On a recent edition of his “Strictly Business” podcast, Eric Bischoff discussed full-time wrestlers such as Kevin Nash, Ric Flair, and The Young Bucks working behind the scenes in wrestling promotions.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On whether having full-time wrestlers also work behind the scenes is a negative: “Of course. It’s ridiculous. First of all, those are vanity titles. Anyway, let’s be clear. We’re talking about the bucks here and whoever is an MVP. Those are vanity titles. Right. So they don’t really mean anything. And the talent on the roster should recognize that those are just vanity titles. Now, unless. The so-called EVP’s in because that’s what we’re indirectly talking about here, because that situation doesn’t exist in WWE. The only place it exists is in AEW. But if I’m wrong and it’s possible that I am because I’m not there every day. And those EVPs actually have day-to-day responsibilities and execute upon them in addition to their role as talent. Then it’s really, really a challenge. It’s an almost impossible situation. Those are hard jobs anyway, especially talent relations. What a thankless fucking job that is. But even as an upper management, if you’re in upper management. You’re already, whether you want to be or not, in a somewhat adversarial position to the people who work in the company below you. You don’t want it to be that way, and you may not carry yourself to be adversarial, but you’re going to be involved in decisions that, by their very nature, are adversarial. Someone wants this, but you can only do that. That’s where it begins. It’s tough enough anyway. But now if you’re a talent too. It’s horrible. It’s just bad management.”
On Kevin Nash and Ric Flair being WCW bookers: “It was horrible. It’s one of the reasons I feel so strongly. Same thing with Ric Flair. How about when Ric Flair was Booker? And a fucking mutiny. Rick Rude wanted to kill him. I had to bring Barry Windham and fly him into a pay-per-view event just to be there and share a locker room with Ric Flair. Because Rick Rude wanted to kill Ric Flair. Ric Flair was the booker. It was horrible. Ric Flair didn’t deserve that. Ric Flair didn’t have it out for Rick. Rude. But in the recruit’s mind he did and it created an issue. So yeah, having lived it, I speak from the voice of real experience. It’s a horrible, horrible position to be in.”
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In a recent episode of his “Strictly Business” podcast, Eric Bischoff delved into the topic of full-time wrestlers working behind the scenes in wrestling promotions. Specifically, he discussed individuals such as Kevin Nash, Ric Flair, and The Young Bucks taking on backstage roles in addition to their in-ring careers. Bischoff shared his thoughts on whether this practice is detrimental to the industry and drew from his own experiences to support his viewpoint.
According to Bischoff, having full-time wrestlers also working behind the scenes is a negative aspect of the wrestling business. He referred to these additional roles as “vanity titles,” suggesting that they hold little significance. Bischoff believes that the talent on the roster should recognize these titles for what they are and not place too much importance on them. He specifically mentioned the EVPs (Executive Vice Presidents) in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), stating that if they have day-to-day responsibilities and effectively execute them alongside their talent roles, it becomes an incredibly challenging situation. Bischoff acknowledged the difficulties of roles such as talent relations and upper management, which can inherently create adversarial relationships with those working below them. Adding the responsibilities of a talent to these positions only exacerbates the challenges and creates a poor management structure.
To illustrate his point, Bischoff brought up examples from his time in WCW. He mentioned Kevin Nash and Ric Flair, who both took on the role of bookers in the company. According to Bischoff, these instances were disastrous. He recounted a mutiny that occurred when Ric Flair was the booker, with Rick Rude expressing a desire to harm Flair. Bischoff even had to bring in Barry Windham to ensure Flair’s safety during a pay-per-view event. Bischoff emphasized that Flair did not deserve such treatment and that it was a terrible position for him to be in. Drawing from his personal experiences, Bischoff emphasized the negative consequences of having full-time wrestlers work behind the scenes.
While Bischoff’s perspective is based on his own experiences and observations, it provides valuable insight into the potential challenges and pitfalls of having full-time wrestlers take on backstage roles. It highlights the complexities of managing both in-ring careers and behind-the-scenes responsibilities, particularly when it comes to decision-making and maintaining positive relationships within the company.
For wrestling enthusiasts, staying updated with the latest news and developments in the industry is crucial. Websites like eWrestlingNews.com offer a comprehensive source of wrestling news, while their social media pages on Twitter and Facebook provide additional platforms for fans to engage with the community.