WWE is changing as much as Vince McMahon will allow it. The implementation of Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman as Executive Directors of SmackDown and RAW respectively means that more could be changing than just what we see on television.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes that along with getting their respective brands ready for television, Bischoff and Heyman will also have other responsibilities. One of those tasks includes coming up with new merchandise ideas.
Heyman and Bischoff are also responsible for merchandise ideas for their respective brands, media publicity
This could be an interesting change of pace because it’s not been really known before who comes up with WWE’s merchandise ideas. Everything is approved by Vince McMahon in the end, but now it looks like Heyman and Bischoff are in the position to come up with the new merchandise for Superstars as well.
WWE has a custom print shop capable of coming out with new merchandise with a surprisingly fast turnaround. Perhaps they will be able to test their print shop’s abilities soon enough with some new merchandise to coincide with whatever they might have going on with their programs.