Despite Taking WCW to Greater Heights, Eric Bischoff Regrets ‘Betting’ on Hulk Hogan for the WCW Championship in 1995: “It Was a Waste of a Year”

Hulk Hogan, the beloved babyface of WWE during the 1980s, carried his star power and goodwill to WCW, the rival promotion led by Eric Bischoff. Recognizing Hogan’s charisma and popularity, Bischoff decided to crown Hogan as the WCW Champion. However, this move ultimately backfired, leading Bischoff to regret his decision and consider it a wasted year for WCW.

Eric Bischoff regrets betting on Hulk Hogan

In a detailed discussion on his podcast ’83 weeks’, Bischoff reflected on the pivotal ‘Bash at the Beach’ event in 1995. Conrad Thompson questioned Bischoff about his criteria and philosophy for selecting a champion, specifically whether they should be a babyface or a heel.

Bischoff said- “The Ric Flair philosophy of heels with belts and baby faces changing chase it and making it aspirational and hoping that this is gonna be the week we finally see it, you know, The Bloodline thing, right?” So it’s been driving for half a year or half or however long. So, sure, I’m in that camp, but did you know that I gambled on the horse with the biggest record at the time?”

He further stated, ” So I bet on the horse; I bet on history. Umm… it was the wrong bet. I think we wasted a year or more.”

Bischoff candidly admitted, “Looking back, I regret the decision to make Hogan the champion.” He recalled the main event of “Bash at the Beach,” where Hogan faced the formidable Big Van Vader. 

As the baby face, Hogan triumphed over Vader, a powerful and popular heel with solid crowd support. Bischoff acknowledged that this choice was a mistake and resulted in a tumultuous year for WCW.

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However, Bischoff rectified this misstep a year later by transforming Hogan into a heel character. This decision completely altered the landscape of professional wrestling.

Eric Bischoff turned the tables with Hollywood Hogan

Hogan, who had won “Bash at the Beach” in 1995 as the heroic figure, underwent a dramatic transformation when the event returned in 1996. Embracing his new persona, Hogan turned heel and, alongside Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, formed the infamous “New World Order” (nWo).

The nWo quickly became the dominant force in WCW, captivating the audience and propelling the promotion to surpass WWE’s ratings for an unprecedented 83 weeks. Bischoff’s decision to turn Hogan into a villainous character paid immediate dividends, changing the entire landscape of professional wrestling.

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This strategic move proved to be a stroke of genius, as WCW experienced a financial windfall from 1996 to 1998. Bischoff’s decision to create one of the most significant heels and make him the champion demonstrated his astute understanding of the industry. It further also made cementing his reputation as a visionary.

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