Eric Bischoff's War Against the "10 Percenters"; Calls the IWC "Irrelevant"

[IkeTurner]

Im not saying he should listen to people on the internet. I mean, in a way he is correct in saying 10% doesnt mean a whole lot. BUT he is actually talking about drawing money here??? He completely loses credibility... I mean congrats Eric on your 1.0 ratings every week. TNA is just about as irrelevant in the wrestling world as internet fans are. When you can actually SELL 10,000 pay per views then maybe you can talk about knowing how to draw money.

 

[Rayne]

IWC will never quit watching wrestling. Then they would have to get a life or talk to a real person etc. I am pretty sure Russo could rape most of the IWC's mothers and it would improve their opinion of him yet they will keep watching a show they know he wrote every week. Sure seems like that would render their opinion even more irrelevant.

You realize that you are a part of the IWC, right? Are you implying that you don't have a life and don't talk to real people?

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Dizzy - in my job if I had a non-stop flow of free access to ideas and opinions of what I do I would welcome it to no end. Sure most of what comes out of the IWC it is repetitive or crap but there are a lot of bright people out there who are sharing feedback for free.

Don't cater to me, I could be a lunatic and I am just one person but if you ignore everything a large segment of your fan base is sharing you could find yourself slipping quickly. Case in point, when back when the internet was first getting legs there was a lot of chatter about the oversaturation of NWO Hogan, WCW ignored this and continued with everything NWO Hogan, WCW's ratings went on the decline. WCW could only see the current glowing ratings they saw no indication of what was to come, which should have been right in front of their eyes. Jericho is another example of.a place that the IWC got right and WCW got wrong.

I can't speak on ROH beacause I am not a fan but I don't understand how that invalidates my point.

 

[silrock316]

Actually we as fans have every right to challenge him. The fact is, Bischoff and company have failed MISERABLY to make any appreciable difference for TNA since arriving in scene. Why WOULD he say otherwise about the IWC? He's fighting for his job and trying to move up the ladder to get the reigns full time. Good for him. I wish him luck. Hopefully if he gets to be in charge of the ship he can make a bigger difference than his and Hogan's mere presence have resulted in to date.

See Eric is a product of his own press clippings. HE actually believes that he and Hogan are big deals in wrestling. If they were, they wouldn't BE working for TNA. No offense, but as I keep on saying, TNA is the minor leagues by comparison. It's why he and Hogan are there and not in WWE. You think if VKM offered them a million bucks to bolt they wouldn't run so fast you'd see nothing but a vapor trail behind them? For he and HH it's about the money and nothing more. EB needs the dough to help finance his other television projects and he also needs the contacts. HH just needs the money. Paying off an ex-wife and taking care of 2 spoiled brats with high end needs isn't easy. HH also loves the spotlight. He loves making it all about HH. God bless him. He's been very fortunate to make all the cash he has. Sadly, it seems he's blown most of it.


Anyway, again, if the IWC EB wouldn't have taken the time to acknowledge them/us.

LoL

You have ABSOLUTELY no right to challenge him. You are most likely a 9-5 that watches wrestling for fun just like me. You are not in a position to challenge him. You are not his boss, you are not in a position to write storylines or influence any of the products. Therefore you are in NO position to challenge what he says or does as I stated.

You do however have the right to critique his product because you are a fan. That is your choice, your right, as a fan do to so, but the fact is, you are in no position to influence any of his decisions. With that said, neither do I.

If say Vince was to follow what the majority of the IWC wanted they would have Punk vs. Morrison as the WM28 main event and they would get 2,000 buy rates.

 

[nikvoodoo]

IWC will never quit watching wrestling. Then they would have to get a life or talk to a real person etc. I am pretty sure Russo could rape most of the IWC's mothers and it would improve their opinion of him yet they will keep watching a show they know he wrote every week. Sure seems like that would render their opinion even more irrelevant.

Because invoking rape is such an awesome thing to do....what is your malfunction, dude? How would you react if someone came out and said their mother was raped?
Go tell your mother you love her and what you invoked in her name today. Be proud of yourself, bucko.

You realize that you are a part of the IWC, right? Are you implying that you don't have a life and don't talk to real people?

No. He's implying he wants his mother raped apparently. But maybe its just better if he doesn't talk to real people and flames a wrestling board instead. Its safer to stir shit from the safety of your laptop.

PS: How did Russo even come up in this conversation about Bischoff and the IWC?

