Eric Bischoff Presents: The International Wrestling Federation
Former WCW President, and WWE General Manager, Eric Bischoff find him self bored at his home one Sunday night. It was WrestleMania 25 to be exact. He found himself wanting to be apart of something bigger then what you can believe, and not Wrestlemania. He wanted to start something that would be his, not Ted Turner’s, or Vince McMahon, or even Jeff Jarrett/Dixie Carters. On January 5, 2010, Mr. Eric Bischoff would receive a phone call from Shane McMahon, former Executive Vice President of the WWE…this would be a phone call that would change Eric Bischoff’s world.
Shane had recently left the WWE pursuing a career out of his fathers shadow, and creating his own mark in the world of entertainment. But Shane realized that he was missing something…a daily job. Something to get him up in the morning. But he couldn’t go work for just any company; he had to work for the right company…his company. So he looks into buying out a wrestling company…TNA Wrestling.
The phone call Eric Bischoff had received was to become Shane McMahon’s business partner and handle the wrestling side of things, as Shane McMahon handled the business part of thing. Eric Bischoff accepted as long as he had 100% creative control, which Shane gladly gave over to Eric, and now a working partnership has began.
In Febuary, Shane McMahon and Eric Bischoff both purchased Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling. However, three things that Jeff Jarrett and Dixie Carter would not sell were the name, video library, and TV Timeslot.
Witht hat being said, TNA Wrestling went off the air in June of 2010, and the International Wrestling Federation began it’s live shows with the following roster:
Sting
Brother Ray
Brother Devon
Chris Sabin
Robert Roode
Matt Morgan
James Storm
Dr. Stevie
Jeff Hardy
Kurt Angle
Lance Cade
Petey Williams
Rob Van Damn
Tommy Dreamer
Kevin Nash
Daniels
Samoa Joe
Frankie Kazarian (Kaz)
"Showtime" Eric Young
Nathan Jones
Jay Lethal
Homicide
The Pope
Brother Ray
Brother Devon
Chris Sabin
Robert Roode
Matt Morgan
James Storm
Dr. Stevie
Jeff Hardy
Kurt Angle
Lance Cade
Petey Williams
Rob Van Damn
Tommy Dreamer
Kevin Nash
Daniels
Samoa Joe
Frankie Kazarian (Kaz)
"Showtime" Eric Young
Nathan Jones
Jay Lethal
Homicide
The Pope