Eric Bischoff Speaks Out - Heyman To TNA, Danielson-TNA, More
TNA's Eric Bischoff was one of the special guests on this week's live edition (07/05/09) of the award-winning Monday Night Mayhem (presented by Good Health Natural Foods). You can feel The Mayhem live every Monday night (at 7PM ET/6PM CT), exclusively on The Monday Night Mayhem Radio Network (www.MondayNightMayhem.com).
Questions were taken via Eric's official Facebook page (https://www.Facebook.com/TheEricBischoff), along with your phone calls on The Mayhem Line (877.666.2110). Interview highlights courtesy of The Mayhem's official correspondent, Paterson from New Jersey:
The future of TNA ReAction on Spike TV: "As far as ReAction goes, I think there will be an announcement hopefully in the near future. I know everyone is excited about the show, but it's really a scheduling challenge. We are looking for the best time of year to premiere that show, and summertime is not typically the best time to debut a show. That being said, an announcement should come in the next couple of weeks from Spike."
The chances of seeing "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson joining TNA after his 90-day no-compete clause from the WWE ends: "I guess a lot of that would have to do with Bryan Danielson and whether he would want to come work for TNA. I don't know that answer to that, and I haven't had any conversations with him. I don't have an idea about what Bryan Danielson is thinking about in terms of his next move. I'm sure if TNA wanted Bryan and he was interested in working for TNA, I'm sure TNA could find a way to do it, given they haven't much trouble signing other big names in the last six months or so. We'll find out when that 90-day period is up."
His reply to Paul Heyman's post-UFC 116 comments about professional wrestling "needing to get their sh*t together": "As far as his comment goes, I don't have a clue of what context the comment was made in. People have a tendency to wanna compare MMA to professional wrestling, and for the life of me, I just can't figure out why. It's not even apples & oranges as I've said before, it's apples & bricks. One is a real sport & the other is scripted entertainment, and beyond that, if anyone can point out any similarities between the two and why wrestling should modify its business model based on what's happening in MMA, I would be very interested in hearing it, because last time I checked, they are two entirely different products."
If we are indeed closer to seeing Paul Heyman sign with TNA and take over the creative direction of the company: "I've heard the Paul Heyman rumor over the last few months, and I know that Paul has talked to Dixie so there has been some conversation, but I don't know what Paul's plans really are. I don't talk to Paul on a daily basis, and if Paul was to join TNA, I think it'll be a big asset, but I don't know what his immediate plans are."
Which match on Sunday's Victory Pay-Per-View he is looking forward to seeing the most & why the RVD/Abyss/Jeff Hardy/Mr. Anderson TNA World Heavyweight Championship Four-Way Match will be "intriguing": "I think the Heavyweight Title Match is intriguing. Love watching RVD, love watching Ken Anderson. I'm a big Anderson fan. Jeff Hardy & Abyss; it's gonna be great. I'm a huge Kurt Angle fan, and I love what he's doing, and that he pulled himself out of the Top 10 rankings, and is working his way up the ladder. So I find that match (Angle vs. "The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero) the one I'm looking forward to the most."