A former alley of Vince McMahon has refused to rule out the former WWE chairman striking a partnership with Fox for a new wrestling show.
McMahon, who stepped down as WWE’s CEO in 2022, has also been subject to claims he is hiring former WWE executives and seasoned wrestling cameramen for his new wrestling promotion. The pro wrestling left his post amid an investigation into allegations that match those in the lawsuit. He then resigned from WWE’s parent company in January 2024 after a former employee filed a federal lawsuit accusing him and another former executive of serious sexual misconduct. He has since been part of a Netflix documentary and has always denied any wrongdoing.
Now one of his former allies and rivals has had their say on what is next for McMahon. Eric Bischoff is best known for serving as senior vice president of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) during their box office TV ratings battle with WWE during the 1990s. In a shock move, Bischoff later joined WWE’s Raw as the on-screen general manager years later when McMahon bought out the bankrupt WCW.
During a recent edition of Eric Bischoff’s “83 Weeks” podcast, Conrad Thompson revealed he had heard rumours that McMahon could potentially hire former WWE executives and seasoned wrestling cameramen for his new wrestling promotion.
Both Thompson and Bischoff wondered whether Fox would show a renewed interest in wrestling, especially considering their history broadcasting WWE SmackDown. Bischoff said: “I’ve heard some different things, and maybe I’ve even remembered to share with you another big, or I remember to share it, but yeah, little bits and pieces, comments here or there, that kind of make you go, hmm.
“But part of that is because I want to go, Hmm, what if? Because, hey, it’s fun, but I just don’t see it. There’s too many many things that make sense in this rumour. You’ve connected some dots that are definitely dots and worthy of connectivity. But it’s not the complete picture because there’s a couple of other things that would have to happen that I just can’t imagine happening.”
He added: “Now, this is another dot I could connect. What if Fox is a partner and not a distribution partner? What if they’re building their own version, and they’re gonna own it? They’re gonna own it, and they’re going to have it internet…..I’m not there yet, because that’s a giant freaking leap, but I’m not gonna totally discount it either.”
In the hours following the show, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported that rumours of McMahon planning to launch a new wrestling company have gained traction. However, Marchand moved to distance McMahon from a Fox partnership. Taking to X, he posted: “There is a report that Vince McMahon might start a wrestling company with Fox as a partner. If McMahon is planning that or not, I don’t know, but the Fox part is not true, according to a network spokesman.”
McMahon’s departure from WWE followed allegations of sexual assault and trafficking. A former WWE employee, Janel Grant, filed a federal lawsuit accusing him of sexual misconduct and exploitation. McMahon has denied all the allegations.