Variety.com is reporting that Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has officially joined the TNA creative team.

We noted last week that Corgan was recently at TNA headquarters in Nashville, and it appears as if the meeting was to discuss Corgan joining the creative team.

Corgan’s official title is “Senior Producer of Creative and Talent development,” and he had the following to say to Variety:

   “There is a tremendous opportunity to go into really fresh, new directions. 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.”

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The following press release has been issued:

TNA Entertainment today announced Billy Corgan, founder of the Smashing Pumpkins and creative icon, is joining TNA Wrestling as Senior Producer, Creative and Talent Development, effective immediately. In this position, Corgan will develop characters and create story lines for TNA’s flagship program IMPACT WRESTLING, broadcast Friday nights at 9/8c on Destination America, as well as other TNA programming.

“I’ve known Billy for years and have always been blown away by his musical artistry, as well as his knowledge and understanding of professional wrestling,” said TNA President Dixie Carter. “He has always impressed me with his creativity and passion for our business. Billy is truly gifted and understands the emotion tied to the psychology of connecting with an audience. The more we talked, the more I realized his perspective has the potential to make a huge impact on our brand.”

“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,” said Corgan. “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.”

Corgan joins a gifted group of creative writers led by TNA Executive Vice President of Television and Talent John Gaburick. In addition to partnering with his creative colleagues in writing compelling and emotionally engaging story lines for TNA programming, Corgan will attend TNA television tapings where he will serve as a senior producer, working with TNA’s roster of world-class athletes including veterans such as TNA World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy and Gail Kim, as well as a fresh crop of Superstars led by Ethan Carter III, Bram, Rockstar Spud and more.

“As an iconic songwriter and performance artist, Billy stands as a true powerhouse,” said Gaburick. “I also find him to be an ardent historian of professional wrestling and a true visionary. We knew Billy would bring a great viewpoint when we offered, and he graciously accepted, to attend a recent creative summit. During those meetings, Billy’s pioneering perspectives and collaborative approach made it quickly evident we needed to bring him on as a permanent member of our team.”

TNA programming, which features unparalleled professional wrestling entertainment through its innovative high-flying X-Division, the best women’s division on the planet in the TNA Knockouts, and incomparable Tag Team action, is seen by millions of viewers each week in more than 120 countries around the world.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

I would say a "wait and see" thing. He has strong ties to Raven which would be a good thing IMO

I've always thought Raven should be on TNA's creative. The guy always sounds like he knows what he's talking about.

And I hope this works out good. Didn't he own some wrestling company in Chicago for a while or something?

Yes, Resistance Pro.

As noted, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has joined the TNA creative team, and FOX News has published an article covering Corgan’s announcement.

The article notes Corgan signing with TNA comes off the heels of WWE and NBCUniversal launching their “For the Hero in All of Us” campaign, and mistakenly says the brand “plays up the heroic and charitable works by such wrestlers as Tony Cena.”

Corgan had the following to say about the direction of TNA creative, and the possibility of the company exploring new creative themes:

“There is a tremendous opportunity to go into really fresh, new directions. Having characters who explore race or transgender issues is certainly a possibility.

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.”