Eric Bischoff :The Living Legend

 

ERIC BISCHOFF THE LIVING LEGEND 

Todays Lesson is on Eric Bischoff who is one of the Most Influential Executives in Wrestling Today.  He has created some of the most popular figures in wrestling including The Crow Sting.

Eric Bischoff is a prominent figure in the world of professional wrestling, known for his role as an executive, producer, and on-screen personality. His career spans several decades and has seen him involved in some of the most transformative moments in wrestling history, particularly in the 1990s during his tenure with World Championship Wrestling (WCW). 

Early Life and Background

Eric Aaron Bischoff was born on November 27, 1955, in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was an active sports enthusiast in his youth. Bischoff was involved in a variety of sports, but his early interest in professional wrestling didn't become clear until later in his life.

Before entering the world of wrestling, Bischoff worked in various jobs, including in the fitness industry and in sales. He also dabbled in broadcasting and worked in TV production, which would eventually become crucial in his career in wrestling.

Early Wrestling Involvement

In 1987, Bischoff was hired by Verne Gagne's AWA (American Wrestling Association), which was a major wrestling promotion at the time. He started working as an announcer, and his on-screen role expanded as he moved into the director of television production position. Bischoff's work in television production helped him develop valuable skills that would play a significant role in his future success.

Despite not initially being a wrestler, Bischoff’s background in broadcasting and television production made him a valuable asset in the wrestling world. However, his big break would come after a pivotal move in his career.

Rise in WCW

In 1991, Bischoff was hired by World Championship Wrestling (WCW), a promotion that was owned by Ted Turner and competed with the more prominent WWF (World Wrestling Federation, now WWE). Initially, Bischoff served as an executive for WCW, but his real breakthrough came when he was named the Executive Vice President of WCW in 1994.

Under Bischoff’s leadership, WCW made significant strides in the wrestling industry. He was known for his aggressive business strategies, and he revolutionized the way professional wrestling was presented to television audiences.

One of Bischoff's most significant achievements was his role in the creation of the New World Order (nWo), a storyline that began in 1996 when Hulk Hogan turned heel and joined Scott Hall and Kevin Nash in an infamous invasion angle. The nWo became one of the most popular and controversial storylines in wrestling history, helping to elevate WCW and challenge WWF's dominance in the industry.

The Monday Night Wars

Bischoff's most notable period in the wrestling business came during the Monday Night Wars, which was a ratings battle between WCW’s Monday Nitro (which Bischoff played a huge role in creating) and the WWF’s Monday Night Raw. In 1996 and 1997, WCW was dominating the ratings battle, thanks in part to the popularity of the nWo angle and Bischoff’s savvy television production and booking strategies.

Under Bischoff’s leadership, WCW reached its peak, achieving over 80 consecutive weeks of ratings victories against WWF in the 1990s, a period that is often referred to as the "Monday Night Wars." This was a monumental achievement in the history of wrestling television.

However, Bischoff's time at the top was not without controversy. He was often criticized for his handling of talent, his backstage politics, and his tendency to put too much focus on certain wrestlers, like Hogan, at the expense of others. Despite this, his role in building WCW into a legitimate competitor to the WWF was undeniable.

Decline of WCW and Exit

By the late 1990s, WCW’s fortunes began to decline. The company faced stiff competition from WWF, which had revitalized its programming under Vince McMahon. Bischoff's leadership became increasingly criticized as WCW’s creative direction faltered and financial troubles mounted.

In 2000, Bischoff was fired from WCW, and the company’s fortunes continued to slide. By 2001, WCW was purchased by Vince McMahon’s WWF, marking the end of the Monday Night Wars.

Post-WCW Career

After WCW was bought out by the WWF, Bischoff remained a key figure in the wrestling industry, making appearances in the WWE in various on-screen roles. In 2002, Bischoff made his return to WWE as the General Manager of Monday Night Raw, a role that he held for several years. His time in WWE allowed him to continue as a major figure in wrestling television, though his stint was much more limited than his time in WCW.

In the years following his WWE run, Bischoff became involved in various business ventures, including the Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment company, which focused on media production and content creation.

TNA and Later Years

In 2010, Bischoff joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he worked alongside Hulk Hogan to help elevate the company to greater heights. However, despite some early promise, TNA never reached the level of success that WCW had under Bischoff’s leadership.

In recent years, Bischoff has remained an influential voice in the wrestling world, making sporadic appearances in various promotions and maintaining a presence through his podcast, "83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff." The podcast, which he co-hosts with Conrad Thompson, reflects on the history of wrestling, with a focus on Bischoff's time in WCW and the Monday Night Wars.

Legacy

Eric Bischoff's legacy is a mixed one, but undeniably significant. He was instrumental in the rise of WCW during the 1990s and played a major role in the success of the Monday Night Wars. His influence on wrestling television production, particularly with the creation of the nWo and the concept of WCW Nitro, is still felt today.

Though his time with WCW was marked by controversy and eventual decline, Bischoff’s contributions to the business have had a lasting impact. He is often seen as one of the most polarizing yet successful figures in the history of professional wrestling.

Interesting Facts

• Bischoff was never a wrestler but became one of the most influential figures in wrestling.

