Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff Update Regarding This Week’s Shows

Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff are both expected to be backstage at their respective shows this week after they were named “executive directors” of Raw (Heyman) and SmackDown (Bischoff) last week.

There is expected to be some more Paul Heyman influence on tonight’s Raw, according to Dave Meltzer, but he has already had some influence for a while. But tonight’s Raw will not be his complete show.

PWInsider added that from speaking to people at tonight’s Raw, they noticed “no discernible difference” compared to the last few weeks of Raw. PWInsider reiterated their previous report that Heyman’s ideas and direction are expected to be implemented gradually.

Eric Bischoff is expected to be backstage at SmackDown on Tuesday, but he’s not expected to have much of an impact, if any, on this week’s show. According to Meltzer, his ideas will likely begin being implemented after the Extreme Rules PPV two weeks from now.

It was also reiterated by Meltzer that though both Heyman and Bischoff will have influence on the shows, Raw and SmackDown are both ultimately Vince McMahon’s shows.

Heyman on “Authority Figures”

Inside the Ropes uploaded a video from 2016 where Paul Heyman called the on-air role of WWE general manager “played out.”

“The role of the general manager is played out. I don’t want to do it because it’s been going on for 20 years. And whether you’re the hero general manager or the villain general manager, it’s enough. I don’t know how many people really turn on WWE or any form of sports entertainment to see how a match is made. The show has become too much of, ‘Here’s the story behind the show you’re watching.’ And I think sometimes people just want to see the show. I think people just want to understand who the characters are and see the characters pitted against each other in compelling situations or riveting storylines that have nothing to do with the corporate structure that orders the match ’cause the general manager needs to sign the contract. It’s too much. It goes back to simplicity.”