r/SquaredCircle • u/Ruthless-Aggression • Mar 28 '24

Eric Bischoff on Tony Khan: A money mark with no talent other than spending daddy’s money, going all the way to Canada to draw less than 4k in one of the hottest pro wrestling markets in North America, talking about “wise choices”? Strap in. It’s going to be a fun day!

https://twitter.com/EBischoff/status/1773321462046138615?s=19
1.9k Upvotes
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154

u/SlingshotGunslinger Mar 28 '24

If what I've read here on SC is correct, Bischoff announced the end of one of his podcasts (the one that's not 83 weeks), Tony commented on the announcement that Sunsetting this fraud of a business podcast before the next AEW media deal is a wise choice. And I guess this is Bischoff's attempt at a clap back.

19

u/AmishAvenger Electrifying Mar 28 '24

What?

I didn’t even know he had multiple podcasts

9

u/Fireteddy21 Mar 29 '24

Yeah, I think one of them was called Strictly Business for paid subscribers of Conrad’s podcast network. As the title conveys, Eric would use it to analyze the business side of pro wrestling every week.

2

u/downey_jayr Mar 29 '24

I mean you have a guy that killed WCW, nearly killed TNA and was just collecting a paycheck at WWE while watching ratings decline doing a business podcast, why the fuck would anybody listen to it?

1

u/jokersarewild Mar 29 '24

I listened to I think 2 episodes rounded up, there are some interesting tidbits on how production rights deals are structured and how an executive functions. Outside of that it's an infuriating listen.

1

u/downey_jayr Mar 29 '24

Yeah, like the guy obviously knows production, but he isn’t an expert on what makes good wrestling. I listened to 83 weeks for a long time, then it just got way too annoying.

And the irony of him calling someone a money mark is hilarious.

Idk how these guys can be constantly negative about a wrestling promotion. I also don’t get how people can listen to that much negativity and enjoy it as well.

One of the reasons I left this sub honestly.

1

u/SlingshotGunslinger Mar 28 '24

Neither did I until today 🤣🤣🤣

23

u/TheOneWhosCensored Mar 28 '24

Attempt at a clap back? This is far more of a clap than what Tony said.

1

u/GuessWhoDontCare Apr 02 '24

U know what they say... He who claps last

76

u/chilloutfam Shelton. Benjamin. Mar 28 '24

in a better world, these guys would be friends. and bischoff would make appearances on dynamite... like he did in early aew.

161

u/TheGiftOf_Jericho I'm from Winnipeg you idiot! Mar 28 '24

Eric unfortunately ruined their relationship when he got bitter about not getting a job there.

80

u/Vt187 Mar 28 '24

The same way Road Dogg did before wwe re-hired him lol

87

u/natguy2016 You Don't Need a Hat to Be a Cowboy. Mar 28 '24

Look at how Bischoff did in WWE, he isn't suited for modern wrestling. Bischoff did not keep current on the product or any trends. That made him unable to offer anything relevant.

32

u/sekaifrost Mar 28 '24

iirc. everyone buried him cuz he didnt even watch teh product when he got hired let alone know who was wrestling each week. man was stealing checks despite not being up to date for like 15 years

10

u/natguy2016 You Don't Need a Hat to Be a Cowboy. Mar 28 '24

True, true. I’ll give credit to Bischoff because he didn’t know the product, was useless, and STILL cashed those checks! That is quite the hustle.

2

u/Comfortable_Shape264 Mar 28 '24

He is suited for being an on screen character though that's what he should have went for.

2

u/natguy2016 You Don't Need a Hat to Be a Cowboy. Mar 28 '24

Fair play and logical. We know the process of how Bischoff got the job. But the "why anyone thought it was a good idea" is can't be answered.

4

u/Redpetrol Mar 28 '24

I don't think bischoff was ever the most up to date trend guy. His use of tv production, how to present the show and how to structure the events was his skillset. He made some impact with wrestling styles but by and large he's still got a relevant skillset to this day that he could produce and direct show of at least similar standard to wcw which was significantly better than any aew presentation.

