With WWE 2K24 around the corner, excitement for the new game is at a fever pitch, with top stars like Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins all confirmed. 

While these three will have some of the highest ratings in the game, not everyone can have great stats, and there’ll always be somebody with the outright worst ranking in the game. In this feature, we look at some of the worst-ranked playable characters in WWE video games. 

Eric Bischoff – 52 – SmackDown: Here Comes The Pain

Perhaps it was a battle for brand supremacy that led to then-Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff having the lowest ranking in SmackDown: Here Comes The Pain. Bischoff’s martial arts prowess and all-black gi helped little whenever you played as him in the game. 

Ribbie – 60 – WWE 2K20

WWE 2K20 was a disaster of a game but it did give fans their first-ever playable anthropomorphic rack of ribs. Ribbie is the mascot of the Memphis Sliders, a minor baseball team, according to Byron Saxton, and with his BBQ sauce haircut, we imagine wrestlers weren’t eager to face him. 

Curt Hawkins – 64 – WWE 2K19

The master of the losing streak, Curt Hawkins’ unfortunate record was replicated with his woeful score in WWE 2K19. Nowadays, Hawkins is faring much better in TNA Wrestling as Brian Myers. 

Jimmy Hart – 67 – SmackDown Vs. Raw 2008

It makes sense that the Mouth of the South’s rating would be so low, given he very rarely wrestled. This ranking shows that in SVR ’08, Jimmy was best being kept at ringside. 

Bo Dallas – 67- WWE 2K17

All the Bo-lieving in the world couldn’t save Bo Dallas from this dreadful score in WWE 2K17. Good luck winning any titles as the third-generation wrestler! His brother Bray would be well ahead of Bo in the game with a score of 87. 

Sawyer Fulton – 69 – WWE 2K18

The forgotten member of Sanity, Sawyer Fulton’s 69 is the worst in the entire WWE 2K18 game. What makes this worse is that this would mark Fulton’s first and only time in a video game. 

Eric Bischoff (again) – 69 – WWE 2K22

Things clearly picked up for Easy-E between Here Comes The Pain and WWE 2K22, but that wasn’t enough to save him from having the worst rating once again. Sorry Eric!

Michael Cole & Jim Ross – 71 – WWE ’12

These WWE commentators shared the same woeful rating in WWE ’12, so it’s only fair we lump them together. Frankly though, why anyone would play as either man, especially Cole, is anyone’s guess. 

Sting will wrap up his legendary career at AEW Revolution, and many fans are watching to see how he ends everything in the ring. He will also likely wear his black and white face paint for the last time in a pro wrestling ring, which will be an epic moment. The gimmick itself is also a huge point of discussion.

While speaking to Bleacher Report, Sting claimed that he didn’t directly take his gimmick from The Crow. He said that it wasn’t until later, when people started calling him Crow Sting, that he actually picked up on the similarity.

Sting’s Recollection of Inspiration

The Icon looked back at that time of his career, when the Crow gimmick was created, “I do remember those movies, and I was dubbed that name, Crow Sting, and I took from many many different people that influenced me,” Sting said. “From the band Kiss to even Rocky Horror Picture Show. That was like a cult movie in California. You know, Batman. So many people influenced me over the years.”

Sting had many inspirations, and it wasn’t just The Crow, because KISS and Batman were already around.

“I suppose possibly The Crow character may have had some influence but it was nothing that I ever really thought about until everybody said ‘He’s Crow Sting.’ and I went ‘Oh, okay. Yeah, I see that.’ I saw the movie I think. I don’t think I’ve seen the whole movie from beginning to end. I’ve just seen bits and pieces of it over the years, but I remember when it first came out.”When I was developing this Crow character, I wasn’t thinking about the movie at all. I was thinking about Kiss, I was thinking about Rocky Horror, I was thinking about Batman. And there’s others that influenced me over the years.””But it’s just weird, that Crow thing, of all things Crow, why wouldn’t that be something on the forefront? I don’t know”

Conflicting Story To Sting’s Inspiration 

In a resurfaced interview with Scott Hall, he told the story of suggesting that Sting wear white face paint and adopt a darker character. Hall then claimed that he asked Sting if he had seen The Crow.

Eric Bischoff chimed in during this clip, and he said how Sting couldn’t get enough of this Crow character. He was all in for the change, and although it was a massive alteration, it certainly made pro wrestling history.

The story of how Sting changed his gimmick to "Crow Sting" and the feud with Hulk Hogan pic.twitter.com/kOHkti4CIz

— Wrestling Pics & Clips (@WrestleClips) March 3, 2024

Sting’s Final Match 

Sting will wrap up his legendary career during AEW Revolution. He will team with Darby Allin to take on The Young Bucks with the AEW World Tag Team Titles on the line. His match may not main event the show, but it is still a huge attraction for the pay-per-view event.

The direct inspiration of Sting’s gimmick may be a matter of debate at this time, but there is no arguing that Sting’s contributions to the pro wrestling world help change history and inspire generations after him.

Thank you, Sting.

Eric Bischoff is not happy with the recent Jeff Hardy injury scare.

The Charismatic Enigma faced Sammy Guevara in a No Disqualification match on last Friday’s edition of Rampage. A clip from this match went viral on social media which saw Guevara botching a top rope dive and hitting Hardy on the face with his knee.

The former WCW president talked about this spot during the most recent 83 Weeks Episode. Bischoff was asked if such repeated botches are a result of talent wrestling a lot less frequently in AEW, and the wrestling veteran explained that AEW’s culture to promote high risk moves is also to blame:

“Very concerned for Jeff. He took that knee right to the side of the face. I don’t know where it actually hit him, but it looked to me like it planted right on his cheekbone, his temple. That’s a lot of power coming down off, that’s a lot of weight coming down off that top turnbuckle and there’s nowhere for Jeff’s head to go. So, fearful clearly, I didn’t really ask myself why.

But I think your observation’s probably mostly correct. Part of it is too because of the nature of what AEW finds appealing is so much of the high risk, justified ‘this is awesome’ chants, which usually are a result of something really, really high-risk and stupid. That’s what they’re going for. I think the talent probably feels like they’ve got to go to an extreme to get over.

Particularly cos you’re wrestling in front of 2000 people on a television show. The audience isn’t into your shit at all from the opening match on. It’s like wrestling in front of a high school cafeteria crowd. That makes it harder for talent and they push even further and they do things that are even riskier to try to overcome that issue.”

this is NOT the first time Sammy Guevara has injured Jeff Hardy with his amateur hour bullshit

HE IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER pic.twitter.com/Hm4EOwzU0z

— Degenerate George (@DGen_Media) February 15, 2024

“What’s It Gonna Take?”: Eric Bischoff

Eric Bischoff also refuted Wrestling Observer’s report on Jeff Hardy’s status after the match. He questioned what will it take for officials to make an effort and tone things down:

“But I think mostly it’s the reps. Guys are just not as tight and sharp as they would be if they’re on the road three or four or five days a week. It is an issue. I think Dave Meltzer reported finish went according to plan and it’s not that big of an injury. I have heard substantially the opposite. It’s a mess. It’s a mess, and it’s a mistake.

