Giving WWE credit, they really tried with Curt Hennig's son, Joe. When Paul Heyman introduced the re-branded 'Curtis Axel' as his latest client in May, 2013, people wondered if the 'Midas Touch' of Heyman could get the best out of him. Clearly a talented in-ring wrestler, Axel didn't have much personality to speak of. Joe Hennig had toiled for years in the WWE system, and this looked set to be his big break. Things wouldn't pan out in the long run for Axel, he was just too bland. Even the hype-king himself, Heyman couldn't get fans invested in what Curtis was selling. Nonetheless, management really got behind him, programming him to face the likes of Triple H and John Cena on Monday Night Raw. Later, at Payback in June, Axel captured the Intercontinental Title. Defeating Wade Barrett and The Miz in a Triple Threat Match, Curtis Axel looked genuinely thrilled to bag the belt. His title run would last for 155 days, but was largely inconsequential to fans. When Big E Langston pinned him to win the strap in November, it seemed routine. WWE had long since given up on the idea of making Axel both a 'Paul Heyman Guy' and a huge star.