10 Things We Learned From Inside The Ropes With Paul Heyman (Glasgow)

5. Insane Levels Of Determination To Make SmackDown Better Than Raw

Paul Heyman Inside The Ropes
WWE

As if recognising the topical nature of his words, Paul Heyman discussed with passion his role as head of the SmackDown brand during the initial split between that show and Raw in 2002. Of course, there's another WWE Draft coming up, but the schism between both brands will obviously be somewhat different to the previous one.

In the months before SummerSlam, WWE established that Brock Lesnar would be facing The Rock in the main event. Even though this was technically a SmackDown match, Kevin Dunn wanted Raw announcers Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler to announce it. Paul Heyman disagreed, feeling the SmackDown crew of Michael Cole and Tazz should do the honours.

Looking to improve their style, Heyman worked in post-production with Cole and Tazz many evenings from 6pm until 4am. He claims the commentators went crazy at him several times, such was his maddening attention to detail.

That dedication and determination paid off, Cole and Tazz were given the SummerSlam main event after all. During his time in charge of SmackDown, Heyman did everything in his power to make it superior to Raw.

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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.