Eric Bischoff Reveals Why He Fired Steve Austin From WCW
'Tell them sons of bitches I'm not here'.
Eric Bischoff claimed on his '83 Weeks' podcast that he didn't fire Steve Austin from WCW because the then mid-carder was injured. Instead, Bisch made his mind up to let Austin go after hearing details of a phone conversation from Tony Schiavone.
Austin was on the shelf recuperating from an injury, but Bisch says he wanted to keep him involved on TV and booked a short promo segment last-minute for the promotion's prime time Saturday Night show. When Eric asked Schiavone to give Austin a call (he lived close by in Atlanta), he heard that the wrestler had loudly shouted, 'Tell them sons of bitches I'm not here' to his then-partner Lady Blossom.
She then informed Tony that Steve wasn't home.
"Dishonesty" is the word Bischoff used on his podcast. He was irked that Austin wouldn't play ball, and that promptly pushed him to put a line through Steve's name. Eric didn't feel like he could trust Austin after that.
Eric did admit that his thinking was a little "irrational" afterwards. Austin, who likely didn't care less at that point if WCW heard him shout or not, had lied to him.