Eric Bischoff remembers Ted Turner, “Ted stood up for the product because he believed in it”

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Eric Bischoff was brought on Busted Open today to talk about the late TV pioneer. Easy E credited Ted Turner for seeing a vision that most media executives were embarrassed to even ponder. But Turner wanted a station that was meant for middle America. That meant some classic, if affordable, programming like the Andy Griffith Show, while also bringing in sports with the Atlanta Braves and World Championship Wrestling.

“Ted believed in professional wrestling. Not just from a fan’s point of view, but he also, more than being a fan, believed in the product as a business opportunity,” said Eric Bischoff on Busted Open.

Bischoff stated that Ted Turner bought into professional wrestling, partly because Jim Crockett Promotions was cheap at the time (heading toward bankruptcy), but also believed it was a product that reached middle America.

“It was middle America. That’s what Ted believed in. Ted had his finger on the pulse of what mainstream America wanted. And he looked at professional wrestling different than any other media executive, other than Vince McMahon, that I’ve ever met in my life.”

Turner’s vision wasn’t shared by many of those working alongside him, per Bischoff.

Ted Turner and WCW’s hot streak against the WWF

In 1995, Eric Bischoff met Ted Turner to discuss what they could do to compete with Vince McMahon’s WWF. The answer? They came up with their own Monday night event to counter RAW, WCW Nitro. It also saw the promotion change its image from southern-based to a more modern product.

Eventually, after years of struggling financially, WCW took off. They’d managed to bring in major names like Hulk Hogan, Lex Luger, Macho Man, and more, while also maintaining contracts for big stars like Sting and Ric Flair, the latter of whom had recently returned from a WWF stint.

In 1996, thanks to the shocking New World Order storyline, an exciting undercard with a cruiserweight division that’s still spoken of today, and a more exciting TV presentation, WCW took over. For 83 weeks straight, WCW Monday Night Nitro beat WWF Monday Night RAW in the ratings.

“Ted Turner stood up to the board. He essentially said, ‘You’re not taking my wrestling. Forget about it.’ WCW could’ve died three or four deaths between 1993 and 1994 if the board had got their way. Ted stood up for the product because he believed in it.”

Ted Turner had his hands in many ventures over the decades. While non-wrestling outlets may not understand his impact in this business, the wrestling world mourns a man who changed professional wrestling forever.

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