The Stipulation Match That WWE Hall Of Famer Eric Bischoff Believes Is No Longer Relevant

Eric Bischoff believes it’s time to do away with an old racing rule.

The Steel Cage Match first took place in the 1930s and debuted in WWE in 1976. The match became a staple in many promotions, often used as a stipulation to settle rivalries and prevent one of the participants from escaping. Over the next 20 years, several classic matches took place inside the steel structure, including Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart at SummerSlam 1994 and the “I Quit” match between Tully Blanchard and Magnum TA at Starrcade 1985.

Everything would change in late 1997 when WWE introduced the world to the Hell in a Cell match. Larger than a cage and featuring a roof, competitors were able to be more creative with spots in the match, most notably the brawls and falls from the roof of the cell. With the traditional steel cage match struggling to live up to the heightened drama of Hell in a Cell, Bischoff believes the long-standing stipulation has suffered as a result.

Looking back on the iconic Hell in a Cell match between The Undertaker and Mankind in 83 Weeks, Bischoff argued that standard cage fighting has been watered down and fallen prey to the success of the cell:

“I think cage fighting has become irrelevant for the most part. Maybe Hell In a Cell’s are becoming different, constantly, but cage fighting has just become a meaningless prop. No reason to have them, no storyline leading up to them.”

Eric Bischoff Talks Possible Final Match for WCW Legend

As an integral part of WCW’s rise, the Hall of Famer played a major role in the booking of Goldberg, who became one of the promotion’s biggest homegrown stars. Also on his podcast, Eric Bischoff explained why Goldberg should have his final match in the UK.

Thanks to Wrestling Inc.