Eric Bischoff Reveals Why He Didn't Want Shawn Michaels In WCW
Bischoff had his hands full with The Kliq without HBK being involved
Jun 15, 2021
Former WCW President Eric Bischoff has his fair share of critics and fans alike, but no-one can argue he played a masterstroke bringing Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to WCW, and subsequently forming the New World Order.
During the nWo’s reign on top, rumours abounded that Shawn Michaels was to join his Kliq buddies Hall and Nash in WCW, with all three performers making reference to one another on TV. However, Bischoff was not keen on the idea, saying on the 83 Weeks podcast:
“He [Michaels] was a basket case. Nobody in their right mind would want to bring that, especially to WCW. I have all the respect in the world for Shawn Michaels today, but I wouldn’t want him anywhere near me or my roster back at this point. He had issues man, he’s talked about them, he’s written books about it, he’s very transparent about it.
“Yeah, he was great but especially because we brought Scott [Hall] and Kevin [Nash] in [to WCW]. I was even more convinced that I didn’t want Shawn anywhere near WCW once Scott and Kevin came in. I mean it was hard enough as it was, could you imagine bringing in Shawn Michaels before he cleared himself up and got his head straight and he found god, found his religion and really cleaned his act up. But prior to that point? Nah, I don’t care how good he was.”
Bischoff continued speaking on Michaels and the nWo, claiming that even if he were available, he wouldn’t have fit the idea of ‘former WCW stars coming back from the WWF to wreak havoc’:
“It would not have occurred to me because Shawn had never been in WCW,” Bischoff said. “The idea wouldn’t have come together in my own mind initially, before I even talked to Scott or Kevin seriously when I knew I was going to be having conversations with Scott or Kevin, that was the premise, that was the idea, that was the catalyst that became nWo for me. I don’t think the idea would have popped into my head if it was Shawn.
“If Scott and Kevin weren’t there and Shawn would’ve been available, I don’t think the risk of bringing Shawn in would’ve been quite as high because Scott and Kevin wouldn’t have been [in WCW]. I may have considered that, but I can tell you that I don’t think the idea would’ve percolated in my skull for anybody other than Scott and Kevin.”
H/T: Wrestling Inc.
