Eric Bischoff Reveals Why He Fired Steve Austin From WCW

'Tell them sons of bitches I'm not here'.

By Jamie Kennedy /

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.

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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.

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"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.

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