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Eric Bischoff is one of the most controversial characters in the history of professional wrestling. The WWE Hall of Famer returned to WWE on January 21 for a backstage segment on SmackDown.
He was advising WWE Official Adam Pearce about his leadership. Of course, Bischoff is a former Executive Producer at WCW and a former RAW General Manager on-screen.
The segment begged whether Eric was returning to the company in some capacity. He appeared during the holiday season at WWE RAW and was involved in renewing the wedding vows segment between The Miz and Maryse.
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Bischoff has also appeared in recent times for WWE's direct rival All Elite Wrestling. However, it seems that his services only require sporadic appearances, and nothing is officially signed.
However, he could still play a part in WWE programming. Especially with WrestleMania almost here, he could have a vital role to play on-screen, and now is the perfect time to bring him on board.
That being said, let's take a look at five roles Eric Bischoff can play on WWE SmackDown going forward.
#5 Eric Bischoff could become Adam Pearce & Sonya Deville's advisor
The first question we need to ask following Eric Bischoff's appearance on SmackDown is why was he there in the first place? What was really going on in Adam Pearce's office?
WWE's busiest months are coming up as WrestleMania draws near. Could it be that Pearce has recruited Eric's services as an advisor moving forward? He might feel that Sonya Deville doesn't focus on administration because of her feud with Naomi.
Eric has the experience and know-how that Pearce and Deville may lack, and it could do them in good stead having him around. It will be a busy few weeks, and the Hall of Famer could be needed.
#4 Eric Bischoff could become a WWE Official with Adam Pearce
Eric Bischoff could be set for a critical role. Sonya Deville is seemingly set to become more active in the ring, and Adam Pearce may need some reinforcement.
Adam Pearce could see that the end has come for Sonya as an authority figure, and he's brought in Bischoff to assist. After all, Eric was only advising Pearce in the SmackDown segment, so could it be that the duo will become co-WWE Officials?
Eric would be an interesting partner for Pearce, and they would blend well on-screen.
#3 Eric Bischoff could reveal himself to be working on behalf of upper management
Both Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville have referenced "upper management" without explicitly saying a person's name in recent weeks. Has "upper management" arrived in the form of Bischoff?
Again, the question remains as to why Eric was in the WWE Officials office in the first place. Pearce didn't seem to have a problem, although Sonya appeared to take some issue but eventually obeyed what was said.
The duo may already know that Eric is far superior to them in terms of hierarchy. In a sense, it appeared as though Bischoff was coaching Pearce on his leadership skill. It could well be that Eric is on the upper management team and is making his presence with WrestleMania looming close.
#2 Eric Bischoff could reveal himself to be working for the FOX Network
We all know Eric Bischoff's history in working closely with television networks, especially during his time with WCW. In this instance, could Eric be working with FOX as their on-screen representative on SmackDown?
We've seen similar characters like this in the past. Cyrus the Virus in ECW, and Palmer Cannon in the early 2000s on SmackDown. They all represented the network and always seemed to have the final say on authoritative decisions.
He may have been sent to make sure everything is in order, especially with Royal Rumble and WrestleMania over the next few weeks. It could end up being a critical role on the show.
#1 Eric Bischoff could introduce a sinister new stable
Throughout his career, Eric's motto has always been that controversy creates cash. He even released his autobiography with the name "Controversy Creates Cash" in 2007.
There has been a reason for Eric to figure in storylines moving forward. Maybe he will warm himself in with Adam Pearce before unleashing his true motive in being involved with the running of the blue brand.
A new stable would be the most fitting. Bischoff was known for creating the legendary NWO stable in WCW. A new stable in WWE would be refreshing, providing it is well-thought-out and ultimately has a goal.
