Paul Heyman Says TNA Isn’t Ready For Him

In an interview with MMA Hour Liva (via PWInsider), Paul Heyman talked a bit about working with TNA, saying the following:

“They’re not ready for me. They’re not there yet. I kind of have self-justified my own interest in TNA as a network of stock and ownership. I left pro wrestling in December 2006 and I haven’t done one shoot DVD, one convention appearance, one cameo. I haven’t done anything on wrestling.”

Heyman confirmed that TNA has reached out to him many times in the last year but he didn’t take it seriously until Dixie Carter contacted him and offered him potential ownership points and stock, as well as potential side projects with Spike TV. He concluded though that they weren’t ready for his ideas, particularly using things from MMA to influence wrestling. He also said that TNA is not looking long term and only wants short term solutions and that they don’t have their own vision for what they want to be.

Heyman added that he would get rid of everyone over 40 in TNA if he was in charge, saying their place is to be used for promotional events, autograph signings, and video games, but not as the core, noting that TNA’s focus seems to be on former ECW guys in their 40s, Hulk Hogan, and Ric Flair.

“If you were over 40, I’d chop your f***ing head off. I want a guy who is entering the prime of his career and shape him and mold him.”

“Imagine if all they did the entire show was promote the Beer Money vs. Motor City Machineguns match and had Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan and the ECW guys saying they needed to see that match and said these guys are the future now. Then, if you put that match in the main event – as opposed to the middle of the card with no follow-up – and produce and present them as the main event. Then, if ‘you buy this product, this is the progressive type of presentation we are going to present to you.’ Instead, you have Hulk Hogan in his 50s thanking ECW guys in their 40s before the ECW guys are beat up by a group led by Ric Flair in his 60s.”