Paul Heyman has discussed his rancorous departure from WWE in 2006 and what changed in the company from then until his short-lived spell as Executive Director of Raw in 2019.
Heyman had been a key creative figure in the company in the mid-2000s but things came to a head following the ill-fated December To Dismember pay-per-view in December 2006 with Heyman leaving WWE two weeks after that show aired.
Speaking exclusively to Inside The Ropes’ very own Kenny McIntosh for issue 10 of Inside The Ropes magazine, the Special Counsel to Roman Reigns offered that his leaving WWE in 2006 was “a terrible departure.”
Heyman then went on to discuss how by 2019 things had changed significantly and he felt he was the right man for the job when WWE’s flagship show was looking for a new boss:
“I would suggest that everything changed between 2006 and 2019. WWE’s needs were different. A disruptive, progressive agenda was something that was very much on the table at that moment. If you’re looking to disrupt an industry, there’s no one better than Paul Heyman to do so, and if you’re looking for someone to present new stars, a plethora of new scenarios, a new way to approach the presentation, I’m the right person to tag in. That wasn’t the desire in 2006 and that was, in my opinion, the manner in which ECW was always to be presented and our philosophies clashed.”
The former ECW supremo showed his trademark caustic wit when discussing his relationship with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon:
“In terms of my relationship with Vince McMahon, I appreciate the fact that you have readers that are intrigued by how Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman’s relationship has progressed, and I assure them all, it remains strictly platonic.”
During the discussion, Heyman also discussed the highly-anticipated eventual showdown between The Rock and Roman Reigns and assures everyone if that dream match ever happens it will be on The Tribal Chief’s say-so.