Eric Bischoff On Why The Rock vs. Roman Reigns Needs To Happen At WWE Elimination Chamber

On the latest episode of 83 Weeks, Eric Bischoff talked about how WWE should handle Roman Reigns vs. The Rock and Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes heading into WWE WrestleMania 40. It’s been rumored WWE could do Rock vs. Reigns at the Elimination Chamber in Perth, Australia and Rhodes vs. Reigns at WrestleMania. You can check out some highlights below:

On The Rock’s return: “Well, I mean, I really don’t have much of a perspective on it other than probably everybody else’s, which is ‘Holy crap, I can’t believe this is happening.’ He’s back. I didn’t think that would happen. But it is.”

On what WWE should do: “And I think what’s really exciting is, what are the options, you know? Creatively, what’s going to happen, right? That’s why they’re doing it. And there are some options there. I think both Alba and I agreed — this doesn’t happen too often, but [Jon] Alba and I agreed that it makes the most sense to us at least to have Rock show up at Elimination Chamber… But yeah, I mean, you know, WrestleMania is like the Super Bowl, right? Well, why not have two Super Bowls if you can?

“And certainly, with Rock there in Perth it sets the stage for future international growth. And I think that’s — I’m guessing — a big part of the strategy. If you look at the dots and connect a few of them since Nick Khan has come on board and is steering the ship, a lot of emphasis is placed on international pay-per-views. And I think that this is a great way to do that. So I think we’d like to see Rock-Roman in Perth. I’d like to see Roman beat Rock because it makes the most sense to me, and then set up a monster of a pay-per-view with Cody and Roman for all the marbles.”

On WWE expanding into international waters: “Well it is a big step, and it comes with a price because it’s difficult. I mean, you’ve got the time difference, number one. And I think with people becoming more accustomed to getting things on demand, that’s probably less of an issue than it would have been say, 20 years ago when you’ve got a pay-per-view going on in prime time over in the UK, and it’s at whatever time here. 2:00 in the morning here in the States or whatever, that that makes it difficult. But now I think with on-demand, people become more accustomed to getting their content in that regard, and probably don’t mind the fact that it’s not live quite as much for big events like this, especially international ones. But I think the real money is, you know, just like we’ve seen here in the United States where major markets are competing and bidding for the rights to host a WWE premium live event. And if you’re able to expand that business model and that revenue stream internationally, the growth potential in terms of revenue is. Pretty freaking interesting. And it appears to me again, just on the outside looking in, that that’s what the strategy is and why Perth and possibly why rock hopefully in Perth.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit 83 Weeks with an h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.