Ego is a fascinating trait, not only in personal relationships, but also in business. And particularly in the unconventional wrestling business. How ego and business fit together is always intriguing.

To survive in professional wrestling, a performer needs a well-developed ego. The bumps -- the mental and emotional bumps, forget the physical punishment -- can break the spirit of anyone with a less-than-powerful belief in himself or herself. Rejection comes in many forms, especially in the grueling process of discovering the break that allows a performer to get into the "big time."

No wonder that anyone who does make it into the spotlight of a WWE, a TNA, or even an ROH has to be loaded with self-confidence. At that point, another brutal grind begins as a wrestler tries to crawl up that pyramid of talent with his eyes only on the peak of the pile.

Of course, some of that ego gets misplaced in a bizarre environment like wrestling.

And the saddest part is if performers believe their own hype, fall for their own con, and cannot make a realistic assessment of what they do and how they fit into the business. A balance has to be developed, and that's not easy to do with all the outside chatter from places like family and friends, the Internet, fans in general (who need to be honest themselves about whether a favorite really has what it takes to be a headline star), other performers, and trickiest of all -- yourself!

When that ego gets out of control, the results can be all over the map. Some books and some interviews by that kind of personality can be wildly entertaining, if not terribly accurate. True or not, what's said can become part of that murky area known as wrestling lore. Plus, it can make some stars who did have influence sound even more important in the scheme of things.

And that, in rather convoluted form, brings us to Hulk Hogan and TNA.

It's obvious to every serious observer that plenty of ego is on the loose when Hulk describes what he has done in wrestling. In fact, Hogan is truly a key player in what the business has become and in the huge success of Vince McMahon & what was then the WWF. He was a major part when WCW had its burst of popularity.

Now, though, what Hulk does or does not do is going to be fresh and right out in the open for fans to see if what Hogan does works -- or not. Of course, that's assuming that his role in the future of TNA has been accurately portrayed, not only by Hulk but also by Dixie Carter. And it doesn't factor in what part Eric Bischoff will play.

Is Hulk going to decide what talent comes in? Is Hulk going to lay out the booking plans? Is Hulk going to push and develop new talent that spectators and viewers actually want to see and can care about? Is Hulk going to ever get in the ring (let's be real here -- he's beat up and not a spring chicken anymore)? Is Hulk going to build marketing ideas for the company? 

Or is Hulk going to take care of himself, be the front man while others make or break TNA? Is Hulk using his reputation to get himself over with the best available tools one more time (and boost book sales)?

Nothing is wrong with that. It's the wrestling business, especially as it is today.

This is every man for himself, and Hulk has a right to play just like everyone else does -- if he has the juice to play at that level. Hulk does and can.

But...

The only problem is that the ego and the promotion may not have the same goals and the same needs. Those two elements may not mix so well over the long haul. And the end result may hurt the wrestling business, even if it boosts an ego at the same time.

(Larry Matysik has just released his third book, "Drawing Heat The Hard Way: How Wrestling Works" through ECW Press. He learned wrestling from Sam Muchnick in St. Louis, where he eventually was the television announcer, booker, & publicity man for the sport's most unique promotion; then Larry spent a decade with the World Wrestling Federation, and has also promoted numerous independent shows. Contact Larry with any thoughts, comments, or feedback at the MNM/Sizzlin' Sauces inbox, or via the program's official Facebook & MySpace pages.)