Vince McMahon, the chairman and CEO of WWE, once asked a favor from Paul Heyman, a former wrestler who is now a manager for the company. McMahon requested that Heyman replace Jerry Lawler as a color commentator in WWE, despite Heyman initially not wanting to be on television. The favor was done as a result of Lawler quitting the company, and Heyman accepted McMahon’s offer as he was facing financial issues at the time.
Heyman’s Reluctance to be on Television
Heyman was hesitant to be on television, telling McMahon that he didn’t want to be on-screen. However, after Vince asked for the favor, Heyman felt that he was not in a position to decline the request as he was entering bankruptcy and needed the lifeline that WWE was offering him.
The Financial Struggles of ECW and Heyman
Before joining WWE, Paul Heyman was in charge of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). Despite having a loyal fanbase, the company faced numerous financial problems which ultimately led to its bankruptcy. As a result, Heyman also filed for personal bankruptcy and accepted the job offer from Vince McMahon.
Heyman’s Impact as a Color Commentator
Paul Heyman has been praised for his skills as a color commentator and his ability to tell a story. While he initially did not want to be on television, he later realized that being able to work with Jim Ross, a renowned wrestling commentator, was an opportunity worth seizing. Heyman’s commentary in WWE has received positive feedback from fans and has been compared to his work in the early 2000s.
