Eric Bischoff is optimistic about what is next for Adam Copeland in AEW.
Following the shock jump from WWE to AEW there is excitement in the air about what is next for The Rated R Superstar in his new home. With there only being one chance to make a good first impression, Bischoff believes that it was executed superbly.
Speaking on 83 Weeks, Bischoff commented on the debut itself at WrestleDream and how it was smart to not advertise Adam Copeland ahead of time:
I think it was done really well. And I was happy and excited to see that, you know, Adam was introduced at the pay-per-view as a surprise. And of course, the chatter was there. And I don’t think anybody went, Oh, my God, I never expected this. But the fact that he wasn’t booked or you know, it wasn’t advertised, it was added value, which means he’s going to get an even bigger response than he would have gotten.
Had he been advertised it, it’s just, it’s a subtle difference in a crowd reaction, but when you overdeliver like that, just like you did for Kansas, it has a different value. And you get a different reaction. And I was really happy to see that, as opposed to the way things have typically been done. I think it definitely helped set up his appearance on television. I don’t think it could have been done any better.
Bischoff continued, commenting on what was next for Copeland following the WWE departure and if it would even involve wrestling again:
Let’s put it that way. I really, really liked the way it was executed, as far as bringing in a new talent. Couldn’t be happier for Adam. You know, we talked a little bit about it weeks ago, when it was apparent that Adam wasn’t going to re-sign with WWE. And it was a question of well, is he gonna go off and do movies? Or is he just going to retire sit on his porch? What’s he going to do?
And, you know, I was like, glass half full, was, you know, it’s an opportunity for my response was, it’s an opportunity for him to end his career working with one of his closest friends with whom he started his career. That’s a cool thing. That’s a personal legacy issue. Right? And to have that opportunity is rare. So I was excited for him if that would have been his choice.
Finishing his assessment of the debut, Eric Bischoff did state that AEW has not had the best track record in the past when it comes to utilising ex-WWE stars correctly. However, the Hall of Famer does believe that the pairing with Christian has great potential:
The half glass empty was historically WWE talent coming to AEW, it’s a huge promotion and everybody’s hyping it up and it’s going to change the world and things are going to be different and all that, and it’s generally been a letdown. I was a little disappointed, not disappointed, but I was a little concerned. Just a friend-of-friend basis that perhaps it would be like every other WWE to AEW transition. But let’s see, man, let’s see, this could be a great opportunity for him with Christian there. There’s some great story.
I love the way they introduced him and brought him and Christian together. I think that sets up a pretty interesting backstory and storyline going forward. And both of these two individuals are way more than capable of delivering on good story. I think it can be really exciting. I am really looking forward to it.
Eric Bischoff Blasts Wrestling Insiders
Arguably one reason why Edge’s AEW debut was not as big of a surprise as it could have been is because fans were aware of The Rated R Superstar’s contract status ahead of time. Blaming journalists such as Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez for some of the issues in wrestling, Eric Bischoff would label them both as a “cancer to the wrestling business.”
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