10 WWE Stars Who Most Benefited From Paul Heyman's Influence

Whether working as a ringside photographer, manager, announcer or creative mind, Paul Heyman has always excelled. Look at WWE programming today, and it's genuinely difficult to pick out a better promo man on the active roster. With a microphone in his hand, Heyman is a maestro.

Once the driving force behind the original Extreme Championship Wrestling, Paul has also worked for the NWA/WCW and extensively in WWE. In front of the camera or behind the scenes, he has helped countless performers find their feet, proving time and time again what a brilliant creative mind he has for the industry.

Specifically, his imprint has been found all over WWE's product. The 'Attitude Era' was directly influenced by what he was doing in ECW years before, and Heyman has had a hand in developing some of WWE's biggest ever stars.

This list may surprise some, because there are inclusions many would not expect to see. As the man himself has said, it's all about 'accentuating the strengths and hiding the weaknesses'.

Let's look at who from WWE history has benefited most from association with one Paul Heyman...

Hardly anyone reading this list will have expected to see The Miz's name featured first. The simple reason he enters so early is because Heyman had a greater impact on others than Mike Mizanin. That said, the incredible nurturing qualities Heyman possesses did help The Miz out very early in his career.

Lost in the shuffle as part of a WWE developmental territory based in Atlanta, Miz was going nowhere fast. Not only was he disliked by many in the WWE system, but he didn't really have any direction. Recognising the loudmouth traits that could be harnessed, Heyman brought Mizanin under his wing.

Bringing him to OVW (where Heyman was working at the time) in 2006, Paul then proceeded to work his magic. Shining the spotlight on Miz's own creativity, Heyman merely offered him the chance to be what he wanted to be. That was the very genesis of the character Miz is now entirely comfortable with playing today.

During an article on WWE's official website, Heyman revealed the part he played in Miz's formative wrestling years. He's not someone many would expect to be here.