The latest episode of Bischoff on Wrestling was just released earlier tonight. It features interviews with Bellator CEO Scott Coker and former Super Bowl Champion/WrestleMania 2 competitor Russ Francis.
During Eric’s weekly “The Business of Professional Wrestling” segment he takes some time to talk about the potential sale of TNA and how it compares to when WWE bought WCW. You can find those comments transcribed below.
Subscribe to Bischoff on Wrestling on iTunes
On what comes to his mind when he hears the rumors about TNA possibly being sold to WWE, Billy Corgan or another entity:
EB: Chaos. Shear chaos. I have been reading it like everyone else. I don’t have any inside information. I have to give my disclaimer here: I am currently involved in on-going litigation with TNA. I have to be a little bit judicious and careful about what I say. Anything that I am commenting on are things that are in the public domain, so to speak. The other day I read that somebody put a valuation on TNA of approximately $40 million. I have no idea where that number came from. Valuations when you’re selling a company or trying to get investors or an investor company. One of the hardest things to determine is valuation. Back when I was running WCW, when I was first given the responsibility to oversea WCW, it was a company that was grossing $24 million a year. Unfortunately it was losing $10 million in the process. Earlier this week someone said, “Well, the valuation of TNA is probably two times revenue.” Well, that valuation works if you’re profitable but if you’re losing like WCW was, $10 or $14 million a year on $24 million a year in revenue, I guaran-freaking-tee you that company would not have been valued at $40 million.
On whether he sees any similarities between WWE possibly buying TNA and when WWE bought WCW:
EB: No, they are completely different from what I can see and what I’ve read. You look at the talent roster in TNA and many of them are under non-exclusive agreements. So, there’s no real value in those contractual agreements. There’s some talented people there, don’t get me wrong. This is in no way a derisive comment with regard to the talent. It’s not like acquiring TNA is going to allow you to just walk those agreements right over to a new company because they are non-exclusive. WWE doesn’t work that way. Trust me. I really don’t see any similarities. WCW was a very powerful brand. Even at the time it was acquired by WWE. TNA doesn’t have the luxury in the marketplace that WCW did. I don’t really see any similarities to be honest.
This week’s show kicks off with Eric’s “The Business of Professional Wrestling” segment where he discusses:
- WWE Hall of Famer Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton squaring off in their first Presidential debate
- Who he thinks won the debate
- The recent rumors that WWE, Billy Corgan or another entity could be buying TNA
- How the current situation with WWE possibly buying TNA compares to when WWE bought WCW
- More…
Nick then throws to Eric’s interview with Bellator CEO Scott Coker where the two discuss:
- Their earliest memories of each other in the MMA scene
- What moves Scott feels shouldn’t be used in MMA
- Whether it’s harder to build an MMA star than a pro wrestling star because an MMA fighter can lose on any given night
- How involved Viacom is with Bellator and how they have helped him grow the company
- Why Bobby Lashley was so successful in his leap from pro wrestling to MMA
- Ryback’s recent talks with Bellator about a potential fight
- What CM Punk’s next move should be following his decisive loss at UFC 203 to Mickey Gall
- What fans can expect from the upcoming Bellator card on October 21st
- More…
Eric then presents the second part of his interview with Super Bowl Champion & WrestleMania 2 participant Russ Francis featuring them discussing:
- Russ’ involvement in WrestleMania 2
- Working with Andre The Giant
- Russ’ advice for wrestlers just starting out
- More…
He then answers some questions from fans that were submitted on Twitter using the hashtag #BischoffOnWrestling
This episode of Bischoff on Wrestling is brought you by:
Blue Apron- You can get THREE FREE MEALS with FREE SHIPPING on BlueApron.com by using the promo code: ERICB
Dollar Shave Club- You can get YOUR FIRST MONTH FREE by going to www.DollarShaveClub.com/Bischoff
You can listen to the full archives from Bischoff on Wrestling in the embedded audio player below:
