WWE: Eric Bischoff - Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

WWE: Eric Bischoff - Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 20, 2016

WWE Home Video has one again struck gold with Eric Bischoff - Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure, a compelling and feature-laden release that chronicles the life of the face of WCW. Of course, as is always the case, it's the subject, not the production, that makes it a hit. The film is structurally simple and, technically, more or less indistinguishable from most any other WWE biopic-style documentary. It's Bischoff -- the man, the story -- that makes this a compelling watch. WWE Home Video has only facilitated the delivery. A (mostly) chronological look through his life and business endeavors on the road to and through WCW, the film opens up the world of Eric Bischoff by recapping the TV-side everyone knows and opening up the man many don't.

Bischoff: then.

Bischoff, now living in God's country in Cody, Wyoming, where he's introduced his own brand of beer, recalls his life in detail on the road from his childhood in Detroit, Michigan, on through stops in Pittsburgh and Minneapolis on the way to WCW and retirement from sports entertainment in Wyoming. The film explores his early days in karate, modeling, and entrepreneurship. The bulk focuses on his time in sports entertainment, breaking in behind the scenes and the "college education" he earned working in, and learning the trades of, television, sales, and marketing. It explores his time in AWA and transition to WCW and his rapid rise through the ranks that saw him pilfer stars from competing brands and exploring his successes and failures alike in what become the biggest threat to Vince McMahon's WWE the sports entertainment world has ever seen, and will likely ever see.

Eric Bischoff - Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure doesn't break any new ground in terms of delivery, and it doesn't really break any news about its subject. What the film does, in an orderly and entertaining manner, is make for a one-stop shop of all things Eric Bischoff. The documentary is fun and informative, more so, arguably, as it explores Bischoff as he is, and where he is now, as opposed to the time capsule stuff that most pro wrestling fans know, maybe not with so much insight and detail but certainly in a broader overview of the man's life and impact on the sports entertainment landscape. Bischoff comes across as, now, a very down-to-earth guy who loves his wife, his horse, his beer, and his land. He reflects positively on his ups and downs of the life he's led, supported by interviews from a number of recognizable faces including the late Dusty Rhodes, Diamond Dallas Page, Bill Shaw, Greg Gagne, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, Cody Rhodes, and Chris Jericho.

WWE: Eric Bischoff - Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Eric Bischoff - Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure is another WWE Home Video release presented in 1080i and at 1.78:1. Older 4x3 SD footage has been reformatted to fill the HD screen, at least during the main 90-minute program. The presentation is typical WWE. It's HD video sourced. Detailing is rather crisp, but not precise. Attire rarely finds intimacy, even through the very stable and clear image. Basics are fine, even along faces, but there's not a sense of fully revealing, tangible texturing. Color fare a bit better, with plenty of natural brilliance and pop while maintaining a pleasing and neutral appearance. Noise in lower light scenes, banding along some Wyoming skies, macroblocking, and a little bit of aliasing here and there are all evident. On the whole, the image looks quite nice at-a-glance and, really, for the duration, but it's nothing special in the grand scheme of things.

WWE: Eric Bischoff - Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Eric Bischoff - Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure features the standard-fare Dolby Digital 5.1 lossless soundtrack, and it's fully unremarkable. Technically, it's not a mess, but the film never demands anything beyond a few basic points. Music does seep into the back channels, but clarity is only passable and a wider spacing is evident though not seamless or full. There's very little in terms of support details, even out in the open around Wyoming. Dialogue dominates the proceedings, and it's delivered with fair front-center placement and adequate definition and realism.

WWE: Eric Bischoff - Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Eric Bischoff - Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure features the main program, reviewed above, and different subsets of extra content on both Blu-ray discs. All supplements are presented in 1080i. Below is a breakdown of what's included.

Disc One:

Stories (1080i): A collection of short features that are essentially "deleted scenes" and further shape the story of Eric Bischoff.

• Pop Bottles (0:36): Bischoff the child finds unique ways to make a few extra bucks.
• Hunting (0:52): Bischoff remembers family hunting trips.
• Grandma (0:51): Eric's brother remembers grandma's passion for wrestling amidst health concerns and how her love of it rubbed off on the boys.
• School Times (2:52): Bischoff discusses his personality and how it shaped his schooling.
• Believability (3:18): Bischoff speaks on what makes wrestling work beyond the physical in-ring action.
• New Suits (2:00): Eric's wife Loree discusses buying new clothes for a big opportunity.
• Travel Tickets (3:08): Bischoff remembers airline ticket schemes in professional wrestling.
• The Television Character (4:04): Bischoff shares more on his role on TV.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit (5:58): Bischoff digs deeply into the business side of wrestling.
• No Ticky, No Laundry (2:13): Chris Jericho remembers a contract squabble with WCW.
• Creative Control (3:33): Bischoff explores some important points of wrestling contracts.
• Flavor Profile (2:44): A love for beer develops while Bischoff is in Germany.
• Great-Grandfather Brewer (2:11): Buffalo Bill Cody Beer is born.
• Horseback Riding (1:52): Bischoff shares his love for horseback riding.
• Spider Web of Life (0:49): Bischoff discusses how wrestling has shaped his life.

