Eric Bischoff Says AEW Has Flatlined, Scolds Chris Jericho For Uninformed Statement

Eric Bischoff reckons AEW will need to make changes over the next 18 months to raise its viewership.

The former WWE chief, speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast, pointed out that the young promotion hasn't broken the 1 million mark on many occasions since Dynamite's debut with claims the show has flatlined.

Related: Eric Bischoff Says X-Pac Was More Instrumental To DX's Success Than HHH or HBK

Bischoff, who recently warned Chris Jericho against "banging the drum" where the rivalry with WWE is concerned, again scolded the AEW star for a statement he made in reference to the war between the two brands.

“I think it’s going to come back to bite him in the a** is what I think,” he said (via Wrestling Inc.). “AEW last week they did about 800,000 viewers, they opened the door with 1.5 million viewers and haven’t been able to crack 1 million since or if they have it’s been only on 1 or 2 occasions. They’ve essentially flatlined at 7 or 800,000 viewers on average for the last year and a half."

Bischoff pointed out that Jericho spoke on the issue from the standpoint of a wrestler and not an executive.

“That’s an observation that could, unless something turns around in the next 18 months, come back to haunt someone like Chris. Quite frankly, AEW has flatlined and it’s been that way essentially for a year," Bischoff added. "It’s easy to talk about a business you’re not really in. Chris has never run a wrestling business and when he made that statement, he was making it from a position of a talent not an executive.”

Something For The Fans

Bischoff would also urge fans to stop being so critical of the brands they choose to watch, suggesting they watch to enjoy and not analyze.

“Don’t watch it to try to be an arm-chair quarterback or a critic or an expert, just watch it and enjoy it and take it for what it is and look for the bright spots in it," he advised. "We all have opinions and some things we like better than others."

Next: Goldberg Says WWE Fans Who Think He Shouldn't Remain In Title Picture Can "Complain All They Want"

Source: 83 Weeks (H/T Wrestling Inc.)