Photo Credit: Gow Media

Eric Bischoff Explains Why NJPW Should Stick To Owning The West Coast Market In The United States



The latest episode of former WCW President Eric Bischoff’s podcast Bischoff on Wrestling was released this past Wednesday.

You can find a portion of Eric’s comments regarding NJPW’s planned expansion into the United States following the success of their recent Long Beach G1 shows transcribed below. His full comments can be found in the embedded audio player at the top of the post.

Subscribe to Bischoff on Wrestling on iTunes

EB: The west coast is a big market. If New Japan really wants to, I think, if they are smart and they want to build a presence here in the United States own the west coast. Own LA. Own San Francisco. Build a market in Portland. Build a market in Seattle. Dip your toes in Las Vegas every once in awhile every couple of years if you have some momentum going for you. The idea of trying to expand across the United States is just… it’s unnecessary. I think unless you’ve got a couple billion dollars behind you to do it with and give yourself ten years to succeed or fail it’s a waste of time. New Japan can certainly own the west coast which they should be thrilled with.

Related: Eric Bischoff Says The Cena vs Rusev Flag Match Is ‘Boring’ & That Vince McMahon Needs To Re-Think It

This week’s episode of Bischoff on Wrestling features Eric and Nick talking about a few of the pro wrestling news headlines from the past week. Including:

  • NJPW’s G1 Special from Long Beach, CA
  • NJPW’s planned US expansion following the success of those shows
  • Anthem acquiring Impact Wrestling and making GFW the new name of the overall brand
  • LaMelo Ball dropping the “n word” twice on RAW
  • WWE brining back the Punjabi Prison
  • John Cena and Rusev’s upcoming flag match
  • More…

Midway through the show Eric and Nick host a “Pro Wrestling & Politics Summit” with two wrestlers with political ties from opposite sides of the aisle: FOX News’ Tyrus & “The Progressive Liberal” Daniel Richards. The four discuss the current political climate in America, how pro wrestling has been pulled into the political discussion, how pro wrestling can help and hurt the American political division, more…

Eric also takes some time at the end of the show to answer a slew of fan questions. Some of the topics that Eric addresses in the #BischoffOnWrestling mailbag are:

  • Eric’s interactions with the NWA
  • Whether or not Larry Zbyzko created the name “New World Order”
  • What he misses most about the Monday Night War
  • Whether Eric would consider managing a conservative wrestler against The Progressive Liberal
  • His memories of working with Hobo Hank
  • Who he’d rather start a new promotion with… Jeff Jarrett or Billy Corgan?
  • WWE giving the various pro wrestling styles their own shows
  • Steve Austin’s WWE return at No Way Out

You can find a special Bischoff on Wrestling Overrun on IRWNetwork.com featuring Eric chatting with Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso about the July 7, 1997 edition of Monday Nitro:

TRENDING