Somebody’s gonna get hurt. Seriously hurt. People get hurt all the time. You start taking knees to the head from the top rope. What’s it gonna take? Somebody’s gonna need to die? Somebody’s gonna have to get brain injuries before somebody finally wakes up and goes ‘ok we need to get a little better control over what we do and how we do it.’ I don’t know. Hopefully not.”

Tony Khan may think some wrestling legends are rooting against him and AEW, but that’s extremely far from the case. All of his critics with any sort of credibility have benefited from competition and know that AEW being a success is only better for pro wrestling, including WWE.

Randy Savage notoriously said, “the cream always rises,” and the cream was rising for AEW for the first couple of years, but many factors have put a lid on that cream. Now it’s sitting in the fridge behind a carton of week-expired egg whites.

The AEW President needs to take any assumed vitriol out of his head and take heed of what the veterans are saying, especially if he wants AEW to catch that momentum it once had.

Khan and former WCW President Eric Bischoff have gone back and forth on X which is nearly as entertaining as the Monday Night Wars (and unfortunately, more engaging than the current AEW product), but a narrative is getting spun that is pretty inaccurate.

In a recent interview, FTR claimed that Bischoff has been critical of AEW because Khan didn’t give Bischoff a job with the company. On his podcast, Eric has stated several times he never wanted to work for AEW and that his original bone of contention with Khan began back when Tony took shots at Ted Turner. On top of that, Bischoff has made clear he wants AEW to succeed. Bischoff is blunt and abrasive in his criticisms at times, but his insight is always constructive. FTR and Khan just aren’t getting a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.

Another name to get arrows slung his way is Bully Ray. On Busted Open Radio, the Dudley Boy has implored Khan to put his phone down and step away from social media. Additionally, he’s been very open about his criticisms of officiating and admits that he has to look at AEW with a different set of eyes than he does with WWE because AEW offers an alternative in wrestling. He noted that Khan didn’t grow up underneath the learning tree of a wrestling promoter, therefore he’s not technically a booker, but a matchmaker.

A third legend to give some sound advice has been Konnan. Much like he does with Bischoff, Khan has a contentious social media relationship with Konnan’s K100 co-host, Disco Inferno. After Khan posted some harsh words towards the former WCW star after Disco said the company needed a “reset” the two friends discussed it on their podcast with Konnan stating that Khan needs to listen to the constructive criticism thrown his way, filtering all the helpful feedback from the negative.

One name who is genius, but one can completely understand Khan steering clear from is Jim Cornette. Cornette is perhaps the most polarizing name out of all legends critical of AEW and does so with his signature venomous vernacular. Many fans simply tune in to hear Cornette crack back at AEW, but Khan would really have to void himself of all emotion to accept what Cornette has to say. Cearly one could get something beneficial from his input, but while Bischoff offers no sugar, Corny offers a spoonful of salt (to the wound). That being said, if Khan appointed someone to listen to the show, the AEW President would have plenty to garner and harvest.

Nuance and context have never coincided with the cesspool that can be social media. Just like it’s important to anyone dabbling in the dark arts, if the very busy Khan had the time to do further dive into what gets said about him and his company, he’d learn a lot about himself and the legends who only want what’s best for business.

WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff is relishing in not working for Tony Khan, and is grateful for every day he doesn’t have to answer to the AEW President. 

While Bischoff has made a handful of appearances for AEW, it’s been some time since the WCW magnate was invited to a show. Bischoff has been critical of AEW in recent years, and while he’s made it clear he wants AEW to succeed, he has been unimpressed by the work of Tony Khan. Last October, Bischoff claimed that Khan is “beyond help” and dismissed the AEW President as a Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman wannabee. 

Bischoff Responds to Dax Harwood

Bischoff’s issues with Tony Khan are well-documented and Easy-E only added to the tensions this week. On the latest episode of his 83 Weeks Podcast, Bischoff didn’t hold back. He first discussed Dax calling him out over his remarks on AEW:

“Either my skin has gotten so thick that I just don’t react to things the way I used to or maybe you just get wiser with age and having kind of been there when I was younger, kinda where Dax is right now, so I kind of get it. Where is Dax in his career? He’s got to say these things. He’s out there promoting his company. He’s defending his company. His boss made a complete Jackass of himself on social media during the week previous to this appearance he made.

So I get it, because what else is Dax going to do? If he doesn’t have a gig in AEW? And I don’t mean that as a shot because I like him. I like the tag team, like you do for the same reasons. But I don’t know if going back to the WWE is an option. Maybe it is. We’ve seen crazier things. I don’t know the situation where Dax left and how he left it and if he had heat or didn’t have heat or I don’t know any of that stuff. Maybe there’s chance he could go back but I think those odds are probably remote at this point. So what’s he’s got? He’s got the gig he’s got. And I don’t disagree.

Tony Khan has put a lot of money in a lot of talent’s pockets. I know people personally who are making more money who have been in the business for longer than I have and are making more money than they ever have. So you know that I’m not exaggerating anything here. You don’t hear anybody in AEW complaining about their paychecks, but the opposite. Sure, that’s great for talent. That’s great for those individuals, and I’m happy for them. Just like I’m happy for someone who wins a lottery. I don’t wanna see anybody not get what they can get out there in the marketplace. So let’s dispel that, I agree with that, it’s a wonderful thing for humanity.

But it doesn’t mean it’s good for the business. What Tony Khan has been doing and some of the presentations that we’ve seen out of AEW is not better for the business, because it’s turning off advertisers. It’s turning off his own viewers. The audience is deteriorating, it’s not growing and you can talk about ‘Yeah but less people are watching TV’ and go back to that trope all you want is. Is it a fact? Sure. Is it an excuse? Probably not. WWE is growing in the same environment. Why isn’t AEW? It’s because of lack of story, it’s because of lack of character development. It’s because of lack of vision, and it’s because a lot of the chaos that’s going on behind the scenes.”

Eric Bischoff Explains His Financial Troubles

Bischoff then went into length to explain the financial troubles that led to him filing for bankruptcy in 2017. He explained that he still had to pay off all his debts which he did earlier than expected:

“Let’s just get the elephant out of the room. I wrote a book called grateful. I talked a lot about having to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This isn’t a financial [podcast] but because that’s kind of there right? So I want to address it. I’m not gonna go into detail about the differences between Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 13 Because they’re all different. Chapter 11 is a business bankruptcy primarily. It doesn’t allow me to walk away from my debts. I ended up filing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy back in 2017.

I’ve talked on this show at length about the reasons that led up to it. Basically me transitioning out of the television business. I went from making close to seven figures a year and I took an about 80% cut in pay over the course of 24 months. And then I had the state of California come knocking on my door and say, ‘I know you thought you paid all your taxes, but we realised we can find a different way to tax you on business that took place out of state simply because you have a mailbox in California.’

That was kind of a big hit. None of that really matters. To protect my home. This home is my legacy. I built this home in 1998 because I really really wanted to provide a place of stability in any situation for my family, to have a beautiful home in a beautiful part of the country. People from all over the world come here to visit. It’s that beautiful. I wanted to be able to leave this legacy to my children to enjoy it for the very same reasons. When it got to the point where that legacy, this property, this home was at risk.

