Which NWA Star Did Paul Heyman Want On WWE Raw?

"I need guys like you that know how to work".

by Jamie Kennedy
James Storm
NWA

James Storm told 'Busted Open Radio' that he came close to rejoining WWE earlier this year.

Storm was personally head-hunted by then Executive Director Paul Heyman - he was the one who contacted the NWA star and asked if he'd be able to jump ship. Storm's NWA deal only had around a month or so to run when Heyman called him in January, so he was very much interested.

Despite his excitement, Storm wanted to leave NWA on good terms and told owner Billy Corgan that he'd drop the NWA Tag-Team Titles however they wanted. As it turned out, nobody had to worry about that. Storm didn't end up moving to WWE.

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Heyman's thinking was that a veteran like Storm could be a valuable addition to Raw's midcard pack. He told the former IMPACT man that he badly needed "guys like you that know how to work" on the brand. Storm was flattered, and knew he was the right man for the job.

WWE would've had Storm work with younger talent to get them over. He wouldn't have been the focal point of angles himself.

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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.