 

[HiddenInPlainView]

I find it funny that he is talking about ratings and working in TNA. Talk about irrelevant

 

[IkeTurner]

Hey Eric.....hows that house show attendance coming along??? Those ROH internet fans nearly draw more to their live shows. Gimmie a break.

 

[shattered dreams]

Because invoking rape is such an awesome thing to do....what is your malfunction, dude? How would you react if someone came out and said their mother was raped?

How would you feel if I said my mom was raped and that my way of dealing with it was humor? You do not know me either so get off that high horse bs.

Go tell your mother you love her and what you invoked in her name today. Be proud of yourself, bucko.

I can't. She died giving birth to me, bucko.

No. He's implying he wants his mother raped apparently. But maybe its just better if he doesn't talk to real people and flames a wrestling board instead. Its safer to stir shit from the safety of your laptop.

Yes. I clearly said I want my mother raped. Hey, something on topic. Yes, the IWC does tend to call attention to themselves by attempting to making larger issues out of smaller things. Isn't that essentially what bischoff is saying? Silent majority is a term that has been around for some time now.

PS: How did Russo even come up in this conversation about Bischoff and the IWC?

IWC hates Russo. The relevance of the ideas that the IWC screams loudest about is what bischoff clearly is commenting about. For those wondering about ratings I'd assume he is referring to the fact that with the minute by minute breakdowns the "old" people draw and the young vanilla midgets do not.

You and Rayne need to look up hyperbole in the dictionary.

 

[czar76]

Every wrestling fan thinks they know more then the bookers, excs, etc. Fact is we don't!! Maybe what Bisch said isn't totally true about the 90%/10% but over all the IWC has little to no bearing on what happens. Hell the fans in general have little say. What matters is sponsorship and network approval. If the suits are happy that is what goes on t.v.
It's always been that way and it always will be that way. Yes if the fans are getting what they want they will tune in more and buy more but in the end all that makes a difference is where the higher ups want the product to be. TNA brings in good rating for Spike. Not good compared to WWE but good enough for Spike.
Everyone likes to complain that the numbers show that TNA sucks. The numbers show that for the type of network Spike is and for the product they are trying to produce the numbers are just fine.
Bisch can say whatever he wants. It makes people talk and that my friends is all he wants us to do, talk about what he said.

 

[Rayne]

You and Rayne need to look up hyperbole in the dictionary.

I understand "hyperbole" quite well, I'm a big fan of it. However, my issue wasn't with you using hyperbole. My issue was with you, yet again, separating yourself from the IWC as if you weren't a part of it. It's convenient for you to look down on people who discuss wrestling on the internet, even though you do it more than most posters here.

The word you might wish to look up would be "hypocrisy".

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Because it's a lie?

He's right. The IWC is the vocal minority — nothing more. In the long-term, they are a relatively meaningless and insatiable group of complainers who are never happy no matter what they're given.

So how do I feel? Just fine, thanks.

I think your probably right. Other fans just dont voice their opinions like we do. So of course the few who do will be the vocal minority, that will always be the case and is not going to change, unless millions of wrestling fans decend on these forums and start running their mouths.

Many wrestling fans today are just brainwashed into thinking that the product that they are seeing is what they want to see, they have not taken the time to look into wrestling from the past. We have, and discovered other styles/gimmicks that we like and want to see done again, so we complain. They havent done this, and dont feel the need to, as they are quite happy watching what TNA and WWE put out, without complaint. Fair play to them.

Bischoff and Vince will continue on the path they are on, making millions of dollars and the fans who complain now will keep complaining, as they will keep catering to the masses.

 

[Hardcore Heathen]

I like the fact that Some of you Say Them when talking about Our Mini community as if your not on the internet and Replying to this Thread LOL.

It Already looks like they listen to us anyway the amount of time TNA Change Their Minds lol.

 

[shattered dreams]

Rayne, do you believe that the IWC is a block of people that all share the exact same opinion and act the exact same way? I think it is pretty obvious that isn't the case. Thus, specifics of what the IWC does or does not do are subject to majority stereotypes at best. I absolutely am among those that engages in irrelevant discussion on wrestling on the internet. However, I do not believe I am a nitpicking malcontent obsessed with negativity. Nothing hypocritical about differentiating. I find it hard to believe someone as smart as you is trying to take that post I made seriously (and I do mean smart as a compliment, you have put up a lot of good posts recently).

 

[nikvoodoo]

How would you feel if I said my mom was raped and that my way of dealing with it was humor? You do not know me either so get off that high horse bs.

