Recently on the after show for his 83 Weeks podcast, After 83 Weeks with Christy Olson, Eric Bischoff backpedaled when he was forced to clarify his recent statement that The Big Show has never become a star in professional wrestling. Bischoff also revealed what he does to piss off co-host Conrad Thompson, and the details behind WCW’s nWo Japan deal. Bischoff's comments are below.
Eric clarifies his statement that The Big Show has never become a star:
I may have been wrong about this. But it’s what I believe then and it’s what I still believe now. It had nothing to do with Paul [White, aka The Big Show] or his ability. Paul is a phenomenal character, an amazing athlete...He’s as big as he is. So all the ingredients are there. But from a creative point of view, until you have to sit down and figure out a story that the audience will get into and believe and like, and when you have to do that with a guy as big as Paul you automatically eliminate a lot of the storytelling devices that you would normally use. How do you beat up a giant? How do you get sympathy?
On whether the heat between Eric and co-host Conrad Thompson is genuine:
I’ve always liked confrontation. I’ve always liked a good challenge. And I love it when we dig into it and get into it. Conrad on the other hand gets a little bit of ass rash. He gets his feelings hurt. I don’t get my feelings hurt. He busts my chops all show long and I don’t get angry about it. You know when he gets really hot? Is when I bury Dave Meltzer. He hates that. And I love it.
Reveals details of the nWo Japan deal with NJPW & if WCW received royalties for the faction: Sure we did. We shared in merchandise revenue across the board. That was the reason for creating an nWo Japan. And I gotta tell you we sold a ton of merchandise in ’ 96, ‘96, 97. A ton. And I’ll never forget I was walking around Tokyo…and I started seeing guys wearing nWo shirts for the very first time. It was really cool. I was used to seeing it here in the states but to go all the way over to Japan, and you know everything is so unique over there, and to see guys walking around wearing nWo shirts blew my mind.
For more with Eric watch After 83 Weeks with Christy Olson here: https://youtu.be/CN3PdjzCQns or listen on Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/after-83-weeks-with-christy-olson-afterbuzz-tv/id1438060090?mt=2&i=1000425693158.
