Eric Bischoff gave insight into why Hulk Hogan was hesitant to team with fellow WWE Hall of Famer Vader during their time in WCW in the mid-1990s.

On his podcast “83 Weeks,” Eric Bischoff explained that Hogan’s reluctance was largely due to Vader’s reputation for having a stiff fighting style. This style, which involved more intense and physical wrestling, made many wrestlers, including Hogan, wary of getting in the ring with Vader.

Hulk Hogan didn’t want to work with Vader because Vader was stiff. So, are we talking about the guy who broke someone’s back or burst Sting’s eardrums? Come on, Vader really worked stiff.

Despite his concerns, Hogan wasn’t completely opposed to working with Vader. However, he wanted to make sure Vader toned down the physicality during their matches. Hogan’s style focused more on character-driven performances rather than the brutal, tough approach Vader was known for. Bischoff explained Hogan’s wrestling philosophy, noting that it differed significantly from other wrestlers who favored more physically demanding styles.

Hulk Hogan was a character. He wasn’t Mick Foley, who wanted to jump off balconies or throw himself off thumbtacks and end up with 65 stitches in his head. That wasn’t the kind of fight he wanted to have. He wanted to make sure the people he got in the ring with complemented the kind of fight he was best at.

What improvements does Eric Bischoff think AEW could make?

Eric Bischoff outlined his plan for how he would improve AEW, saying that he would first cut the roster of talent as he felt there was too much talent under contract with the company. After making those cuts, Bischoff said he would then organize a company-wide meeting to lay out his creative strategy and make sure everyone in the company understands the direction he wants to take the promotion.

H/t to ITRWrestling.com