Eric Bischoff’s Excellent Take On The Controversial Joey Ryan/Mick Foley Spot

Not too many people were aware of the OTT Wrestling show in Dublin, Ireland on August 5th, but when Mick Foley took a bump due to the strength of Joey Ryan’s man parts the internet exploded.

Plenty of people had lots to say. Some of it was encouraging, still others (especially Jim Cornette) didn’t like the spot.

Eric Bischoff recently went into the subject on an episode of MLW Radio where he started things off by saying he’s glad to see Mick Foley was able to take a bump like that in the first place following his hip surgery. But the conversation soon became wrapped around the constant argument of new vs old school.

“I think more like a producer than I think like a fan although I certainly am a fan,” Bischoff said. “But I will readily admit I tend to really enjoy the characters and the story lines and the action that I find to be so believable I find myself subconsciously after all these years — as a kid growing up in Detroit you know, eight-years-old watching wrestling on CKLW you know Big Time Wrestling on a black-and-white TV — I still enjoy those moments. However brief an intermittent they may be where you kinda wonder if what you’re seeing isn’t a little bit true.”

“That’s me — but damn, it’s a variety show for crying out loud. And I’m familiar enough with [Joey Ryan’s] work before I haven’t seen a Joey Ryan — or a whole Joey Ryan match. I certainly haven’t followed him in the independent scene in the last couple of years. I’m not aware of how fully developed his character is but I just think people need to lighten up.”

“I can go back and look at a lot of 70’s and 80’s stuff that like would be absolutely comically stupid.” Bischoff continued, “I can’t give it to you off the top of my head but anything that involves baby powder or green mist comes to mind. I’ve seen some pretty silly sh-t that I wouldn’t — for me as a producer I would’ve gagged on it and in fact I did gag on it because I let it happen a few times because people do like it. But you gotta get to the point where you — at least I have gotten to the point — I don’t wanna tell everyone else how to enjoy the product. But I’ve gotten to the point where I enjoy it to its totality as a whole.”

A good pro wrestling show is like a salad. You need a variety to make it all work and highlight each flavor. It helps to have different types of lettuce, some various veggies, a nice dose of dressing, and every now and then you can add a few nuts too. Each show needs to appeal to every type of audience because after all, nobody likes just a bowl full of plain lettuce.

If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit MLW Radio with Court Bauer & MSL with a H/T to Still Real To Us for the transcription