Real Reason Behind WWE's Recent SmackDown Returns
Here's why Jeff Jarrett and Eric Bischoff have been back on WWE television lately.
Last week's episode of WWE SmackDown brought a couple of surprise appearances, with Hall of Famers Eric Bischoff and Jeff Jarrett showing up in a couple of separate backstage segments.
Bischoff was seen conversing with authority figures Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville as a means to further Deville's ongoing feud with Naomi. Elsewhere, Jarrett met and awestruck Rick Boogs and Shinsuke Nakamura in his own brief appearance.
Per Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE had Jarrett and Bischoff appear out of the blue last week simply because SmackDown's network, FOX, likes the idea of surprise appearances. Talks with outside performers over potential Royal Rumble 2022 and television appearances have happened, though there's currently no word on who else WWE may have reached out to.
The idea is reportedly to create an air of excitement over the idea of not knowing who's going to show up every week.
Jarrett's SmackDown appearance came just 48 hours before he wrestled GCW stalwart at last Sunday's The Wrld On GCW event in New York City. Bischoff, meanwhile, was on WWE television for the second time in as many months, having officiated The Miz and Maryse renewing their wedding vows on the 27 December 2021 Raw.