Smashing Pumpkins frontman and longtime wrestling fanatic Billy Corgan has been hired as Senior Producer, Creative and Talent Development for TNA Wrestling. Corgan will be responsible for developing characters and story lines for TNA’s flagship program Impact Wrestling.
“Saying I’m humbled and honored by this opportunity to be part of TNA, a world-class wrestling organization, is an understatement and a dream come true,” he said in a statement. “What’s great is the entire TNA organization stands in full support of my music life with the Smashing Pumpkins. In return, I’m fully committed to using my 30 years of entertainment experience, along with my deep-rooted passion for pro wrestling, to take on the thrilling challenge of creatively contributing to Impact Wrestling, finding and developing new talent, and working eye-to-eye with the best-of-the-best. For as cultures currently evolve at great speed, so must pro wrestling meet and supersede such expectations to thrive.
Billy explained in an interview with Variety that he wishes to break down traditional wrestling stereotypes and explore race and gender issues. “There is a tremendous opportunity to go into really fresh, new directions,” he said. “There are ways to explore those themes in ways that are productive, create new stars and show that value-based ‘babyfaces,’ no matter what their background, no matter where they come from, can draw new audiences and inspire people in new ways.”
Corgan recently called Smashing Pumpkins’ future “kinda murky,” claiming in an interview with Radio Oasis that at the end of the year he would “see how it goes.”