Eric Bischoff Explains Why Managing WCW Stars Like Hulk Hogan & Sting Was The Most Draining Part of His Career

Eric Bischoff has never been shy about discussing the pressures of running WCW, and now he’s opening up about just how exhausting it was to manage some of the biggest names in wrestling history.

During a conversation with Inside The Ropes, Bischoff reflected on his time overseeing WCW’s roster and explained why stepping into WWE later as an on-screen character felt like a relief rather than a challenge. He said one of the biggest differences was no longer having to deal with the responsibility of managing dozens of major personalities behind the scenes.

Bischoff explained that being responsible for a massive roster created constant stress, especially when many of those names were among the most powerful and recognizable stars in the business.

“Part of the reason that I felt so comfortable is because I didn't have to worry about any of that. That's very stressful being in charge of a hundred wrestlers. I had over 100 — 110 wrestlers under contract at one point in time. Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Lex Luger, Sting, Bill Goldberg. These are all big personalities that are a pain in the ass to work with for the most part.”

He made it clear that handling those personalities wasn’t just challenging — it was the most exhausting part of his job during WCW’s peak years. Even after years in the business, dealing with strong egos and competing interests took a toll.

“No comment. They're difficult. It's the most draining — it was the most draining part of my job was managing the egos and the personalities. So, I thought I get to come and all I have to do is go out and be a good character on TV. That's easy. But not having that stress was probably why I was able to enjoy it as much as I did.”

Bischoff’s comments add to the long-standing stories about WCW’s backstage environment during the company’s hottest years, when managing talent was often just as demanding as producing television. With dozens of top-tier stars on the roster at once, the pressure to keep everyone satisfied while delivering strong programming made the job far more complicated than fans ever saw on screen.

Looking back now, it’s clear that while WCW gave Bischoff some of the biggest moments of his career, it also came with challenges that few people outside the company fully understood.

What do you think — was WCW’s locker room reputation deserved, or do you think the stories about backstage egos have been exaggerated over the years? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation.

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