Only time will tell how WWE’s new Executive Directors for RAW and SmackDown will benefit the women’s locker room. It was announced today by WWE that Paul Heyman will be the Executive Director of RAW. Eric Bischoff will take on the same role for SmackDown.
WWE.com reported their roles to include the following:
“In their executive roles, Heyman and Bischoff will oversee the creative development of WWE’s flagship programming and ensure integration across all platforms and lines of business. The creation of these roles further establishes WWE’s ability to continuously reinvent its global brand while providing two distinct creative processes for its flagship shows.”
These newly created positions will still have to report directly to the Chairman and CEO, Vince McMahon. Both Heyman and Bischoff have served as Presidents themselves in the past to both ECW & WCW respectively.
So how may all of this affect the women’s rosters?
Heyman has been known to create an impact in the careers of many women in wrestling history. More predominantly women such as Renee Young, Beth Phoenix, and Natalya have cited him as an influencer in their careers. All three spoke highly of him on his “My Name is Paul Heyman” DVD.
ECW & WCW weren’t exactly known for their women’s wrestling. Although this may have been the case, these two men have worked in other promotions that highlighted women’s matches.
In May, an article by 411Mania transcribed 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff where he focused on why women in WCW never went anywhere. Bischoff had the following to say:
“Well, there just wasn’t as many credible, athletic, believable women in 1997 as there are today,” Bischoff said. “It wasn’t like there were women all over the United States, or all over the world, training to become professional wrestlers, number one. There was no Performance Center, not too many women were interested in coming down to the Power Plant to train, to become professional wrestlers. You couldn’t really put an ad in the paper and expect to have much luck. So there just wasn’t the talent pool in 1997 of women wrestlers as there are today. It wasn’t until recently — we’re talking about 2019.”
It has further been announced by PWInsider that Heyman has been talked to about this role since February. Bischoff’s involvement has been more recent within the past few weeks.
What are your thoughts on this new development? Do you think that Heyman and/or Bischoff will benefit women’s wrestling in WWE? Discuss your thoughts in the comment section!!
