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WWE recently announced that former WCW President and Monday Night RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff will be the latest inductee into the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame class.
In addition to his work as WCW President and Executive Producer of WCW Monday Nitro, Eric Bischoff had a memorable career with WWE as the on-screen authority figure for Monday Night RAW.
Eric Bichoff was announced as the General Manager of Monday Night RAW by Mr. McMahon in 2002. He stayed in this position until he was "fired" by the WWE Chairman in 2005.
Many fans within the WWE Universe may be unaware of the matches Eric Bischoff competed in during his WWE career. While Eric Bischoff was not a professional wrestler, he competed in 13 matches during his time with WWE.
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at 5 WWE Superstars that were defeated by Eric Bischoff.
#5 Eric Bischoff def. Jim Ross (WWE Monday Night RAW - February 17th 2003)
In early 2003, WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon grew frustrated with the perceived failures of Eric Bischoff's tenure as General Manager of Monday Night RAW.
In an effort to win over the WWE Chairman, Eric Bischoff promised McMahon that he would sign Stone Cold Steve Austin to the RAW brand. The Texas Rattlesnake had been absent from WWE television since walking out of the company the year prior.
Despite traveling to Austin's home state of Texas, Bischoff was unable to locate the former WWE Champion and sign him to a WWE contract.
Embarrassed by his latest failure, Eric Bischoff "fired" RAW commentator and long-time ally of Steve Austin, Jim Ross. The RAW General Manager blamed JR over Stone Cold Steve Austin not yet re-signing with Monday Night RAW.
When confronted by Mr. McMahon, Bischoff was forced to admit that he was unable to re-sign Austin. This, in turn, led to McMahon terminating Bischoff's WWE contract.
However, the recently-fired Jim Ross once again appeared and informed the WWE Chairman that Steve Austin would appear at the upcoming No Way Out pay-per-view. Mr. McMahon then booked a match between Bischoff and Austin at the event.
In an act of revenge, Eric Bischoff booked himself into a No Disqualification match against Jim Ross the following week on RAW. After demonstrating his "black belt karate" skills, Eric Bischoff violently defeated JR with the assistance of Chief Sean Morley.
Bischoff bloodied Ross by breaking a cinder block over the announcer's skull, sending a message to Steve Austin for the upcoming No Way Out Clash.
#4 Eric Bischoff & Molly Holly def. Matt Hardy & Lita (WWE Monday Night RAW - November 17th 2003)
WWE Monday Night RAW was a big power trip for General Manager Eric Bischoff. After vanquishing his long-time rival, and former Co-General Manager, Stone Cold Steve Austin at Survivor Series, Eric Bischoff was once again in sole control of RAW.
The following night on RAW, Bischoff was beaming with joy as he threw his weight around.
During this episode of RAW, Chris Jericho hosted another edition of his Highlight Reel talk show. The guest on this episode was WWE Superstar Lita. The former Women's Champion had lost in her Women's Title match against Molly Holly the night prior. Jericho once again reminded her of this.
However, things quickly got better for Lita when Chris Jericho brought out Matt Hardy, who had just signed with RAW.
Matt Hardy entered the ring and got down on one knee, hinting he was set to propose to his long-term girlfriend. However, they were interrupted by Women's Champion Molly Holly.
After a back and forth argument, it was announced that Matt Hardy and Lita would team up to face Molly Holly and RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff in a mixed tag team match later that night.
Once the match began, it was obvious that the fix was in. Lita attempted to tag in her boyfriend, but Matt Hardy dropped from the apron, abandoning his partner. Eric Bischoff quickly took advantage and pinned Lita from behind.
Devastated by the betrayal of her boyfriend, Lita was then informed by Eric Bischoff that she had been fired from WWE Monday Night RAW. Lita remained in the ring in tears while Bischoff laughed with joy, once again throwing his authority around on the red brand.
#3 Eric Bischoff def. Trish Stratus (WWE Monday Night RAW - April 28th 2003)
After firing Stone Cold Steve Austin after WrestleMania XIX, Eric Bischoff continued to throw his weight around as the General Manager of WWE Monday Night RAW.
During the April 28, 2003 episode of RAW, Trish Stratus asked Bischoff for another Women's Championship opportunity against the then-champion Jazz. The RAW General Manager agreed to give Stratus another championship opportunity, but only if she could defeat him in a match later that night. However, if Bischoff won the match, Stratus would have to spend some "quality time" with the RAW General Manager later that evening.