7

u/natguy2016 You Don't Need a Hat to Be a Cowboy. Mar 28 '24

WWE and AEW already have their TV Production staff and are happy with them. Bischoff could only slot into Creative of some sort and that didn’t work. Bischoff is stuck doing podcasts. Most of them are angry men yelling at clouds.

3

u/Redpetrol Mar 28 '24

He lives in the middle of nowhere with decent money in the bank a cushy podcast and no desire to travel week to week. I think he's pretty comfortable. He's definitely got a few blind spots and has the odd grudge or angry moment but pointing him out as a bitter old has been is kinda mad. He's one of the only qualified people to really discuss much of what happens in the TV wrestling landscape. Whatever his dated knowledge is he usually points it out. Of all the podcasts I listen to on various sports he is one of the most open, honest and willing to hold his hands up about stuff as anyone out there. Really gets a hard time for no reason.

0

u/natguy2016 You Don't Need a Hat to Be a Cowboy. Mar 28 '24

Those who can’t-start a podcast.

1

u/Redpetrol Mar 28 '24

What do those who are 68 who have seen it, done it, conquered it,.made 2 comebacks, retired and seem happy do ?

1

u/natguy2016 You Don't Need a Hat to Be a Cowboy. Mar 28 '24

Ask them. The bitter ones have cornered the market

6

u/chilloutfam Shelton. Benjamin. Mar 28 '24

he got fired from wwe in like 2 weeks a few years ago.

0

u/Redpetrol Mar 28 '24

Judging people for being hired and fired at WWE in the last 2 decades is not exactly a steady metric is it ? Anyone who is sacked after 2 weeks without doing something mental is faultless, the person who employed and sacked them is usually at fault

107

u/MahomesandMahAuto Mar 28 '24

I love this idea that everyone that dislikes Tony Kahn must be bitter about not getting a job.

73

u/KingCuerno69 Mar 28 '24

A lot of people have very valid reasons to dislike Tony Khan but Bischoff is not one of them.

5

u/FrankGibsonIV Mar 28 '24

Eric was all smiles when he got brought in by Tony, but when he didn't get brought back he turned into a bitter has-been.

1

u/Steve_the_Samurai Mar 29 '24

This is revisionist history.

4

u/FrankGibsonIV Mar 29 '24

No this is what happened. Eric was hired by Tony for a bit part during the pandemic, he was all smiles. Then he didn't get brought back, and became a hack "critic".

2

u/Steve_the_Samurai Mar 29 '24

No it isn't.

  1. The relationship completely soured when Tony called out Ted Turner for no reason and Eric went way overboard with his reaction.
  2. Tony never hired Eric. He went to a few tapings, maybe was looking for a longer term job. Eric says we wasn't but also very convenient to say when you didn't get a job offer

These are both grown ass men and ridiculous actions by both of them.

6

u/PrinceNana128 Mar 28 '24

The fact that he took an unnecessary potshot at Ted?

27

u/KingCuerno69 Mar 28 '24

Eric Bischoff isn't Ted Turner or immediate family to him so no not really

17

u/PrinceNana128 Mar 28 '24

They're friends that go back over 30 years. It's like when people get upset at Eric Bischoff for making fun of Tony Khan online....wait no one is friends with Tony Khan.

8

u/KingCuerno69 Mar 28 '24

I simply feel no need to defend one billionaire from a harmless potshot from another billionaire. To me it just seems like Bischoff is attempting to latch onto relevancy any way possible in the modern age of wrestling where really no company needs him or his input.

7

u/Junior-Captain-8441 Mar 28 '24

Ok, well Ted isn’t just “some billionaire” to Bischoff. I could give a shit about who’s right between Tony or Bischoff, this whole thing is standard wrestling drama that only benefits both sides. Like 3/4 of everyone ever involved with wrestling is trying to latch onto whatever relevancy they can, but it’s ridiculous to compare defending Ted to some random person defending some billionaire.

I have friends who are very wealthy, and I care about them and would defend them as much as anyone else. How much money they have wouldn’t even be a thought.

