Eric Bischoff wasn’t a fan of Rhea Ripley coming to the side of Maxxine Dupri after the latter was booed heavily at a recent WWE live event.
When footage of the heavily negative response to Dupri’s match went viral, Ripley said she’d love for fans such as these to face boos at their workplace.
On a recent edition of his “83 Weeks” podcast, Bischoff made the argument as to why the heel Ripley shouldn’t have shown support for Dupri. He said,
“I don’t wanna know what you’re really like… I wanna buy into your character! I don’t wanna know your feels, or your virtues, I wanna believe in your character especially if you’re promoting your social media under your character name with your character images.”
Bischoff also argued that by Ripley responding to what happened, it will only encourage more behavior like this. He said,
“All it’s going to do is encourage more bad behavior, you’re acknowledging bad behavior on social media. It doesn’t make any sense to me to try and use social media to mitigate or soften a situation.
“It’s part of the process, you have to learn! And you certainly have to learn to toughen up and not be emotionally affected by it. If you’re that sensitive, and you’re going to be affected that badly by someone booing you because you had a bad night, then you’re in the wrong business!”
Many have argued that the reaction, especially by one fan, to Dupri was unnecessarily harsh given that she has only competed in a handful of matches.
In a recent WWE live event, Maxxine Dupri faced a heavily negative response from the audience. The incident caught the attention of wrestler Rhea Ripley, who expressed her support for Dupri and criticized the fans’ behavior. However, former WCW President Eric Bischoff disagreed with Ripley’s stance and argued against her response.
Bischoff, in his podcast “83 Weeks,” voiced his opinion on why Ripley should not have shown support for Dupri. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the illusion of a character in professional wrestling. According to Bischoff, fans want to believe in the persona portrayed by wrestlers and do not necessarily want to know their personal thoughts and feelings. He also pointed out that wrestlers often promote themselves on social media using their character names and images, further blurring the line between reality and fiction.
Furthermore, Bischoff argued that by responding to negative reactions on social media, Ripley would only encourage more bad behavior from fans. He believed that acknowledging such behavior would not help in mitigating or softening the situation. Instead, he suggested that wrestlers should learn to toughen up and not be emotionally affected by negative responses. According to Bischoff, sensitivity to criticism is not suitable for individuals in the wrestling business.
The incident involving Dupri sparked a debate among fans and wrestling enthusiasts. Some defended Dupri, highlighting that she has only competed in a few matches and should be given time to grow and improve. They argued that the harsh reaction from the audience was unwarranted and unfair.
On the other hand, there were those who supported Bischoff’s viewpoint. They believed that wrestlers should be prepared to face criticism and negativity as part of their profession. They argued that if wrestlers are easily affected by booing or negative reactions, they may not have what it takes to succeed in the industry.
This incident serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between wrestlers and their fans. While fans have the right to express their opinions, it is essential to remember that professional wrestling is a form of entertainment that relies on storytelling and character development. Wrestlers, like actors, play a role and should be allowed to maintain the illusion of their characters.
Ultimately, the debate surrounding Rhea Ripley’s support for Maxxine Dupri highlights the challenges faced by wrestlers in navigating the blurred lines between their characters and their personal lives. It also raises questions about the role of social media in shaping public perception and the responsibility of fans in supporting and critiquing wrestlers.