According to JBL's research, WCW was losing around $10 million a year (against $24 million in revenue) before Bischoff took over. At their 97/98 peak, WCW was bringing in $350 million in revenue and making a profit of over $40 million. Going from a $10 million loss to a $40+ million profit is simply incredible, whichever way you choose to look at it. JBL's next question: given that incredible turnaround, why was Bischoff not running Time Warner? JBL calls it one of the greatest corporation turnarounds he's ever heard, likening it to Steve Jobs and Apple. So why was Bischoff vilified instead of being promoted? He said that, despite having the perks that a corporate guy received, he was not a corporate guy and would turn up to work riding a Harley, with his hair long and face unshaven and wearing jeans, a t-short and cowboy boots. That isn't the guy that the corporate environment are comfortable with, although Bischoff says he could have adapted. He then says that nobody in the corporate structure wanted WCW to exist and didn't care whether he was making $400 million a year. He was never offered another job at Turner and both guys think that it's crazy when you look back on it. Bischoff's biggest regret was not walking out on top and that's the end of our interview. Check back next week for coverage of part 2!
