Why Paul Heyman Was Demoted As WWE Executive Director

New details on WWE's major creative shakeup.

Paul Heyman
WWE

Further details have emerged overnight on WWE's decision to merge their Raw and SmackDown creative teams with Bruce Prichard serving as the lead, and Paul Heyman removed from his position as Raw Executive Director.

WrestleVotes tweeted the following in the small hours of Friday morning:-

Advertisement

PWInsider have also come through with a similar report citing Vince McMahon's unhappiness at how things had been going on Raw, saying that the WWE Chairman and CEO was openly frustrated about the state of his former flagship show.

These stories don't paint a great picture of Heyman's Raw. While the former ECW head honcho's promotion to Executive Director brought fresh flourishes to an increasingly stale product when he moved up in June 2019, it sounds like his processes were no longer compatible with what McMahon wants from the product. A shame, really, but not the first time Vince has removed Paul from a position of power.

Advertisement

April's Q1 2020 earnings call saw McMahon state his belief that Raw's tumbling ratings would rebound once the audience got used to new stars in the absence of Brock Lesnar. This is yet to happen, with the red brand more affected by the ongoing global health crisis than any other.

Watch Next


Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.