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

6. Joey Styles

Joey Styles
WWE.com

Joey Styles was chosen as a permanent replacement of sorts for Jim Ross behind the announce desk on Monday Night Raw in late-2005. Whilst his knowledge of pro wrestling should never be in question, the relationship never really seemed like a harmonious one. Styles favoured a style (ironically) that WWE either didn't like or weren't too familiar with.

For years, Joey worked solo on commentary in ECW. This wasn't an accident, Paul Heyman simply believed that Styles was so good that he didn't really need anyone to play off of. Wrestling had become used to having at least two voices narrating the action, but ECW was different.

Heyman had full confidence in Styles, and it showed. At no point did Joey ever seem like he was struggling to keep fans abreast of the action, he was a real complement to what was happening inside the ECW ring.

Styles didn't have a fantastic time in WWE as an announcer, but he did get there because Heyman showed faith in his abilities. That resonated with the rest of the grappling industry, including WWE management.

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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.