Before the match could begin, Eric Bischoff announced that his match against Trish Stratus would be No Disqualification. After Trish Stratus hit Eric Bischoff with a Chick Kick, Stratus was attacked from behind by Victoria and Women's Champion Jazz. This allowed Bischoff to cover Stratus and get the pin-fall victory.
After the match, WWE CEO Linda McMahon made a surprise appearance, shocking Eric Bischoff. McMahon announced that the WWE board of directors had come to a decision to appoint a Co-General Manager of Monday Night RAW. This individual would share the General Manager duties with Eric Bischoff 50-50.
Linda McMahon then revealed that the new Co-General Manager of Monday Night RAW was none other than Stone Cold Steve Austin.
After Eric Bischoff reluctantly shook The Texas Rattlesnake's hand, Austin revealed that he doesn't start his job until tomorrow before hitting Bischoff with a Stone Cold Stunner.
#2 Eric Bischoff def. Shane McMahon (WWE Monday Night RAW - August 4th 2003)
One of Shane McMahon's most memorable WWE feuds was against Kane. After The Big Red Machine attacked Linda McMahon, Shane McMahon vowed to get revenge, attacking Kane on several occasions.
During the August 4, 2003 edition of RAW, Shane McMahon once again vowed to make Kane's life a living hell. Instead, Co-RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff confronted McMahon and ordered that he be escorted from the building by security.
After a brief face-to-face showdown between Bischoff and McMahon, Co-General Manager of RAW Stone Cold Steve Austin interrupted. The Rattlesnake announced that Eric Bischoff would face off against Shane McMahon in the main event of RAW in a No Holds Barred Match.
Knowing the inevitable beating awaiting him later on in the evening, Eric Bischoff attempted to recruit the likes of Evolution and Rodney Mack to assist him in the main event. When those plans failed, Eric Bischoff secretly unlocked the security van housing the crazed Kane inside, releasing The Big Red Monster.
Shortly after the No Holds Barred match between Eric Bischoff and Shane McMahon began, Kane made his way to the ring and violently attacked McMahon. The Big Red Machine eventually tombstoned Shane McMahon onto the steel ring steps outside the ring. Kane then rolled McMahon into the ring, allowing Eric Bischoff to cover his opponent for the pinfall victory.
Not content with defeating Shane McMahon once, Eric Bischoff then forced the referee to count the 1-2-3 pinfall a second time before WWE Monday Night RAW went off the air.
#1 Eric Bischoff def. Kane (WWE Monday Night RAW - August 11th 2003)
After defeating Shane McMahon on WWE Monday Night RAW the previous week, Eric Bischoff wasn't shy in boasting about his big victory on the August 11, 2003 edition of RAW.
Eric Bischoff's bragging was quickly interrupted by returning WWE Monday Night RAW commentator Jim Ross. JR had been absent from RAW since Kane attempted to burn him alive several weeks prior. The RAW commentator threatened to sue Bischoff until a compromise was reached by Co-General Manager Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Austin revealed that JR would drop the charges if Eric Bischoff faced a wrestler of Ross' choosing on RAW. Assuming his opponent would once again be Shane McMahon, Eric Bischoff signed a contract for his match later that night. Stone Cold Steve Austin then revealed that Eric Bischoff's opponent was not Shane McMahon, it was the maniacal Kane.
Once the match began, Eric Bischoff laid down in the middle of the ring and encouraged Kane to pin the Co-General Manager. Kane refused and grabbed Bischoff by the throat, hoisting him up for a chokeslam.
However, after holding Bischoff in mid-air for several seconds, Kane gently dropped Bischoff before leaving the ring and allowing Bischoff to win the match via count-out.
Kane would later explain that he wouldn't destroy Eric Bischoff just because the WWE Universe wanted him to. Instead, Kane was now doing what he wanted to do.
Later on during the broadcast, Eric Bischoff bragged to Stone Cold Steve Austin that he had defeated Kane and outsmarted both Austin and Jim Ross. Steve Austin then informed Bischoff that a clause in the Eric Bischoff vs Kane contract stipulated that the winner would face Shane McMahon at WWE SummerSlam. Therefore, Eric Bischoff was set to face off against McMahon once more at the biggest event of the summer.
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