Eric Bischoff Dismisses Impact Of Big-Money AEW Signings

Eric Bischoff thinks AEW needs to do more to help some of its newest stars.

In recent weeks Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, and Mercedes Mone have all taken their first steps in AEW. While Ospreay and Okada had appeared on AEW television previously while under contract with NJPW, Mone arrived in an AEW ring for the first time.

While fans have been happy to see the trio tackle new adventures, Eric Bischoff believes Tony Khan needs to do more to get the most out of them.

Speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff criticised how Ospreay and Okada have been introduced.

“They just popped up in the middle of the show. There’s no build. Nothing is done within the format to create anticipation to hold the audience with an expectation of something exciting happening.”

Bischoff added that Okada is unknown to the wider audience, something Khan needs to help with.

“No one knows him outside of the hardest of hardcore fans. And that’s not a reflection on him, that’s not his fault. It’s incumbent upon Tony to build him up and make him feel special, same with Will Ospreay.”

Eric Bischoff Disappointed By TV Ratings For Mercedes Mone

With regard to Mercedes Mone, Bischoff suggested the viewing figures for her debut were a disappointment given her star power.

“800,000 viewers on a show where you’re bringing in arguably one of the more recognizable female stars in the wrestling industry who spent a decade in a high-profile position in the largest wrestling company in the world and you bring her into AEW and she gets 800,000 viewers?”

After signing with AEW, Mercedes Mone has become the highest-paid woman in wrestling history. Furthermore, Mone owns all of the trademarks relating to her character including her entrance music.

H/t to Wrestling Inc