Eric Bischoff draws parallels between his wrestling approach and that of WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman. Both Heyman and Bischoff, influential figures in professional wrestling, led promotions that significantly impacted the industry. Despite their rivalry in the 90s, they have expressed mutual respect for each other’s work. On a recent episode of “83 Weeks,” Bischoff highlighted that Heyman’s approach was similar to his own.
“Heyman, whether he realized it or not, had a comparable approach to the business as I did, focusing on being distinct from WWE,” Bischoff remarked. “[ECW] showcased extraordinary talent that wasn’t well-known to audiences.”
Similarly, Bischoff aimed to present lesser-known talent during his time in WCW through the Cruiserweight Division, which played a key role in differentiating WCW from WWF and achieving strong ratings. He emphasized that the nine o’clock hour was “just as important as the main event” of the show.
“We needed something that felt and looked different… something with a faster pace,” Bischoff noted. While Bischoff popularized the term Cruiserweight in WCW, he acknowledged Heyman’s early use of smaller-sized wrestlers, like Luchadors, on television.