I would say that's horrible and you should know better than to joke about it because some people don't deal with shit like that with humor. Especially if its more recent.

I can't. She died giving birth to me, bucko.

I will assume that this is true because there would be no point in debating it and simply say sorry for your loss.

Yes. I clearly said I want my mother raped. Hey, something on topic. Yes, the IWC does tend to call attention to themselves by attempting to making larger issues out of smaller things. Isn't that essentially what bischoff is saying? Silent majority is a term that has been around for some time now.

Hang on a second...where am I right now....forums.wrestlezone....why....it would appear that you're apart of the IWC!!! Therefore....

You and Rayne need to look up hyperbole in the dictionary.

and you need to figure out different ways to make your point because making light of rape isn't funny no matter what your intentions. Have a nice life because I'm done responding to you.

 

[mikeyboy]

Like it or not Bischoff is right , in the grand scheme of things we the iwc are a fringe group that only makes up a very small percentage of fans. Its the same in other sports also , im a liife long baseball fan , i like the game the way it used to be good pitching , low scoring games traditional well played baseball ,but the casual fan thinks that is boring , they want homeruns , lots of scoring , they could care less about a good pitching duel with only 1 or 2 hits in the game and a 1-0 score , remember the old mlb commercials "chicks dig the long ball" that the mind set of the casual viewer. I love a good wrestling match with lots of mat work , people like Daniel Bryan appeal to me but the casual veiwer and the young fans dont understand that , they want the HOLY SHIT moments , i tend to think a little of both is a good thing . Like it or not people Cena appeals to the kids and thats where the money is made , not in good moves and mat wrestling its more or less just another form of showbiz , Vince understood this years ago before anyone else , thats why he is where he is today , Bischoff knows this too , he is justified in his remarks whether we like it or not and personaly i like the fact that someones got the balls to stand up and say what he feels even if he does step on a few toes.Dont get all butthurt over his remarks , its just one mans opinion and hes intitled to it.

 

[Brian in Austin]

You have ABSOLUTELY no right to challenge him. You are most likely a 9-5 that watches wrestling for fun just like me. You are not in a position to challenge him. You are not his boss, you are not in a position to write storylines or influence any of the products. Therefore you are in NO position to challenge what he says or does as I stated.

You do however have the right to critique his product because you are a fan. That is your choice, your right, as a fan do to so, but the fact is, you are in no position to influence any of his decisions. With that said, neither do I.

If say Vince was to follow what the majority of the IWC wanted they would have Punk vs. Morrison as the WM28 main event and they would get 2,000 buy rates.

Not to be intentionally disagreeable here my friend, but being critical of EB is in fact challenging his ideas of what does or does not work for a fan or the fans. Now as a businessman I'm sure he's smart enough to know that you can't ignore your customer base and be successful over the long term. And if he's listening only to those who are slapping him on the back telling him what a great job he's doing I KNOW he won't be successful long term. It's that kind of thinking that leads to many a failure in the world of business. It happens all the time in every industry when CEO's don't listen to experts in the field, their employees, or their consumers and instead steamroll right into oblivion, causing catastrophic failure for their company.

It is my opinion that EB is a bright guy or he wouldn't be where he is. He's nothing if not determined, hard-working, and resourceful. That doesn't mean he's above making mistakes and that's been proven with some of the storylines and decisions we've seen made over the last 2 years or so. Example: Letting Jay Lethal go, but keeping Tommy Dreamer. Example: Bringing in Chyna for a one off as she was doing a porn movie, instead of ODB.
Example: Bringing in old ECW/WWE rejects for one last payday at a meaningless PPV. The absolutely HORRENDOUS decision to allow Jeff Hardy to even appear at a PPV stoned out of his mind. (Anyone who had ANY part in that should have been fired immediately.)

So for all his bluster about how the IWC doesn't matter, he should be focusing all of his attention on how to make their product better. Taking cheap shots at fans is a desperate, albeit misguided, attempt to garner attention for a product that if it were good enough on its own, wouldn't need such desperation.

 

[TheSal25]

Only a man who was a part of a self destructing company ailienate 10% of fans thinking its meaningless, I own shares in WWE stock they more then welcomely accepted my money as they do when I order T shirts, hats, pretty much anything for sale. I have never bought TNA or Impact wrestling merchandise but its nice to know its usually going to be atleast 10% off I mean it should if its meaningless

 

[Any007]

I really hate that guy.but the problem is that he is somewhat right.They dont need to look at the 10% when they can easily gain other 90%.

