RETURN OF DESMOND WOLFE

THE TNA wrestling team are here for their second tour of the UK, and it’s a different deal this time.

The arrival of Hulk Hogan has blown most recent wrestling stories out of the water, and the tenacious TNA troops are hoping to ride the rapids and truly challenge WWE.

Of course, it’s widely hoped that in years to come we look back glassy-eyed and say that Hogan was the name that launched a thousand ships and took back a chunk of the global wrestling monopoly.

Buoyed by good ratings, it’s long been the case that the most obvious and financially sound place to wage this war was on European shores, bringing some cash back across the sea.

It’s the success of men like fresh acquisition Desmond Wolfe, or Nigel McGuinness, as loyal FT readers will know him, which will be the true barometer of TNA’s progress.

The continuing world title run of AJ Styles and the fact that both men are working with Kurt Angle is evidence that the new management have an eye on the future.

“It’s been good,” a laid-back Desmond told FT during the tour this week.

“Hulk and Eric have been down to earth and approachable. They are very hands-on and taking an interest in the product.

“They’ve given me a couple of bits of useful feedback too.

“Everyone is positive and, you know, a bit of change always gets people talking.

“That’s half the problem with wrestling, no-one’s talking about it most of the time.”

Wolfe wasn’t taken up by WWE before TNA skipped in and whisked him away in October. He readily concedes his time in Ring Of Honour, where he reigned for a record 350-odd days as Pure Champion, took its physical toll. Life at TNA is a little easier on the body, he tells me.

“Touch wood, yes it’s been good, but I never want to tempt fate. It’s a different style, much less injurious, you’re not going 25 minutes and then doing 150 moves at the end so you end up destroying yourself.

“TNA is more about longevity and looking after yourself. Not that ROH wasn’t, it was just that they had a style the fans expected to see and couldn’t see anywhere else. It’s the same with the old ECW, guys were dropping like flies there, but it’s difficult to change style without losing your fan base.”

Working Angle first up gave Wolfe a real chance to shine, there’s no-one better at the selfless art of pro-wrestling, he tells FT.

“He’s as good as everyone says he is, he’s able to get himself over, but also gets the best out of people while he’s there.”

As for Wembley, it’s something of a home show for Desmond. “I can’t wait. I have a few friends coming down. It’s actually the first place I ever saw Regal wrestle, I skipped out of school and came down for a WCW show.”

TNA are at the MEN Arena, Manchester tonight, tickets on the door. The main event has legendary potential – Angle, Joe, Daniels and Styles in a Ladder Match.

Tomorrow night join FT at London’s Wembley Arena for the historic Ultimate X spectacular – tickets on the door.

Tnawrestling.com//desmondwolfe.net

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