10 Things That Happened Last Time Paul Heyman Worked WWE Creative

6. WWE-ECW Depression Set In

Paul Heyman December to Dismember Facepalm
WWE

In 2006, Heyman was tasked with working as part of a creative unit dedicated to achieving the impossible. They were there to make ECW's hardcore audience happy whilst also keeping Vince McMahon's desire to change what Extreme Championship Wrestling meant satisfied. It was futile, and it caused a ton of stress for Paul.

By December's woeful December To Dismember pay-per-view, he'd had enough. Depression over seeing his unique vision for pro wrestling's extreme niche ruined had set in, and Heyman couldn't stomach living such a nightmare it any longer. Something had to give, at least before his sanity did.

It's an affecting visual to watch Heyman bury his face in his hands on the pay-per-view as limp 'Extreme' Elimination Chamber action tanked in front of both him and a sparse, disappointed crowd. WWE's ECW project had already failed less than six months into its run, and Heyman wanted no part in it.

He made the right call.

Advertisement
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.