Eric Bischoff Blames AEW for Making TV Deals Tougher for Other Promotions

WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff, known for his deep understanding of the pro wrestling industry, has frequently criticized AEW, including questioning Tony Khan’s skills as a booker. Bischoff has now criticized AEW for allegedly making it challenging for other promotions to secure a national TV deal.

If it wasn’t clear already, Eric Bischoff isn’t the biggest fan of AEW. He doesn’t even believe AEW is contributing anything to the world of professional wrestling, unlike what WWE does.

While speaking on 83 Weeks, Eric Bischoff was asked if AEW doesn’t get a TV deal, would any other pro wrestling promotion get a national TV deal again. He pointed out that if AEW fails to get renewed, it could make it very hard for any wrestling promotion to land a national TV deal in the future. Bischoff criticized how AEW has handled its current opportunity with TBS, suggesting that their performance has made it challenging for others to start new wrestling companies.

“If AEW doesn’t get a TV deal with a network, do you think any wrestling promotion will ever get a national TV deal again? This is a really interesting point and one of the reasons why I get so passionate about being critical. It’s why, over two years ago, when I first started pointing out some of the major flaws I saw, everyone thought I was just an old man yelling at the clouds who didn’t understand the new product. But I was right, wasn’t I? I predicted this: no growth equals death. Remember that, folks—you’re either growing or you’re dying. Does that sound familiar?

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Get me a TV doctor stat, we’re losing the patient; it’s bleeding out on the table. Tony Khan’s looking for Band-Aids. I think it will be really hard. That’s one of the reasons I’ve been critical; there are so few opportunities like the one Tony Khan and AEW had with TBS. What they’ve done with that opportunity will make it extremely difficult for anyone else to launch a new alternative wrestling company. And you can thank Dave Meltzer, Tony Khan, and all the people who didn’t want to listen to any criticism, whether from me, Jim Cornette, or the fans.”

Bischoff reflected on his earlier warnings about the lack of growth leading to decline, emphasizing that wrestling promotions need to either grow or face a decline. Bischoff also mentioned that if AEW doesn’t get a renewal, any new network deal is likely to be with a less prominent channel, similar to what happened with TNA, which struggled after leaving Spike TV. He believes major networks are unlikely to pick up underperforming shows from other networks, especially in a tough market.

”It’s a shame, but I think it’s a serious issue. If AEW doesn’t get a renewal, I don’t think they’ll be able to shop around effectively. If they land another network, it will likely be an obscure one—like AXS TV or something similar—on a channel that nobody watches. Look at what happened to TNA. Dixie Carter’s TNA went from Spike to whatever came next and then to being gone again. Major networks don’t want another network’s sloppy seconds, especially if those seconds are underperforming in a difficult category.””

Bischoff also accused Tony Khan of running AEW like hobby and even called out Khan for claiming AEW is under constant attack. Regardless, we’ll have to see whether AEW does get a new deal with Warner Bros Discovery, as Tony Khan is definitely confident about that fact.

What’s your opinion on what Eric Bischoff had to say about AEW making it harder for other promotions to get a TV deal? Let us know in the comments section below!

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