Paul Heyman Says TNA Isn't Ready For Him
Posted by Ashish on 08.16.2010
Talks about what is wrong with TNA...
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."
Posted By: Guest#6731 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:26 PM
paul heyman wins at life.
Posted By: Guest#6648 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:27 PM
like beer money and MCMG are ever going to spike a rating.....
Posted By: ev2 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:29 PM
I'd say he's a genius if weren't common sense.
Posted By: Soy (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:31 PM
Some of what he says is justified, but he leaves out that the group "led by Ric Flair in his 60s" are young guys, and Flair wasn't involved in the beat down, just as a mouth piece. Old guys have been successful managers for many decades.
Posted By: No (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:32 PM
makes a lot of sense honestly
Posted By: Ser Drake (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:35 PM
Pretty sure Angle is over 40 and postive Heyman wouldn't get rid of him
Posted By: watcher (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:38 PM
TNA = retirement home wrestling.
Posted By: Guest#0222 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:38 PM
TNA sucks.
Posted By: Guest#8407 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:38 PM
Accurate on all accounts. Go Paul E.
Posted By: nastrodamus (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:42 PM
Damnit Dixie, let this man loose if only to clear out all the dead wood. Hogan and his ideas have failed, Russo and his ideas have failed how about giving somebody a chance at trying something that actually is an alternative to WWE not another carbon copy.
Posted By: Guest#2193 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:44 PM
I agree with the whole getting rid of the old guys and I'm not.I would get rid of the guys who can't wrestle as good anymore.I think jeff jarrett,rvd,kurt angle,team 3d.can still put of good and great matches.hogan isn't wrestling.ric flair should not wrestle but he should be in the company this past year he is one of the few to have entertaining promos.
Posted By: ? (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:44 PM
When it comes to shoots, Paul Heyman is wtihout a doubt the best. His words are so true about guys who are over 40 that shouldn't be wrestling anymore.
Posted By: Mark (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:45 PM
I agree with Paul to a certain extent, especially about TNA not thinking long-term. That is the exact reason they've only ever made marginal gains in their existence.
That being said, I don't even know that having the older stars is as big of a problem as the misuse of them. If Kevin Nash can come in and make Samoa Joe a bigger name, than Kevin Nash should come in. If Ric Flair can make AJ Styles a bigger name, than Ric Flair should come in. But they haven't done that.
I still think TNA, only due to the talent that goes out and puts on good matches, is a ship worth saving. But it's going to take a long-term plan, not short-term reboots/reruns/retreads, to make that happen. And long they sit around with their thumbs up their asses like they have for, quite frankly all of their existence (although from 2004-2006 they did take some of the right steps, but not all), the ship is going to keep sinking.
Posted By: Ocelot (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:45 PM
THANK YOU!
tna like wcw is all about there here and now. they have NO ONE in waiting be groomed to be the next main event star.
the wwe has alot of issues. the one thing they always do well is prepare for the future. waiting in the wings are kofi, miz, rhodes, barrett, bryan, and ziggler.
in tna, they are resting their hopes that sting never retires.
Posted By: rey (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:46 PM
Bring this man in!!! He's exactly right on how this should be done! There's nothing wrong with having Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, and Kevin Nash as part of the company, but they shouldn't be wrestling or be the focus of the main angles. If anything, they should be supplementary to the main angles and just cut the occasional promo here and there in support of the younger guys.
Back when Kevin Nash wasn't wrestling and was just a part of the promos and skits, I thought that was the perfect way to use him. You get the value out of his name and appearance, but you're not depending on an old guy to act young.
Posted By: Kenny (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:46 PM
Kurt Angle turns 42 at the end of this calendar year.
Posted By: Guest#2220 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:46 PM
Man has a point.
Posted By: Jerry (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:48 PM
Man, I honestly believe Paul E. is EXACTLY what TNA needs- and it's probably never gonna happen.
Posted By: DJ_Convoy (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:53 PM
I worship this man.
