Heyman and Bischoff named Executive Directors of Raw and smackdown

Lord TSC

Story breaking but Heyman had been named Executive Director of Raw and Bischoff of Smackdown. Apparently will take massive creative control for their shows.

https://www.si.com/wrestling/2019/06/27/wwe-paul-heyman-monday-night-raw-eric-bischoff-smackdown-live-vince-mcmahon?utm_medium=social&xid=socialflow_twitter_si&utm_campaign=sinow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_source=reddit.com

Obviously more to follow....

CastorTroy

Interesting. Of course if Vince vetos all their decisions it'll be a bit redundant. Otherwise we could be back to the days where the brands seemed to compete with each other.

Didn't realise Bischoff was with wwe. Thought he was off doing something else.

Lord TSC

CastorTroy wrote: »

Interesting. Of course if Vince vetos all their decisions it'll be a bit redundant. Otherwise we could be back to the days where the brands seemed to compete with each other.

Didn't realise Bischoff was with wwe. Thought he was off doing something else.

I dont think Eric was, unless it was a legend type deal.

I honestly can't imagine either taking the jobs unless they has assurances of a decent level of control.

ForstalDave

Lord TSC wrote: »

I dont think Eric was, unless it was a legend type deal.

I honestly can't imagine either taking the jobs unless they has assurances of a decent level of control.

Wonder if they gave Bishhoff access to the purse strings or will they keep the hiring separate

lawlolawl

So, two guys who ran companies that WWE put out of business are going to run TV for WWE?

Are they setting them up as fall guys to take the blame once the ratings completely die?

Lord TSC

Per mike Johnson....

The announcement today that Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff have signed on with WWE to become Executive Directors of the Raw and Smackdown brands is a legitimate announcement, not a storyline situation.

WWE has been pursuing Heyman to come on officially in their corporate circles as far back as February, PWInsider.com can exclusively confirm.  An offer was issued to Heyman to come on board full-time as a top member of the creative team around the same time Bruce Prichard was brought back as a Senior Vice President.  Heyman had been working on certain storylines and with certain talents, including Ronda Rousey, Brock Lesnars and others dating back far before then.  He's been in the inner circle when it comes to the creative process for some time without an official title.  He and WWE have been circling around this deal for a long time.

The Eric Bischoff deal came together within the last several weeks.  Bischoff has been working on pre-production of the planned Netflix Hulk Hogan biography film and had a slew of personal appearances booked.  Over the last week, he quietly began canceling those appearance dates, so that is likely when he came to terms with WWE.  We are told he will be working directly with FOX as WWE builds their relationship with Smackdown's new home.  To say this is a massive return to form for Bischoff is a grand understatement.  We are told that WWE approached him about the role.

We are told that they will be overseeing all aspects of their individual series, answering directly to Vince McMahon.  They are now the top of the pyramid, respectively, for Raw and Smackdown.   Heyman is expected to continue his role as Brock Lesnar's advocate.  There is no word yet whether Bischoff will appear on camera, but given how good of a performer he is, one would think it's just a matter of time.

sky88

i thought this was a storyline when i saw it and they gm roles but wasnt expecting that whatsoever

i wonder were turner sniffing around eric for aew cause i mean heyman is not completely out of left field

basically this says if your an old timer get a podcast with conrad and youll get back in wwe

ERG89

CastorTroy wrote: »

Of course if Vince vetos all their decisions it'll be a bit redundant.

Of course he will. Tbf I'd have even less faith in Bischoff who's clueless.


Russo is expecting a call soon. He won't get it but I know he's optimistic about it.

Loughc

Heyman is an excellent appointment given how good his creative mind is and how good smackdown was when he was writing it.

How long will this last is anyone’s guess. But I wouldn’t expect either to make it to Mania. Hope I’m wrong and this is the start of decent Raws and Smackdowns but ultimately with Vince still in control will it make any difference at all?

CastorTroy

Will this be effective immediately or does it kick in from October?

