Eric Bischoff Believes He Knows Why Bill Dundee Never Wrestled In WWE

With the star power he once possessed in the Memphis wrestling scene, it remains a mystery as to why the late "Superstar" Bill Dundee was never a featured in-ring talent for WWE. Though his circus training as a trapeze artist came in handy in the ring and he was a must-see spectacle for most, Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff thinks that wasn't enough to catch Vince McMahon's eye back then, as he was more interested in the larger-than-life body types versus Dundee's 5'7" stature, and how he showcased it. However, that did not mean that Dundee wasn't qualified to help behind the scenes. In fact, Bischoff ponders why the former CEO and chairman never offered Dundee a role behind the scenes in creative or booking.

"I guess it's pretty easy to understand why Bill didn't work in WWE as a talent, right? He would never have gotten by Vince's kind of perspective of what, at that point in particular, what a wrestler was. But behind the scenes, he was more than qualified," the former senior vice president of WCW said on his "83 Weeks" podcast. "I think, [what was] even more mysterious to your point, is in WWE's case, back when they were WWF, the UK has always been a big market for Vince...The entire European market, obviously, is a different style of booking over there...What they're used to and conditioned to believing in is different in nuance from what it is here. And it helps to have that perspective in a room creatively. So, if we're going to do a tour, wouldn't you want somebody who has experience touring the markets that you're going to be in? Because that guy you're sitting in the room with, or you should at least, made his living reading the room."

A few years before his passing, Dundee himself stated that WWE was interested in offering him a role backstage. However, he believed that potential opportunity was turned down because of alleged conflict with WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker. A stalwart with 60 championship reigns attached to his name, Dundee passed away earlier this month at the age of 82. WWE did pay tribute to him immediately after his passing. 

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