Posted By: neverAcquiesce (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:53 PM
It's true what he says at the end. Remember when XXX vs. AMW was the main event feud? They rode the success of that one program for a long time.
Posted By: Rein Engel (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:53 PM
"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."
Makes a damn good point!
Posted By: Andrew Barbarash (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:54 PM
Sounds like normal Heyman: Half crazy and half genius. MMA in wrestling hasn't worked that well so far, but I guess if anyone could do it it would be Heyman. It would be great if he was the one who got the Hogan/Bischoff power instead.
Bonus points for throwing the old ECW guys under the bus.
Posted By: ThePants (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:54 PM
One thing I disagree with... Flair SHOULD be leading Fortune, just not getting IN the ring.
Other than that, c'mon Dixie, make it happen.
Posted By: Guest#5488 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:55 PM
wish he come to tna
Posted By: Guest#0562 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:55 PM
This is why he's loved by the IWC
Posted By: Guest#7736 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:57 PM
I've always respected Heyman- I don't like his ethos, his philosophy or his attitude, but he managed to make ECW successful and mean something, and you have to respect that. Unfortunately, his crush on MMA bullshit and obsession with young talent has now completely convinced me that he doesn't belong with TNA. Here we have an attempt to resurrect something akin to the Old School ideas, and it's clear he doesn't understand. And, for me at least, Flair has more credibility as a main event presence then either MCMG or Beer Money, who aren't established as top attractions.
Posted By: Looneyboyo (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:59 PM
Heyman's right.. sort of... but that'd be crappy builds. Most of the new guys cant talk fofr shit. Styles nenver needs to touch a mic again, Doug Williams, Kaz, both awful.
Posted By: Guest#2940 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:03 PM
Paul Heyman will be running TNA before the year is out.
Posted By: unknown TNA employee (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:03 PM
"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."
The end.
Posted By: doctormoneymd (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:04 PM
I'd just want to see Cornette and Heyman blast each other so all the IWC here on 411 would explode. Most everyone would side with Heyman though, yes?
Posted By: Charles (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:04 PM
Hahahaha, how many people are going to own TNA in 2 years?
I smell WCW.
Posted By: Guest#8420 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:06 PM
Heyman is kind of on the money here with this. I kind of wish they had done it that way. TNA needs to realize that The Guns, Beer Money, Kaz, and guys like that are the future and should be promoted as such
Posted By: ZAR1992 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:11 PM
When your right, your right and Heyman is right.
Posted By: dee76 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:12 PM
see Dixie, if you had his vision, your product wouldnt be going down the toilet
Posted By: Svenki (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:15 PM
haha He will be there soon enough. TNA will pay thou. Good for paul to get his.
Posted By: Guest#2482 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:16 PM
Further proof of how clueless TNA is and why it is doomed to fail. I would be very suprised if this company lasts to 2012...and even then I'm being generous.
Posted By: Obid Hamblin (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:21 PM
Yeah Ric Flair's group in their 60's. Oh, right Flair's the MOUTH PIECE for that group filled with some of the youngest and most talented guys in the business. As usual, Heyman rambles on but has yet to produce anything.
Posted By: Guest#6796 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:24 PM
I like Heyman's style :-)
Posted By: AG Awesome (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:26 PM
Spot on man i agree the older guys should be used to promote the company while the younger guys liek orlando jordan(if given a new gimmick)eric young MCMG Beer Money Kaz and others but looks like heyman won't be joining TNA anytime soon
Posted By: jamille420 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:27 PM
so true
Posted By: Guest#1537 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:30 PM
I approve of these comments.
Posted By: Guest#0766 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:31 PM
dixie listen to the man or u wont have company left
Posted By: Guest#2370 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:32 PM
jeffrey nero hardy vs sting "the icon". book it.
Posted By: tom boy (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:33 PM
TNA isn't ready for anything....
Posted By: Guest#3890 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:39 PM
Damn it paul, please save this company.
Posted By: Holy shit (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:39 PM
No room for me, Paul E.?