I made a business decision to reorganize my debt. Not walk away from it, not fulfil my obligations to it, simply to reorganize it. That’s what a chapter 11 is. Now when I filed that chapter 11, this is back in 2017. You go through that process. At the end of it, the court says ‘Okay, you’re going to pay back 100% of this debt. you have, in my case, five years to do it.’ I did it in three. I have a seven-figure net worth. I have a very healthy credit score. I’m in really good shape as a result of being able to do some smart things.”

Eric Bischoff is Grateful 

Later in the podcast, the former WCW President explained that his frustrations with AEW have nothing to do with him wanting a job with the promotion. He mentioned he had been very supportive of the promotion since the beginning and explained what changed his stance:

“I stayed supportive until I think it was around November two years ago, a little over two years ago. Tony came out and made that completely ignorant in a literal sense of [the word] comment about Ted Turner. Paraphrasing, if Ted Turner knew 1% of professional wrestling as I do maybe WCW would still be around. Completely ignorant. Tony doesn’t have a fucking clue what went on in WCW and why it’s not around. The only thing he knows is what Dave Meltzer told him. That’s it. He wasn’t there. He has no idea.

And it was disrespectful. It was ignorant and disrespectful simultaneously. As Tony Khan’s trying desperately to hang on to his television time on Turner Network Television and Turner Broadcasting System, disrespecting the man that made that opportunity even an option. Once someone disrespects publicly, someone who I respect or have a relationship with, they go on a different list. Doesn’t mean I don’t like them. I just don’t have any respect for them. They’re just like everybody else.

I don’t care if you’re a trust fund baby that’s a wrestling fan and has a wrestling company. I no longer have any respect for you. And I’m going to react to you just like I would anybody else. So that was it, Dax. It wasn’t because I asked for a job and didn’t get one. It wasn’t because I was hoping I would get an job offer and it never came. As I said before that clip. I wake up every day grateful that I don’t have to work for someone like Tony Khan. Or even if I wanted to work for Tony Khan, I’m grateful that I don’t have to jump on a plane every week and do it. As much as anything for sure. Or put up with what has obviously been….the amount of drama that’s taken place backstage in AEW far surpasses any of the fictional drama that’s taken place in the ring for the last five years. I don’t want to be a part of that.

Now Dax I understand you have to cause you don’t have opti
ons, but I do. As I said seven-figure net worth, I live in the most beautiful place in the world. I have almost no consumer debt. Nickels and dimes. I have a beautiful wife. I have great kids, i have a new grandson. Everybody’s healthy. Everybody’s successful. I can come and go as I pleae. I can work with who I want, on what projects I want. And I have absolutely no pressure. And I’m not saying that to brag even though it is, I don’t mean it to be – but it’s context. What I’m really grateful for Dax, is I have the freedom to say whatever I want to say about whoever I want to say it about. I don’t have to worry about it affecting my income or what I want to do. Can you say the same thing Dax?”

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

Dax Harwood hasn’t been afraid to express his feelings against his critics and he just set his sights on Eric Bischoff.

Bischoff has been blunt in his constructive criticism of Tony Khan’s AEW and it hasn’t sat well with Khan and now apparently with one of Tony’s top tag teams.

In a new interview with Jeff Snyder, Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler didn’t hold back in what he felt about Bischoff and other wrestling personalities who have given their opinions on AEW.

“You got all these old-time, miserable podcasters like Eric Bischoff and some of the others who make a living just by going on their podcasts and burying Tony and AEW when they know that AEW is a place where business is thriving.”

Wheeler then goes on to accuse Bischoff that he holds sour grapes because Khan didn’t offer him a job with the company.

“I think he’s really mad that Tony wouldn’t give him a job the few times he was there to collect the paycheck.”

Harwood doubled down on Cash’s assessment before stating that Bischoff only criticizes AEW for clicks and publicity.

“I know there’s quite a few that glowingly talked about AEW initially, and when Tony didn’t give them a job, now all of a sudden, they’re talking crap about it? Eh, that don’t make sense to me.”

Harwood said that he takes Bischoff’s opinions personally because AEW is how he puts food on the table. 

However, on previous episodes of “83 Weeks” and “Strictly Business,” Bischoff has mentioned multiple times that he hopes that AEW succeeds.

Tony Khan has gotten heated at Bischoff for his criticisms of his company and notoriously got into an exchange on social media with the former WCW President.

Credit to Jeff Snyder and h/t to WrestleZone for the transcription.

Eric Bischoff knows Sting deserves a million dollar type send-off and in a universe where the stars aligned, he thinks The Icon would have the ultimate final match dance partner in Ric Flair.

Speaking on the latest episode of 83 Weeks, the former WCW President was joined by special guest co-host Matt Mitchell for an “Ask Eric Anything” episode and was asked about how would he handle Sting’s retirement match. Would he have him do a singles bout or team up in tag action to lighten the load? Bischoff gives a sound reason as to why he wouldn’t have him to a tag match.

“It’s faster paced, usually less emotion as a result of the pace and the fact that your attention is spread out.”

Bischoff then makes the case as to why he’d love to see Flair do his ‘Nature Boy strut’ across the ring from his longtime rival.

“In an ideal world (and it’s not an ideal world, trust me, I know that), but in an ideal world I would love for it to be Ric Flair. And I know I’m gonna get blistered, ‘Ah, Ric, he’s too old, blah, blah, blah.’ Bull****. Now Ric may not be interested in going out there and physically being in that position because again, he was almost dead a couple years ago so and 74 freaking years old so it’s kind of understandable that he’s not going to want to go out there and bounce around, but if he could, if he could go out there it would be the coolest thing in the world to see Ric Flair and Sting.”

Bischoff understands that Flair vs. Sting in 2024 isn’t really possible, but hopes Sting gets a proper sendoff and delivers one more classic match.

“Whoever it is, I would want it to be meaningful from a storyline point of view, and I would want that person to want nothing more in his life than to make Sting look like a million bucks because he deserves that.”

Sting’s final battle will take place at the very PPV he made his AEW debut at three years ago, AEW Revolution.

Triple H is now the man spearheading WWE’s creative direction, as he breaks barriers and records with the company Vince McMahon brought to power. The Game is a student of pro wrestling, but he wasn’t always under WWE’s roof. Once he was in WWE, Triple H stayed, but it took getting fired from WCW to get him there.

Why Triple H Was Fired From WCW

While speaking to Inside The Ropes, Eric Bischoff was questioned about letting so many people go like Steve Austin, Mick Foley, and Triple H. He had all of them in WCW prior to their historic WWE runs, but Bischoff fired them all for different reasons. 

Eric Bischoff commented on Triple H’s early career in WCW, noting that while he was good, it was challenging to foresee him becoming a star in 1993. Bischoff also acknowledged Triple H’s marriage to the boss’s daughter, emphasizing that he was a dedicated student of the game, a great performer, but not on the level of superstars like The Rock or Stone Cold Steve Austin. 

Although Eric Bischoff recognized Triple H as a reliable utility player who worked hard, studied wrestling, and maintained consistency, leading to his eventual breakthrough; that wasn’t enough to keep Terra Ryzing in World Championship Wrestling.

“Triple H. He was just starting out. He was good. But there’s nobody that’s going to be honest about it that could go back and look at Triple H in 1993 and go ‘Oh, he’s gonna be a star.’ He married the boss’s daughter. It is what it is folks. This isn’t gonna do me any good. I think Paul Levesque, Triple H, he’s a student. He really is a student of the game. He is a great performer. But he’s never been a Rock.”

