10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About Eric Bischoff

5. HLA

Eric Bischoff Stephanie Kiss
WWE Network

Many wrestling fans would sooner admit an extra-marital affair to their unknowing partners than that they set aside five-seven hours a week to watch guys in tight pants contest fake fights. Even with today's ultra-sanitised product, there are many reasons to remain coy about our private passion.

Rewind just over a decade ago, and being a self-professed wrestling aficionado was tantamount to admitting sexual preferences for creatures ovine in nature. It had a baaad rep.

And with good reason, to be fair. Consider the following scenario: in 2001, in response to the booming popularity of SmackDown's same-sex couple du jour Chuck and Billy, Eric Bischoff decided to match it in kind. But with women.

This idea was treated with all the sensitivity and inclusivity that you'd expect from mid-2000s wrestling, which is to say none. Carrying the simple appellation of 'the lesbians', Sleazy E's women existed merely to titivate the presumed sexual cravings of some members of the audience, insulting everyone else's intelligence in the process, all whilst treating homosexuality like a novelty sideshow.

It was quite, quite sh*t. But desperate for ratings, it went on, culminating in Stephanie McMahon getting off with Rikishi dressed in women's clothing. Let's all forget this one.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.