Samoa Joe takes on Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Title at WWE Great Balls of Fire Pay-Per-View Event. Many fans are rooting for Joe to shock the world and score the huge upset. One of those fans is former WWE executive and WCW head Eric Bischoff.
He spoke about it on a recent edition of his podcast, Bischoff on Wrestling.
?When I?ve worked with people on the creative side of things I tell them, ?This is more of an art than it is a science.' While there is a WWE formula, what it really comes down to is that you?ve got to keep an open enough mind to feel what the audience is reacting to. If you get so committed to a certain direction and outcome and if you see SummerSlam at the end of your creative horizon. If you see the outcome that you have in mind for SummerSlam and come hell or high water you?re going to get to that destination, what you are probably going to miss along the way is great opportunities. If you?re so focused on one outcome you don?t see the potential of others."
The rumored plans had been for Brock to win this match, then one against Braun Strowman at SummerSlam, en route to defending the title against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 34, so in that case, a championship victory was not in the cards for Samoa Joe. However, the build to the Great Ball of Fire match has been so well received that there has been talk that the WWE might call an audible.
Bischoff hopes this is the case.
"I hope for Joe?s sake this is one of those situations where, regardless of whatever they thought they were going to do with Braun or Roman--not to take anything away from both of those guys because I am a big fan of both--if all of a sudden Samoa Joe comes from out of left field, even if he was just designed to be a stepping stone but the audience is reacting to it then? Damn, son! Shift gears. Take that exit. See what?s on the other side of it because it might be better than the original destination.?
WWE Great Balls of Fire Pay-Per-View Event takes place this Sunday, July 9, in Dallas TX at 8/7c. Fightful will have full coverage with a Live Results Blog and viewing party, news articles, and a post-show podcast.
You can listen to the full podcast in the audio player below.