Following this week’s blockbuster announcement that Vince McMahon is bringing back The XFL for the 2020 season, former WWE executive Bruce Prichard spoke with ABC 6 out of Philadelphia and offered the following thoughts on the football league’s return:
“What is there to say about the announcement of the XFL in 2020? Like everybody else, I was highly anticipating this announcement. It was met with I think a little bit of mixed reviews because I think people wanted more. But, at the end of the day, the XFL is returning. Vince McMahon is at the helm, even though he says he’s going to have the best in the business and professionals that know the football game and know that world. Vince will find the best. And Vince will hire the absolute best.
I’m excited this time around because I don’t think Vince often makes the same mistakes too many times over. And the fact that he is taking two years to launch this league is a sign of, I don’t want to say maturity, but a sign of knowing the mistakes that he made last time and not wanting to repeat them. So already, he’s not rushing into this.
And, I’m excited for it. I think it’s going to be something new. I’ve grown bored with the NFL. And Vince is going to make something exciting. I love the idea of a faster paced game, possibly with no timeouts, and changing the rules up a little bit as to what constitutes a catch. There are certain things about the current game of football that could be tweaked.
While you still have to make the game as safe as it possibly can be, I do feel that there are some innovative things that can still be done, and if there is anybody that can innovate, and anybody that can make a big splash, that’s Vince McMahon. With his new company, I’m excited. I wish 2020 was already here. But I think it’ll be right around the corner and, for them especially, it will be here before they know it. But I’m excited about what the new XFL is going to bring and I think everybody else should be too because you never say never in this business.
Just the likelihood of a Tim Tebow maybe playing football again, and some of the talent like a Johnny Manziel, some of the talent that is out there not currently with the NFL, for whatever reason, the XFL provides a new opportunity for a lot of talent to display their wares. I’m excited about it, so best of luck to them. Congratulations and I really hope it does well because I think competition is good for every business.”
ABC 6