Eric Bischoff believes the recent changes made to WWE’s Netflix replays are primarily motivated by business considerations linked to international markets. He shows little sympathy for fans upset about WWE hosting its major events abroad.
This topic surfaced in the latest episode of 83 Weeks, where co-host Conrad Thompson referenced the September 14 Raw from Mexico City. During the main event entrance of Roman Reigns versus Penta, some fans flipped him off on live TV, but Netflix’s replay switched to a high overhead shot just before the gestures appeared and held it for over thirty seconds. Fightful was the first to highlight this alteration.
Similar edits occurred elsewhere: the same replay replaced crowd chants directed at Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio with boos, and blood shown after an attack on The Usos was removed from the August 31 replay, prompting Triple H to share the uncut clip on his own social media.
Bischoff clarified he has no insider information but suggested that varying international broadcasting regulations likely explain these edits. “I’m on the outside looking in, just like everyone else,” he said. “Different countries have unique TV rules—some are lenient, others require careful censorship. This might be about meeting those standards.”
He reflected on cultural differences by recalling his experience as a high school exchange student in Germany, where prime-time commercials commonly included full nudity. “To Germans, full nudity during prime time is normal,” he said. “But violence is treated more strictly, almost like how we treat explicit content.”
Bischoff dismissed the possibility that advertiser concerns are behind the changes since Netflix runs on subscriptions with minimal advertising. When Thompson suggested these adjustments might be to accommodate markets like China, Bischoff agreed, labeling it a strategic business move rather than a creative or moral one.
It remains unclear who is responsible for these edits—whether Netflix or WWE—especially since Triple H posted the uncensored Usos footage after the August incident himself. Bischoff stressed this viewpoint is his own interpretation from an outsider’s perspective.
Thompson then queried if WWE should continue focusing on international markets given the strong turnout overseas. Bischoff’s advice was straightforward: “Go where the demand is. If international crowds are larger, more enthusiastic, and sell out faster, that’s where you focus.”
He downplayed complaints from fans unhappy about the Royal Rumble moving outside the U.S., describing such criticism as coming from a vocal minority that will always find reasons to grumble, across both WWE and AEW fanbases. “They’re always going to find something to bitch and whine about,” Bischoff stated.
Looking at the schedule, the 2026 Royal Rumble was held in Riyadh on January 31—the event’s first outside North America. The 2027 Rumble will return to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, but WrestleMania 43 will head to Riyadh, marking the first WrestleMania outside North America. Bischoff’s comments address the broader trend, not just next year’s Rumble.
While some fans may genuinely feel let down, he doesn’t believe it will harm viewership. “Some people who wanted to attend are disappointed, yes. But they won’t stop watching,” he insisted.
Bischoff highlighted the importance of crowd energy for a successful event, citing Hacksaw Jim Duggan as an example of a performer who thrived on audience enthusiasm. He pointed out that WWE shows are less frequent internationally, which often leads to more passionate crowds. “You don’t have to work as hard to get a great reaction,” he concluded. “Go where the audience is. That’s the best way to put on a good show.”
Fan Take: This insight from Bischoff underscores how global markets are reshaping the wrestling landscape, influencing where and how events are produced and presented. For fighting fans, it signals a shift toward more international engagement, which could boost the sport’s growth but may also challenge traditional fan expectations about accessibility and authenticity.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