“He’s never been an Austin. He’s never been a Cena. He’s been a great utility player at a certain level. He’s been around forever but he’s never been a superstar. In 1993 I don’t believe anybody that’s really being honest can say ‘Yeah, when I saw him in 1993, I knew he was going to be a big star.’ He just worked hard. He studied. He did the right things.”

“He doesn’t drink. He doesn’t do drugs. He just studies professional wrestling. He worked his way up to a point where he was able to break through because he was so consistent. He was so good and so consistent, but he was never great.”

Eric Bsichoff’s Role in the Monday Night Wars

The Monday Night Wars was a competition between WWE and WCW, primarily led by Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff, respectively. WWE’s Monday Night Raw and WCW’s Monday Nitro went head-to-head, battling for television ratings. Ted Turner, the owner of WCW, provided financial backing and support for Bischoff’s strategies, aiming to dethrone McMahon’s WWE.

Eric Bischoff, the mastermind behind WCW’s surge, implemented the strategy of giving away spoilers and live results to entice viewers to watch his show instead of WWE’s. This led to 83 weeks of domination for WCW, even though WWE was working hard to cultivate new stars on their own show, some that Eric Bischoff had fired along the way.

Vince McMahon responded by introducing edgier content, including the infamous Attitude Era, which featured stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mick Foley’s Mankind character, and Triple H. 

The Monday Night Wars eventually came to an end when Vince McMahon bought his competition. Eric Bischoff had a deal worked up to purchase WCW before that, but it did not come with any television deal attached. 

WWE, on the other hand, went on to book their Invasion storyline with whatever WCW talent they could bring in who weren’t under huge contracts with Ted Turner to sit at home and collect paychecks.

AEW’s television deal with Warner Brothers Discovery is set to expire at the end of 2024. The next year will be a very important one for Tony Khan, as he looks forward to what is next for his television shows. Tony Khan is committed, but that brings a very important question about WBD’s interest. 

AEW Possible Television Problem

Tony Khan has commented in the past about how strong AEW’s deal is with Warner Brothers Discovery. Still, the possibility is out there that AEW may not retain that platform for their next set of television deals.

During 83 Weeks, Eric Bischoff discussed how Tony Khan is committed to the product and ‘in it for the long haul, but he also questioned what that means if they don’t get renewed by Warner Bros Discovery.

“Let me make it simple. If in fact, they lose WBD, Warner Brothers Discovery, if they’re no longer part of that platform. I’m not sure where they’re going to go. It’s going to be a smaller cable outlet. I don’t see a big cable outlet [picking them]. And this whole thing with Paramount and WBD, that’s such a wildcard. I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of variables that’s gonna throw into the equation. It could be really good for AEW. Whenever that is, the Paramount WBD thing if it actually becomes a reality. Because it’s too soon to know if it’s real or not. But if it becomes a reality, and there’s a merger there, it can either be the absolute stake through the heart of AEW or it can be the golden ticket. We don’t know. But in a case where it’s not the golden ticket and AEW finds itself on the outside looking in and WWE is now the television partner for Paramount WBD or whatever that ends up looking like.” 

“I don’t know where Tony’s gonna go. Because the world is getting so small. Vertical integration, you’re looking at probably two or three companies that own everything. Where are you going to go? What cable outlet are you going to go to that isn’t owned by NBC Universal, Paramount. Where are you going and what do you have to sell? Not much. Here’s what you get to sell, ‘Hey, we were on Turner for five years and prime time. Over the last five years, our audience has deteriorated. But we want to be on your network.’ I don’t want to sell that. I wouldn’t want to be the person assigned to try to sell that story.” 

Nothing is set in stone yet, and this is all hypothetical at this point. Still, it is enough to get people talking, because there are some big rumors about the upcoming television landscape, and where AEW falls into that.

Warner Brothers Discovery Interested In WWE RAW

There is reported interest in WWE from Warner Bros Discovery. WWE has not found a new home for RAW yet, and that new deal will go into effect in October 2024.

The recent rumor is that CM Punk’s WWE return brought WBD interest. That could present another obstacle for Tony Khan if WWE is able to secure Warner Brothers Discovery as the new home of RAW.

Eric Bischoff has experience dealing with TV deals, both in wrestling and outside of it, and based on what he’s hearing, he feels WWE is on the verge of cinching a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery for the rights to Raw.

Speaking on “Strictly Business” with co-host Jon Alba, Bischoff addressed the reported meeting that went down between WWE and WBD and he feels that a deal between the two parties is basically done, especially due to the fact that Triple H was one of those names to be apart of the conversation. That report indicated to him that the process is pretty far along and could mean some big news to come to pro wrestling.

“The difference me and everybody else is I’ve been there and I’ve done it and I see a picture a little differently than others, but I don’t know either. I just have feelings that are different from most people based on what I’ve experienced.”

Bischoff has remained unabashed in his thoughts when it comes to Tony Khan’s handling of AEW and although the former WCW President has been critical of Khan’s practices, he does hope for a good outcome in regards to All Elite Wrestling.

“In many respects I hope I’m wrong. I don’t want to see AEW end up in a drain. I really don’t. Again, there’s people there that I really respect and like and some of them I’m friends with, some of them I just admire. Do I want to see MJF continue to grow? Absolutely. Are there people there that I’m friends with and friendly with? Absolutely, but if it happens, I don’t think anybody should be surprised, not anybody listening to this show.”

Please credit “Strictly Business” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

ROH has been through quite a lot of changes in recent memory. The company survived the pandemic, and they tried their best to get things going once again, but in the end, Tony Khan bought another pro wrestling company.

AEW President Tony Khan acquired Ring of Honor last year, prompting speculation about the brand’s future. Over the past year, Khan has organized several pay-per-views under the ROH banner and initiated a weekly television series earlier this year.

Declining ticket sales and the absence of significant buzz about ROH raised natural concerns among dedicated fans. The fact that AEW can’t get fans to stick around for the ROH tapings after their lives shows is also impossible to avoid.

During his 83 Weeks podcast, Eric Bischoff discussed ROH’s current product, pointing out that NXT’s success stems from WWE gradually establishing it as an independent brand before introducing main roster stars to compete in NXT.

You have to build the brand, it has to stands on its own, it has to perform on its own without diluting the core product. Right now, ROH is a giant freaking parasite on the AEW brand and the more focus they put on the parasite, the more the parasite is going to diminish or harm the core brand. I just think that they f*ck it up so badly that we won’t really see a successful ROH anytime in our lifetime.

The ROH Final Battle pay-per-view is scheduled for December 15th, and ticket sales for the event have been underwhelming. Although Tony Khan’s company has a good card, complete with Athena defending her ROH Women’s Title through an injury, the future of the company is still uncertain as far as Eric Bischoff sees things.

ROH has certainly come a long way, but they also have a lot to improve on. There will probably be many stories to come as Tony Khan continues his efforts to keep the brand relevant. Keep checking back with SE Scoops for more.

Eric Bischoff recently made an interesting comparison between Sami Zayn and Diamond Dallas Page (DDP). 

