ERIC BISCHOFF has never shied away from controversy. The WWE Hall of Famer and former Senior Vice President of WCW always speaks his mind, and shows no signs of slowing down as he approaches seventy.
One of the most creatively innovative minds in the sports entertainment industry, Bischoff's strategic decision-making was pivotal to World Championship Wrestling overtaking the World Wrestling Federation in the Monday night rating wars for 83 consecutive weeks, spearheaded by the popularity of the new World order faction.
Yet almost three decades on from the promotion's zenith, Bischoff is reflective about the lessons learned and mistakes made during wrestling's hottest period. Returning to the #wrestlinglifepod for a second time, Eric Bischoff speaks openly with Ben Veal about the highs and lows of his Turner Broadcasting tenure.
ERIC BISCHOFF ON EARNING THE TRUST OF HULK HOGAN
The paths of Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea and Eric Bischoff have been intertwined since 1994 when the WWF's most recognisable star brought the power of Hulkamania to WCW. Yet Hogan, by that point the biggest name in the industry, was not immediately trusting of the then-unproven WCW executive.
"When I first started talking to Hulk back in 1994, I'd never run a wrestling company before" shares Bischoff. "I'd never accomplished anything [and] I had no track record ... I was so new to the scene. Nobody in their right mind should have trusted me. I wouldn't have trusted me! I didn't have the knowledge and the experience ... I just popped up out of nowhere with this wrestling company that I was running."
ERIC BISCHOFF SHARES HONEST OPINION ON NETFLIX'S MR. MCMAHON DOCUMENTARY
Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff were pitched as bitter rivals during the heights of wrestling's Monday Night Wars, as their two respective companies went head-to-hear for squared circle supremacy. After the WWF's acquisition of WCW in 2001, Bischoff would find himself working for his former competitor twice, first as an on-screen talent as the Raw General Manager between 2002 and 2005, and then years later being lured out of retirement in 2019 for what would went up being a very brief spell at the helm of SmackDown. Fast forward to 2024 and very serious allegations made against Vince McMahon have muddied the waters between the real-life former WWE Chairman and the vindictive Mr. McMahon character that he portrayed on screens for so many years. Netflix's six-part documentary promised to reveal the true story about McMahon, but did it deliver?
"I appreciated the documentary for what a documentary is ... it was very well edited," shares Bischoff, whose comments on McMahon featured within the series alongside a host of other industry influencers but who did not actively contribute towards the Netflix project. "It was evident to me ... so many of those interviews weren't designed from Vince's perspective to give us any real insight in terms of how he thinks and how he works. It was more of a branding initiative. It was the perception therefore the reality that Vince was attempting to create for his brand. He wanted us to hear the stories about him and his father, about some of the infidelity and how he reacts to situations ... Vince wanted to project the image that he projected in that documentary because he didn't know what was coming. I think we [only] got brief glimpses of who Vince McMahon really is."
DID ERIC BISCHOFF "DROP THE BALL" TOWARDS THE END OF WCW?
'Who Killed WCW?' has been a much-discussed topic of conversation amongst the wrestling media and fans for decades, with Eric Bischoff often on the receiving end of a large part of the blame for the company's incredibly fast fall from grace in the early 2000s. In the same Netflix documentary, five-time WCW world champion Booker T shared his view that Bischoff "dropped the ball" with WCW, but that comment didn't take into account the macro business context that surrounded Turner Broadcasting during the tumultuous AOL Time Warner buyout that ultimately had a very sizeable part to play in WCW's demise, as documented extensively in Guy Evans' comprehensive NITRO book.
Over two decades on, does hearing criticism like this still affect Bischoff? "It used to bother me a lot more than it does now," says Eric, speaking from his home in Cody, Wyoming. "It's been going on for a long time. Booker T's a friend of mine ... we have a good relationship. Hulk Hogan is one of my closest friends [yet] I've heard Hogan say similar things. I recognise that from their perspective, the only know what they do. They had no visbiliy into what was going on in Turner Broadcasting. They had no visibility into the business of the wrestling business."
