The nWo might still be one of the most iconic factions in pro wrestling history, but its mastermind, Eric Bischoff, isnâ€t seeing a dime from its continued merch success. Even in 2025, nWo shirts are among WWEâ€s top sellers—but Bischoff says heâ€s left completely out of the payday.
On a recent episode of 83 Weeks, Bischoff opened up about the irony of creating the nWo and watching others cash in while he remains empty-handed. He explained that as a Turner Broadcasting executive, he never had ownership rights to the factionâ€s intellectual property. Setting the record straight, Bischoff explained why he doesnâ€t earn royalties from nWo merchandise:
“Yeah, thatâ€s, you know, when the original idea—when I came up with it—and was involved in it, I was an employee of Turner Broadcasting. As an employee, especially as an officer, as President, I didnâ€t get royalties on anything. I got a salary. It was a good salary. I got stock options. I got a lot of other cool s** that talent didnâ€t get. But I didnâ€t get royalties.â€*
While Scott Hall, Hulk Hogan, and Kevin Nash all scored lucrative WWE deals that included cuts of merch sales, Bischoff stayed behind the scenes. That decision may have cost him long-term.
“And I didnâ€t go over with Scott and Kevin and Hulk to WWE during the time period weâ€re talking about. Had I been a part of that group, I would be getting royalties because I would have gone on board and gotten a cut of the nWo merch just like they did. But I wasnâ€t. I wasnâ€t a part of it.â€
Bischoff added that Kevin Nash isnâ€t shy about sharing just how much the nWo brand still pays off:
“So I get to sit back and have Kevin tell me each and every time he gets a six-figure check for his nWo merch.â€
Despite being the man behind the curtain who launched the revolutionary faction that helped change wrestling in the late ‘90s, Bischoff remains cut off from its financial legacy. Meanwhile, Nash and others continue to profit from a brand that wouldnâ€t exist without Bischoffâ€s vision.
Wrestling fans might wear the black and white proudly, but the man who created it? Heâ€s still watching from the sidelines—without a royalty check.
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Do you think Eric Bischoff deserves to be paid for n Wo merch? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
September 28, 2025 8:37 am
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