Marvez: Talking with TNA Wrestling head Dixie Carter

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Judging by the large percentage of pro-wrestling startups that have failed, most aspiring promoters never understood that the race to success is a marathon and not a sprint.

Dixie Carter did -- and that's why Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is now in position to give World Wrestling Entertainment a run for its money.

Entering her seventh year as TNA's president, Carter has made prudent financial decisions that have helped guide the company from near bankruptcy to an unchallenged position as America's No. 2 grappling group. Carter is hoping that growth continues as TNA challenges WWE head-to-head on Monday-night television. Starting next week, "TNA Impact" will air 9-11 p.m. EST on Spike TV opposite "Monday Night Raw" on USA Network.

Both groups are trying to make a splash and keep viewers from changing channels. TNA is headlining with Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea and Abyss vs. Ric Flair and A.J. Styles. WWE is countering with what is being billed as the first singles match between company owner Vince McMahon and John Cena. The two actually fought on "Raw" in 2006, but as anyone who follows WWE's DVD releases knows, McMahon has no problem reshaping history to his liking.

"I kind of look at this as our beginning," Carter recently said in a telephone interview. "We've been training and getting in shape and doing all the prep work. Now, we've finally gotten to the starting gate."

Like an equestrian meet, TNA's road to success was littered with hurdles. Originally formed by grappler Jeff Jarrett and his father, Jeff (a longtime Memphis, Tenn., promoter), Nashville, Tenn.-based TNA rose from the ashes of World Championship Wrestling, which was purchased by WWE in March 2001.

But it was almost R.I.P. for TNA shortly after its 2002 debut as strictly a pay-per-view entity. HealthSouth Corporation -- the company's biggest backer -- was forced to withdraw funding because of a major accounting crisis.

An already established sports and marketing executive who was handling TNA's publicity work, Carter thought the company could thrive with the right financial backing. She approached her father, Robert, the chairman and founder of Dallas-based Panda Energy International, about investing in the company. Panda purchased a majority share of TNA and installed Carter as president the following year.

Carter didn't have encyclopedic knowledge about the industry's history. But she did understand that trying for overnight results with heavy spending in an attempt to compete with WWE was a recipe for failure. She gradually bettered TNA's television situation before landing a prime-time spot in 2006 with Spike, which also has become a partner of sorts by helping to pay the contracts of some top talent. As the company grew, marquee veterans like Kurt Angle, Mick Foley and Steve "Sting" Borden were added to a young talent roster.

Although soft in pay-per-view sales, TNA has become one of Spike's top-rated programs and is now a touring group with live cards both in the U.S. and United Kingdom. Merchandising exposure also has improved drastically.

Carter, 46, had long flirted with bringing Bollea into the fold. She finally took the big-money plunge last year, signing Bollea and former WCW executive Eric Bischoff to help run the wrestling product and gear to challenge WWE.

The Hulkster's personal and professional setbacks in recent years are well documented. Hogan, 56, is a mess physically and reeling financially from a messy divorce and the aftermath of son Nick's 2007 auto accident, which left a passenger permanently disabled. But Hogan is still one of the industry's biggest legends, which will help TNA land the mainstream publicity it sorely needs.

"He's brought so much to our product, and not even for storyline purposes or work," Carter said. "He's contributing on multiple levels."

She understands that greater TNA visibility will bring more public and media scrutiny, especially regarding the company's lax drug-testing policy. Unlike WWE, TNA doesn't actively monitor its performers for steroids or recreational substances. TNA also hasn't shied from talent with checkered pasts. For example, TNA used Jeff Hardy on its January "Impact" special even though he currently faces five drug charges stemming from a September 2008 arrest. She says TNA is in the process of formulating a new drug-testing program.

Carter, who doesn't have a regular on-camera role, isn't deluding herself into thinking TNA can immediately compete on the same level with WWE. But Carter insists she's in this for the long haul.

"I am so excited by this and am not embarrassed to show what a big deal this is for our company," Carter said. "I really feel like if you watch our show, you can feel there's something different there than even just a couple years ago."

(Alex Marvez writes a syndicated pro-wrestling column for Scripps Howard News Service. Contact him at alex1marv(at)aol.com or follow him via Twitter at http://twitter.com/alexmarvez.)