Zayn had been portrayed as a lovable babyface in NXT after making a name for himself as El Generico on the independent wrestling scene. On the main roster, he continued the babyface character he came up with in developmental before portraying a heel for many years up until he was aligned with The Bloodline where the fans slowly turned him back into a babyface. 

Parallels 

While speaking on WrestleBinge, Bischoff explained how DDP and Zayn share similar trajectories.

“There are some parallels there. [DDP] was kind of in the middle of the roster, right, and he was pretty good,” Bischoff stated, “but once [DDP] made that transition, once he turned down the NWO and started working with Randy Savage and so many other top names, he just blew out of the pack. He didn’t slowly grow his way to the top of the roster; he just blew the doors off.”

There are some parallels there. [DDP] was kind of in the middle of the roster, right, and he was pretty good,” Bischoff stated, “but once [DDP] made that transition, once he turned down the nWo and started working with Randy Savage and so many other top names, he just blew out of the pack. He didn’t slowly grow his way to the top of the roster; he just blew the doors off.”

Zayn came up short when challenging Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at the Elimination Chamber after being kicked out of The Bloodline at the Royal Rumble. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc for the transcription

Eric Bischoff gave his thoughts on the beef between Tony Khan and Ariel Helwani during the latest episode of his 83 Weeks Podcast. 

It all started when the AEW President tweeted last Friday that Helwani is a fraud for being in the crowd at WWE SmackDown in Montreal. Helwani responded by calling Khan, ‘The Snowman.’ 

Helwani has known WWE’s Nick Khan for several years because Nick once served as Helwani’s agent. Because of this, some of Helwani’s critics have said say that he is biased in favor of WWE.

Also, Helwani openly attacked the president of the AEW for refusing to answer some of his questions when he spoke with Khan in October.

Bischoff’s Thoughts

“I was disappointed to see that. Look, I’ve heard a lot of the same rumors and I’ve heard them from people that are in AEW, to be blunt, and I don’t put any stock in them. I think it’s bad for him, no matter who you are, unless you were sitting down and watch someone, anyone, actually doing something, whether it’s snorting a line of blow or, you know, beating their wife, or whatever, unless you witness it with your own eyes, shut the f**k up.”

Bischoff thinks starting rumors like that is a bad reflection on the person and he doesn’t listen to that type of talk. 

“It’s just bad. Bad. You don’t want to do that to people. I’ve had it done to me. There’s no reason for it. Tony is inviting a lot of this criticism. He acts like a petulant child in the way he responds, and his response to Ariel in the crowd was a petulant child whose feelings were hurt because somebody took his toy away from him. I mean, it’s just so absolutely childish. I think that’s a reflection, at least in my mind, of who Tony Khan is. He’s immature. He is a child with a vanity project. He’s passionate.”

Bischoff stated that he’s not taking that away from him, but thinks the way that Khan reacts to things further gives off a negative impression of who he is. 

He added, “Tony should have never reacted the way he did to Ariel being out there.”

H/T to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription

Eric Bischoff has become the latest individual to heap praise on the Bloodline, considering the popular faction to be better than the New World Order.

The NWO changed the wrestling landscape forever upon the group’s inception in 1996, ushering in the concept of the ‘cool heel.’

Much like Hogan in 1996, Roman Reigns’ heel turn in 2020 breathed new life into a character that fans had already turned on due to their strong babyface booking.

Better

While Bischoff played a large backstage role in the formation of the NWO (and would later be an on-screen member) he has now acknowledged the Tribal Chief.

Speaking on his 83 Weeks Podcast, Bischoff compared the two factions that have dominated their respective eras.

“The truth is The Bloodline story, in terms of a storyline in and the ingredients and the elements and the discipline and the structure and the nature of it, is a far better story than the NWO. Will it have the same impact on the industry as the NWO did? Probably not. But, that has a lot to do with timing.”

“The Bloodline story, in terms of a storyline… is a far better story than the NWO.”

“There are so many things that made the NWO work, including Hulk Hogan turning heel, by the way. There were so many things that were just a moment in time that helped propel that storyline at that, that time that you can’t replicate that today.”

While WWE tried to recapture the magic of the NWO upon the return of Hogan, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash in 2002, the group was gone within months.

The Bloodline has been suffering some issues themselves as of late, with the exit of Sami Zayn and the seeming departure of Jey Uso.

H/T – Wrestling Inc

Is Vince McMahon a crotchety old miser who is out of touch with what wrestling fans want?

Eric Bischoff isn’t so sure.

McMahon retired from WWE in July of last year but returned to the promotion this month to oversee a potential sale.

The 77-year-old billionaire has since been appointed Executive Chairman following the resignation of Stephanie McMahon.

Ageism

For years prior to his retirement, McMahon faced criticism from fans for being out of touch with what fans wanted.

Examples given include McMahon’s insistence on pushing certain talents over ones more beloved by fans, as seen with Roman Reigns in 2015.

Speaking on his 83 Weeks Podcast, Bischoff rejected the idea that McMahon is out of touch.

“The whole Vince is old and out of touch thing, you can argue that maybe creatively because you don’t like Vince’s vision of what wrestling should be, but it doesn’t mean that he is not in control of his faculties or that he’s missed a beat.”

“I think that’s internet wrestling chatter because people aren’t happy with what they’re seeing on television. ‘Oh, it’s because he’s too old.’ But no ageism, right?”

Eric Bischoff.

WWE Sale

It was just a few months ago that fans expected McMahon to spend his days out of the public eye after the scandals that forced him to retire.

Now McMahon has resumed his role in Titan Towers and will decide who purchases WWE if a sale goes ahead.

On his show, Bischoff argued that despite what some believe, McMahon has never seemed more on top of the wrestling world than right now.

“I would say the events of the last week would suggest that he is far from out of touch.”

Eric Bischoff.

Names listed as potential buyers of WWE include Comcast, FOX, Disney, Amazon, the Saudi Arabia PIF, and Shahid & Tony Khan.

h/t – Wrestling Inc

Tony Khan may have proven himself to countless fans with the success of AEW, but would he make a good owner of WWE?

The past two weeks of news have been dominated with reports of Vince McMahon’s return to WWE, less than six months after his retirement.

McMahon returned to oversee a sale of the promotion and has replaced his daughter Stephanie as Executive Chairman.

Lacking

The list of names reportedly interested in buying WWE is lengthy and includes Comcast, FOX, Disney, Amazon, and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.

Tony Khan and his father Shahid are also on that list with sources close to the situation saying that the Khans are interested in a merger with WWE.

Speaking on his 83 Weeks Podcast, Eric Bischoff said that Khan may not have the necessary skills to take over from McMahon.

“Could it happen? Sure, anything is possible. But if you really think about it, does the Khan enterprise have the experience, knowledge, infrastructure, ability to run a company as complex as WWE?”

Eric Bischoff.

Bischoff added that while AEW and WWE may be in the same industry, they “don’t live and play in the same universe.”

Buying WWE

The Khans certainly have plenty of money to their name, but a solo purchase of WWE is seemingly off the table.

With WWE seeking a reported $8.5 billion for the promotion, any deal by the father-son duo is expected to be shared with another financial partner.

