10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About Eric Bischoff
8. He Turned Down WWE In 2001
WWE's preferred narrative is that after grinding WCW into dust, their scattered, jobless superstars had no option but to eat humble pie and work for the victors, or face a long, suddenly much burlier line down at the dole office. As the vanquished rival's chief architect and a man who had specifically vowed to put Vince out of business, you'd imagine the bitterest pill to swallow was reserved for 'Easy A'.
In truth, Bischoff had no such prescription. Shortly after WWE's purchase of the shipwrecked Atlanta promotion, Head of Talent Relations Jim Ross made a tentative call to Eric's Wyoming home. With some degree of resentment, JR proposed a programme to his former WCW counterpart, though spared the details. Comfortable in his post-wrestling life, and not wishing to scupper prearranged family engagements, Bischoff politely told Ross "thanks, but no thanks." It was another year until they sheepishly approached him again.