Eric Bischoff comments on a recent big title change in NXT.
On the September 12 episode of WWE NXT, Becky Lynch shocked the world and defeated Tiffany Stratton to win the NXT Championship. This match ended up being a big deal for the brand, as the show went on to record their highest viewership number in nearly three years.
In a recent Ask Eric Anything episode, Eric Bischoff commented on Lynch’s historic championship win and noted that he thinks it was a move to increase NXT’s value in the television rights world.
“Television rights negotiations aside, I’m surprised they haven’t done it sooner. Because it’s great for that developmental talent to be on a show with someone like Becky Lynch. To get the eyeballs on it, to feel the energy, and to have something big happening on a show where otherwise, this is a developmental company, NXT, it doesn’t get a lot of attention. It certainly got a lot of attention this week. I think you’re absolutely right, Conrad. I think the timing is pretty obvious. We’re in the middle of negotiating; we want to increase our value, and what better way to do it than to set a record or two, or three, or four by integrating some of that top talent? I love the way they did it. I watched most of the match itself. Yes, Becky won, but it didn’t hurt anybody. It elevated everybody. It was a really smart move. I’d be shocked if we don’t see more of it, and I welcome it because it’s great for that developmental talent to have that kind of energy and that kind of focus and attention.”
Elsewhere in the Ask Me Anything episode, Bischoff said that he doesn’t think the WWE/UFC merger will impact WWE’s creative process any time soon.