 

[Rayne]

Rayne, do you believe that the IWC is a block of people that all share the exact same opinion and act the exact same way? I think it is pretty obvious that isn't the case. Thus, specifics of what the IWC does or does not do are subject to majority stereotypes at best. I absolutely am among those that engages in irrelevant discussion on wrestling on the internet. However, I do not believe I am a nitpicking malcontent obsessed with negativity. Nothing hypocritical about differentiating. I find it hard to believe someone as smart as you is trying to take that post I made seriously (and I do mean smart as a compliment, you have put up a lot of good posts recently).

No. The IWC is representative of several different opinions, which is exactly why I have issue with you repeatedly chastising "the IWC" as if you weren't a part of it. Say you disagree with other people on the internet, if you'd like. You treat the IWC as a homogeneous group in bashing it; as if we all had the same opinions, and you are the voice of sanity and reason.

Say you disagree with certain attitudes amongst members of the IWC. Stop bashing "the IWC", however, every time some front office member of TNA/IW decides to bash them.

 

[Stinger90]

I won't say that he is 100% correct, just that he does have a point. As has been said several times already, it is the fact that everyone has an opinion and no one is ever completely happy. They push somebody like the Miz to the WWE champion and let hime win a Wrestlemania. I saw tons of people wanting the Miz to be the top guy and when he is on top there are complaints about how he was booked as a weak heel champ. I(who was not a supporter of Miz) have to say he proved he belonged at the top, but back to my point those same people who kept complaining how he wasn't getting a push still complained when he was on top. The people in the business may listen sometimes but you have to realize you can't please everybody. I have a novell idea, just watch and enjoy the shows or don't. Enough with this how would you book this angle already.

 

[silrock316]

I was saying challenging EB as you literally challenging his decisions. I never said I agreed with him for attacking OUR community. I was simply agreeing with him that our small percentage really doesn't matter in the overall ratings and such. I also don't mind if you disagree just to disagree. That's what we are here for. That being said regardless of whether he was just being a doushe bag what he said has validity. However, with TNA getting worse ratings than tough enough I don't know how smart it is to bash ANY fans when you are only pulling 1.2's.

 

[H33LTurn]

When Bischoff uses the term IWC I dont think he literally means people who go on wrestling forums or make videos about how they feel a certain show should've gone. I think he refers to the subculture of wrestling fans who go on the internet and give hell to people like him and Vince over every little detail. You have to realize guys like Bischoff work around the clock on a continuous TV program, as well as live events. Their responsibilities go far beyond putting on a wrestling show that looks like something people would like to see. Hes got to meet demands from wrestlers who are unhappy with their current possition in the company, he needs to build future superstars, and most importantly he needs to meet the demands of TV networks. He has to meet all of those demands in two hours and a couple of house shows. Given the lack of experience and organization in TNA as compared to WWE there is no wonder why the company's ratings are suffering. What I'm getting at is that they are doing the best they can. Honestly wether they want to say it or not they care about ALL our ideas. Not specifically as a TV audience or an internet audience but as a mainstream audience. Now to go back to the term IWC. This is in reference to the unhappy group that constantly barks demands at promoters who are trying to put on the best type of show possible. Not everyone os going to like whats going on, so the best thing to do is target the majority of the audience, which coincidentially doesnt share the same ideology as the internet community of wrestling fans. Todays promoters have an onslaught of demands to meet, and I'm pretty sure our ridiculous demands are the last things on the minds of people who have to prepare for a nationwide or worldwide audience multiple times a week. What are some of our demands you may ask? Zack Ryder having a major spot in WWE programing... honestly you dont believe this is going to work in the long run. Lets see aother demand, sorry if they're all WWE related, I'm not a huge follower. Christian as Heavyweight champion... he has to be the smallest and weakest guy in the roster. You mean to tell me the guy who was playing second fidle to Del Rio when he was just a newcommer a couple of months ago should be champion in a brand with the likes of Randy Orton and Sheamus? In conclusion, Vince and Eric both have to make difficult decisions every day, some which they would be taking a great risk of ignoring, at the price of being continuously ridiculed. This is why guys like Eric feel they have to go online and vent on Twitter. You think he doesnt notice that TNA is on a downhill spirall. Hes probably trying to figure out why the teachnique that he used for WCW, which all of us ate up, when applied to TNA gets the reaction that it gets. Guys wer're talking about a complete recontruction of a company in a little less than two years. They're trying stuff until it sticks so until then cut these guys a break. If your negative thoughts interfere with your viewing of wrestling that much then the problem no longer lies within the company, it lies within you. People have different preferences. What pleases a WWE fan would piss off a TNA fan. There are companies like ROH that take the internet community's pleas very seriously, so you can check those out if you wish. Just remember in order to please you they have to ignore the demands of TV companies and other business opportunities which could in the long run harm the promotion's economy. WWE is the measuring stick, TV companies want success similar to that of the WWE. In order for that to happen certain fan's pleas have to be ignored. Promoters have to determine which risks are safe to take from a BUSINESS standpoint because when all the smoke, mirrors, and funny costumes are gone this line of work is based on big business.