Posted By: Paul Roma (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:41 PM
"He also said that TNA is not looking long term and only wants short term solutions "
yeah, that's always been their problem.
Posted By: BKS (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:45 PM
If that's what Heyman is offering, I wouldn't be buying either.
So Angle would be cut too then, being in his 40's and all? Bret Hart in his 40's was very productive, as was Shawn Michaels. Undertaker is still one of the biggest draws in wrestling. Sure, scale guys back when they start to get up there, but why cut out people completely who have so much knowledge to offer?
TNA would be DOA if they only promoted guys like AJ, Beer Money, and the Machine guns. They tried that route with the X-Division, and as weak as ratings are today, they were worse back then
Posted By: Gabe (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:49 PM
I am a big Heyman fan, but not ready for me? What numbers has he put up to show himself to be god incarnate in wrestling? TNA is more popular than ECW ever was, and in WWE, his most famous storylines are the Billy and Chuck wedding and the Smackdown 6 while Vince Russo wrote fuckin Austin Vs McMahon and Bishoff wrote the fuckin NWO. Again I am a huge fan of Heyman, but I think it's silly to assume that he'll come in and magically make TNA a huge success story. I doubt they'll ever break a 2.0 rating for Impact.
Posted By: Joe (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:52 PM
"If you were over 40, I'd chop your f***ing head off."
There can be only one!!!
Posted By: The Heylander (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:53 PM
Love him or hate him, Paul E. is 100% spot on about what is wrong with TNA here. Instead of building their own, unique brand of pro wrestling that is a true alternative to WWE, the TNA booking team has consistently presented a product that is nothing but a reheated version of WWE, WCW and ECW storylines from the Monday Night Wars era- complete with the exact same performers (who are now past their primes). In order to succeed, TNA needs to do the difficult work of building a distinct brand with their young, home-grown talent, rather than simply trying to pop a quick rating by bringing in another washed-up star from the '90s. Judging from what Heyman said here, though, it appears that management has no intention of ever doing this. That's pretty damning, not to mention depressing.
Posted By: rk349097 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:53 PM
heymen is on point as usual.
Posted By: Guest#6829 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:08 PM
There is not one thing Heyman said in that statement that isn't true, and I'm pretty sure a majority of TNA fans would agree with him. Sadly, an outsider has his finger on the pulse of the fanbase more than the people who actually run the company.
Posted By: Guest#3184 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:14 PM
Haha, imagine that. Paul Heyman thinks long term. He's right about TNA -- how many more reboots are they going to do?
Posted By: luna (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:14 PM
Would someone please give this man the keys to a promotion???
Posted By: Bemini (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:15 PM
you tell em
Posted By: Guest#7099 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:19 PM
Come near my boyfriend Abyss and I will beat the living gushes out of you!
Posted By: Janice (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:19 PM
Why would anyone want to give Heyman ownership of a company with his track record?
Posted By: Jake Fury (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:20 PM
Good for him. No reason to deal with the stress of TNA if they don't even have an idea of where they are going, much less how to get there.
Posted By: Guest#7867 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:21 PM
Paul gets it. Jim Cornette gets it. These guys hate each other and they both agree on where TNA is screwing up. Why can't the wealthy ring rat Dixie listen?
Posted By: Scott B (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:25 PM
He's right (with the exception of Angle, not sure how old he is).
Their 20 something home grown talent, like Roode, Storm, Shelly, Sabin, AJ Frankie, Red, Homicide, Hernandez, hell even the FREAK rob terry are WAY MORE FUN TO WATCH THAN THE OLD GUYS!!!
Posted By: regrets (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:29 PM
Well after reading the last three paragraphs, there goes his chances of having part ownership of TNA.
Posted By: Guest#3901 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:29 PM
it really isn't a shame that some promotion doesn't hire this guy and give him full control. If anyone on this planet can fix the wrestling business, it would either be Heyman or Vince and unfortunately Vince is now in the "entertainment" business.
