10 Most Wasted Talents In WWE History
1. Paul Heyman
The Paul Heyman-booked SmackDown product of 2002-3 holds a special place in the heart for many wrestling fans.
It famously outperformed the flagship RAW in the ratings battle, which is the cynical but only viable explanation for his being stripped of the pencil.
Stephanie McMahon has spoken about his removal from the Head Writer position on the Ladies And Gentlemen, My Name Is Paul Heyman documentary, but her words are typically inscrutable. She talks cryptically about his refusal to tow the line, as if he could get away with implementing any ideas deemed unsuitable by Vince McMahon, who has final say on everything pertaining to WWE television.
It's not as if Heyman was interested in reprising the more unsavoury elements of ECW. Demonstrating versatility, his vision for the SmackDown brand was markedly different from RAW. Framed in a more realistic context, Heyman's programme utilised tournaments and emphasised athleticism, drawing in viewers who preferred the primary element of the sports entertainment formula.
Heyman does a masterful job of advising Brock Lesnar, but he's even better with a pencil than he is on the stick. He and we would have been much better off if he was writing for Curtis Axel rather than speaking on his behalf.