3 times Eric Bischoff blurred the lines between entertainment and reality

#3 Using Ric Flair’s real-life hatred for Bischoff as part of a story

Real emotions made this feud believable.

Ric Flair played an integral part in bringing Hulk Hogan on board with WCW. Flair knew he would be giving up his role as the face of the franchise once the Hulkster was running wild, but he put his ego aside and still helped arrange a meeting between Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan.

Flair had issues with booking decisions and how the Horsemen were relegated to a B squad stable next to the nWo. The real insult came during the infamous speech Bischoff gave to the locker room in which he told the roster that only three of them had ever drawn any money, and that list did not include Ric Flair.

Ric Flair was scheduled to be at a taping a Thunder on April 9, 1998. Flair insisted that he had given them advanced notice that he would not be there. WCW, however, didn’t get the memo, as they were forced to improvise while Flair attended his sons’ AAU Championship Tournament.

Eric Bischoff and WCW filed a lawsuit against Flair for not making his appearance. He wasn’t seen again on WCW television until September of that year, when he made his epic return. The night saw him reform the Horsemen and tear into Eric Bischoff.

The real emotions involved in this promo helped make this one of the very best of Flair’s legendary career. It didn’t stop with that one promo; the feud lasted for months and led to even more classic promos.