On a recent edition of his “83 Weeks” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff recalled signing Eddie Guerrero during his tenure as WCW President, the potential he saw in the Mexican star, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On bringing in Eddie Guerrero to WCW: “Do I think — look, when Eddie came in, I was aware of Eddie, but not close. I wasn’t watching them closely. Eddie was working as El Gato in New Japan. I think it was El Gato, was his gimmick in Japan. And I was working closely with New Japan. And I know Masa Saito really appreciated Eddie and liked him a lot. And Eddie became a conversation between myself and Masa Saito was because they wanted to keep Eddie booked as often as they could, but they couldn’t put him on a full time or weren’t willing, I guess, to put him under contract. So when I talked to Masa about what I wanted to do with the cruiserweight division — well before I had my first conversation with Eddie or Chris Benoit or any of those — I had the idea for the cruiserweight division. I was talking to Masa about it because a lot of the talent that I saw would really help make up that division, that talent would have come from New Japan Pro Wrestling, right? So it was Masa Saito that said, ‘No man, hire Eddie. If you can put Eddie under contract, I guarantee I will book him X number of days a year.’
“Well, the reason that that was important, and it was a good financial plan on my part. Because as I’m adding talent to the roster, I’ve got to figure out, ‘Okay, as best I can, how do I justify this? How does this make sense financially? So if I hire a guy,’ whatever I hired Eddie at, I think I brought him in at 175[000] or whatever it was, whatever the number was. I had Masa Saito sitting across from me at the table, saying, ‘Well, I’ll cover half.’ And that was the nature of the relationship that went beyond occasional booking opportunities and things we did on TV. The real opportunity for me to help me manage — because again, at this time, we weren’t profitable, right? We were getting close. So these decisions, despite the fact that Meltzer and Vince McMahon were laying the groundwork for this bulls**t narrative of, ‘He just has to write a check. He doesn’t have to justify it.’ Bulls**t. At that time, I had to justify everything. But when I’m sitting across and I got Masa Saito and Brad Ring saying, ‘No, Eddie Guerrero’s awesome. And if you hire him and put him under contract and we have this deal, we’ll eat half his contract.’ So now I’m getting a guy for 80 or 90 grand a year. Pretty good deal.”
On whether he saw main event potential in Eddie Guerrero: “Now, did you see him as potentially being in that top spot in WCW at the time? Of course not, and nobody else would have that was in their right mind, right? Eddie made it to where he made it in WWE as a result of how well he built himself, how well he did for himself, how well he performed, how well he created his own character. I didn’t do that for Eddie. Eddie did that for Eddie. I gave Eddie the opportunity, and I said, ‘Wow, this is good.’ But that was all on Eddie. It wasn’t on me, it wasn’t on anybody else.
“But had Eddie not gone through everything he went through at WCW, he would not have been in WWE. End of conversation. It wasn’t like WWE would have seen the handwriting on the wall with Eddie Guerrero in 1995, ’96, ’97, ’98, or ’99 for that matter, or 2000. Had it not been for the success that Eddie created for himself in WCW. But while he was creating that success, did I ever see him as a potential? No. And in reality, even in 2020 hindsight, sitting here being really honest about it, I just don’t think because of the time and the context of timing… To be able to sit here and honestly say, ‘I could see how Eddie could have done it.’ That would be pandering to this audience. And I won’t do it. I just won’t do it.”
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Eddie Guerrero: The Journey of a Wrestling Legend
Eddie Guerrero is a name that resonates with wrestling fans around the world. Known for his incredible in-ring skills, charismatic personality, and captivating storylines, Guerrero left an indelible mark on the world of professional wrestling. In this article, we will take a closer look at the early days of Guerrero’s career, his time in WCW, and the impact he had on the wrestling industry.
During his tenure as WCW President, Eric Bischoff played a pivotal role in signing Eddie Guerrero to the promotion. At the time, Guerrero was working as El Gato in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Bischoff, who had a close working relationship with New Japan, saw the potential in Guerrero and wanted to bring him to WCW. He discussed the idea with Masa Saito, who was impressed with Guerrero’s talent and offered to book him for a certain number of days a year if WCW signed him.
This deal was not only beneficial for WCW but also financially viable. Bischoff had to justify every decision he made, especially when it came to adding new talent to the roster. With Saito’s offer to cover half of Guerrero’s contract, Bischoff was able to bring in the Mexican star at a reasonable cost. This financial plan allowed WCW to continue expanding its roster while managing its budget effectively.
However, despite recognizing Guerrero’s talent, Bischoff did not envision him as a main event player at the time. He believed that Guerrero’s success in the wrestling industry was a result of his own hard work, dedication, and ability to create his own character. Bischoff acknowledged that he provided Guerrero with an opportunity but emphasized that it was Eddie himself who took full advantage of it.
Guerrero’s time in WCW laid the foundation for his future success in WWE. The skills and character development he honed during his tenure in WCW played a crucial role in his rise to stardom. Without the platform provided by WCW, Guerrero may not have caught the attention of WWE and the wrestling world.
Looking back, Bischoff admits that he did not foresee Guerrero’s potential to become a top star. He believes that attributing such foresight to Guerrero’s early career would be pandering to the audience. However, he acknowledges the impact Guerrero had on the wrestling industry and respects the legacy he left behind.
Eddie Guerrero’s journey from WCW to WWE is a testament to his talent, determination, and ability to overcome obstacles. His story serves as an inspiration to aspiring wrestlers and reminds us of the importance of seizing opportunities and creating our own success.
In conclusion, Eddie Guerrero’s signing with WCW marked the beginning of a legendary career in professional wrestling. While Eric Bischoff recognized Guerrero’s talent, he did not foresee his future as a main event player. Nevertheless, Guerrero’s time in WCW laid the groundwork for his success in WWE and showcased his ability to create his own character. Eddie Guerrero will always be remembered as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and his impact on the industry will continue to be felt for generations to come.