Eric Bischoff believes we will see more social media influencers stepping into the wrestling world.
Speaking on the latest episode of his 83 Weeks podcast (via AdFreeShows), the WWE Hall of Famer spoke about how the entertainment industry is adapting and taking advantage of technology and booking popular personalities to increase eyeballs on their product. Jake Paul's fight with Ben Askren was referenced, as was Mike Tyson's appearance on AEW. Bischoff then talked at length about Bad Bunny and the impact he has likely had on the industry. He said the following:
"What a phenomenal impact Bad Bunny had... Don't be surprised if we don't start seeing a lot more social media influencer kind of stunts. Gone are the days where you're going to take somebody that's a movie star or a television star. Not that it won't continue to happen from time to time, because I think it's just the way the world is shifting and pop culture has evolved. Don't be surprised if we start seeing more and more and more huge social media influencers and people that you would never expect to get involved in professional wrestling stepping into the arena because they're a bigger draw. They're going to make more money. Go back to Bad Bunny again. Here's a guy -- some wrestling experts nobody even knew who he was... Reality proved that perspective very, very wrong. Bad Bunny uses his WrestleMania performance, which was a hell of a performance by the way, and leverages that to sell out his tour. I don't know how fast he sold it out, but I know he shut down Ticketmaster not long after he went on sale. Not bad for a guy that nobody knows, right?"
Bad Bunny competed at WrestleMania 37, teaming with Damian Priest to defeat The Miz and John Morrison. After the event, he released a promotional video announcing his next world tour. The clip features Triple H handing him a briefcase with a microphone inside and was posted on WWE's YouTube Channel.
According to Bischoff, Bad Bunny has created a template for celebrities and wrestling promotions to follow in which they can both leverage each other's popularity in the best way possible. Here is what he said:
"If you're a young talent and you don't mind getting physical, like Jake Paul, like Logan Paul, like Bad Bunny, and there are others and there will be even more. Once those individuals in their teens realize, 'Hey if I leverage my social media following into an opportunity to have a great performance like Bad Bunny did, I think Bad Bunny kind of -- in a way he took advantage of that opportunity at WrestleMania and leveraged that opportunity to increase his fanbase and reach an audience that he might not have otherwise reached and do it so successfully. That is a model that other people will try to follow. There will be more and more people that are going to be going, 'Hey, Bruce Prichard, Vince McMahon, over here. I've got 18 million followers. I've got 20. I've got 15,' whatever the number is, and will really commit like Bad Bunny did.
Bad Bunny created the template for celebrity, non-wrestling performers to step into that world and do it successfully. Not just as stunt cast, not just showing up and standing in the ring corner, waving on, maybe grabbing somebody's leg and getting briefly involved in a match. I'm talking about celebrities and influencers, and I think there's a difference in some respects. But I think Bad Bunny created a template and a formula that other people are going to use and WWE, and probably AEW, are going to learn how to exploit in the best way possible. I don't think it's a fad, I think you're going to see more and more of it."
Bad Bunny has been involved with WWE since his appearance at the Royal Rumble, even winning the 24/7 Championship during his stint with the company. Logan Paul was also at WrestleMania as a part of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens' match, even taking a Stunner from K.O.
If you use any of the quotes above, please credit 83 Weeks with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.
