10 Forgotten WWE Matches That Came Right Before Iconic Moments
5. Tommy Dreamer Vs Steven Richards - Vince McMahon Hires Eric Bischoff (Raw, July 15 2002)
Vince McMahon's "Ruthless Aggression" broadside towards the Raw roster in 2002 was a not-that-sheltered admission that he thought they all stunk and should be doing more to buck his ideas up, as was the brilliant panic purchase of Eric Bischoff's services to play the show's new General Manager.
There was a lot to be said for the grand unveiling of 'Easy E' even if a hug on almost-unannounced arrival flushed away a few million dollars in pay-per-view purchases. Jerry Lawler in particular was magnificent on the call, flashing back to WWE losing the war and co-commentator McMahon cursing Bischoff's every winning move right as the pair embraced and The Chairman set his new employee to work.
His impact was welcome. In the moments preceding the shocking segment, Tommy Dreamer and Steven Richards had engaged in the sort of hardcore match that was becoming worryingly familiar. The lowercard lads were smashing the sh*t out of each other every week as Mondays became home to the comedy belt masquerading as an actual division, but this was simply an exhibition of two men hurting themselves whilst tiny pockets of the crowd chanted for the company they used to work for.