The New War

Tonight is the biggest night in professional wrestling since 2001.

Total Non-stop Action - or TNA as it is otherwise known - is raising their stakes and putting their Impact television show head-to-head with WWE's Monday Night Raw.

This is a ballsy move and one that will remind long-time fans of the Monday Night Wars which took place between 1995 and 2001 when World Championship Wrestling created their own TV show, Monday Nitro, and faced off against WWE's flagship show.

WCW succeeded for at least two of the five and a half years they were at loggerheads. Their dominance over the then named World Wrestling Federation forced Vince McMahon to change his approach to booking and storytelling which resulted in a renaissance of sorts.

The WWF won the war in March of 2001 when WCW was sold to the victor.

Today, WWE has a stronghold on professional wrestling. TNA is their rival but they aren't viewed as as being in any position where they can overtake the WWE monopoly.

Yet.

Tonight's episode is their attempt to get a little closer to WWE.

Hulk Hogan, the legendary wrestler who was the standard bearer for the WWF's popularity in 1980's and then WCW's in the 1990's, will make his first live TNA appearance tonight.

Hogan partnering with TNA is an intriguing move and one that has come with criticism.

Hogan is fifteen years older than when he was a key figure in WCW making ground on the WWF. It is doubtful whether the ageing star has the ability - or intention - to wrestle for the company.

On the other side, WWE will bring out Bret Hart. A guy who is also unable to wrestle due to numerous concussions and a stroke.

Hart was a key figure during the original Monday Night Wars as his refusal to lose to Shawn Michaels in Canada before he left for WCW prompted Vince McMahon to 'screw' the title from him in a real-life situation which ultimately led to Vince McMahon becoming a bad guy in the fake storylines which followed.

WWE have been on autopilot since purchasing WCW. The action by TNA to wake the sleeping giant can do one of two things.

It could be the start of a new war.

Or be the last pull of the trigger for TNA.