Loughc

CastorTroy wrote: »

Will this be effective immediately or does it kick in from October?

Effective immediately it seems.

sky88

Loughc wrote: »

Heyman is an excellent appointment given how good his creative mind is and how good smackdown was when he was writing it.

How long will this last is anyone’s guess. But I wouldn’t expect either to make it to Mania. Hope I’m wrong and this is the start of decent Raws and Smackdowns but ultimately with Vince still in control will it make any difference at all?

honetly that smackdown run was unbelievable under heyman best hes ever booked

Itssoeasy

Very interesting move and the devil will be the detail. Paul Heyman did great things on smackdown in the early 2000's and he answered to vince then. If Paul can genuinely shape the show how he sees it in a PG environment(which has been done btw)then it could be a great move.

Bischoff I don't know about yet. Yes, he's dealt with network executives during his time in charge of WCW so he'll be an asset there. I wonder how his vision is creatively now as opposed to before.

Loughc

Part of me wants Heyman to come out Monday night and completely sh*t on Vince and end the wildcard rule and call out smackdown and Bischoff and make the brand split mean something again.

Loughc

Regardless of the outcome it’s the most exciting move wwe has done in ages so good for them for trying to stop the rot. Hopefully there’s a full reset after extreme rules.

lawlolawl

Loughc wrote: »

Regardless of the outcome it’s the most exciting move wwe has done in ages so good for them for trying to stop the rot. Hopefully there’s a full reset after extreme rules.

Stop the rot by putting in an ex WCW guy and a guy that wrote some good stuff for Smackdown years ago?


It's more of the same again.

nazmoalex

Has to be a positive, for now at least, that they (WWE) have taken a step to switch things up. See how it goes, hopefully things start to move in some sort of a clear direction.
Not a huge fan of either guy in the last few years, but this at face value seems like a fresh start for the both of them.
No such thing as a perfect booker, but anything different would be welcome at this point.

lawlolawl

https://twitter.com/MmmGorgeous/status/1144251563629830146

cian68

I don't see Bischoff as someone with anything to offer tbh but good luck to the pair of them. Does Heyman still have it in him to dedicate that much thought/energy to wrestling? I thought he was happy enough with the cushy manager job

Itssoeasy

cian68 wrote: »

I don't see Bischoff as someone with anything to offer tbh but good luck to the pair of them. Does Heyman still have it in him to dedicate that much thought/energy to wrestling? I thought he was happy enough with the cushy manager job

It's no secret that the young wrestlers want to get his advice and get his help. Heyman may be many things and not be the greatest businessman ever put on the earth, but even if it's been fifteen years ago since he was in charge of Smackdown, I know I'd watch an updated version of that in 2019.

CastorTroy

Loughc wrote: »

Part of me wants Heyman to come out Monday night and completely sh*t on Vince and end the wildcard rule and call out smackdown and Bischoff and make the brand split mean something again.

That's where things are gonna get complicated. They don't want the role to be onscreen but Paul will still be Brock's advocate. So not sure how he'll handle it, since in theory he can make any match for Brock that he wants and we all know it.

And will they acknowledge the change in any way? Call it a new era.

Now any suggestions as to what they'll do? Abolishing the Wild Card rule is one, as said

J. Marston

Loughc wrote: »

Regardless of the outcome it’s the most exciting move wwe has done in ages so good for them for trying to stop the rot. Hopefully there’s a full reset after extreme rules.

I wouldn't do another reset so soon.

The shake-up is supposed to be a reset. The wildcard was supposed to another one of sorts. Another one again so soon will have little to no impact on people.

Agent Coulson

Bischoff ran TNA into the ground the last time he had a role of power in wrestling.


Heyman and his Smackdown writer role was 2001 to 2003 that was 16 years ago.




Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt are the men there should be turning too.

sky88

when didnt they just let trips and shane take a brand each if they were keeping it with older guys

PTH2009

Exciting but will have little effect on the fans really as it's all backstage stuff.