Thanks for reading this those of you who did. I know its long but its what over a decade of experience as a wrestling fan has taught me. Pardon the grammatical errors i was in a bit of a rush.

 

[Rammsteinerteen]

Everybody on these forums are smarks. Smarks are people on the internet who give their opinion, and hate most of what everybody else says. These are all smarks, I'm a smark because I have personal opinions, and I don't like what goes on in most of WWE and TNA, and yet I still watch it.

Eric Bischoff is stating the obvious, but that STILL doesn't make his brand good. Eric needs to get off the internet, and fucking fix his company because it's in a state of shit, instead of insulting smarks all day. He acts very unprofessional, even though he states the obvious, but wastes his time in the same moment.

 

[Brian in Austin]

Like it or not Bischoff is right , in the grand scheme of things we the iwc are a fringe group that only makes up a very small percentage of fans. Its the same in other sports also , im a liife long baseball fan , i like the game the way it used to be good pitching , low scoring games traditional well played baseball ,but the casual fan thinks that is boring , they want homeruns , lots of scoring , they could care less about a good pitching duel with only 1 or 2 hits in the game and a 1-0 score , remember the old mlb commercials "chicks dig the long ball" that the mind set of the casual viewer. I love a good wrestling match with lots of mat work , people like Daniel Bryan appeal to me but the casual veiwer and the young fans dont understand that , they want the HOLY SHIT moments , i tend to think a little of both is a good thing . Like it or not people Cena appeals to the kids and thats where the money is made , not in good moves and mat wrestling its more or less just another form of showbiz , Vince understood this years ago before anyone else , thats why he is where he is today , Bischoff knows this too , he is justified in his remarks whether we like it or not and personaly i like the fact that someones got the balls to stand up and say what he feels even if he does step on a few toes.Dont get all butthurt over his remarks , its just one mans opinion and hes intitled to it.

But sports aren't able to survive in today's economy with the hardcore fan base alone. Salaries are too expensive today in every sport without the casual fan to withstand the kind of economic downturn we're experiencing today. Most sports businesses are struggling to bring in casual fans whether that be on tv or in arenas. So while I applaud the efforts of the hardcore fans there just aren't enough of that 90% to keep most of these businesses afloat.

Mr. Bischoff might want to consider that the next time he decides to target any percentage of what is for TNA, a very small audience.

 

[shattered dreams]

No. The IWC is representative of several different opinions, which is exactly why I have issue with you repeatedly chastising "the IWC" as if you weren't a part of it. Say you disagree with other people on the internet, if you'd like. You treat the IWC as a homogeneous group in bashing it; as if we all had the same opinions, and you are the voice of sanity and reason.

Say you disagree with certain attitudes amongst members of the IWC. Stop bashing "the IWC", however, every time some front office member of TNA/IW decides to bash them.

When have I claimed I am not a part of it? Constantly in our everyday life we take the majority opinion of any group that isn't homogenous and discuss it as such. It isn't strictly correct but it is usually pretty easy to tell which characteristic people are actually discussing. When I say the IWC is excessively negative then it is pretty clear what that means. It doesn't mean everyone is the same or that I am not a part of the IWC. If you are not excessively negative then you should not think I am referring to you. If I make an exaggerated insult to the group in general then it is likely the case that on a smaller level that I do think it applies everyone including myself or sometimes it is just to make light of the stereotype in general.

If you look closely at this situation Bischoff is doing the same thing. Everything that happens in the IWC is irrelevant. However, he isn't really chastising the entire IWC. Just those that loudly claim that what they want is all that matters in spite of other more quantitative and informed measures. This is especially stupid when their friend agrees with them and then they both start repeating whatever they want even louder.