On his “83 Weeks” podcast, Eric Bischoff analyzed AEW’s recently announced residency at the historic 2300 Arena (formerly the ECW Arena) in Philadelphia. He saw potential benefits and significant risks in the move.
“What do I think about it? I think it’s probably a smart move for AEW, for a couple of reasons,” Bischoff began. “One is, yes… they can potentially… tap into… that nostalgic factor… There’s also just the efficiencies, production efficiencies, cost efficiencies of not transporting stuff all over the country every week… that’s a really smart move… prudent is a good word. It’s a prudent move.”
However, he also cautioned about the inherent dangers of running in such an iconic, style-associated venue. “Do I think it’s risky… a little bit, because… whether you intentionally, you’re doing it or not… people are going to compare you [to ECW],” he warned. “…If you can meet or exceed their expectations, if they’re kind of expecting a ECW version of AEW… If you can do a good job of that, it can be great and also backfire. So we’ll find out [if the] proof is in the pudding.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit 83 Weeks with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