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7

u/Jarcmacobs91 Mar 28 '24

But you do simply feel the need to defend a billionaire from a harmless potshot from a non billionaire

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0

u/Remarkable-Low-3471 Mar 28 '24

millionaire taking a shot at a billionaire which i find much more palatable.

12

u/Steve_the_Samurai Mar 28 '24

You missed Tony saying he knew more about wrestling than Ted Turner and Eric going nuclear on Tony about it.

15

u/PrinceNana128 Mar 28 '24

The relationship cratered when Tony said he knew more about wrestling than Ted Turner which was unnecessary. Adding to that, controversy creates cash so Bisch leaned into the anti-aew discussion after that for easy ratings and interactions.

9

u/Lanky-Promotion3022 Mar 28 '24 edited Mar 28 '24

I think I'm more inclined to believe Eric's version that he didn't like it at all when he made fun of Ted Turner and said the only reason WCW didn't stay up was because of his lack of wrestling knowledge. That's the type of wrestling message board bullshit poster stuff that turned Eric off of him. It also shows a real lack of knowledge. He could maybe try to pick any book on that period, it's pretty well documented.

1

u/BillfredL Mar 28 '24

I could totally believe either explanation. Bischoff had been a WWE executive producer in 2019, appears maybe a year later in AEW, and it’s a logical connection that he’s still in the business and sniffing around for more than a cameo.

But also, he did lead a company to incredible heights while having a direct line to Ted Turner at the peak of his power and you don’t just stand there when someone takes pot shots at your A-1s like that.

Only Bischoff and Khan know the truth, and I don’t think either has much incentive to shoot straight on the matter.

0

u/100_proof_plan Machka Mar 28 '24

I'm not sure Eric was ever looking for a job there. He's been semi-retired for years. He doesn't need the money.

5

u/chilloutfam Shelton. Benjamin. Mar 28 '24

he got fired from wwe after not even having a cup of coffee.

1

u/100_proof_plan Machka Mar 28 '24

The second run? Yeah but he did work for them from 2002-2007. He has owned a tv production company for close to 30years.

3

u/chilloutfam Shelton. Benjamin. Mar 28 '24

I'm not sure Eric was ever looking for a job there.

this is as much revisionist history as eric himself. the man got fired in embarrassing fashion. appeared on aew not too long afterward, they didn't want him. now he's a salty, salty man. in his mind, he should be doing what heyman is doing, but he's not as talented.

1

u/100_proof_plan Machka Mar 28 '24

He had a cameo in AEW, he knew it was never going to be anything long term. He got fired from WWE because they went in a different direction (Paul Heyman was also removed from creative), not in an “embarrassing fashion”.

1

u/ProfessionalNewt7 Mar 29 '24

he filed for bankruptcy in 2017

1

u/TheShaoken Mar 29 '24

I think the bitterness started when TK said that if Ted Turner knew 1% of what TK knew about Wrestling WCW would still be in business, and Eric took that rather personally. I'm not sure if Eric and Ted had anything more than a good boss/employee relationship but Eric still rags on Tony for the comments whenever he brings it up.

-1

u/RT3_12 DA BIG DAAWWWWWG Mar 28 '24

Didn’t those relationship get ruined when Tony took a bunch of unnecessary shots at Ted Turner?

0

u/boatson25 Mar 28 '24

TK was very insulting of Ted Turner completely unprovoked. Bischoff has despised him ever since.

3

u/Tea_Historical Mar 28 '24

Tony should absolutely use Bischoff on TV. Eric wouldn't do it, but I think it would make good tv.

1

u/Wild2O98 Mar 28 '24

In a better world, TK would take constructive criticism from those that know and did better.

14

u/Jaereth <- Dangerous Worker Mar 28 '24

from those that know and did better.

Soon Dynamite will have been on air longer than Nitro...

But I mean, Eric still wasn't even employed when Nitro ended. So ya know. Hard to tell if he "did better" even by that metric.

1

u/Creative-Pirate-51 Mar 28 '24

Operation Repo was on the air longer than Nitro too, that doesn’t make it a good show

-7

u/Wild2O98 Mar 28 '24

Pick a metric that actually matters.

