Paul Heyman has taken to Twitter to shoot down a story by radio personality Craig Carton, who claimed that he was offered the chance to become “Joey Styles” on ECW television in the mid 1990’s.
Speaking on the Carton and Roberts Show, Carton said that he didn’t know much about the company, but remembered the name “Joey Styles” because it sounded cool.
“I was once offered a job in wrestling when I worked in Philly. I don’t even know the name of the company. It was in the mid 90s. I was going to be Joey Styles.”
I was on the WIP Radio in Philadelphia, someone came to me from ECW and said, ‘we’d love you to be our ringside announcer, and you’re gonna go by the name Joey Styles.’ My schedule didn’t allow it or something. I don’t remember being against it, because I wasn’t making much money. I don’t remember why I didn’t take up the job. But I was going to be Joey Styles, I’ll never forget the name because it was such a cool name.”
However, the former owner of ECW Paul Heyman moved quickly to address the story calling the claims “bullshit.”
Responding to the claims on Twitter, Heyman said:
“Joe Bonsignore was Joey Styles even before i hired him in 1993. In 94′ we needed a replacement that summer. There were a few considerations. None of them were to be named Joey Styles.”
Sorry, @craigcartonlive. I'm calling bullshit on this one. #JoeBonsignore was @JoeyStyles even before I hired him in 1993.
In '94, we needed a replacement that summer.
There were a few considerations.
None of them were to be named #JoeyStyles. #ECW@EvanRobertsWFANhttps://t.co/9Cs6Y7ijeQ
— Paul Heyman (@HeymanHustle) February 25, 2021
Joe Bonsignore took his seat at the ECW commentary desk in 1993, working for the company until its closure in 2001. Aside from leaving the promotion for a brief number of weeks in 1994. The voice of ECW joined WWE to call their ECW One Night Stand pay-per-view in 2005 before working as a commentator for the company until 2008 when he became Vice President of Digital Media Content. A position he would hold until his departure from WWE in 2016.
Since ECW closed for business in 2001, Paul Heyman has become somewhat synonymous with WWE for his work both in front and behind the camera. Heyman currently appears on-screen as the ‘Special Council’ to WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, and has also been credited as the man steering the ship behind the booking of the champion.