On the latest episode of “83 Weeks”, Eric Bischoff discussed the rumors that Rey Mysterio and he had a major falling out over Bischoff wanting Rey to lose his mask in 1997. Bischoff disputes the story that stated Eddie Guerrero was set to go over in their Hair v. Mask match at Halloween Havoc 1997, but admits that the situation between he and Rey was intense. Here are the highlights:

On Wanting Rey To Lose His Mask:

Suffice to say, there was an issue. I definitely did want Rey to lose the mask. I felt at that time that if we were able to see — and I’m not justifying this, this was my thinking at the time. In retrospect, it was wrong. I recognize that, but at that time, my feeling was, as successful as Rey was and as successful as he was becoming, I felt because he’s such a good-looking guy and great looking character. And [I thought] if we could see his face and using his face, be able to see the range of emotions that take place during the course of a match, he would become even more popular. He didn’t agree with that, and he had his reasons for not wanting to do it.

On How Bad His Relationship With Rey Became Over The Issue With His Mask:

But at the time, yes, I did want him to lose his mask. Yes, it was an issue. It was a very well-contested on. It did get to the point where, I don’t know that I threatened to sue him, but I did threaten to breach his contract. I let him know that creative control was something that we had, not him. And this was something that, as a company, we wanted to do. And it was an issue. But I didn’t compromise letting him with the match in order to make a deal for him to at some point in the future take his mask off …the finish was the finish. It had nothing to do — it wasn’t a contingency, it wasn’t something that was negotiated at the last minute, hoping that I could finally get Ray’s mask off. I know that makes for good copy, but that wasn’t the case.

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Credit: 83 Weeks. H/T 411Mania.