25 odd years ago If u suggested all these guys working together you be called insane

So what will gorilla look like now
Vince
Heyman and Bischoff (one each at there show)
Triple H
Steph
Shane McMahon (what's his actual post backstage?)
Michael Hayes
Billy Kidman

Rock Lesnar

If they are both answering to vince, they'll probably have very little input and nothing much will change, now if they are left alone, it could be interesting but i wont hold my breath

Sirsok

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Bischoff ran TNA into the ground the last time he had a role of power in wrestling.


Heyman and his Smackdown writer role was 2001 to 2003 that was 16 years ago.




Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt are the men there should be turning too.

I showed my mate the firefly funhouse videos, has miner interest in wrestler but he genuinely couldnt believe how bad those segments are, maybe he didnt get some of the nuances, but i kinda have to agree with him, that muscle man dance video is a steaming pile of poop.

lawlolawl

Rock Lesnar wrote: »

If they are both answering to vince, they'll probably have very little input and nothing much will change, now if they are left alone, it could be interesting but i wont hold my breath

They'll most likely be micro-managed to the last.


It's not like they'll be able to decide to get Shane off screen, bump Corbin down the card or do what really needs to be done and kill off the years long attempt at making Roman "the guy".

The White Wolf

Just gets weirder by the week. Can't see either guy long term settling easily under Vince's thumb.

Mr.Nice Guy

Sounds encouraging with Heyman involved. Wrestling needs some creative oomph right now for the mainstream with WWE in a rut, and the nearest opposition being a circle jerk for a niche, beta male, cringeworthy audience.

Genuine stars that transcend the wrestling bubble are needed more than ever.

Jimmy McGill

Remember when they got rid of Corbin as GM and they stood in the ring with the cringy speech of how the fans were in control from now on. Hardly anything has changed since then, it seems like we're getting the same matches over and over. Ratings have been rock bottom. Every aspect of what goes on at tv tapings all has to go through Vince first. I don't expect these new appointments to be any different, everything still has to be signed off by Vince. And we'll still get the same boring old stuff. I hope I'm proved wrong though.

briany

Jimmy McGill wrote: »

Remember when they got rid of Corbin as GM and they stood in the ring with the cringy speech of how the fans were in control from now on. Hardly anything has changed since then, it seems like we're getting the same matches over and over. Ratings have been rock bottom. Every aspect of what goes on at tv tapings all has to go through Vince first. I don't expect these new appointments to be any different, everything still has to be signed off by Vince. And we'll still get the same boring old stuff. I hope I'm proved wrong though.

Yeah, that speech was a low point for WWE, particularly because nothing changed. At least back when Vince gave his 'Attitude' speech in late '97, it really did usher in a big change (that was already happening, but still it was an official line of demarcation).

The hiring of Paul Heyman as a top creative guy is a positive move because you get the feeling he still has an amount of vitality to him. Not so sure about Eric Bischoff. Bischoff was a great on-screen personality, but his track record as a booker consists of only one truly great idea, which he subsequently ran into the ground and then part way through the very crust of the earth.

lawlolawl

PWInsider posted:

Eric Bischoff officially came to terms with WWE for his new role as Executive Director of Smackdown two weeks ago.

So he's already doing the job.


Smackdown had maybe 2000-2500 in attendance this week and was the same old **** again.

SureYWouldntYa

lawlolawl wrote: »

Smackdown had maybe 2000-2500 in attendance this week and was the same old **** again.

Nothing will change overnight, even if booking was to be done properly it would take months for fans to get invested in it and trust that its good long term

The long term fix to falling audiences is proper booking, short term fixes are why Undertaker was back Monday night

Agent Coulson

Bischoff & Brother Love both owe Conrad for getting back in the limelight and making them relevant again in WWE's & Vince's eyes.



Conrad got Tony a gig and JR is now with AEW.


Conrads nostalgia podcast made him an extra fortune and got his stars back in the public eye and back working in major jobs in wrestling promotions

Rock Lesnar

lawlolawl wrote: »

They'll most likely be micro-managed to the last.


