So, I read Eric Bischoff's book yesterday...

[311]

And actually...I'm kind of disappointed in it. He does have a great head for business though, and is underrated when it comes to storylines and storyline creation. The more and more I read about WCW, I 'do' think he took a bit of a bad rap there, but I walk the line of being sucked in by the book's spin.

My favorite line in the book, and I can't remember it exactly, but it was something like...

"When I talked to Vince McMahon on the phone, he told me that if WCW had put the WWE out of business, he hoped he could have been working for me."

I couldn't even imagine that personally, but it is strange how alot of perceptions would be changed right now if WCW would have come out on top. Vince probably would have Bischoff's low reputation, and we'd be talking about how out of touch he had gotten with the fans. (Like alot of whisperings going on right now)

Anyway, anyone else read it?

[Jeritron]

"When I talked to Vince McMahon on the phone, he told me that if WCW had put the WWE out of business, he hoped he could have been working for me."

I couldn't even imagine that personally, but it is strange how alot of perceptions would be changed right now if WCW would have come out on top. Vince probably would have Bischoff's low reputation, and we'd be talking about how out of touch he had gotten with the fans. (Like alot of whisperings going on right now)

I don't think so. Vince had, has and will always continue to have that level of respect. He might be viewed as a difficult, sometimes ruthless and inhuman, bastard but nobody looks at him as the spineless slime that is Eric Bischoff. He'd be seen more as the victim regardless of the outcome. Plus I think his ego/self respect is enough for him to stay off of WCW.

[Theo Dious]

If Bischoff had had Vince's level of absolute control, things would have been a lot different. Sadly, he's not entirely blameless for a lot of the reasons he DIDN'T have that kind of control.

[Jeritron]

Dude, Bischoff was a slime. Don't buy into the things. Yes he was successful. Yes he got shot down on a lot of things. But ultimately he killed that company, not the red tape around the power. He was the one that relied off stealing wrestlers, throwing money around, being arrogant, and depended on pre-created stars while treating the undercard like shit.

He has nobody to blame but himself.

When Russo showed up in WCW, the thing was already a mess. It was so fucked up and so much shit was out of place that there was no saving it. So Russo takes the rap for something he didn't cause. The rats were off the ship already. Half the young talent was gone, and all the overpowerful, egotistical strip miners had creative control.
Russo is a scapegoat.
Sure Russo sucks in a lot of ways, he's got his strengths and even more weaknesses. But he's not blame, Bischoff is. He gave those guys those type of contracts, and had the priorities and made the decisisons that brought the company to that point.

NEVER defend Bischoff. Give him his props, yes he absolutely deserves them. But defend, nah.

[BigDaddyCool]

Bischoff is god.

[The MAC]

Listen to Russo's interview on Wrestlecrap,the guy has some valid points. Bischoff couldnt handle wcw, it was too much for him especially with politics that went on.Vince would have rather teabagged a chimp than work in wcw

[Theo Dious]

Man how can you really believe ANYTHING that Russo says anymore?

[The MAC]

its not so much believing as in listening to his reasoning for what he did in wcw. Even his reason for puttng the title on arquette makes sense in its PROPER CONTEXT.

[Theo Dious]

Beware the subtle distinction between proper context and sufficient spin. Having HHH hold the belt for most of two years while burying a long list of deseving talent makes sense if you listen to HHH talk about it.

[The MAC]

point taken, but honestly a lot of people would have similar things in his situation. Dont get me wrong, i dont agree with everything he said or did.

[addy2hotty]

I don't think so. Vince had, has and will always continue to have that level of respect. He might be viewed as a difficult, sometimes ruthless and inhuman, bastard but nobody looks at him as the spineless slime that is Eric Bischoff. He'd be seen more as the victim regardless of the outcome. Plus I think his ego/self respect is enough for him to stay off of WCW.

I view Vince as a spineless slime tbh with you. Sure, he's a great entertainer now and then, but some of the shit that he puts on TV when HE REALLY KNOWS that people want something else is an example of that. The whole 'I know better' attitude is utter codshit as far as I'm concerned.

Bischoff was/is a businessman. Sure, he bought in the established stars but if you had mounds and mounds of cash and a limitless scope to use it, you would have done exactly what the Bisch did. You'd snap up stars that were unhappy on a show (that at the time) was for kids. You are right, and even Eric himself has admitted it, that he got arrogant - throwing around creative control clauses etc, that was a bad move. But I still believe that had Turner given him the TV time when he went to buy the company just before Vince got it, that WCW would be here today. And the product would be a hell of a lot better.

[6to1]

russo is the worst thing to hapen to wrestling, he does not know his ass from a hole in the ground.

[Jeritron]

I view Vince as a spineless slime tbh with you. Sure, he's a great entertainer now and then, but some of the shit that he puts on TV when HE REALLY KNOWS that people want something else is an example of that. The whole 'I know better' attitude is utter codshit as far as I'm concerned.

Bischoff was/is a businessman. Sure, he bought in the established stars but if you had mounds and mounds of cash and a limitless scope to use it, you would have done exactly what the Bisch did. You'd snap up stars that were unhappy on a show (that at the time) was for kids. You are right, and even Eric himself has admitted it, that he got arrogant - throwing around creative control clauses etc, that was a bad move. But I still believe that had Turner given him the TV time when he went to buy the company just before Vince got it, that WCW would be here today. And the product would be a hell of a lot better.

how is that being spineless tho? Either way, I'm gonna respectfully disagree with you. I concur that Eric Bischoff was a great businessman, but in the end he built a palace on no foundation. It was a quick fix at the top.
I can't lie and say Bischoff was a better business man by any stretch of the imagination.