Wall Street analysts have said they expect WWE to sell this year for anywhere between $7.4 and $8.2 billion.

h/t – Wrestling Inc

Former WCW president Eric Bischoff has offered his thoughts on how a potential sale of WWE could change the professional wrestling landscape.

Bischoff took to his podcast, “83 Weeks,” to discuss the possibility amidst Vince McMahon’s sudden return to WWE. The ex-WCW boss explained that, he believes, any potential buyer of WWE wouldn’t make any significant changes for the first year or two.

“Everybody has their opinion and you (Conrad) and I talked about this a little bit last night. I can see why a lot of people inside of WWE, particularly those that have stock options in their portfolio, WWE stock options, but I can see a lot of people being very nervous because it’s the unknown and you know, nobody likes the unknown.

“Nobody knows how this is going to play itself out. So, everybody’s kind of hanging on by a thread waiting to see which direction it’s going to go and I get that. That’s an uncomfortable feeling.

“My impression is that whoever buys it is probably not going to come in and start making any kind of wholesale changes when it comes to the management of the company for the first year and a half or two years. I lived through that, by the way.”

As noted, Vince McMahon recently nudged his way back into the WWE’s board of directors with rumors swirling that the move was done in order to help facilitate a sale of the company.

For the time being, it appears that his return to WWE does not include resuming creative control of the TV product, which seemingly remains in Triple H’s hands.

McMahon previously left WWE last year after an investigation launched into his sexual misconduct with female employees. He stepped down as WWE CEO, prompting Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan to step up as co-CEOs. Soon after, McMahon retired from WWE as head of creative, passing the torch to Triple H.

Former WCW president Eric Bischoff has reacted to news of Vince McMahon’s WWE return.

As recently reported, Vince McMahon is back on WWE’s Board Of Directors, effective immediately. Last year, McMahon was forced to step down after allegations of sexual misconduct with female employees surfaced. Both Nick Khan and Stephanie McMahon stepped in as co-CEOs in his place.

McMahon also retired from WWE soon after, leaving Triple H to take over as head of creative for the company. However, months later, McMahon then released a statement announcing his intention to return to the company, believing it was in the company’s best interest.

Initial reports suggest that McMahon has returned to seek a sale of the company. Currently, his 37% share of WWE stock gives him an 80% majority voter share over the board’s actions.

Taking to his podcast, “83 Weeks,” Bischoff offered his take on the situation, and the potential sale of WWE.

“I understand your question, but I think — now I haven’t read everything that’s come out in the last couple of hours. I’ve seen some of the bigger headlines and a couple other emails and stories.

“But I think Vince is — his reasoning for coming back and making this move is to aggressively pursue a sale. So in that case, I don’t think that matters. Because if he sells the company, he’s not gonna be running it anymore. And whether things ran better with him or without him is an irrelevant, a moot point.

“Because whoever buys it isn’t going to have Vince McMahon running it anyway. They’re gonna run it. So no, I think this is Vince’s exit strategy. And whether it’ll run better with him or without him isn’t really a discussion in an exit strategy like that.”

Today, via an SEC filing, it was confirmed that McMahon was back with the WWE’s Board Of Directors, effective immediately. He’s also returning alongside WWE co-Presidents Michelle Wilson and George Barrios.

They will be replacing now-former board members JoEllen Lyons Dillon, Jeffrey R. Speed, and Alan M. Wexler. It remains to be seen if McMahon’s return will include a return to the creative side of the company as well.

Quotes via 411Mania

Is Roman Reigns’ tenure as the most dominant star in WWE going to come to an end this year?

Reigns has for years been WWE’s top performer, which earned him considerable backlash from fans who didn’t appreciate the Big Dog being forced on them.

In 2020, Reigns returned from a four-month absence as his current Tribal Chief character, earning acclaim from fans and those in the industry for his transformation.

Hollywood

Since capturing the Universal Championship at WWE Payback in August 2020, Reigns has been virtually untouchable in the ring.

Last year, Reigns signed a new deal with WWE, one that has resulted in fewer matches and fewer appearances by the Head of the Table.

Giving his 2023 predictions during his Strictly Business podcast, Eric Bischoff suggested that Reigns may walk away from the ring this year, then pursue a career in acting.

“[I predict] Roman Reigns is crossing over into mainstream entertainment. You know, I haven’t had my finger on you know Roman’s career or his trajectory so far, but [with his cousin The Rock] it kind of makes a little bit of sense doesn’t it?

You know in Hollywood it’s not about how good you are necessarily, It’s how good you are and who you know. I think Roman has put his toe in the water and now he’s got a little bit of a taste of Hollywood.

“Roman has put his toe in the water and now he’s got a little bit of a taste of Hollywood.”

Eric Bischoff.

I think Roman Reigns’s long Title reign will come to an end this year and I think the best thing that you could do would be for him to step away for a few months.”

In 2019, Reigns appeared alongside his cousin in ‘Hobbs and Shaw’ a spin-off of the Fast and Furious franchise.

Dethroning the Tribal Chief

Reigns has been Universal Champion for the past 857 days, and captured the WWE Championship last April at WrestleMania 38.

After Bischoff’s co-host Jon Alba said he believes the long-rumored WrestleMania match between Reigns and The Rock isn’t happening, Bischoff gave his pick for who should be WWE’s next Undisputed Universal Champion.

“I just saw a picture on social media of a WWE truck, a production truck, wrapped with a WrestleMania rap that featured Cody Rhodes. I think Cody’s going to be the guy this year and as he should be in my opinion.”

“I think Cody’s going to be the guy this year and as he should be in my opinion.”

Eric Bischoff.

Bischoff reiterated that Reigns would be smart to walk away the ring at 37 years old with plenty of time to try new projects.

“If I’m Roman and I know my bank account’s good. My Investment Portfolio is good and I’m still young enough and healthy enough especially given his circumstances, I’m going to get out while the getting’s good brother and step into the next phase of my life.”

In addition to Hobbs and Shaw, Reigns appeared in The Wong Missy (2020,) and provided his voice for the animated wrestling movie Rumble (2021.)

Is there a side to Eric Bischoff that fans have never gotten the chance to see, that would change the public perception of the WWE Hall of Famer?

Bischoff entered the wrestling business in the 1990s as part of WCW and would become a major part of the New World Order.

Joining WWE in 2002, Bischoff’s reign of terror as Raw General Manager ended in 2005 but he has made sporadic appearances for the company since then.

Misunderstood

Bischoff may be a veteran of the wrestling business, but the reception of him by fans has often been mixed.

Bischoff’s comments on his 83 Weeks Podcast often rub fans the wrong way, but the former WWE GM may simply be misunderstood.

Speaking on his Something to Wrestle With podcast, Bruce Prichard spoke about Bischoff and others he believes to be ‘misunderstood.’

“I think Eric Bischoff is a big one. I also think Paul Levesque, I think Kevin Dunn through the years [has been misunderstood.]”

Eric Bischoff.

Bruce Prichard

Prichard may think that the fan perception of Eric Bischoff is unwarranted, but he doesn’t have the greatest ‘cred’ either.

Many have seen Prichard as little more than a Vince McMahon ‘yes man’ who approved the ex-CEO’s ideas no matter what, prior to McMahon’s retirement in July 2022.

In 2021, it was reported that Prichard’s comments on an episode of the Not Sam Wrestling podcast had angered and embarrassed those working in WWE.

