Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff named as Exec Directors to RAW and Smackdown

[smarkmouth]

Via wwe.com

WWE has named Paul Heyman as Executive Director of Monday Night Raw and Eric Bischoff as Executive Director of SmackDown LIVE, newly created positions reporting directly to WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon.

In their executive roles, Heyman and Bischoff will oversee the creative development of WWEâ??s flagship programming and ensure integration across all platforms and lines of business. The creation of these roles further establishes WWEâ??s ability to continuously reinvent its global brand while providing two distinct creative processes for its flagship shows.

With more than 30 years of experience in the sports-entertainment industry, Heyman served as President of ECW from 1993 to 2001, securing pay-per-view distribution for the company as well as a national cable television deal with TNN. After his time with ECW, Heyman joined WWEâ??s Creative team and is widely credited with helping launch the careers of many current and former WWE Superstars.

Bischoff is a former WCW President and New York Times bestselling author. During his WCW career, Bischoff oversaw the signing of some of the biggest names in sports-entertainment and helped create and develop the nWo storyline. He was also instrumental in securing a television deal for WCW Monday Nitro on TNT and WCW Thunder on TBS. After WCW, Bischoff co-founded Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment, a production company that launched TV reality shows and mobile games.

Can't say I saw this coming. I hope for the fan's sake this leads to the creative that I'll bet many are optimistic about.

['Ravishing' Ned Flanders]

It can't suck anymore than it does now so I'm cautiously optimistic.

[BestSportsEntertainer]

This could be big if Vince scales back his involvement a bit. Otherwise I expect more of the same.

But like Milenko said, WWE's product can't get much worse, so it's exciting to see them try something new.

[Spidey]

Little surprised at the support for Bischoff given his history in that department.

Still, if it means some semblance of fun, I'll take it.

[Stone Cold Tea]

Monday Night Avengers Assemble

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

If it involves interesting storylines then I'm all for it. Just keep Vince away from it. Throw a bingo card at him or a Health and Fitness magazine, got to distract the guy somehow.

[Y 2 Jake]

Ultimately it won't mean thing.

[Jack-Hammer]

The root problem of WWE's creative woes is Vince McMahon. I don't expect anything is going to be solved until/unless Vince steps back from being the end all and be all of WWE's creative process. I mean, even though Triple H is supposed to be head of WWE's creative team, it's part of his job title after all, it's ultimately just a title as Vince is the only real, true and final authority.

Until Vince is no longer calling the creative shots, the presence of Bischoff, Heyman, Triple H or anyone else will pretty much be moot.

[Yaz]

It has been speculated *speculated* that when the XFL kicks off next year that Vince will take a step back from WWE and focus on Alpha Entertainment/XFL. This may be part of taking the next step in that.

I think Bischoff and Heyman could come up with some good stuff. Heyman doesn't have to pay anyone and Bischoff has someone over him to make sure he doesn't go HAM.

I'd look for any real chance to not happen until after SummerSlam though as most major story lines there seem well in motion.

[#AbsoluteUnit]

I have nothing against this.