During the first years of existence, and especially after signing CM Punk, AEW positioned itself extremely strongly in TNT/TBS programming in the United States. Managing to reach a figure of more than one million viewers on several occasions. This was repeated later at very specific times. However, currently, it seems an impossible figure for the company to reach again. In one of his episodes of 83 Weeks podcast, Eric Bischoff spoke about the current situation of AEW and assured that the company will not reach the million viewer figure again. Even if the WBD deal takes place after a significant delay.

Bischoff believes that the main reason behind this is that the company’s creative process is not up to par. Another major reason that All Elite Wrestling is failing, according to him, is because of Tony Khan. The promotion is creating a record of declining viewership, according to the veteran. He criticized Tony Khan’s habit of defending AEW by claiming that it gets unnecessary hate because of being the challenger brand to WWE. However, according to Bischoff, it’s just an excuse, and if Khan was an employee, he would’ve been fired.

He said, “Maybe it’s because to be an AEW is to be under constant attack because you’re the challenger brand. Tony, you keep bringing that up, you’re the challenger brand. You are not the challenger brand. Who are you challenging? You’re only challenging the bottom of the barrel. You’re getting really close to establishing a new record. Anybody else that would be in your position that would have been fired. That would have been held accountable would have been fired a long time ago.”

Bischoff further added, “You’re in a unique position, Tony, because, well, it’s your money. You can blow as much of it as you want because you have an almost unlimited source of it. It’s good for you. Not saying that’s a bad thing. I wouldn’t mind being in that position. But that’s the only reason that you still exist on television as a personality. You’re able to pay for it. You’d have been fired a long time ago if you would be held accountable.”

This wasn’t all. In another episode of his podcast, the legendary manager shared his thoughts on the current situation of Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks in WWE. On his 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff, he noted that the recent drop in AEW’s ratings should be a cause for concern for Mone and that the STRONG and TBS champion should be looking for a way out of the promotion.

Eric Bischoff believes Mercedes Mone should be terrified by the figures AEW has recorded

According to Bischoff, the wrestling industry is extremely competitive and any decline in television viewership can have direct repercussions on the wrestlers’ careers. Especially for someone of the stature of Mercedes Mone. The CEO has built a solid reputation in WWE before making the leap to AEW. Bischoff hinted that Mone should be scared of losing her place in the industry if viewership numbers don’t improve.

He said, “When you look at, especially Mercedes, she comes in with her reportedly—though we don’t know if it’s true—$5 million-plus contract. One of the highest-paid women wrestlers. If you compare the four-week ratings for Dynamite before her arrival with her premiere episode—which, by the way, was lower than the four-week average that preceded her arrival—that should tell you something right off the bat. But then, you see how much the ratings have dropped since she came on board. It’s embarrassing. Those are the numbers that matter. If I were Mercedes, I’d be terrified to put such a high price tag on myself.”

The wrestling veteran explained that ratings are a key indicator of the success of a show and the stars who participate in it. If AEW continues to see a decline in its viewership figures, it could mean fewer opportunities and exposure for wrestlers like Mone, which could negatively impact her career in the long run. So what do you think? Should Mone quit AEW and jump ships to the WWE again? Let us know in the comments.