During his appearance on the show, Prichard criticized fans when discussing the pilot episode of Monday Night Raw, saying that fans will always reject change.

h/t – WrestlingInc

Eric Bischoff was a prominent name on TNA Wrestling for years, despite having low expectations of the company.

Bischoff joined TNA (now Impact Wrestling) in 2009 and was a key part in bringing in Hulk Hogan in 2010.

The former WCW magnate and Raw General Manager would remain with the company, mostly working behind the scenes until his departure in 2014

Reeks of Russo

Bischoff would work for TNA Wrestling for years, all the time hating the name of the promotion.

In his new book ‘Grateful‘ Bischoff recalled being hesitant to join TNA.

“To be honest, I was never interested, at any level or at any time, in potentially working for TNA. First and foremost, I hated the TNA name (‘T and A’ – do you get it? It’s just so clever.). When I heard about it for the first time, I thought, ‘This just reeks of Vince Russo.’”

Russo was TNA’s Head of Creative at the time but of course, had no role in the naming of the promotion.

Bischoff added that the idea among fans that TNA was a ‘spiritual successor’ to WCW was “ridiculous.”

Not Wanted

When approached about the opportunity to join TNA, Bischoff didn’t leap at the chance of a return to wrestling.

In his memoirs, the WWE Hall of Famer said that the success he and business partner Jason Hervey were having with their Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment made a return to wrestling seem unnecessary.

“Jason and I were having so much success, with BHE, that I doubted I would even have time to get involved in wrestling again.

“I was basically thinking, ‘Okay – I went through the WCW journey, and it didn’t end up the way I wanted it to end up, but the WWE opportunity came along, and it was a way for me to kind of write the end of my own story.”

Bischoff writes that Dixie Carter, the then-President of TNA was against bringing him in, believing that her role as the ‘female Vince McMahon’ would be jeopardised by bringing him in.

h/t – 411 Mania

Eric Bischoff is enjoying this new phase of his life. The days in the pressure cooker of running WCW, and working in the many roles he took on in WWE and TNA Impact Wrestling are in the rearview. He has found the perfect balance. 

However, the former television exec has been able to reflect on his experiences through a new lens thanks to his 83 Weeks and Strictly Business podcasts, as well as a recently released book, aptly titled Grateful. A collaboration with Nitro book author Guy Evans, and the perfect bridge from Bischoff’s best-selling autobiography Controversy Creates Cash. 

For the WWE Hall of Famer, there are a few touchstones that brought him back into the familiar and unique world of pro wrestling. He thinks back to an independent show in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he picked up a booking days before the show. He asked himself, “Why not?” And so Bischoff put his dog in the truck and made the drive from where he lived at the time in Scottsdale, Arizona. There was a point the 67-year-old had second thoughts about going into the backstage area. 

“When I walked into that building, I stopped for a second and looked around and saw 20-25 people, young wrestlers, young talent getting ready,” he said. “I  was like a fly on the wall. It reminded me of how much fun wrestling can be. This reminded me of when I first showed up in the AWA.” 

This nostalgic feeling continued during a panel he hosted between Sting and Hulk Hogan. A fan by the name of Amanda introduced herself and brought a tear to Bischoff’s eye hearing how she bonded with her late father over wrestling.  She would later reach out to his wife Loree on social media going into detail that the only bonding time they shared was watching Nitro. 

“She explained her father passed, and her mother passed. She had no brothers or sisters. She had no family. She asked my wife if I would be willing to step in for her father and give her way at her wedding,” Bischoff remembered. “I of course said absolutely. It really opened my eyes to how much professional wrestling can positively affect relationships.” 

These instances get him thinking about his own childhood and watching the shows with his grandmother, Agnes. Podcasts, conventions, autograph signings, and other appearances reinforce that love that lured him into the business in the first place.  Even today, Bischoff remains a fan.

The State of Pro Wrestling

When asked about what he is most grateful about the industry today, he responded that it remains “healthy.”

“You look at rights fees for WWE and AEW,” he explained. “ Look at the global footprint of WWE and how far the professional industry has evolved and become not only mainstream in terms of television and primetime. What we’re seeing on Fox network. Who would have thought 20 years ago we’d be watching professional wrestling live on Fox? It’s mind-boggling…It’s such a big step for the industry.

The same for AEW. I never got a nickel for licensing fees. I never got a dime. I see that now, and it indicates to me at least, that the professional wrestling product is so mainstream now. That it’s going to be here for a long, long time.” 

Will WWE be Sold?

When you think about the rollercoaster ride WWE and its stock has taken in 2022, fact is the company continues to bring in boatloads of money. This despite Vince McMahon being embroiled in scandal, which ultimately led to the now-former CEO and chairman stepping away.

The current landscape in the market with these billion-dollar television contracts coming up combined with other financial data has caused the chatter of whether WWE were to sell to grow louder. 

“I’d say right now it’s more plausible to me that the WWE would sell because Vince McMahon is no longer, at least visibly in the picture,” Bischoff said. “He is still in the picture as a majority shareholder, and guess what? He can still say no. It’s his company. It is possible even though Vince isn’t the CEO or chairman that Vince could step up and prevent a sale. I don’t know why he would do that at this stage of his life with the amount of money that would be involved 

“What is there to gain from impeding an acquisition like that? I don’t know, but I don’t know Vince McMahon. I don’t know if too many people do. It’s plausible. It makes sense, which is why people keep talking about it…You can make a really strong story for an NBC, a Fox, or at one point Disney…but it makes sense. As long as it makes sense and people continue to project it, it’s probably going to happen. I don’t know though.”

2023 Predictions

On the topic of 2023 predictions, don’t expect to see Bischoff back as a regular figure on television. He enjoys the one-off or a few appearances when asked, as well as the work he does for WWE docs. 

“I’ve had so much fun in my career and I’ve made acquaintances that I still consider to this day to be some of my closest friends,” he said. “I’ve got nothing but fond memories of me in the wrestling industry even though I went through times that weren’t so much fun. That’s part of the reason I wrote the new book. Even being able to look back at those miserable times, and find a way to be grateful for them. Lightens my load.”

AEW & Warner Bros. Discovery

Looking at the crystal ball, Bischoff can see good news when it comes to AEW and its television partners at Warner Bros Discovery. 

“My prediction, not based on knowledge but on conditions of the market and where Discovery is at. And full disclosure, my daughter has worked for WarnerMedia for seven or eight years, so I have a little bit of an inside view. But I do think AEW will get renewed. I don’t think there will be a major increase in licensing fees. That’s just based on instinct and anecdotal information. I could be dead wrong.” 

CM Punk

Another question that looms into the new year is if we will see CM Punk will wrestle again. After the controversial media scrum from All Out, the future of the Chicagoan and AEW remains in flux. 

“I can’t imagine,” Bischoff responded when asked if he could see Punk back in the ring this year. “Who would want to hire that guy? First of all, I’d say he is a miserable guy. I’m talking about his character now. We’ve never spoken a syllable or face-to-face conversation. Every time I see him come out,  the character comes out and he is morose. My daughter will even say every time he wins something, he breaks down crying. 

