Eric Bischoff was one of the most influential minds in pro wrestling history during his stints in WCW, WWE, and TNA. All three chapters of his career featured various roles from on-screen talent to running the show behind the scenes. Unfortunately, not all the decisions made by Bischoff was successful enough to avoid criticism. The best moments proved he was creative, but he clearly was not perfect by any means.
Noteworthy wrestlers were miscast by Bischoff for better or worse. Bischoff believed in certain talents to thrive more than they could have and missed out on certain talents that deserved more of his confidence. Find out just what made him so off the money when it came to forecasting the following wrestlers.
10 Steve Austin
Eric Bischoff’s biggest mistake was ultimately letting Steve Austin leave WCW during an injury by firing him in ruthless fashion. Austin eventually became the biggest star in WWE history when getting to perform without many creative limitations.
The lack of confidence in Austin saw Bischoff gifting WWE the wrestler who turned the Monday Night War around. Austin was even inspired by Bischoff firing him in such disrespectful fashion that caused heat between them for years.
9 Lex Luger
Sting worked on Eric Bischoff for weeks to bring back former main event star Lex Luger to WCW. Bischoff had a negative reaction to Luger based on the way he left WCW during a tough time for a new start in WWE.
The failed WWE run saw Lex wanting to come back to WCW, but Bischoff was against it. Sting talking him into bringing Luger in proved that Bischoff was wrong in the long game. Fans viewed Lex as a legitimate top star, and it added more star power for WCW.
8 Dolph Ziggler
The short time in a role helping run Smackdown saw Eric Bischoff only having time to work with a few wrestlers. Bischoff revealed that Dolph Ziggler was one of the names he most wanted to work with via his 83 Weeks podcast.
Ziggler received a little more television time during Bischoff’s run, but it was such a short sample size that nothing came from it. WWE tried to push Dolph again in 2020 with failed results to show Bischoff was making a mistake with his valuation.
7 Master P
The wrestling personality role in WCW by Master P was one of Eric Bischoff’s greatest failures in his career. WCW started to struggle in 1999 causing Bischoff to take bigger risks of finding new ways to build the audience back up.
Rapper Master P was signed to a huge deal by Bischoff with the expectations of a younger crowd following him to WCW. The run was a disaster and played a role in WCW continuing to fall apart internally and externally.
6 Jeremy Borash
Eric Bischoff made a few negative comments about TNA broadcaster and backstage personnel Jeremy Borash. TNA fans and talent loved Borash since he contributed in every area as one of the most valuable employees.
Bischoff’s negative view of Borash not being an ideal broadcaster became a small storyline on TNA television. Borash clearly proved Bischoff wrong from his TNA days to the new role in WWE. Various backstage segments, NXT projects, and main roster cinematic matches have shown Bischoff’s impact in a bigger company.
5 Bret Hart
Bret Hart is one of the most vocal critics of Eric Bischoff going back to how he was treated in WCW. Bischoff didn’t book Bret like a main event star despite paying him huge money based on his iconic WWE run.
The close relationship between Bischoff and Hulk Hogan made many pundits believe the fix was in to sabotage Bret in WCW. Bischoff claimed Hart wasn’t performing at the same level that he did in WWE, but he did his best work just months before leaving WWE.
4 Garett Bischoff
The most blatant instance of Eric Bischoff trying to over-push another talent featured his son Garett Bischoff in TNA. Garett had no relevant wrestling experience before joining TNA in the role of a crooked referee.
The reveal featured Garett trying to become a top face feuding against his father. Hulk Hogan cut a promo calling Garett the future of the industry and was booed out of the industry. Garett flopped and never received another major opportunity in wrestling without his dad having the book.
3 Glacier
The concept of the Glacier character was influenced by Eric Bischoff believing wrestling characters inspired by the Mortal Kombat video game franchise would do well. The weeks of vignettes for Glacier ultimately ended in disappointment.
Glacier was a lower-tier mid-carder with the gimmick having a shorter ceiling than expected. Bischoff’s expectations were not met, and he eventually quit on the Mortal Kombat characters. Glacier is remembered fondly for the cool entrances but not much else.
2 Buff Bagwell
Buff Bagwell was on WCW’s roster for about a decade with Eric Bischoff and others believing in his value. The potential of Buff was stronger in the early ‘90s, but he just never progressed enough to warrant a main event push.
Bagwell joining the New World Order was the peak of his career, and he wasn’t even one of the important members. Bischoff tried to elevate him in a few angles with each ending with him back in the mid-card picture.
1 Gunner
Gunner received the faith of TNA management when Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan were the ones calling the shots. The upside of Gunner saw Bischoff and others believing he had untapped potential that could have made him a homegrown star.
Every singles push for Gunner ended in disappointment as he couldn’t improve enough for the role TNA wanted from him. Gunner flopped and eventually ended up in NXT with the Forgotten Sons. This run ended in another disappointment of the talent Bischoff believed in.