In a giant shakeup to the WWE front office, Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff have both been named as Executive Directors of WWE TV. As first reported by SI.com, Paul Heyman will be put in charge of WWE RAW and Bischoff will play the same role for WWE Smackdown.
Both Heyman and Bischoff will report directly to Vince McMahon. Bischoff will also work with FOX executives when Smackdown moves to the network this October.
Heyman & Eric Bischoff To Run WWE TV
“In their executive roles, Heyman and Bischoff will oversee the creative development of WWE’s flagship programming and ensure integration across all platforms and lines of business,” a WWE press release reads. “The creation of these roles further establishes WWE’s ability to continuously reinvent its global brand while providing two distinct creative processes for its flagship shows.”
Paul Heyman (53) ran ECW from 1993 until its closing in 2001. He started with WWE shortly after. Heyman left the company in 2006 after the disastrous December to Dismember PPV for the re-launched ECW brand. He returned to the company in 2012 as Brock Lesnar’s advocate.
64-year-old Eric Bischoff last worked full-time in the wrestling business in 2012 with TNA. He has made scattered appearances with WWE since then, including taking part in a documentary on his career which aired on the WWE Network. Bischoff was named Executive Vice President of WCW in 1994 and was eventually named President of the company in 1997.
In recently released details regarding Heyman and Bischoff’s hiring, PW Insider is reporting WWE has been looking for Heyman to take on this role since February. Bischoff’s deal with WWE is said to have been put together in the last few weeks.
The news comes on the heels of former Smackdown head writer, Road Dogg, stepping down after WrestleMania this year.
WWE has also made several other recent changes to their creative team. Jeff Jarrett was reported to have joined in March, Bruce Pritchard joined the team in February. Additionally, Dana Warrior is said to be a key creative figure as it concerns WWE’s women’s divisions.
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