It's not like they'll be able to decide to get Shane off screen, bump Corbin down the card or do what really needs to be done and kill off the years long attempt at making Roman "the guy".

Exactly, which sort of makes it pointless to me, they cant do what they might like to do, or push who they want to push, without vince giving the go ahead.

briany

SureYWouldntYa wrote: »

Nothing will change overnight, even if booking was to be done properly it would take months for fans to get invested in it and trust that its good long term

The long term fix to falling audiences is proper booking, short term fixes are why Undertaker was back Monday night

They wheeled out the Undertaker again?

Massive Undertaker fan for pretty much his entire run with the company, and up until his streak was broken, but these days he's not so much The Deadman as he is the Nearly Dead Man.

Itssoeasy

I can understand that people aren't sure about this move but lads I don't watch it religiously at 1am anymore but I try to keep up and they had to try something because what is happening now isn't working. They couldn't to quote the carry on film "carry on regardless" they had to try something. I'd prefer for them to try something and it possibly not work out then to do nothing. I mean vince is still the guy in charge but maybe instead of writers being blow out maybe people who have had success in wrestling might get through to vince.

lawlolawl

Itssoeasy wrote: »

I can understand that people aren't sure about this move but lads I don't watch it religiously at 1am anymore but I try to keep up and they had to try something because what is happening now isn't working. They couldn't to quote the carry on film "carry on regardless" they had to try something. I'd prefer for them to try something and it possibly not work out then to do nothing. I mean vince is still the guy in charge but maybe instead of writers being blow out maybe people who have had success in wrestling might get through to vince.

Who are the guys that "have had success in wrestling"?


Is it the guy that ran ECW into the ground that has been in WWE for years and was instrumental in the recent watching-paint-dry angles with Brock and Ronda or the guy that ran both WCW and TNA into the ground that hasn't been associated with wrestling in years?


It's WWE leaning on some old ****e once again because they've created such a toxic environment that no one new that is half decent in the wrestling world wants anything to do with them anymore.


A has-been circlejerk.

JP Liz V1

J. Marston wrote: »

Another shake-up for WWE. Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff will take over the running of TV and have been given executive director roles in WWE. Heyman on Raw, Bischoff on Smackdown. Off-screen roles but both will be reporting to Vince...

https://www.si.com/wrestling/2019/06/27/wwe-paul-heyman-monday-night-raw-eric-bischoff-smackdown-live-vince-mcmahon?utm_medium=social&xid=socialflow_twitter_si&utm_campaign=sinow&utm_source=twitter.com

Pretty big news. First steps to Vince phasing himself out?

Not reporting to Hunter?

I kinda thought him and Steph were running the whole show

Agent Coulson

Eric's business partner that former child actor I wonder does he have pull at Fox and this lead to Eric getting into position with Fox so Vince went to him.

Loughc

lawlolawl wrote: »

PWInsider posted:

Eric Bischoff officially came to terms with WWE for his new role as Executive Director of Smackdown two weeks ago.

So he's already doing the job.


Smackdown had maybe 2000-2500 in attendance this week and was the same old **** again.

He signed the contract 2 weeks ago but hasn’t started yet. There’s no official word even if the start date is this week or not.

Itssoeasy

lawlolawl wrote: »

Itssoeasy wrote: »

I can understand that people aren't sure about this move but lads I don't watch it religiously at 1am anymore but I try to keep up and they had to try something because what is happening now isn't working. They couldn't to quote the carry on film "carry on regardless" they had to try something. I'd prefer for them to try something and it possibly not work out then to do nothing. I mean vince is still the guy in charge but maybe instead of writers being blow out maybe people who have had success in wrestling might get through to vince.

Who are the guys that "have had success in wrestling"?


Is it the guy that ran ECW into the ground that has been in WWE for years and was instrumental in the recent watching-paint-dry angles with Brock and Ronda or the guy that ran both WCW and TNA into the ground that hasn't been associated with wrestling in years?


