Vince McMahon, WWE On 9/11, Eugene & More – 7 Shocking Revelations From WrestleTalk’s ‘Wrestling Unmasked’

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WrestleTalk’s new book Wrestling Unmasked (available here) takes a deep dive into the sometimes seedy, often outrageous, and nearly always controversial underbelly of professional wrestling, drawing parallels with social and political events and exploring how they impact the business – for better or worse!

If there’s one thing this book makes certain, it’s that no matter how crazy things get in the ring, you can almost guarantee that behind the scenes will be crazier. Here are seven shocking revelations from the pages of Wrestling Unmasked.

7. Eric Bischoff Regrets His Involvement In The Eugene Storyline

In 2004, WWE introduced a character named Eugene, portrayed by Nick Dinsmore. This character, while not explicitly defined, exhibited behaviours associated with developmental disabilities. 

Eugene was presented as the ‘special’ nephew of WWE’s general manager, Eric Bischoff. The character’s behaviours, such as ‘stimming’, mirrored those seen in individuals on the autistic spectrum.

While Eugene had moments of triumph, like winning the world tag team titles, there were instances where his character was used for comic relief, with laughs often generated by his disability.

Eric Bischoff, reflecting on the character years later in a 2022 podcast episode, expressed regret over his involvement.

He stated, “It was meant to be light-hearted, entertaining, non-serious.” However, he acknowledged the potential harm such portrayals could cause, especially to parents with children with learning disabilities who enjoyed wrestling.

Bischoff lamented, “What I didn’t understand is that a lot of those things we did on television impacted the audience in ways that I would have never anticipated at that time… It bothers me a little bit that I was part of that.”

Eugene’s character remains controversial. Some view him as an attempt to inspire fans with developmental disabilities, while others see it as an exploitation of differences for entertainment.

The character’s legacy continues to spark debate about the fine line between entertainment and insensitivity in professional wrestling.

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