During the Monday Night Wars, Eric Bischoff was known for recruiting dependable talent from ECW to strengthen WCW’s mid-card roster. Wrestlers like Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, and Chris Jericho all transitioned from ECW to WCW with great success. However, when WCW Monday Nitro started airing on TNT, Sabu—a key figure in ECW—briefly stopped working with WCW. Bischoff revealed on the “83 Weeks” podcast that his distrust of Sabu stemmed not from his abilities or personality but rather from his reputation and a cautious stance about his substitutes. Interestingly, Kevin Sullivan had recommended Sabu, but Bischoff was hesitant and didn’t eagerly anticipate the signing. Sabu eventually left WCW soon after joining because he felt undervalued by the initial offer and chose to return to ECW by late 1995, where he stayed until 2000 before retiring due to ECW’s financial struggles.
Fan Take: This insight into the backstage dynamics during the Monday Night Wars highlights the fine line between trust and opportunity in wrestling management. WWE fans can appreciate how key decisions and perceptions shaped the careers of legends and influenced the evolution of the sport’s top promotions.
