WWE Spent $50,000 On Makeup For A Single SmackDown Segment, Reveals Eric Bischoff
In a revelation that shines a light on the extravagant lengths WWE went to throughout its most iconic storylines, Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff shared a few jaw-losing details about one of the most memorable segments from 2002. During a recent episode of his “83 Weeks” podcast, Bischoff revisited the infamous “Billy and Chuck” wedding ceremony phase from that year, wherein he made a marvel look disguised as a clergyman. The section, which aired on the September 2002 edition of SmackDown, turned into now not most effective historic for its stunning twist however additionally for the gigantic assets the company poured into growing the proper search for Bischoff’s position.
The Hall of Famer, who turned into the General Manager of Raw at the time, discussed the huge attempt that went into his disguise, revealing the remarkable value WWE incurred to create the mask and prosthetics required for the phase.
“We spent a fortune on prosthetics,” Bischoff explained. “They had to spend $50,000 on that stuff.” He didn’t stop there. The Hall of Famer detailed how the company hired two top-tier makeup artists from Los Angeles for the job, flying them in solely for the purpose of transforming him into a priest.
“The company flew two makeup artists out from LA for three days just to put the makeup on and take it off,” Bischoff added. “It cost a fortune. I had to fly to LA a month before this to get fitted and molded for the mask. It was a big deal, and I didn’t want to be the one to screw it up.”
The extravagant manufacturing wasn’t pretty much the make-up—it became about crafting a second that might be seared into the memories of wrestling enthusiasts forever. Bischoff credited the phase’s writer, Brian Gewirtz, for developing an unforgettable storyline and praised his fellow wrestlers in the ring for their superb performance. According to Bischoff, this effort culminated in one of the greatest moments in WWE records, one that remains his favourite phase to at the present time.
“Brian Gewirtz wrote the segment, it was a great segment, a really, really great segment, and I was in the ring with a bunch of really talented people,” Bischoff reflected. “So it was such a fun segment to do, and the payoff was so good. That will always be my favorite.”
Despite the high stakes and the massive fee, the payoff turned into really worth it. The wonder of Bischoff’s appearance as a priest—a rival GM appearing on another show—added an surprising twist that thrilled fans and left a long-lasting effect at the WWE storyline records. The phase, which changed into to start with written off by way of a few critics as outrageous, now stands as one of the most talked-about and iconic moments from the brand’s history.
But as Bischoff revealed on his podcast, the spotlight wasn’t just on him or the elaborate makeup. He also spoke candidly about a WCW star who didn’t quite adjust to WWE’s culture. Eric Bischoff shared that Buff Bagwell, a former WCW standout, struggled to adapt to the WWE environment. Bagwell, according to Bischoff, often clashed with WWE Superstars, which only made his transition to the company that much harder. Despite this, Bischoff believes that if more people had taken the time to understand Bagwell’s perspective, they might have seen a different side of him.
It’s moments like these—both the backstage drama and the over-the-top productions—that reveal the complex and often extravagant world of professional wrestling. Bischoff’s candid insights into the company’s practices are a reminder of how far WWE was willing to go to entertain its fans and ensure that certain storylines became iconic in the annals of wrestling history.
h/t to TJRWrestling.
