The idea of the New World Order was not stolen from New Japan Pro Wrestling as some have claimed, according to Eric Bischoff.
The group was formed in 1996 and presented as ‘invaders’ of WCW, which has led to some claiming the idea was stolen from a storyline in which the UWF invaded New Japan.
On a recent edition of his “83 Weeks” podcast, Bischoff denied the notion that he stole the idea from New Japan. He said,
“I guess Dave Meltzer and the rest of the fan base like to say, ‘Oh he stole nWo idea.’ I never studied their creative. I don’t know anything about their takeovers of invasions. I studied the overall presentation of why do people in Japan think pro wrestling is real and why do people in the United States think it’s a joke?’
“That’s what I was looking for, and that experience of going to Japan with the respect of ‘what can I learn here?’ You can’t export everything from Japan and it works. The culture is different, there are so many variables in the States that we don’t have control of, so you can’t export everything you see and bring it back, but there are some things.”
The nWo would prove to be revolutionary and introduce the idea of ‘cool heels’ to Western audiences, and the WWF would form its own group, DX, the following year.
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The New World Order (nWo) is one of the most iconic and influential factions in professional wrestling history. Formed in 1996 in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), the nWo introduced a new concept to Western audiences and revolutionized the industry. However, there have been claims that the idea of the nWo was stolen from a storyline in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). Eric Bischoff, the mastermind behind the nWo, recently addressed these allegations on his “83 Weeks” podcast.
Bischoff firmly denied the notion that he stole the idea from NJPW. He explained that he never studied their creative or knew anything about their takeovers or invasions. Instead, his focus was on understanding why people in Japan perceived professional wrestling as real while people in the United States often saw it as a joke. Bischoff wanted to learn from the Japanese wrestling culture and bring back certain elements that could work in the American market.
While Bischoff acknowledged that there were some things he could learn from Japan, he also highlighted the cultural differences and variables that made it impossible to export everything. He understood that what worked in Japan might not necessarily work in the United States due to these factors. Therefore, he approached the creation of the nWo with a unique perspective, incorporating elements that resonated with American audiences.
The nWo’s impact on professional wrestling cannot be overstated. They introduced the concept of “cool heels,” or villains who were embraced by the audience for their rebellious and anti-establishment personas. This departure from traditional face (good guy) and heel (bad guy) dynamics was groundbreaking and changed the way wrestling characters were portrayed.
Following the success of the nWo, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) formed its own faction called D-Generation X (DX) in 1997. DX adopted a similar rebellious attitude and became one of the WWF’s most popular groups during the Attitude Era.
The nWo and DX left an indelible mark on professional wrestling, influencing future storylines, character development, and the overall presentation of the sport. Their impact can still be seen today, as factions and stables continue to play a significant role in wrestling promotions worldwide.
In conclusion, Eric Bischoff has refuted claims that he stole the idea of the nWo from NJPW. He emphasized his focus on understanding the cultural differences between Japan and the United States and incorporating elements that would resonate with American audiences. The nWo’s revolutionary concept of “cool heels” and their influence on the industry cannot be denied, making them one of the most iconic factions in wrestling history.