster, the TV product, and everything else, then he’d consider it… so long as the deal included stock options and an IPO within five years.

Heyman, who at this point in his life seems to genuinely value being a father to his children, said the only thing that would make a return to the wrestling business attractive to him is the chance to set his children up for life.

Heyman had little respect for TNA’s current product and seemed confident in his ability to turn it around, if a bit disinterested in doing so.

That will change TNA forever? I kind of think that’s not the deal, but nothing else posted so far makes sense or even fits the description. Maybe she’s giving out Branson tickets to Hulk Hogan and friends?

Whatever. Looks like we’re stuck waiting for Dixie to give up her secrets… BOOO-RING!