The latest episode of former WCW President Eric Bischoff’s podcast Bischoff on Wrestling was released last night. A new episode will be released next Wednesday.
You can find some of Eric ‘s comments regarding NJPW announcing their new IWGP US Championship transcribed below.
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On what NJPW may be trying to accomplish with their new IWGP US Championship:
EB: I’m guessing New Japan might be looking at the US market. It’s a big market and Japan isn’t. There’s a lot of opportunity here. There’s a lot of fans here that love the New Japan presentation of the product and I’m one of them. I don’t watch it as much as I should but what I’ve seen is very impressive.
On whether controversial NJPW is expanding to the United States considering their relationship with Ring of Honor and other United States promotions:
EB: I am going to plant my flag and say it’s not controversial. At least twenty years ago the Japanese in particular admired American culture. They are very protective of their own culture, one of the most protective of their cultures in the world in many respects. Historically if you look at Japan and the way they treat outsiders that aren’t of Japanese decent they are very protective of their culture, on the one hand. On the other hand, they want so badly to have the “cool vibe” of having the western culture be a part of their’s in their own way. By coming over to the United States and planting a flag, however big or small, New Japan is able to present themselves as a Japanese product inherently Japanese yet important to the United States and that elevates their status in Japan. It’s like when a Japanese baseball player leaves Japan and joins Major League Basebell. He’s a national hero for the same exact reason. It’s kind of like New York City where if you can make it here you can make it anywhere. New Japan will always stay a very Japanese product.
This week’s episode of Bischoff on Wrestling features Eric discussing a couple of stories from around the business of pro wrestling with Nick. Including:
- Randy Orton’s recent “……dive” tweet
- Smackdown deciding to air picture-in-picture commercials where the action continues
- WWE’s decision to release content on the WWE Network in “mini-binges”
- NJPW announcing the debut of a US Championship
- Sami Callahan taking over CZW creative and the validity of death match wrestling today
- WWE & Meltzer’s conflicting reports about how long Braun Strowman will be out of action
- More…
Eric then answers questions from the #BischoffOnWrestling mailbag regarding:
- What Klondike Bill stories Eric has
- If WWE has devalued their championships by having too many
- WWF & WCW’s UK footprints
- Whether he had input in his WWE theme song
- If he had any interest in becoming a pro wrestler as a child
- More…
You can find a special Bischoff on Wrestling Political Overrun on IRWNetwork.com.
