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Officials at Spike TV were very pleased about the number that iMPACT received last Monday night (a 1.5), and they have been vocal since in saying that a move to Monday nights for TNA may happen sooner than later. Fans across the world would love to see it , and Eric was asked about the odds of seeing TNA on Mondays permanently before WrestleMania XXVI or after ‘Mania. "If I was a betting man, I wouldn’t make that bet, because there’s too much about it I don’t know. I only bet on things I am completely sure of, or things I think I’m pretty sure of, and with regards to that question, I don’t have an inside track on the thought processes at Spike, but I know they’re excited & extremely happy with the show & with the ratings. My whole approach to this thing when Dixie first asked me when our first show should be…I didn’t even take a breath: I said Monday nights, and it’s not news to you guys. We did it once before, and it worked. Wrestling fans love conflict; they love a battle. They love a good guy, they love a bad guy. They love a monster, they love an underdog. TNA is a underdog. This company is a fraction in terms of infrastructure & resources of what WCW was in 1991 when I got there as a talent. And for them to go up against the monster of WWE, it’s classic ‘David vs. Goliath.’ And I knew the fans would respond to that, provided that we gave them a good show. We don’t have a tenth of what the WWE, but in my opinion, we beat them."
Jim Cornette has been very vocal about TNA & their direction over the last few months, and January 4th was no exception. He believes that both TNA & the WWE did not put on their best displays & that the wrestling industry may have taken a shot on 01:04:10, Eric was asked his opinion about the Cornette & all the other critics that may harbor negative thoughts about TNA & the current direction of the company. "I don’t really know Jim. I talked to Terry (Hulk) about Jim, and he thinks that Jim has been around a long time & has grasp for the psychology for the business & so forth. My opinion of Jim (since I really don’t know & never worked with him); all I could respond to is what he says on the Internet, and I don’t think I’ve heard anything positive a bout anything. He’s famous for ripping sh!t, that’s what he’s good at. I don’t know if Jim Cornette has been involved financial, national successful television venture in his career, other than his times has a talent in WCW & the WWE. He’s very articulate, cuts a great promo, he’s particularly good at ripping everyone else’s stuff, but I haven’t seen him produce anything anybody has talked about lately. So I take his comments respectfully, kinda, with a grain of salt." He went on to add that there will always be haters that look for something, and they will always find something because it’s not perfect…it’s subjective. "I really don’t pay attention to them."
Some of the "heavy-hitters" in the wrestling industry will indeed be listening to Eric’s comments heard exclusively on The Mayhem throughout the course of the next few days, including the superstars within both TNA & the WWE, along with the promotion’s creative teams, & all the way up to the McMahon family & Dixie Carter respectively. Mosh, Blade, & "The Chairman Of The Board" asked Eric what was his message to those in the industry, especially those in World Wrestling Entertainment that might come across his interview with The Mayhem. Eric said that anyone who believes that the WWE did not hotshot the return of Bret "The Hitman" Hart to counteract TNA’s Monday night debut, to those fans/critics alike, he can provide some nice real estate in swampy areas. "As far messages go, my message to those in TNA including myself is commit. Commit 110%. Take chances, take risks, embrace the fact that you’re in a business that you need to push the envelope, and you need to embrace things that you may never have otherwise embraced. You need to believe in who you are, believe in you character, you need to lay in bed at night thinking of ways to become a better character, a better performer, and a better professional, because that what it takes to be successful in thi s business." Eric also wanted to use The Mayhem’s airwaves to wish the best of luck to Linda McMahon in her candidacy for the Senate, and that he hopes she wins, as he believes Linda would be a great politician. Bischoff also said that he truly looks forward to writing a book saying he is the only person alive to not only hug Vince McMahon, but make out with Linda & Stephanie McMahon. All kidding aside though, his message to Vince McMahon was crystal clear: "I know that you know you love competition. We all know it’s better for the business."
Concluded on page three …
