Originally posted on SI.comExclusive: Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff Named WWE Executive Directors, Will Run WWE TV By JUSTIN BARRASSO June 27, 2019
WWE has named Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff as Executive Directors, Sports Illustrated has learned.
Heyman is set to become Executive Director of Monday Night Raw, while Bischoff will fill the same role for SmackDown Live. Both will report directly to WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon.
WWE confirmed the news with Sports Illustrated, with an official announcement expected later today.
The two positions are full-time executive roles, with no plans at the current time for this to be introduced as part of a TV storyline.
Heyman overseeing the creative development of Raw is scintillating news for wrestling fans. Best known as a pioneer for his innovative work as ECW president from 1993-2001, Heyman took the company to unfathomable heights on pay-per-view and through a national cable television deal with TNN. He is a must-see attraction as an on-screen performer as the advocate for Brock Lesnar, but Heyman’s longest-lasting work happens off-camera with the character development of many on the WWE roster.
Bischoff will also work directly with executives from FOX, which will air SmackDown Live beginning this October.
The former WCW president, immortal in the industry for igniting the New World Order storyline, started a wrestling war in 1995 against Vince McMahon’s WWE on Monday nights. With Bischoff in charge, WCW’s Nitro even defeated McMahon’s Monday Night Raw in the television ratings for 83 consecutive weeks. Bischoff made his WWE debut in the summer of 2002, appearing as the Raw General Manager. His full-time run with the company ended in 2007, though he has made the occasional return, most recently during the Raw 25th Anniversary show in January of 2018.
Bischoff is a valuable addition for WWE. Most recently, he lent his expertise to Conrad Thompson’s 83 Weeks podcast on Westwood One, as well as delivered a TEDx Talk last November on how the news media is copying from the pro wrestling blueprint. A former New York Times bestselling author, Bischoff is also serving as a producer for the upcoming Hulk Hogan biopic, where Chris Hemsworth is set to play Hogan.
Wow. This must have come straight from the various PR mouthpieces of the principals involved. One wonders if Vince will truly let these guys take on the "Triple H in NXT" role, which is way more interesting than seems possible. Also, what might Triple H think about this? Seems like he's gonna have to take a few steps back in the line....which also seems unlikely? Unless he's so happy and content with NXT....well, you tell me, does that sound like him?
When would we start to see definite evidence of these changes? Monday? Will the rounds system go away? Ah ha ha.
I read this headline, saw I'm Back - and for a quick second I thought this was Hot Newz posting
We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.
That the universe was formed by a fortuitous concourse of atoms, I will no more believe than that the accidental jumbling of the alphabet would fall into a most ingenious treatise of philosophy - Swift
If the attendance numbers are really as bad as Meltzer and Alvarez are reporting -- maybe 2,500 for a SmackDown -- then they had to do something, and this is very not bad for RAW. Heyman made SmackDown must-see wrestling on a weekly basis. He has a much bigger roster at hand and three hours to move those pieces around. Also he has more pressure to turn around the flagship/muthaship, but can he really do worse then whoever was at the wheel until today? Heyman working directly with a Bray Wyatt or Cesaro or Corbin has to be good for everyone.
This is really intriguing for Mondays, but Bischoff doesn't move my meter at all.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
I guess we'll see if Heyman's still got it and how long Bischoff will last before they figure out he's useless.
I'm not optimistic, but I guess Heyman successfully promoted Goldberg-Brock pretty recently, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Of course, it's still all Vince in the end, but it sure got us talkin'! Everything must be great in the WWE Universe for this completely exciting and new creative direction to have been announced.
"Heyman is set to become Executive Director of Monday Night Raw, while Bischoff will fill the same role for SmackDown Live." ----------------------------------------
Wow...holy shit!!!! Yes...Yes...Yes!!!!
"Both will report directly to WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon." -----------------------------------------
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