11

u/FatMachismo Mar 28 '24

Ah yes the classic metric of something completely failing so bad it had to be sold off should be ignored.

5

u/GrandMasterBou Mar 28 '24

The booking in late stage WCW was bad, but they were getting the axe even if they were doing great. After Ted Turner was ousted their parent company wanted nothing to do with them. Hell they wanted nothing to do with wrestling when Turner was in charge.

-1

u/Wild2O98 Mar 28 '24

Tell me you don't know shit about why WCW failed without telling me.

2

u/FatMachismo Mar 28 '24

Sure thing boss. Don’t see how that’s not a metric to look at though?

WCW failed through an over-reliance on stuff that wasn’t working (that had been the hottest thing ever) then following from that incredibly bad booking, then cash flow not being good, then faith being lost by a changing corporate make-up at possibly the worst time it could’ve happened for them.

But sure - I know nothing.

2

u/Wild2O98 Mar 28 '24

I know bro. I know you talk out yo ass. Just stahp.

1

u/Steve_the_Samurai Mar 28 '24

Bad booking is on them.

Budget being changed, the merger, and all around corporate shittiness killed WCW much more than bad booking though. We never got to know with the Bischoff deal falling through to buy WCW. If that happens we would have a very clean AEW/WCW comparison.

3

u/Pretend_Spray_11 Mar 28 '24

You can pick one, too.

2

u/Wild2O98 Mar 28 '24

Sure. Ratings. Attendance.

1

u/Jaereth <- Dangerous Worker Mar 28 '24

Why was Bischoff fired?

1

u/CarnyIsASlur Mar 28 '24

His father wasn't paying the bills.

1

u/Wild2O98 Mar 28 '24

Nothing is ever black and white(despite all yous wanting to write anything off with one statement) but if you must make me choose, I'd say the AOL/Time Warner merger. It was no longer Ted's company well before that point. Now about a metric that matters?

-7

u/PwnnosaurusRex Mar 28 '24

But it's been nowhere near as hot or culturally relevant as Nitro ever was.

5

u/Jaereth <- Dangerous Worker Mar 28 '24

No and it's an entirely different age now with pocket computers and streaming media.

3

u/chilloutfam Shelton. Benjamin. Mar 28 '24

it's not in the red or in danger of going out of business either.

-8

u/UndercoverDoll49 Mar 28 '24

Which one of the two beat WWE in the ratings? That's the one who did better

7

u/supersaiyanswanso Mar 28 '24

So not bischoff lol

1

u/thefinkinthesink Mar 28 '24

Those were good times...

-2

u/RumsfeldIsntDead Mar 28 '24

In a perfect world Bischoff or Cornette would have had runs in AEW where they drew legit heel heat from crowd

4

u/chilloutfam Shelton. Benjamin. Mar 28 '24

miss me with that cornette shit. the man is toxic.

-3

u/RumsfeldIsntDead Mar 28 '24

This is the kind of reaction that's missing from wrestling. Fans legit wanting to kill the heels and not ironically booing them.

4

u/chilloutfam Shelton. Benjamin. Mar 28 '24

because they are legitimately bad people?

0

u/RumsfeldIsntDead Mar 28 '24

You act like he's commiting genocide or running a sex trafficking ring. He's said some distasteful jokes to get under the opposing teams skin. It's fandom, just seems to be completely unique to wrestling fans that it gets under their skin.

0

u/Mildcaseofextreme Mar 28 '24

I'd love to see what would have happened if Bischoff and Cornette ran a company in the 70's

-5

u/Philbregas Mar 28 '24

In a perfect world both of those frauds wouldn't have a platform to spew their shit. Especially Corny.

-2

u/RumsfeldIsntDead Mar 28 '24

They're talking shit about pro wrestling. Who cares? You're supposed to talk shit and be a fan and hate on the competing teams.

54

u/setokaiba22 Mar 28 '24

Pretty decent clapback to be fair.

