On a recent episode of “83 Weeks” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff talked about the prospects of ex-WCW wrestler Dean Malenko as a principal eventer.
Below are some selected excerpts from the podcast:
When asked about the potential of Dean Malenko as a chief event player, Bischoff said, “Earning big bucks, it likely means the same thing to you and me, which is akin to being at the main event level. Even in the cruiserweight league, Malenko was making a substantial sum. Depending on what your idea of big money is, his earnings were well into six figures, and he was probably in the top third of WWE’s payroll roster. So he was definitely earning a good income. But, what you really want to know is – did I see him in the main event role sometime? I’d be lying if I claimed I always saw that potential in him. I didn’t see him in that role. However, I did perceive him as incredibly valuable in virtually any other role, including the main event. I believe that’s a rather successful career achievement for a man of Malenko’s stature.”
Reflecting on his time as a commentator, he said, “I absolutely loved doing it, despite not being the best at it. I truly enjoy doing play-by-play because it enables me to create a story and develop characters. My imagination comes into play big time in doing this. My mentor, Verne Gagne, taught me to describe the goings-on in a match as though I was speaking to a blind person. This was integral to my approach, which made it so enjoyable. It let me tap into my imagination. Even though play-by-play today has changed focus, I believe it’s something that can be easily fixed, because the talent already has years of experience. We just need to shift the focus and narrative intent to enhance audience experience.”
You can view the embedded content of the talk below:
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