The following is an excerpt from the latest online blog of TNA’s Eric Bischoff:
A couple of things wrestling related: First off, congrats to Chris Jericho. Chris did a great job hosting “Downfall†on ABC.
The summer time is always a difficult time to launch anything in cable or network and the mere fact that Chris was cast as a host for this show is a credit to his talent. Like I said, I think he did an outstanding job and regardless of the shows future in the volatile world of network programming, I am sure that when Chris decides that his in-ring career at WWE is over, he will have a bright one in television.
Also, as I have posted on my Facebook page, really want to thank Vince Russo, Matt Conway and the team at TNA for picking up my slack and allowing me to spend some time with family and friends over an extended 4th of July break. The 4th is a special holiday for us as it is not only our favorite national holiday, but it’s also my wife’s birthday, (and now our new anniversary) as well as the anniversary of my fathers passing 10 years ago. My friends and family from around the country have started coming out to our place in Cody as a sort of unofficial “friends and family reunion and it has become a big part of our lives over the last 10 years.
I am excited about the direction of iMPACT over the last couple of months. Re-tooling the format, adding the docu-style backstage elements, better focus on story and key talent matchups have really given the show a sense of urgency and more drama. The team has laid out a pretty compelling long range arc that should take us through the summer and into the fall with some great TV.
Got a chance to catch the Brock Lesnar fight on the 3rd. Great fight with a terrific finish, but I do have to say it was weird watching Brock get man handled the way he did in the first round. It’s a testimony to Brocks mental and physical toughness that he got through the round, but the submission in the second was great and demonstrated just how good of a fighter Brock is.
Not so sure about Bastista’s move into MMA. Unless he has some amateur wrestling or legitimate kick-boxing background that I am unaware of, sounds like a quick payday, but not so much of a long term plan. It takes years to develop solid wrestling skill as well as punching/kicking technique. At 40 years of age, it’s a hell of a lot of catching up to do when you are in there with fighters half your age who have been on a mat or in a dojo all their lives. That said…like Dave a lot and wish him the best.
Just hung up with Hulk. His recent back surgery seems to have gone well and for the first time since I’ve known him, it sounds like he is taking his doctors advice and giving himself some down time to heal properly. I get on him like his mother sometimes, as every time he previously had a back surgery, the first thing he would do the minute he was feeling better was go down to the gym and see if the surgery worked by pushing weights around. His spirits are way up, he’s feeling great and looking forward to whats coming up.
Check out the full blog and follow future Bischoff blogs on his official website, EricBischoff.com.
