Eric Bischoff Speaks Out - TNA Status, Daniels-TNA, Lethal

Eric's recent cryptic Facebook posts and his current TNA status: "Things are fine; things are no different from the last time we spoke on this show. As far as my page being cryptic, I've been on my Facebook page for a long time, and I was suggesting to fans that as much as I like to have an open forum and have people comment and have constant communication, there's just a couple of things I don't want to see on my Facebook page.

"I don't want to see profanity and just stupid crap. One of the problems I have had with the Internet Wrestling Community is brain dead commentary and the same kind of redundant comments and statements over and over again, and when I started on the site, I really wanted to raise the bar and have conversations and even be critical without being abusive. It just got to the point where I didn't want to spend anymore time editing my page, so I made a statement a couple of times and just got sick of it and said enough was enough and I pulled the wall posting."

"The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels leaving TNA and his response to the fact that fans may perceive that he had something to do with Daniels' departure: "I don't really have a side. I'm a fan of Chris, and I was excited to meet him when I came to TNA. We talked a few times creatively about some character development for him and things like that, and I think he's a phenomenal talent. But honestly, I can't take a side when I'm not really on the inside of any of the discussions and issues as it relates to Chris. All I know is that there are a lot of people in TNA that think highly of him, and that's all I know. There are a lot of misconceptions on my role in TNA, Hulk Hogan's roles in TNA, and the day-to-day operations. It's understandable; we are very high profile and out in front as story lines go, but I'm a really big fan of Chris and probably will be and hope we see him back in TNA in the near future."

Why he sees Jay Lethal and Brian Kendrick as two of the most promising young talents in TNA right now and potentially as being major players in the industry in the years to come: "It's so hard to say, and this is going to sound so political and such a kiss-ass answer, but there is a lot of good young talent there, and not only do they have talent, but they have attitude...and when I say attitude, I mean the desire, passion, and focus with an open mind, which I think is critical in this business especially with young talent. Young talent are so influenced (when it comes to learning) that unless they keep a very open mind, they tend to get very pigeon-holed.

"In TNA, there are a lot of guys that fall into that category. Jay Lethal is the obvious one, and I could take up a whole show talking about Jay Lethal. (Brian) Kendrick is another guy. I've been watching him for years, and I think he was in the WWE when I was there, and I saw him in TNA, but no one really spent the time with him, and he never had the opportunity, but because he had the drive to approach me and say 'Hey, this is what I'm thinking, and this what I feel,' and as I'm listening to him, I'm thinking there is something there. There's a lot of guys and girls just like him in TNA."

His response to those that feel that TNA always puts former WWE superstars in the main event matches/storylines, as opposed to TNA's "homegrown" talent: "First of all, I have to say this, and this piss off some people in TNA, but I hate the term "homegrown talent." We're not selling vegetables here or freshly-made pies. This is about creating awareness. Our survival, our ability to grow our audience, and appeal to a broader audience isn't about appealing to the same people who've been watching this, and quite frankly, the audience hasn't grown all that significantly over the last 4, 5, or 6 years, or you probably wouldn't be talking to me right now.