Why Eric Bischoff Joined The NWO In 1996, Explained

The New World Order caught fire for WCW in 1996 with a cutting edge, realistic style that set them up as the very definition of cool heels. Some of the major ingredients that got them over with fans included a sense of mystery around what they’d do next, as well as the intrigue around them continually adding new members.

Related: 10 Biggest Mistakes WCW Made With The NWOThere did come a tipping point, however, when the faction had too many members and no longer felt elite or focused, but rather like a group that had little coherence and had people turning heel or babyface more on whims than out of strategic, long-term storytelling. Amidst all of this Eric Bischoff became one of the more controversial and memorable parts of the iconic faction as he straddled the line between real life executive and heel authority figure on-screen.

Why Eric Bischoff Booked Himself Into The NWO

The fourth official member of the now was Ted Dibiase. Playing off his history in WWE as The Million Dollar Man, he was positioned as the financier of the faction, and a de facto manager and mouthpiece as they grew larger. It was a logical enough way of adding another major name to the group, not to mention another one who had roots as a WWE star. However, when Eric Bischoff revealed himself as a double agent who’d been working with the nWo for months at the end of 1996, he largely wound up taking Dibiase’s spot—a non-wrestler and charismatic talker who became a featured player for the group.

Bischoff discussed the choice on his 83 Weeks podcast (h/t 411mania), likening his role to that of nWo’s equivalent of Mean Gene Okerlund, holding the mic for WCW talent and facilitating good promos. He also thought the concept of WCW’s own head executive being part of the group trying to destroy it was a cool one and fit the nWo ethos. Bischoff did go on to acknowledge that the choice did cause some chaos behind the scenes, including executives and business partners less familiar with the wrestling world at times struggling to distinguish between his character on-screen and his real life personality.

Eric Bischoff As A Heel Authority Figure

As Eric Bischoff settled into his heel role with the nWo, he became more and more established as a heel authority figure—not the first man to ever this role at at this prominent a level and with this level of real-life influence to blur the lines between kayfabe and reality. This run included becoming more and more outspoken in interviews against WCW babyfaces and WWE alike during the Monday Night War. From there, he began to have his own feuds opposite the likes of Larry Zbyszko and his most heated issue with Ric Flair, each of which culminated in Starrcade showdowns.

Related: Ric Flair's Win Over Eric Bischoff Was WCW Nitro's Ultimate Feel Good MomentWhile Vince McMahon quite arguably perfected the heel authority figure character--combining his natural charisma, look, and position as the greatest power broker in wrestling history to make some real magic—Bischoff hasn’t been shy about pointing out he did it before McMahon. For as polarizing as Bischoff the character as well as Bischoff the person could be, he nonetheless proved a heat magnet on TV. Whereas talents like Kevin Nash and Scott Hall were the kind of cool heels fans a lot of fans actually liked, there’s a real case to be made that Bischoff was more effective at garnering legitimate heat as someone fans were prepared to pay good money to see get beat up.

Eric Bischoff’s Time With The NWO Set Up His Time As WWE Raw GM

Eric Bischoff’s time as a member of the New World Order certainly increased his profile in the wrestling world. While his real-life executive role was no secret to hardcore fans and his broadcast work positioned him on television for years, Bischoff’s heel authority figure spot made him a legend and may have been the biggest factor in him garnering a WWE Hall of Fame induction.

One other important factor in Easy E’s HOF legacy, however, came in the mid-2000s when he was cast as the kayfabe general manager of WWE Raw. Bischoff reprised his heel role, engaging in a lengthy feud with co-GM Steve Austin and otherwise filling a traditional antagonistic role toward the top babyfaces of the day. It’s hard to imagine Bischoff would have found himself in this spot were it not for already having proven himself as a talker and heat magnet during his WCW heel run—in particular something of a co-leader of the nWo alongside Hollywood Hogan at that company’s peak popularity.

It remains subject to opinion whether Eric Bischoff’s involvement in the nWo were ultimately in the best interests of the group, the man, or larger WCW storytelling. Nonetheless, from his more humble self-professed motivations to hold the mic for talents in the faction, to elevating the heel authority figure role, to the legacy and opportunities he opened for himself, it was unforgettable work. Bischoff changed his legacy and the trajectory of WCW with this famous run.