Paul Heyman Discusses His “Terrible Departure” From Previous WWE Role
Paul Heyman has discussed the ill-feeling that surrounded his departure from WWE in 2006 and has detailed the differences in the company from then until his appointment as Raw’s Executive Director over a decade later.
The former ECW chief had played a key role creatively in WWE following his arrival to the company in 2001 but by 2006 things had completely unravelled. Tensions rose to boiling point after the poorly received December To Dismember pay-per-view in December 2006 and just two weeks after the debacle Heyman was quietly released by the company.
Speaking exclusively to Inside The Ropes’ Kenny McIntosh for issue 10 of Inside The Ropes magazine, the Special Counsel to Roman Reigns commented on his 2006 exit from WWE, saying only it was “a terrible departure.”
Paul Heyman then discussed how WWE had changed beyond recognition between then and 2019 when he was appointed as Raw’s Executive Director. In Heyman’s usual brash style, he believes he was the right man for the job:
“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.”
Heyman then displayed the acerbic wit for which he is known 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.”
Paul Heyman will be by the side of The Tribal Chief Roman Reigns when Reigns defends his WWE Universal Championship against John Cena at SummerSlam.