Hulk Hogan returning to pro wrestling

Wrestler Hulk Hogan stands during Game 4 of the NBA Finals basketball game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers in Orlando, Florida June 11, 2009.

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Hulk Hogan is returning to the profession -- but not to the organization -- that made him a household name.

Hogan is coming out of retirement to join TNA Wrestling (the name sounds dirty, but it actually stands for "Total Nonstop Action"), the outfit behind Spike TV's Thursday night series "TNA Impact."

"I'm thrilled to be jumping back into the world of professional wrestling," said Hogan, 56. "My fans have been asking me to return to the business for many years on a full time basis, but the timing or the opportunity has never been right until now."

His specific role will be "announced in the near future."

For years Hogan was the best-known performer for World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling (WWF eventually purchased WCW and became World Wrestling Entertainment). Hogan had a fairly successful VH1 reality series, "Hogan Knows Best," which concluded in 2007. Then he co-hosted NBC's revival of "American Gladiators."