Shows (1080i): WWE Network programs.

• JBL Show with Guest Eric Bischoff (Part 1) (50:03): From September 21, 2015.
• JBL Show with Guest Eric Bischoff (Part 2) (45:31): From September 23, 2015.
• Eric Bischoff's Top Ten Most Controversial Moments (27:02): Highlights from Bischoff's career.

Disc Two:

Career Moments (with some additional stories/"deleted scenes"):

• Ninja Suit Man: AWA Superstars -- April 26, 1987.
• Eric Bischoff and Greg Gagne Discuss Billy Robinson: AWA All Star Wrestling -- January 1991.
• Eric Goes Into the Women's Locker Room: Great American Bash -- July 14, 1991.
• A Gift For Muhammad Ali: Halloween Havoc -- October 23, 1994.
• Jackknife Bischoff: Great American Bash -- June 16, 1996
• Blind Powerbomb: Scott Hall and Kevin Nash throw Bischoff off the stage.
• nWo Bischoff: WCW Monday Nitro -- November 25, 1996.
• Easy E: WCW Monday Nitro -- January 20, 1997.
• Eric Fires Randy Anderson: Nitro -- January 27, 1997.
• Randy Anderson Pleads for His Job: Nitro -- February 10, 1997.
• Eric Bischoff Playing Eric Bischoff: Was Bischoff a character, or himself?
• For Control of Monday Nitro: Eric Bischoff vs. Larry Zbyszko. WCW Starrcade -- December 28, 1997.
• Eric Challenges Vince McMahon to a Fight: WCW Monday Nitro -- May 11, 1998.
• It's Good to Be King: WCW Monday Nitro -- May 18, 1998.
• Late Night Imposter: Talk shows and wrestling really do mix!
• nWo Nightcap: WCW Monday Nitro -- July 20, 1998.
• Keeping a Secret: The importance and challenges of keeping surprises under wraps.
• Eric Bischoff Is Named General Manager of RAW: RAW -- July 15, 2002.
• Billy and Chuck's Wedding: SmackDown -- September 12, 2002.
• Most Fun Ever: Bischoff looks back at one of his favorite moments.
• In the Skybox with Stone Cold: Judgment Day -- May 18, 2003.
• No Script: Bischoff appears on The Highlight Reel.
• Y2J's Highlight Reel with Eric Bischoff and Stone Cold Steve Austin: Insurrextion -- June 7, 2003.
• The Trial of Eric Bischoff: RAW -- December 5, 2005.

Blu-ray Exclusives:

• Eric Interviews Sgt. Slaughter & Baron Von Raschke: ESPN Championship Wrestling -- October 1, 1989.
• Eric Interviews Larry Zbyszko & Colonel DeBeers: AWA All-Star Wrestling -- February 18, 1990.
• Eric Interviews The Steiner Brothers: WorldWide -- December 7, 1991.
• Eric Interviews Vader, Harley Race, & The Taylor Made Man: WorldWide -- February 1, 1992.
• Eric Interviews Vinnie Vegas & Harley Race: WorldWide -- February 22, 1992.
• Eric Interviews "Stunning" Steve Austin & Madusa: WorldWide -- April 13, 1992.
• Eric Gets a Tour of the Fabulous Freebirds Enterprises: Power Hour -- May 30, 1992.
• "Colonel" Eric Interviews Sid Vicious & Robert Parker: Halloween Havoc -- October 24, 1993.
• Eric Bischoff's "Candid Camera" Gets the Dirt on DDP: WCW Pro Wrestling -- March 6, 1995.
• Will the Real Sting Please Stand Up?: Nitro -- May 12, 1997.
• Eric Bischoff vs. Vince McMahon: Slamboree -- May 17, 1998.
• Miss Elizabeth Tells the World Who the Real "Macho Man" Is: Thunder -- June 11, 1998.
• Eric Meets "The Great One": SmackDown -- July 18, 2002.
• Dueling GM's Via Satellite: SmackDown -- September 19, 2002.
• "You Will Bear Witness to Elimination Chamber": RAW -- October 21, 2002.
• Non-Televised Footage: Stone Cold "Stuns" Eric Bischoff. RAW -- April 28, 2003.
• Eric Bischoff vs. Vince McMahon: Special Guest Referee Stone Cold Steve Austin. RAW -- February 23, 2004.
• Eric Bischoff vs. Eugene: Loser Gets Their Head Shaved. Taboo Tuesday -- October 19, 2004.
• The Coach Brings His Mentor Home: RAW -- September 25, 2006.

WWE: Eric Bischoff - Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Eric Bischoff - Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure doesn't reinvent the WWE Home Video delivery wheel, it just spins along with plenty of enthusiasm for its material and sincerity from its subject. Packed with a strong documentary and a flood of bonus moments and career highlights, as well as basic WWE Home Video tech specs, this is another must-own release from WWE Home Video. Note that this release is also available in Steelbook packaging, available exclusively at Best Buy. Recommended.