The Real Reason For Eric Bischoff's WWE Departure
'Easy E' was effectively paid to do nothing.
Eric Bischoff's twelve week tenure (good name for a podcast?) as SmackDown's 'Executive Director' came to a sudden halt this past week, when it was announced his duties would be assumed by producer Bruce Prichard.
New details have since emerged over Easy E's departure, courtesy of multiple sources speaking with Sports Illustrated. Bischoff's dismissal ultimately hinged on the drastic SmackDown rating this past week - even though it turns out he could do very little in his four month tenure to affect it.
Human Resources took Bischoff to one side on Tuesday morning to inform him that his services would no longer be necessary. Twenty years ago, the thought of Vince McMahon not taking on this duty personally would be unthinkable. How the business has changed.
It's also been revealed that Bischoff was never afforded a hands-on role like that of his Raw counterpart Paul Heyman. The SmackDown ED was largely expected to observe, with nothing in the way of tangible creative authority.
Despite his inability to motivate change, Bischoff was nevertheless made the scapegoat for SmackDown's ratings plummet in its second week on FOX. Having originally been hired to inspire investor confidence, Eric was made the fall guy as McMahon sought to assuage stockholders the company is serious about making SmackDown a success.
The former Nitro honcho definitely didn't expect his position to be permanent; Bischoff didn't sell his Wyoming home, and had been working out of an apartment in Stamford.
Quite how SmackDown will alter under Prichard is unclear, unless the Something To Wrestle podcast host is given a greater degree of control than his predecessor.
Perhaps we'll see the return of Brother Love. Let's hope not.