By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

TNA wrestler Bobby Lashley is making it sound like he's leaning toward a full-time MMA career to be completely focused on fighting top heavyweights in the Strikeforce MMA promotion with pro wrestling in TNA his fall-back plan. As Lashley said in a previous interview this week, it could depend on the success/failure of his first Strikeforce fight Saturday night.

"I think I'm going to have to choose sooner than later. Wrestling is always going to be there, fighting is not," Lashley told MMAfighting.com in an interview to promote his Strikeforce debut on Saturday night. "I'm not saying whether I'm going to choose either/or, but like I said, wrestling is always going to be there, fighting is not."

Lashley also talked about TNA wanting to know where he stands before TNA goes head-to-head with WWE on Monday nights. Lashley said he considers himself a top star in TNA and the TNA management regime wants to have everyone on the same page.

"Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan both came in and they're trying to do something big. They're trying to do the Monday Night Wars battle with WWE - tough battle. When you do that, you have to have all your stars there," Lashley said. "I consider myself a top guy in professional wrestling, especially for their organization, so of course they want to have all their stars there and ready."

Lashley added: "I think what they basically want to do is find out whether or not I'm going to be there for the battle or if I'm going to be part-time. They just need to know where I'm going to be. I've talked to Hogan; I've talked to Bichoff. We're on the same page."

Caldwell's Analysis: Well, TNA did the right thing making Lashley more marketable in pro wrestling by having his wife, Krystal Marshall, as his mouthpiece, but Lashley is not in the "top star" category in TNA. Otherwise, there would have been outrage when he was scratched from the Genesis PPV after being advertised for the event. He's a good name to have on the roster and in a press release, but Lashley hasn't been a draw in pro wrestling yet. Video of his interview is below with the pro wrestling comments at the end.



[Torch art credit Joe Borzotta (c) PWTorch.com]

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