Eric Bischoff spoke about the early days of the nWo and how WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase was a bad fit for the group.
The intense rivalry between WCW and WWE during the iconic Monday Night Wars era witnessed a surge in talent acquisitions, with WCW often poaching wrestlers from its competitor. Notably, the emergence of the nWo, led by former WWE stars, added a new dimension to this trend, as several wrestlers with ties to WWE joined the faction, including Ted DiBiase.
DiBiase, renowned for his managerial prowess and WWE legacy, became the fourth member of the nWo, assuming the role of their manager and spokesperson. However, his transition to WCW and integration into the nWo proved to be a misfit. Eric Bischoff, reflecting on DiBiase’s time in the faction, acknowledged the mismatch, attributing it to a poor casting decision.
During an episode of his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff candidly expressed regret over casting DiBiase in the nWo, emphasising that it was not a reflection of DiBiase’s talent or credibility but rather a case of an ill-suited role. Bischoff eventually assumed the position of the group’s spokesperson, replacing DiBiase, as the latter’s brief stint with the nWo came to an abrupt end after just a few months.
Ted DiBiase was probably the worst idea when it came to casting the nWo. It has nothing to do with Ted DiBiase we have touched on this before, I love Ted DiBiase. He is a great guy. We see each other on the road, we hang out and have dinner. He is a gentleman and a pro, but yours truly, in a poor, decision-making mode, cast him as one of the talking heads to kind of lead the nWo.
It is just bad casting, I don’t know how else to say it. It has nothing to do with Ted’s talents or ability. It had nothing to do with his credibility. Had nothing to do with anything other than being a bad fit. Now, Michael Wallstreet [IRS] was another example of that and there were others we can talk about any of them.
Following his departure from the nWo, DiBiase transitioned to a face role, managing the Steiner Brothers and then Ray Traylor before eventually parting ways with WCW in 1999.
Which Former WWE Tag Team Champions Does Eric Bischoff Want To See Have A Final Run?
Eric Bischoff said that he would like to see Matt and Jeff Hardy have one final run in the WWE. Bischoff stated that it would be a good ending to their wrestling journey to have a final run in the company that they started in.
Recently Eric Bischoff spoke about what went wrong during Goldberg’s match with William Regal.
H/t to TJRWrestling.net