As many people are aware by now, Tony Khan and Eric Bischoff do not necessarily have the best of relationships. The two had a falling out back in 2021, and it has not really gotten any better.
Last year, the WWE Hall Of Famer even called AEW a ‘vanity project.’ In fact, Easy E even repeatedly criticized AEW for having poorly crafted storylines and having matches for the sake of it.
While speaking on a recent episode of his 83 Weeks podcast, Eric Bischoff talked about AEW’s current state. Bischoff stated that he believes that AEW is flatlining.
“How do you just not see it? How do you not look at your own product if you’re Tony Khan and go, okay, every once in a while, we crack a million, but we’re living in that 900K Zone and we have for a long time. Let’s not kid ourselves, you can spin that thing anyway you want to spin it, it is what it is. They’re flatlining and have been for a long time. What do you need to do to get to that next level? That next phase, that growth phase, what do you do? What you’re doing isn’t working. Dream matches and getting dirt sheet Booker of the Year awards has done absolutely nothing for your growth. First of all, me pointing out facts is not being critical, so when I talk about flatlining, that is a term referencing their growth chart. I think there is pressure.
Now, maybe Tony doesn’t care if he’s at some point in the future at risk of losing his partnership, but I can assure you, not just from personal experience, but just paying attention to things a little bit, man, with turnover in the television industry, top management, companies being merged, bought, sold, all the things that’s been going on for quite a while, if you’re not growing, you’re dying. That’s just my opinion and maybe Tony doesn’t care and if he doesn’t, then great, by the way, he was the one that was making all the comparisons to WWE and taking shots at WWE. Talent still does it on a regular basis. So if you’re really not interested in competing, quit talking about yourself as a competitor to WWE and focus on your own stuff if you’re not competing. If you are competing, then go the other direction, fight like hell, get in the mid, etc.”
Eric Bischoff
We will have to wait and see whether 2023 will signal the beginning of AEW’s growth, as the company truly needs good news right now.
H/T to Ringside News
Follow Corey at @CoreyBrennanBS on Twitter
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