Former WCW chief Eric Bischoff doesn't totally agree with All Elite Wrestling using the "Bash at the Beach theme," with the new promotion having announced that they will be hosting a Dynamite episode going by the very name after securing a trademark this year.
Bash at the Beach was a popular WCW PPV that the defunct company used from 1994 up until 2000 but Cody Rhodes managed to get the name for AEW and they will be making full use of it.
The decision has the fan opinion split and Bischoff, having worked as WCW's president back in the day, has had his say on the development. His latest 83 Weeks podcast saw him share his thoughts and he's revealed that he has mixed emotions over the whole thing.
The ex-SmackDown executive director says he understands the move but feels that AEW should focus on being original and plotting their own path in the industry.
“I have mixed emotions about it. I kind of understand it, but I also think it’s a bad choice. AEW…needs to find their own vision," he explained. "They need to become their own brand. They need to become their own entity. They need to find the way that they’re really going to become the alternative.
"The more often they go back and kind of try to recreate the success of WCW, and align themselves with WCW’s success, I think they’re missing the mark.”
WWE got the rights to "Bash at the Beach" when they purchased WCW in 2001 but did not renew the trademark, leaving it up for grabs. AEW boss Tony Khan recently told Wrestling Inc. that Rhodes got his company the rights during a trademark spree during which he also secured the rights to his father's ring name "Dusty Rhodes."
Mixed Feelings Alright
Bash at the Beach will almost certainly attract some old WCW fans and AEW is likely hoping to use nostalgia to their benefit. But Eric makes a good point here; they would probably be better off producing their own branding.
In any case, the event is still set to happen and will take place in Miami on January 15. We'll just have to wait and see how it does.
Source: Sescoops.com