In a recent episode of the “83 Weeks” podcast, WWE Hall of Fame inductee Eric Bischoff shared insights about the grand finale of WWE Clash at the Castle: Scotland, justifying the decision that resulted in Damian Priest retaining his World Heavyweight Title instead of Drew McIntyre, as per the fans’ wishes.
Here are a few critical points from the podcast:
During the discussion about CM Punk causing Drew McIntyre to lose, Bischoff said, “Nobody can claim with certainty what could have been the better outcome, but the climax was intriguing for me. There is a necessity for heat in the equation. The plot, the characters, the heel who is despised by the audience — all boil down to this element. The climax with Punk being the villain is thrilling. Ending a PPV with unexpected twists maintains the element of surprise and prevents the storyline from becoming redundant.”
He added, “WWE successfully deviated from its predictable storyline by using Punk and Drew. They have been planting the seeds for this for some while. This is an effectively escalating storyline, taking the plot to another level. The idea of ending a PPV with heat may stir up fan reactions, but that makes the story more engaging. Real, intense reactions promote story engagement, something a company cannot grow without.”
Regarding Chad Gable, Bischoff said, “Chad’s professionalism and integrity, both inside and outside the ring, make him a remarkable talent. When I was with WWE for a brief period in 2019, Vince McMahon expressed interest in developing something around Chad, but unfortunately, the Shorty G persona didn’t fully capitalize on Chad’s potential.” He praised Gable’s diverse capabilities, comparing him to Kurt Angle and Dolph Ziggler.
Bischoff concluded by expressing hope that Gable would receive the recognition he deserved for his robust talent. He said Gable was skilful, understood his character well, and was unafraid of experimentation, making him an ideal talent.