Eric Bischoff Credits His Creation for Darby Allin’s Success In AEW

Eric Bischoff discussed the lasting impact of WCW’s Cruiserweight division on modern professional wrestling, specifically highlighting its influence on AEW star Darby Allin.

The Cruiserweight division, which rose to prominence in the 1990s, showcased wrestlers known for their high-flying, technical style and lighter weight. This shift allowed for a new type of wrestling star, breaking away from the traditional heavyweight archetype. On his podcast, “83 Weeks,” Eric Bischoff highlighted the importance of the division, saying:

It opened the door for a lot of potential professional wrestlers who weren’t born to be 6 foot 4, 6 foot 5 and 300 pounds.

He emphasised how the Cruiserweight division changed the perception of who could be a successful wrestler, inspiring a new wave of young fans.

All of a sudden, you’ve got 10, 12, and 14-year-old kids that are growing up watching guys like Rey Mysterio, and Eddie Guerrero, and Chris Benoit, and Dean Malenko, and kids that were watching said, ‘Man, someday I’m gonna be a professional wrestler.’

Bischoff contrasted this evolution with the earlier era of wrestling, where smaller athletes had far fewer opportunities, saying they would have been “s**t out of luck” back then.

He also connected the rise of the Cruiserweight division to the success of contemporary wrestlers like Darby Allin, who has gained a loyal following in AEW. While discussing Allin, Bischoff made a playful remark about his stature:

I could put him in my pocket and take him for a walk.

Despite this, Bischoff praised Allin’s achievements, acknowledging:

He would’ve never gotten a shot in the business, but today he’s there, and he’s doing a great job.

What Did Eric Bischoff Say About WWE Cutting Back On Live Events?

Eric Bischoff discussed WWE cutting back on live events and said that he isn’t surprised that the company is doing so. Bischoff believes that the COVID-19 pandemic is the cause of people getting used to staying at home more often and not going out to live events, which has forced the wrestling business as a whole to re-evaluate its touring business.

H/t to ITRWrestling.com