By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE issued the following press release announcing Paul Heyman as the Executive Director of Monday Night Raw and Eric Bischoff as Executive Director of SmackDown Live.
Stamford, Conn., June 27, 2019 – WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced that it has named Paul Heyman as Executive Director of Monday Night Raw and Eric Bischoff as Executive Director of SmackDown Live, newly created positions reporting directly to WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon.
In their executive roles, Heyman and Bischoff will oversee the creative development of WWE’s flagship programming and ensure integration across all platforms and lines of business. The creation of these roles further establishes WWE’s ability to continuously reinvent its global brand while providing two distinct creative processes for its flagship shows.
With more than 30 years of experience in the sports entertainment industry, Heyman served as President of ECW from 1993-2001, securing pay-per-view distribution for the company as well as a national cable television deal with TNN. After his time with ECW, Heyman joined WWE’s Creative team and is widely credited with helping launch the careers of many current and former WWE Superstars.
Bischoff is a former WCW President and New York Times bestselling author. During his WCW career, Bischoff oversaw the signing of some of the biggest names in sports entertainment and helped create and develop the NWO storyline. He was also instrumental in securing a television deal for WCW Monday Nitro on TNT and WCW Thunder on TBS. After WCW, Bischoff co-founded Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment, a production company that launched TV reality shows and mobile games.
Powell’s POV: While Heyman has obviously been involved with WWE for some time and has played a role behind the scenes, the Bischoff hiring came out of nowhere. I can’t help but wonder what Paul Levesque is thinking as his father-in-law is putting the shows in the hands of others despite the work he has done with the NXT brands. Jake Barnett and I will have a lot to say about these moves in today’s members’ exclusive Dot Net Weekly audio show.
Check below for the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell and Brian Fritz of the Between The Ropes podcast discussing WWE’s creative and ratings struggles, Bray Wyatt following the Firefly Funhouse, WWE Stomping Grounds, NJPW G1 Opening Night, and ROH’s issues, what would happen if AEW opted to run head-to-head with WWE Raw, and much more.
Eric said before that the thing he loved about his last WWE role was that he was only on-screen talent, and he didn’t have to deal with all the corporate stuff. I guess money talks though.
I think Heyman is great and Bischoff knows a little bit about producing wrestling television.
You do have to wonder though why WWE isn’t giving a new generation of bookers a chance.
Is this a work? Bischoff had one good idea, and he admitted he stole that from Japan. He was bankrolled by Ted Turner, and drove WCW into non-existence, forcing Time Warner to sell the promotion. He was bankrolled by Dixie Carter, and drove TNA into non-relevance, forcing Carter to sell the promotion.
Nope, try again. Russo was what killed TNA, and Russo helped kill WCW as well.
I’m sure HHH doesn’t mind too much since this just gives Vince two incredibly prominent scapegoats to blame when HIS product is still bad. I wonder how much money they offered these two to be fall guys for a Vince.
Best case scenario: Both shows improve and also start to have a unique, distinct feel each, possibly even leading to the end of the accursed Wild Card Rule.
Worst case scenario: Both still report directly to Vince, so this could be a big PR stunt and Vince will still micromanage everything into oblivion
Awesome, it is apparently 1998 again. Does that mean my prostate will also operate at 100% again?