Eric Bischoff and WWE’s SmackDown Creative Team Status Updates

As noted before, WWE announced that Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff have been recently hired as the Executive Directors for RAW and SmackDown Live, respectively.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Bischoff is still planned to begin his new role starting with the July 16th episode of SmackDown Live in Worcester, Massachusetts. Meltzer also reported that within the company and creative team, there have barely been any discussions since the announcement regarding Bischoff’s actual role and potential plans for the SmackDown brand. Bischoff’s name has reportedly almost never come up and the creative team has been told nothing and don’t know anything other than what they’ve read on the internet.

In regards to SmackDown’s creative team, Meltzer reported that Ryan Ward will remain the lead writer for the brand unless Bischoff wants to make a change and even then, that would depend on whether or not Vince McMahon would allow him to make that change.

Bruce Prichard reportedly will be personally working with Bischoff to get him accustomed to his new role and is said to be the person who pushed hardest to bring him in.

Meltzer also reported that there have been recent talks within the company regarding Bischoff’s lack of appearances and preparations for his new role so far due to him not being backstage for any of SmackDown’s shows since his hiring. The current feeling is that whatever changes and improvements Bischoff has in mind will likely take a long time to do due to him not being accustomed to how WWE’s creative system works these days.