ERIC BISCHOFF OPENS UP ON BRET HART IN WCW
WCW, under the creative direction of Bischoff, reached dizzying heights of popularity between 1996 and 1998, thanks in large part to the red-hot popularity of the 'Hollywood' Hogan led new World order heel faction and an ensemble cast of fan favourites that included a reimagined, Crow-inspired Sting, veteran Diamond Dallas Page and breakaway star Bill Goldberg. When former five-time WWF world champion Bret 'Hitman' Hart joined the promotion fresh off experienced a very real breakaway from the Federation in the infamous 'Montreal Screwjob', it seemed to fans like the talented Hart would be destined to immediately main event WCW pay-per-views. Yet Hart's run with the company would end up being one of the biggest missed opportunities in the promotion's history, and for many years Eric Bischoff has been blamed for not booking the 'Hitman' properly.
Asked about Hart's largely directionless WCW run, Bischoff is reflective about how things could have transpired differently under other circumstances. "Bret Hart coming into WCW [in 1997] wasn't part of a plan," shares Eric. "It was the result of a circumstance that had nothing to do with me ... that was because Vince [McMahon] decided he couldn't afford the commitment he had made to Bret. It's not like we had six months or even three months to sit back and say okay, Bret's coming, what's the best way to use Bret? When Bret became available, that was spontaneous. I could've said sorry Bret, I need more time. I know you're getting cut loose but I can't make a commitment to you until we have a plan in place because you're coming with a big pay check. But instead, and this was my fault, I tried to make the best out of a situation."
EPISODE 033 HIGHLIGHTS: ERIC BISCHOFF
Bischoff discusses Netflix's MR. McMAHON documentary, noting its focus on perception over reality.
Eric emphasises the complexity of Vince’s character in real life and his huge impact on wrestling.
The conversation highlights Hulk Hogan’s pivotal heel turn in WCW and its significance in wrestling history.
Bischoff shares his thoughts on Bret Hart’s struggles and subsequent underwhelming debut in WCW.
He acknowledges the challenges of producing wrestling content and the unpredictability of fan reactions.
Eric talks openly about the importance of trust and his enduring friendship with Hulk Hogan.
Bischoff reflects on the controversial finish of WCW Starrcade 1997 and its wider place in wrestling history.
WRESTLING LIFE INSIGHTS FROM ERIC BISCHOFF
Documentaries often prioritise storytelling over depth, leading to mixed reactions from seasoned fans. Bischoff believes the McMahon documentary catered more to a general audience than it did towards the needs and expectations of hardened wrestling fans.
Trust is a crucial element in wrestling relationships. It took time for Bischoff to earn Hulk Hogan's trust and respect.
Hulk Hogan’s 1996 heel turn was a gamble that ultimately revitalised his character, showing the potential for transformations in wrestling storylines when executed well.
Bret Hart’s underwhelming WCW debut shows the impact that carrying weighty emotional baggage can have. A missed opportunity, Bischoff believes Hart's mindset affected his engagement and performance.
The blurred lines between fiction and reality in wrestling create unique challenges for producers; this dynamic keeps fans invested but can complicate storytelling.
Bischoff’s insights into the fast-paced nature of wrestling production highlight the importance of adaptability and quick decision-making in the industry.
Reflecting on the legacy of Starrcade 1997, Bischoff underlines the significance of delivering a pay-off to wrestling storytelling, noting that perceived flaws can overshadow otherwise successful narratives.
REAL TALK FROM REAL TALENT
Wrestling Life with Ben Veal shines the spotlight brightly and positively on those who shaped wrestling's past, drive its present and influence its future. The show is widely available and features honest, open and inspiring conversations with many of the sport's biggest names, including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley, Lilian Garcia, Candice Michelle, Marc Mero, Buff Bagwell, Doug Williams, Eric Bischoff and many more.
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About the author: Ben Veal is a writer, content creator, journalist, and host of Wrestling Life and the founder of Second Mountain Comms, a purpose-driven award-winning PR and marketing business that helps good people do good. A Chartered PR professional and passionate fan of the artform of professional wrestling for more than three decades, Ben is committed to sharing the real stories behind wrestling's talented performers.