WWE announced today that Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff are now effectively in charge of WWE TV. Heyman, the former head of ECW, will be the Executive Director of Raw, while Bischoff, the former head of WCW, will be the Executive Director of Smackdown Live.
The pair will report directly to Vince and the new roles are full-time executive roles, not TV storyline.
“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,” said WWE in a statement.
Bischoff will also be working directly with executives from FOX, which will being airing SmackDown Live this October. The former WCW executive has been working on pre-production of Netflix’s planned biography on WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan.
Bischoff joined WWE in an on-screen role in 2002, after WCW was purchased by Vince in 2001. He filled the role of Raw general manager until 2005 and made various appearances for the company over the years following his departure from the role.
Heyman has more than 30 years experience in the entertainment industry, and a lengthy history with WWE. He first joined the company in 2001 after WWE purchased ECW. After working as an onscreen character and commentator, he eventually becoming a major player behind the scenes as lead writer for SmackDown from 2002 to 2003.
As WWE continues to struggle with falling ratings, it will be interesting to see if Heyman and Bischoff can help right the ship. Both men have extremely strong personalities and are known for not being shy about voicing their opinions. With these hirings we’re also unsure what position this puts Triple H in with regards to decision making for each brand. The next few months are sure to be interesting.
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