Posted By: Guest#2782 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:32 PM
i'd have Cornette structure the company and Heyman structure the live events...
Posted By: Guest#9226 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:33 PM
Preach on Paul!
Posted By: JDMPJM (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:33 PM
Amen. He's right. TNA is no where near ready for Heyman.
Posted By: Marcus (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:39 PM
In one paragraph Paul Heyman was able to explain all of the problems with TNA and how to make them better. Awesome.
Posted By: Mongo (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:44 PM
Heyman is awesome. His opinions are right on the money if you ask me.
Posted By: Dwayne (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:52 PM
"He also said that TNA is not looking long term and only wants short term solutions.."
bingo. thats one of the weak points of tna.
Posted By: Guest#5146 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:57 PM
Stay away from wrestling, Paul. It's garbage.
Posted By: lol (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:58 PM
LMAO!
Posted By: doubleadagreat (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:58 PM
Imagine if he was getting paid to give that kind of analysis, instead of giving it away for free. If that's what he was going for, then good job, Paul. Professional Wrestling, Sports Entertainment, whatever you want to call it... needs Paul Heyman.
Posted By: JamesDaBear (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:01 PM
terrible businessman........yet he's a god genius when it comes to this stuff, he truly gets it, really really truly gets it like no one else does.
Posted By: gooched (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:01 PM
so he's a viewer?
Posted By: faceman802 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:05 PM
The sad part is TNA almost had it right when they had Desmond Wolfe walk straight in and start a feud with Angle. It was fresh and new, a new wrestler being a threat, then they buried him horribly.
Posted By: yep.. (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:09 PM
Damn do I miss this guy in Wrestling.
Posted By: Drew (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:11 PM
Thank God for Paul Heyman.
Posted By: Solidave (Registered) on August 16, 2010 at 06:11 PM
Seems like Paul Heyman is another guy who doesn't actually watch TNA if he did he would know that TNA has been using young stars like crazy. Hogan has never even wrestled, Nash and sting are the only "old guys" that are wrestling, Ric flair is mostly just hyping young guys and being the best heel manager he can be.
Heyman is just another 1 jumping on the TNA sucks bandwagon without actually watching it.....or is Heyman saying only the young guys should manage themselves and take care of things backstage?
Posted By: Son_michael (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:15 PM
Personally I think the EV2 guys came to TNA to do exactly what Terry Funk did for THEM back in the day. At least the talent themselves have that intent, one last run while putting the young guys over. If TNA can do THAT and not screw it up by putting the EV2 guys over just to wring another payday out of them, they will have taken one BIG step closer to being the kind of place Paul Heyman would WANT to work with.
Posted By: CM Wolf (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:18 PM
Like Terry Funk?
Posted By: Cotti (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:18 PM
Has Heyman been watching TNA? Hogan always talks about how TNA is setting the bar. He's always putting over youngs guys like Dinero, Lethal, Wolfe, MCMG, Beer Money. Every stable need at least a veteran. He forgot that Flair was part of Evolution. Also Tommy Dreamer on iMPACT that the Beer Money vs MCMG match was amazing and that they were setting the bar.
Posted By: cesarmania (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:20 PM
Says a guy who never turned a profit in his life for a company, stole money from employees that was rightfully theirs, and tanked ECW despite it havinga a rabid, ahrcore fanbase.
I like Heyman as an online talent manager wise (he rocked as Lesnar's manager); but he is so overrated otherwise.
Posted By: Volourn (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:21 PM
It's clear why Heyman didn't come the ECW reunion event. He knows that ship has sailed. I wonder how Dreamer feels about that.
Posted By: CK in LV (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:21 PM
I agree but with one change
"Heyman added that he would get rid of everyone over 40 in TNA if he was in charge"
There are some 40 years olds who in any capacity are worth keeping..granted none of them are in TNA..but your Regal's, Goldust's, Finlays(I want him back on TV, NOW!)
