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TNA/WWE News: Bischoff interview - Scott Hall incident, not a fan of cage & three-way matches, WWE dropping "wrestling," would he accept WWE Hall of Fame invite?

Apr 13, 2011 - 11:08:04 AM
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By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

BischoffEric_8.JPG
The following are highlights of TNA executive Eric Bischoff's comments on the Monday Night Mayhem radio show earlier this week. The full interview can be heard at MondayNightMayhem.com.

-- Bischoff said he's "still angry at Jeff Hardy" for the debacle at the Victory Road PPV in March. (Full story on Bischoff's comments on Hardy.)

-- Regarding Scott Hall's health issues that were evident on Friday at the Top Rope Promotions show, Bischoff said he feels "very sad." He added, "not angry, just sad for Scott." Bischoff noted Hall is "one of the most brilliant people" he's ever worked with when he's in the right frame of mind.

Bischoff, who opened up about himself a bit during the interview, said he wishes he "had the personality" to reach Hall and wishes he could do something to help, like Kevin Nash and Vince McMahon have tried to do.

-- Bischoff plainly stated he would "not accept" an invitation to WWE's Hall of Fame if offered. Bischoff said he would like to watch the ceremony in-person, but he doesn't want to be recognized and he doesn't want to take time out of his schedule to participate in WWE's Hall of Fame.

-- Regarding WWE dropping "wrestling" from the official name of the company to simply be known as "WWE," Bischoff said he understands it from a corporate branding perspective since it's difficult to market pro wrestling to advertisers and the outside world because wrestling is its own niche.

Bischoff added, though, that because wrestling is its own niche, it makes the art form unique, which should make wrestling marketable. Bischoff noted wrestling fans are passionate and loyal as a result.

"To knowingly and intentionally alienate or turn your back to such a large, passionate group of fans, I understand it intellectually; I just don't necessarily agree with it. Look, Vince is a billionaire and Eric isn't, so who's to say? (laughs) But, for me, I'm proud to be in the professional wrestling business. I know there's a lot of people in TNA who feel the same way. So, I guess time will tell if Vince McMahon has made a wise decision or whether this is another 'XFL moment.'"

-- Bischoff noted that he, personally, is not a fan of cage matches or three-way matches. He treaded carefully on the subject considering the main event of TNA's Lockdown PPV on Sunday is a three-way cage match.

Bischoff made a restaurant analogy about pro wrestling having a wide variety of items on the menu for everyone to enjoy, but said, "I don't necessarily enjoy three-way matches and cage matches and that type of thing. I tend to really enjoy the art as it's presented when it's one-on-one. Just two guys in the ring playing out their story and putting on their show and doing what we do so well. That's my personal taste."

Caldwell's Analysis: I think it goes beyond personal taste to smart booking to build to one-on-one matches between two compelling characters who can compete at a high level and have an issue to resolve or a title to strive for. TNA, under Vince Russo's "creative" approach, has failed in this area over and over again outside of the one time TNA really drew money on PPV - Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe at Lockdown 2008 in a one-on-one match between two very compelling characters competing at a high-rate for the top title in the promotion after strong TV build-up.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]


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