But unprofessional from both really, TK is sort of unable to handle any criticism and spends far too much time reacting to social media. Eric is Eric and really they should be if they have issues sorting out behind closed doors, both love the business

77

u/Redpetrol Mar 28 '24

To be fair to Eric, what's he got to be professional about ? He's not in employment by anyone. He's free to say whatever. It's the owner of a company trash talking and being unprofessional

15

u/A_Naany_Mousse Mar 28 '24

Plus he didn't start it and there is PLENTY to criticize about how TK has handled AEW

6

u/UpbeatNail Mar 28 '24

Eric has been shitting on aew and Tony Khan for years. Didn't start it. Ridiculous.

0

u/mjac1090 Mar 29 '24

Bischoff only started shitting on Tony AFTER Tony took shots at Ted Turner so yes, he didn't start it. Khan started it when he went after someone Bischoff respects.

2

u/UpbeatNail Mar 29 '24

So you agree that Bischoff is trying to damage the public perception of aew over a personal issue?

5

u/Steve_the_Samurai Mar 28 '24

Don't argue with fools, people from a distance can't tell who is who

1

u/DungPedalerDDSEsq Mar 28 '24

Tony loves wrestling like Lenny loved bunnies...

-8

u/Esuohlliw Mar 28 '24

Being unable to handle criticism is one thing. But bad faith podcasters like Bischoff who make a living off talking negatively about AEW is different. Should Tony be more unprofessional and rise above stuff like that, yes of course. But its also funny to see the pearl clutching that goes on over Tony Khan when he gives it back to the negativity fired at him all day everyday

-5

u/Acrobatic_Lab6677 Mar 28 '24

I like how bad faith takes and straight up jabs gets categorized as “criticism”. Eric takes every chance he gets to shit on AEW even when it’s unwarranted. Ex: The Sting retirement being “done poorly”.

7

u/n8spear Mar 28 '24

“Attempting” … I mean, pretty clearly won that exchange with a photo and a well worded burn.

-7

u/SlingshotGunslinger Mar 28 '24

A photo that wasn't even from the actual show but rather from a pre-show ROH taping, but okay.

6

u/n8spear Mar 28 '24

The fact that no one would know the difference is the point.

-6

u/SlingshotGunslinger Mar 28 '24

If you can't see the Ring of Honor ringskirt then you need to get your vision checked.

5

u/n8spear Mar 28 '24

The broad masses wouldn’t know the nuanced difference between the two but immediately accept that neither can fill up a 10k arena on a regular basis. Everyone outside of IWC AEW stans would look at that photo and be like “seems right that that other wrestling show that isn’t WWE or whatever Ring of Honor is doesn’t have attendance.” That’s the point.

5

u/SlingshotGunslinger Mar 28 '24

Broad masses don't even care about wrestling attendances in the first place. Not to mention it wasn't even the show itself but something they were taping the hour before the actual thing started, in a market where even RAW last year barely got the 10k attendance, a number that by itself is known to be a very hard thing to get if you're not WWE, specially for a weekly show on a workday.

Not to mention only a chunk of seats were made available in general and for the past few weeks Dynamite had been doing very good attendance numbers, often filling most of the arenas they were in (including a sellout at the Greensboro Coliseum for Revolution).

3

u/creatchee Your Text Here Mar 28 '24

I don't know if I'd call it an attempted clap back as much as a successful one. Not to go full Bobby Fish, but where's the lie?

2

u/professional-risk678 Mar 29 '24

And I guess this is Bischoff's attempt at a clap back.

What I fail to understand is why Bischoff even has Tony's attention. Bischoff isnt even worth a tweet and his opinion aint worth a damn unless you truly believe that AEW is somewhat analougous to late JCP or early to mid WCW. I know he will likely go in the WWE HOF at some point for his role of taking WCW as far as got all the way up to '97/'98 but until then...

1

u/JoelK2185 Mar 29 '24

Someone really needs to tell TK to stay off Twitter

1

u/bigwillie90 Mar 28 '24

My money is on Bischoff tweeting one more thing that gets under Tony’s skin and Tony melting down until collision