Eric Bischoff has issued a statement responding to a comment made by Chris Jericho on WCW.com earlier today.

Jericho was quoted on WCW.com as saying, "I want to dedicate this victory to Eric Bischoff and shove it up his ass because he said I could never do it."  

Bischoff's response, in a statement provided exclusively to 1Wrestling.com is as follows:

STATEMENT FROM ERIC BISCHOFF

First of all, I would like to congratulate Chris Jericho for all of the success he has had recently in the WWF.  I'm sure this is a great personal achievement for Chris, and given the amount of time, effort, and commitment he has put into his career, he should be proud.

That said, I read his "dedication" on Monday and was quite entertained by it.  While it is certainly true that Chris never received a title shot while I was president of WCW, it took Chris nearly 2 years in the WWF to get that opportunity!

While I don't ever recall saying Chris would NEVER get a shot at the WCW title, I do remember a conversation with him about three years ago when Chris wanted to wrestle Bill Goldberg for the title and I didn't think it was a good idea.

Chris had been "mocking" Goldberg on camera for a few weeks while Goldberg was out with an injury, and was getting a good crowd reaction to it.  He believed that the heat he had been generating with his "angle" would be a great build up for a match with Bill.

I disagreed.

Bill was on a roll.  He was believable; he was selling tickets, merchandise, and ppv's.  He was also still very green.  Bill was good at one thing and with one style and with one result.  Bill was about 280 pounds, and looked like the killer his character portrayed, and his character was still a "work in progress".

Chris was also on a bit of a roll, although not at the main event level.  Chris was somewhere around 210 pounds and his character was a "smart ass comic", not unlike the character he has maintained in the WWF.  He was a great athlete and had great cruiser weight matches with guys who could keep up with his style, but half of his heat came from the fact that a lot of guys in the audience felt like they could kick his smart ass if they had the chance.

When Chris came to me with his idea, I listened.  Chris was coming close to the end of his deal and was up for renewal.  I knew if I didn't give in and support his idea, it would make it difficult if not impossible to re-sign him (something I really wanted to do), but I just couldn't get behind the idea.  Regardless of all the different ways the match could be laid out on paper, there was going to be one of three results:  either Chris would get his ass kicked like everyone else who had been before him, killing his heat, or:  Bill would have to learn how to work a completely different style and psychology in order to come up with a way for Chris to get the win and put an end to Bill's momentum, or:  come up with a "no finish" for the match.

I stuck to my decision.

Chris went on to the WWF.  He's done well and I'm not a bit surprised.  I knew when I first saw him at some obscure event in L.A., and approached him to come to WCW that he had talent.

Looking back at the six years that I ran WCW there are choices that I made that I wish I hadn't.  Some that I didn't make that I wished I had.  But as far as the decision not to go with a Chris Jericho/Bill Goldberg match for the belt....I continue to believe I made the right decision.  Bill was not ready for that match and neither was Chris.

There's a reason Chris didn't get a title shot at the Rock when the WWF was building the Rock's character and the momentum that made him such a huge star.  The fact that someone in the WWF felt that Chris was now ready for that opportunity can be a great thing for Chris.  Or it can backfire.  Only time will tell.

Getting the title is one thing....drawing ratings, selling tickets, moving merchandise, selling pay per views and keeping it are another.

Is Chris Jericho ready?  I hope so.