• He is credited with creating WCW Monday Nitro, which became the flagship program of WCW.

• The nWo angle, which he helped create, is often regarded as one of the most influential storylines in wrestling history.

• Bischoff’s success with WCW led to a rivalry with Vince McMahon, which became one of the central stories of the Monday Night Wars.

• He has written books, including "Controversy Creates Cash", where he discusses his experiences and philosophies in the wrestling business.

Wargames: Straw Hats vs The Vision Armada

 

Dear Lord; Our Almighty Heavenly Father And Savior; Jesus Christ,

First off, we of the Rasslin Streams Pro Wrestling Metaverse Prayer Circle pray that tonight’s edition of Monday Night Raw will hopefully be a very RAW-TASTIC of a show. Second, we pray that Paul “Triple H” Levesque and his creative team over at WWE in the Main Roster WILL CONTINUE to book quality weekly shows for Raw so that they can send us and the rest of the WWE Universe home HAPPY as we head towards the road to Survivor Series: Wargames in San Diego AND by putting on a CHAOTIC of a SHOW. Third, we pray for NO REWRITES and absolutely NO LAST MINUTE CHANGES to the original scripts and the show itself for the red brand IF Mr. Vince McMahon is NOT “in the weeds” of things. Fourth, we pray that WWE WILL continue to properly utilize ALL of their featured male AND female Superstars + the underutilized Superstars that the Red Brand has to offer! We also pray that everyone who is injured heals properly and gets the care that they deserve and the COMEBACKS they deserve. Fifth, we pray that Adam Pearce continues to enjoy his role as authority figure in being THE General Manager of the Red Brand that is Raw! Sixth, we pray that we see more of the national treasure himself R-Truth in his Godly element from all these featured entertaining segments… backstage or inside the squared circle over on Raw! Seventh, after DEFEATING Becky Lynch and SUCCESSFULLY winning the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, we pray that we find out what’s next for CURRENT Champion Maxxine as we shall find out who will be next in line for a title shot! Additionally, after being VANQUISHED by Maxxine Dupri last week, we pray that we find out what’s next for Becky Lynch as we shall find out if she’ll CONTINUE to PURSUE the Women’s Intercontinental Championship or get RETRIBUTION on AJ Lee for costing her the match itself! Eighth, after being ambushed by Nikki Bella last week, and make the title match for the Women’s World Heavyweight Championship OFFICIAL, we pray that we find out what next in this FEUD between CHALLENGE Nikki Bella and CHAMPION Stephanie Vaquer as we shall see if The La Primera will finally RETALIATE against the WWE Hall of Famer! Additionally, after STATING their CLAIM for the Women’s World Heavyweight Championship, we pray that we find out what next for Judgment Day member Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez as we shall see if the two will be INCLUDED in the Women’s World Heavyweight Championship Match at Survivor Series! Ninth, after being APPROACHED by Rhea Ripley last week, pray that we find out their DISCUSSION was about as we shall see if AJ Lee will end up being Rhea Ripley’s ULTIMATE for her WARGAMES team! Additionally, after being CONFRONTED by the Kabuki Warriors last week, we pray that we find out if Bayley will end up DOUBLE-DEALING with the Kabuki Warrior or will remain LOYAL to her partner Lyra Valkriya! Tenth, after ACCEPTING Dominick Mysterio CHALLENGE for a rematch at Survivor Series, we pray that we find out what’s next in this GENERATIONAL feud between Intercontinental Champion John Cena and CHALLENGER Dominick Mysterio as we shall see if the UPSTART will pour more GASOLINE on the fire! Additionally, after weeks of TENSION within The Judgment Day, we pray that we find out if BETRAYAL will be in the MIST as we shall see if Finn Balor and JD McDonough will FINALLY reveal their true INTENTIONS! Eleventh, after Advancing the “Last Time Is Now” Tournament, we pray that we find out who GUNTHER and MFT Solo Sikoa will face in the QUARTERFINALS as we shall see if outside INTERFERENCE in both match or if the bouts will be IMPARTIAL in finding out who will earn the right to face John Cena in FINAL match! Twelfth, after Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar made their ECSTATIC returns last week during the BRAWL between the two Men’s Wargames Teams, we pray that we find out which members of each SQUAD will go head-to-head in the Men’s Wargames Advantage Match as we shall see if this bout will BOIL down in all-out BLOODSHED as expected! Additionally, after The Wargames teams for the Men’s have been FINALIZED on both sides, we pray that we find out if Roman Reigns can CO-EXSIST with both World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk and WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes as we shall see if the team of The Bloodline Originals, World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk, and WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes can stand UNIFIED!

And FINALLY, we pray for some ALL-OUT BRAWLS to break out sometime during the show, and we hope AND pray for ALSO an OUT-OF CONTROL CHAOTIC Main Event on the show in the process as well overall

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. As we pray… AMEN!

Personal Prayer:

 

After sending NUMEROUS POSTS on social media, mostly on X (FKA Twitter), to the WWE and towards the CURRENT WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, I personally pray that my posts on social media are READ and are TAKEN to CAREFUL CONSIDERATION as a fan of Professional Wrestling! AMEN!