Eric Bischoff, the former WWE executive and wrestling industry veteran, has recently shared his thoughts on the possibility of AEW’s rumored new show “Shockwave” airing on FOX. Speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff expressed strong skepticism about the likelihood of such a deal.
Bischoff’s Stance on AEW and FOX
Bischoff didn’t mince words when addressing the rumors, stating emphatically that AEW landing on FOX’s broadcast network is “a fantasy.”
He pointed out the significant disparity between SmackDown’s viewership on FOX and AEW’s current ratings for shows like Rampage and Collision:
“Does anybody in their right f*cking mind think that FOX Network is going to go, ‘Well, we couldn’t make SmackDown work with two and a half million viewers. But man, that Rampage or that Collision show, hmm! And this new one they’re coming out with, let’s do that.’ I understand why Swerve did it. He got excited, he’s emotional. He’s doing what he should do. But that was a bad take. I don’t see it, no. And to think that it could happen is a reflection of lack of information and knowledge, aka ignorance.”
Criticism of Swerve Strickland’s Comments
The discussion was sparked by recent comments from AEW wrestler Swerve Strickland. While Bischoff acknowledged Strickland’s enthusiasm for promoting his company, he criticized the wrestler’s suggestion that FOX might replace SmackDown with an AEW product
Viewership Comparisons
Bischoff highlighted the stark contrast in viewership numbers:
- SmackDown on FOX: Approximately 2.3-2.5 million viewers per week
- AEW Rampage and Collision: Around 300,000-400,000 viewers per week
He argued that it would be illogical for FOX to replace a show drawing over 2 million viewers with one that struggles to reach even a quarter of that audience.