Eric Bischoff, Ric Flair and AEW Pay Tribute to Ted Turner After His Death
Eric Bischoff, Ric Flair, and AEW remember Ted Turner following his death.
Media mogul Ted Turner, who revolutionized cable TV, passed away earlier today. Widely considered a pioneer of the modern 24-hour news culture, Turner ushered in a new era for television media with the launch of CNN in 1980.
Turner’s influence on professional wrestling was just as significant. In 1988, his Turner Broadcasting Company acquired Jim Crockett Promotions and transformed it into World Championship Wrestling, bringing the promotion to a national audience through TBS and TNT.
Eric Bischoff, who rose to prominence as a WCW executive under Turner’s leadership in the 1990s, remembered his former boss following his death. Posting an old photo of himself holding a fan sign that read “Vince fears Ted Turner” from a WCW show, Bischoff wrote: “RIP Ted. And thank you for everything.”
Multi-time world champion and WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair also paid tribute to Turner. The Nature Boy shared an old photo of himself with the late media mogul and thanked him for creating opportunities for wrestlers during his era.
“So Sorry To Hear About The Passing Of The Great Ted Turner! The Man That Created Cable Before Cable Was Cool! He Created CNN And Look At It Now! He Rolled The Dice And Wasn’t Afraid Of Taking Risks. He Won The America’s Cup For Sailing! His Office Looked Like The Hall Of Fame Which Included A Picture Of Him And Khrushchev. On Top Of All Of That, He Created So Many Opportunities For So Many Wrestlers Because Of His Love For Wrestling. Rest In Peace My Friend! Thank You For The Memorable Personal Times That We Spent Together.”
AEW issues statement on Ted Turner’s death
All Elite Wrestling also paid tribute to Ted Turner, noting that he was a pioneer in television and the driving force behind TBS and TNT.
The promotion credited him for supporting professional wrestling on his networks since the 1970s and stated that it would honor his legacy by dedicating that night’s episode of Dynamite on TBS to his memory.
“AEW mourns the loss of Ted Turner and sends our condolences. A pioneer of TV and founder of TBS & TNT, Turner championed pro wrestling on his networks since the 1970’s. AEW proudly continues that tradition, and we dedicate Wednesday Night Dynamite tonight on TBS to his memory.”
Under Turner’s backing, WCW became a major force during the Monday Night Wars of the 1990s, competing directly with WWE. However, the competition ultimately ended in Vince McMahon’s favor, with WCW being sold in 2001, bringing the historic rivalry to a close.
ALSO READ: Donald Trump Uses Ted Turner’s Death To Take Shots At CNN
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