It's WWE leaning on some old ****e once again because they've created such a toxic environment that no one new that is half decent in the wrestling world wants anything to do with them anymore.


A has-been circlejerk.

ECW went bankrupt so I'm not trumpeting Paul heyman as the best money man ever in the business, but as a booker whether you want to believe it or not he is a genius. He's shown it in WWE in the early 2000, when he had to deal with vince. So you can dismiss him but he's a track record of doing good stuff in WWE.

WCW ended because the network they were on decided they wanted nothing to do with wrestling anymore. Would vince have even survived that and he beat vince for a good few years. I'll give you TNA but I enjoyed Bischoff as an on air talent(I know he won't be that this time around) but the guy isn't a complete mess.

Agent Coulson

Anyone think Steph and HHH are really going to take orders from Paul or Eric.

Itssoeasy

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Anyone think Steph and HHH are really going to take orders from Paul or Eric.

Yeah, that may be an issue. I think it may go pear shaped because of heat between the four you've listed rather than frustration with vince. I mean what is Steph's role in the company outside of Brand officer of WWE ? Trips is above them on the flow chart I think being an Executive Vice President of talent and live events but was there heat between Triple H and Eric and Paul before this ?

lawlolawl

Apparently Fox were told nothing about Bishoff being brought in to run Smackdown and are now saying they want Heyman instead

These next few years are going to be hilarious.

hufpc8w3adnk65

Itssoeasy wrote: »

ECW went bankrupt so I'm not trumpeting Paul heyman as the best money man ever in the business, but as a booker whether you want to believe it or not he is a genius. He's shown it in WWE in the early 2000, when he had to deal with vince. So you can dismiss him but he's a track record of doing good stuff in WWE.

WCW ended because the network they were on decided they wanted nothing to do with wrestling anymore. Would vince have even survived that and he beat vince for a good few years. I'll give you TNA but I enjoyed Bischoff as an on air talent(I know he won't be that this time around) but the guy isn't a complete mess.

83 weeks straight

Loughc

lawlolawl wrote: »

Apparently Fox were told nothing about Bishoff being brought in to run Smackdown and are now saying they want Heyman instead

These next few years are going to be hilarious.

Ah class. Do you have a link for this?

J. Marston

Loughc wrote: »

Ah class. Do you have a link for this?

It's more Meltzer musings, presumably.

Agent Coulson

Fox didn't know anything about it but would have prefered Paul some great mind reading there from Dave, lol



FOX Didn't Know About WWE Hiring Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman

WWE made major headlines on Thursday morning when they announced that Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff had been hired to be the new executive directors for Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live, respectively. A lot of questions surround the announcement in regards to how much authority either man has, but it has been confirmed that the two will report directly to Vince McMahon. Some have compared the positions, which were created for the hirings, to how Triple H operates the NXT brand.

"In their executive roles, Heyman and Bischoff will oversee the creative development of WWE's flagship programming and ensure integration across all platforms and lines of business," the press release read. "The creation of these roles further establishes WWE's ability to continuously reinvent its global brand while providing two distinct creative processes for its flagship shows.

However, it turns out WWE might have made the move without telling executives over at FOX. WWE recently signed a multi-year billion-dollar deal with the company to air SmackDown Live on the FOX network starting on October 4.

"I do know that the FOX people had no idea this was coming," Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer said on an episode of Wrestling Observer Radio on Thursday afternoon.

Meltzer went on to add that the FOX executives would have preferred Heyman be assigned to the Blue Brand rather than Bischoff. According to Sports Illustrated's Justin Barrasso, Bischoff will work directly with the FOX executives once the show makes the move over to the network.

https://comicbook.com/wwe/2019/06/27/wwe-paul-heyman-eric-bischoff-fox-did-not-know-report/

Loughc

J. Marston wrote: »

It's more Meltzer musings, presumably.

Got you so big fake Dave the AEW spokesperson wrote it.

Totally legit. Fox neither know about it or care about it and like anyone in Fox cares about who Heyman is.