“Look, Punk came into AEW with a tremendous mystique because of the ‘Pipe Bomb’ interview and walking out on WWE. Deep down inside, all of us want to give the bird to our boss and walk away and take this job and shove it sort of thing. That’s what Punk did and built up this mystique. He brought that to AEW, but I think once fans started seeing him and that mystique was gradually beginning to wear off, he wasn’t that interesting of a character to me. It’s subjective. Others may have found him more interesting. I don’t know.

I just know how I feel about it. I was losing interest in him. It’s like falling off a cliff. If I saw him wrestle one more guy I never heard of and have a match that was so close. This is your champion This is your guy who is larger than life. This is the guy that you are building your company around? Against some guy who works part-time at Walmart who comes in and takes him almost the limit.” 

If you’re looking for more hot takes from Eric Bischoff on “Ad Free Shows.” 

It’s the name of his book, it’s one of his catchphrases, and it’s the mantra by which he’s lived for the last 25 years.

‘Controversy Creates Cash,’ Eric Bischoff says, and boy does it. Except in the case of Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter.

In a move that surprised absolutely nobody, when Musk officially became the owner of Twitter, the once prominent social media app took a nosedive into the red, with advertisers fleeing almost as quickly as Twitter’s former employees.

NPR reported that Twitter has lost 50 of its top 100 advertisers since Musk took over, including Apple, Chevrolet, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Ford, Jeep, and many others.

Musk himself has said that Twitter is in “the fast lane to bankruptcy,” leading many people to believe that Musk bought the app simply to destroy it from the inside out. Probably because people kept making fun of his hairline and tum tum.

Still, one person who seems to hold immense respect for the Tesla CEO is former WCW President Eric Bischoff.

Eric Bischoff Respects Elon Musk

Bischoff has @’d the owner of Twitter at various points, but his most recent tweet is one that may resonate with pro wrestling fans.

On Sunday, Musk created a poll asking users if he should step down as CEO of Twitter. Unsurprisingly, 57% of people said yes. Then, the backtracking began.

Self-professed ‘media personality’ Collin Rugg tweeted that Elon Musk hinted that the reason he created the poll was as ‘a trick to catch bots.’

Which is one theory. Another theory is that the man has an extremely fragile ego and created the poll to affirm to himself that people actually like him which, as the poll proved, the majority of people do not.

Still, Eric Bischoff seems to believe that it was a genius idea, as he tweeted that “If true, THIS should make him Booker of the Year!”

• Eric Bischoff: Ric Flair Should Thank Me for Helping Him Get Over

Bischoff did not elaborate on what Musk is actually booking (besides, like, his own public unraveling), but it’s clear Bischoff respects Musk for the businessman that he is. And with good reason. Other than Twitter, Musk has been extremely successful with his business ventures. He’s one of the world’s richest men for a reason. But, much like the belief that with great power comes great responsibility; with great wealth comes great ego. And many people believe that’s all Twitter is to Elon Musk – a vanity project.

Which begs the question…Who booked this shit?

Is Bill Goldberg and an errant really to blame for Bret Hart’s career-ending concussion?

That’s certainly been the consensus for decades after the Hitman took a stiff kick from Goldberg during their match at Starrcade 1999.

After the match, Hart would be diagnosed with a concussion which would lead to his retirement from wrestling, and the Hitman has loathed Goldberg ever since.

The Real Concussion

Due to this kick, Goldberg has spent years being labeled ‘dangerous’ and ‘unprofessional’ by countless fans as well as some wrestlers.

On the latest edition of his 83 Weeks podcast, former WCW President Eric Bischoff argued that another spot from the match is to blame.

“I’m looking at Bret bouncing his head off the concrete or the ring post, whatever it was, and if I had to put my money, I would put it on that concussion occurring on that bump as much or more so than the kick to the head.”

Eric Bischoff.

Hart would defeat Goldberg in the main event by submission when ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper called for the bell, mimicking the Montreal Screwjob of two years earlier.

Bret and Goldberg

Whether it was a shot by the ring post or the superkick, Bret Hart has been very anti-Goldberg in the decades since what happened.

Hart has previously called on WWE to remove Goldberg from the Hall of Fame, after the former Universal Champion was inducted in 2018.

Bret has also admitted that he is mad that Goldberg has been able to wrestle and earn millions with WWE after what happened between them.

h/t – Bodyslam

In October of last year, Eric Bischoff made headlines, while also probably making an enemy of AEW owner Tony Khan, when he told Khan that he should “Shut up and wrestle.” It started a bit of a war of words between the two men and, coincidentally, Bischoff hasn’t been seen on AEW TV since.

Many criticized Bischoff for his stance, while many others commended him. But now, Bischoff has clarified his statement and offered the reason as to why he said it in the first place.

Bischoff discussed the ‘Shut up and wrestle’ comment on the most recent episode of his podcast, 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff, in which he compared Tony Khan to Diamond Dallas Page.

“Going back to my first kind of negative comment about Tony, when I basically said ‘Shut up and wrestle; quit comparing yourself to WWE and creating an illusion because in the process, you’re gonna lose goodwill,'” Bischoff stated. “That was my point. No, I didn’t make that point in my comment, but that was my reason for going ‘Shut up and wrestle, dude. Just put out a better product. Then let the audience put your product over. Don’t put your own product over.'”

Bischoff said Tony Khan’s penchant for calling out WWE from time to time reminded him of when Diamond Dallas Page was trying to become a star in WCW.

Bischoff Compares Tony Khan to Diamond Dallas Page

“I used to say that to DDP all the time,” Bischoff said. “Because when DDP was really starting to transition from that over-the-top, super gimmick character; trying to be a little bit of everybody – he was Superstar Billy Graham, he was Jake the Snake Roberts – he was like 15 different characters all rolled up into one, right?

“And once he started making that transition to becoming that blue-collar, all-American dude that anybody could relate to, I used to tell him in his promos ‘Man, don’t put yourself over.’ Because the minute you put yourself over, you’re taking away any need or desire by your fan base or your audience to do it for you. It’s you going out and getting the audience to put you over, because the audience putting you over makes all the difference in the world. Otherwise, you’re just another wrestling personality out there trying to get yourself over, and people tune that out. But when you quit trying to put yourself over, focus on your character and your work, all of a sudden, the audience is doing it for you. And the audience putting you over is worth tenfold you trying to do it yourself.”

It’s good advice, really. Even if Bischoff didn’t exactly make his intentions known with his original comments.

“That was my point when I made that comment about ‘Shut up and wrestle,'” Bischoff reiterated. “It’s just, ‘Quit putting yourself over and let the audience do it, because that creates goodwill.’ But the more you put yourself over – in this case, Tony – the more Tony put himself over or put AEW over and, in the process, belittled WWE who is a monster, you know? They’re Goliath and you’re not. But by constantly taking shots at them and trying to convince the audience that you’re better than they are, you’re not taking advantage of the goodwill that you have automatically. That was my point.”

Eric Bischoff: “Stephanie McMahon Would Kill Tony Khan” in a Fight

It’s a good point, and perhaps its advice that Tony Khan has taken, even subconsciously. Despite a brief, tension-fueled breakdown at the All Out press scrum, in which he said that he was ‘Tired of [WWE’s] f*ckin sh*t,’ he hasn’t really spoken too much about the company up north.