Eric Bischoff Says Ric Flair Joining nWo Would Have Been “Bad Casting” And Was Never Seriously Considered

Eric Bischoff is shutting down one of wrestling’s longest-running fantasy booking debates, making it clear that Ric Flair joining the nWo was never something WCW seriously considered.

Speaking on the 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff was asked about the possibility of Ric Flair joining the nWo alongside Hulk Hogan or even replacing him as the group’s leader. The idea has been discussed by fans for years, especially when looking back at the massive success of the faction and imagining how different personalities could have changed its direction. However, Bischoff didn’t hesitate when addressing the suggestion and made it clear that, in his view, the concept simply didn’t fit the story WCW was trying to tell at the time.

Bischoff explained that while brainstorming and fan theories can be fun to talk about, there are times when certain ideas just don’t make sense from a storytelling standpoint. He pointed out that the dynamic between Flair’s character and the rebellious nature of the nWo would have clashed in ways that likely wouldn’t have worked on television.

“No… you know, bad casting — that actually is, you know, I’ve always heard that saying, ‘There’s no such thing as a bad idea.’ Actually, there is. And this is one of them. Not that I’m not grateful for it — I am — because it’s fun. But it would be an example of bad casting just… and I, you know, I know people can have fun with that kind of idea, just bouncing it around, you know, maybe over a beer or something, but from a storytelling perspective, it just wouldn’t work. Rick would have hated it.”

Bischoff didn’t stop there, continuing to explain that beyond creative concerns, he believed Ric Flair himself would have rejected the concept outright if it had ever been suggested behind the scenes. According to Bischoff, the personalities and motivations involved would have made the pitch extremely difficult to sell to Flair in the first place.

“I don’t think there’s any scenario in the world where anybody could have pitched this idea to Rick and he would have gone, ‘Wow, that’s great. I can’t wait to do that.’ It would have been an uphill battle for a lot of reasons. So no, never got pitched.”

Looking back at WCW’s biggest storyline, the nWo changed the wrestling business and helped redefine how factions were presented on television. The idea of Ric Flair joining the group has remained a popular “what if” among fans who enjoy reimagining the Monday Night Wars era. Still, Bischoff’s comments make it clear that the concept never moved beyond fan imagination and likely would have caused more problems than benefits if it had been attempted.

Do you think Ric Flair joining the nWo would have made the group even more dominant, or do you agree with Eric Bischoff that it would have been the wrong move? Share your thoughts and leave your feedback in the comments.

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