On the latest episode of his “83 Weeks” podcast, Eric Bischoff candidly discussed why he believes Ric Flair could never excel as a booker in the wrestling industry.
Sharing his perspective on Flair’s limitations, Bischoff provided insights into the challenges of creative control and the transition from performer to decision-maker.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
Shedding light on the dynamics between himself and Flair, Bischoff clarified: “Let me be as honest as I can be about my perspective. So Meltzer is reporting that we didn’t see eye to eye, and Ric wasn’t in charge? In control? It’s not true. I didn’t want to be involved in creative. I was insecure. I was aware of my lack of experience and feel for that aspect of the business. I wanted Ric to have as much control as he needed to feel comfortable and to execute a vision. But that’s a full-time job, and that’s a full-time job that requires a lot of grinding in the office with a team. It’s not fun. I mean, it is fun if you are the type of person who enjoys that process. That wasn’t Ric’s strength. It didn’t mean he didn’t have the knowledge and the ability. But sitting in a — look, he’s your father-in-law. You know what I’m talking about? This is not being in that… you cannot do this, you know, at the Marriott, out by the pool. You gotta do it as a team. It’s just the only way it works. And that wasn’t Ric’s thing, and he was uncomfortable with it.”
Elaborating on the reasons behind Flair’s unsuitability for a leadership role in creative, Bischoff emphasized: “And I’ll tell you the other thing that made Ric not a good choice to be the head of creative. Certainly he had the experience, knowledge, and respect of many — not all, but many of the people working for us at the time. But Ric — being in that position, you will get so much heat. Particularly when you’re one of them meaning, to go from being in the locker room and a well-respected performer and people looking up to you and you’re the guy. Ric Flair was the guy from such a large part of his career. But once you leave that room, and then you go into the room where people wear ties and control other people’s lives? You’re no longer one of them. Now, it doesn’t mean that the whole roster felt that way. But over time, people aren’t getting what they want, when they’re not getting the push they hope they’ll get, when they don’t like the finish of their match. And the guy that they used to hang out with in the locker room is the booker? That’s a different kind of pressure. Ric didn’t want that kind. Ric loved being a heel out in the ring. He did not love being a heel when it came to being in the office. And that’s the reason why Ric would’ve never, unless Ric was willing to acknowledge that and change that and take on a different view of life. Meaning, ‘I gotta be to work at 10 o’ clock in the morning and leave by eight o’clock at night five or six days a week. It would’ve never worked out. It just wasn’t. And again, not because he didn’t have the experience. I’m working hard here to give credit to Ric for what Ric was good at, deserved credit for. But just because you’re an amazing performer in the ring, doesn’t mean you can be an amazing executive in the office. They’re two different worlds.”
