The Complete History Of The New World Order | Wrestling Timelines
November 18, 1996 - A Slightly Less Good Idea
Eric Bischoff, who was brutalised in various early angles, is revealed to be the real mastermind behind the nWo. Trillionaire Ted is phased out.
Roddy Piper questions and prods Bischoff. He is adamant that Bischoff has something to do with it, and the clues are there; while DiBiase finances the organisation, who is actually allowing the anti-WCW propaganda to make air?
The execution of a well-teased reveal is brilliant, as Bischoff beams a smug smile when the nWo encroach.
Bischoff is good in the role, a total smarmy bastard, which adds a much-needed complexion to a unit so cool and so over that only the very best babyfaces stand a chance of staying over when stood in the same ring.
Still, while Bischoff has the power to facilitate the nWo, the alignment barely connects to the events of June, and the Hogan/Bischoff dynamic yields more droning, not-great promos than bombastic angles. The nWo is firmly established at this point, which is just as well: does the movement become as big as it is, if this is how it starts?
The more cynical fans maintain that Bischoff is an egomaniac who wants in on the fame.
In an early battle of what will become a lifelong war between both sides, Dave Meltzer is even more damning of Bischoff, writing in the November 25 Wrestling Observer Newsletter:
“They wanted to put the nWo head-to-head with Raw. And Eric Bischoff wants to be on the air at the same time as Vince McMahon. It’s that simple and there’s nothing more to it than that.”
Meltzer concedes that “[it] was an idea that was rumoured for a long time and may have been considered for a while”.