Wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff who is also the former Boss of WCW recently talked about the upcoming AEW – NJPW The Forbidden Door pay per view event. Bischoff said that he did not think this would help AEW in gaining more viewership.
AEW is in existence since the very first day of 2019 and they have tried really hard to compete with the Mighty WWE. It is quite clear that their goal is to surpass the greatness of WWE and become the A show in the world of professional wrestling, and they are trying really hard to achieve it.
Eric Bischoff Thinks AEW Forbidden Door Will Not Increase Their Viewership
They have signed some of the biggest names in the world of professional wrestling including the likes of CM Punk and Bryan Danielson. But somehow they have failed to compete with WWE’s monopoly in the world of professional wrestling. They have produced better shows, better matches, better storylines and better pay per view events than WWE. Still they are feeling to gain more viewership.
This is one of the biggest reasons behind bringing the Forbidden Door pay per view event in which they have collaborated with NJPW. Next month they will be a pay per view event called The Forbidden Door where AEW and NJPW are teaming up. But how much they would help AEW to gain more viewership?
One thing me must say that AEW are not being able to come out with attractive pay per view names. All Out, Double or Nothing, Full Gear, Revolution, some of the names of their pay per view events. And now, the Forbidden Door. There is no creativity at all. In order to attract more fans, they have to do better than this.
Eric Bischoff who is also the former Boss of WCW recently spoke to Strictly Business podcast where he talked about the upcoming AEW – NJPW The Forbidden Door pay per view event. Bischoff said that he did not think this would help AEW in gaining more viewership. He said;
“I don’t think so. What AEW has been doing and what, at least up until the last episode I watched about two weeks ago, is kind of internet wrestling community-centric. They’re booking for internet wrestling fans more than they’re booking for the casual audience and I would venture to guess, and it’s just a guess, but they’re satisfying an audience that they already have. And they’re doing a phenomenal job of doing that but how many people watch New Japan wrestling? How many people watch the New Japan product on a weekly basis [in the US]?”
“How is merging a television property that’s only getting 200,000 viewers a week with AEW, how is that going to increase or attract the casual viewer that AEW doesn’t have? I don’t know, doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea, I kind of dig the idea from a wrestling fan’s perspective, and I’ve spent a lot of time in Japan and have a lot of good memories and experiences working with New Japan. I love the Japanese style of wrestling but that doesn’t mean it’s going to grow an audience.”
H/T and transcribed by Wrestling Inc.