6. Eric Bischoff Says Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe Is Similar To Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg

A fan tweeted the following to Eric Bischoff recently: “Samoa Joe vs. Brock Lesnar: best pure matchup since the Attitude Era? If they let these guys go that is.”

Bischoff answered this question on an episode of “Bischoff on Wrestling” podcast and had the following to say:

“I love that match-up. I can’t say enough about Samoa Joe and I think just chemistry wise and intensity wise that’s a very natural match-up. So was Bill Goldberg, by the way, but Bill Goldberg and Brock Lesnar had history attached to it. They did a great job with that history. They had a great angle in WWE but Joe is fresh. This has never happened before and Joe is a guy who can go toe-to-toe with Lesnar with character, intensity and the ability to make me believe it in the ring. When they are standing there eye-to-eye and chest-to-chest I believe it. I think it’s great.”

Bischoff also talked about how Joe defeating Lesnar could be better than WWE’s original plan for Lesnar’s defeat (possibly to Roman Reigns):

“When I’ve worked with people on the creative side of things I tell them, “This is more of an art than it is a science.” While there is a WWE formula what it really comes down to is that you’ve got to keep an open enough mind to feel what the audience is reacting to. If you get so committed to a certain direction and outcome and if you see SummerSlam at the end of your creative horizon. If you see the outcome that you have in mind for SummerSlam and come hell or high water you’re going to get to that destination what you are probably going to miss along the way is great opportunities.

If you’re so focused on one outcome you don’t see the potential of others and perhaps. I hope for Joe’s sake this is one of those situations where regardless of whatever they thought they were going to do with Braun or Roman, not to take anything away from both of those guys because I am a big fan of both, if all of a sudden Samoa Joe comes from out of left field even if he was just designed to be a stepping stone but the audience is reacting to it then… damn son! Shift gears. Take that exit. See what’s on the other side of it because it might be better than the original destination.”