Those guys are 40+ and can still work a damn good match
hell even HBK and Eddy/Benoit were over 40(before the latter twos deaths) and could still put on a classic
Posted By: shaun_callen (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:21 PM
That was a lot to turn down. Soon, when Dixie is faced with the inevitable collapse of her company, she'll give him the farm. Hope it's not too late.
Posted By: The Coach (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:28 PM
Hey Paul, Kurt Angle is 41 and he can still deliver.
Posted By: matrix1004 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:28 PM
Epic Win! Paul is the fucking man.
And while were at it, WWE could use the fucking help as well.
Posted By: Just Sayin' (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:31 PM
Heyman talks a lot of sense, and has a resapectable viewpoint here, apart from one major thing...
Why the hell does the guy think TNA should be a certain level before he comes in? sn't the reason they want to brin him in to try and improve the product?
So he's saying I'm not gonna come in and fix this place until you fix it first. It's silly. If he hates TNA so much, take the job, take the money, and fix all this stuff. Do it right. Why do you need them to do it first?
Posted By: Cammeh (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:46 PM
Angle out. RVD out. AJ is 38 or so so hes out too. Daniels is out if he comes back. Heyman is way too extreme no pun int..
Posted By: Guest#9718 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:53 PM
"Their 20 something home grown talent, like Roode, Storm, Shelly, Sabin, AJ Frankie, Red, Homicide, Hernandez, hell even the FREAK rob terry are WAY MORE FUN TO WATCH THAN THE OLD GUYS!!!"
A lot of the guys you mentioned are in their thirties, and Hernandez in particular would be getting fired by Heyman in a year or two for the crime of turning 40.
Good thing Paul Heyman never had 40 year olds in the ring...they just had 50+ year olds like Terry Funk winning the world title on pay per view.
He does make some very good, valid points, but there's a bit of bullshit mixed in. Cutting Kurt Angle would be a huge mistake. That guy has at least another year of world calibur main events left in him, and he can really start putting everyone over towards the end of that, and for a little while after, if you play it right.
Posted By: No (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 07:13 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Hogan say pretty much the same thing when he came to TNA? He was all about pushing the young guys and "stepping back" from the spotlight. Heyman isn't saying anything we don't already know.
If Heyman got control, things would look promising for a while, but sooner or later, we'd be back to the same old shit.
Posted By: Mike Future (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 07:18 PM
Flair was over 40 when he came to WWF as "The Real World's Champion" and he could still go like crazy. In spite of everything else Paul is saying, which is damn true, I really have to question him on putting an arbitrary age limit on allowing guys to wrestle. Maybe you don't want an old guy as your centerpiece, and the likes of Hogan and Nash have no place in the ring at this point, but what a waste it would be to lose Angle, Hernandez, Flair as a manager, etc just so Heyman could try and appeal to his new TMZ crowd. You can have the young guys be the focal point, but if a guy can still go 100% in the ring like Angle, don't cut them off.
Posted By: No (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 07:20 PM
I for one was clamoring for TNA to do whatever it took to get Paul E. Now I say forget him. He wants EVERYTHING for goodness sake. While I would love to see him there, it's not worth giving him ALL he wants to come there. If TNA continues to put a better focus on the wrestling side of things, Heyman is not needed and that's the truth. Another thing, I'm sorry but I for one WANT the older guys there. Just so long as they aren't dominating the scene, I don't mind having the older guys around. I also disagree on the fact that Ric Flair leading the young guys is a bad thing. Arguably, the greatest promo person in history doesn't make for a bad manager just so long as the younger guys are the focus. Heyman is a great mind and all but it just seems like his demands are just too astronomical to be met.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 07:27 PM
TNA would be DOA if they only promoted guys like AJ, Beer Money, and the Machine guns. They tried that route with the X-Division, and as weak as ratings are today, they were worse back then
Posted By: Gabe (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:49 PM
Therein lies the problem,TNA doesnt have the young talent and doesnt push any young talent,instead they bring in Hogan and his cronies-which hasnt worked,hiring ex-wwe washups with drug problems(Hardy,RVD),Flair is an awesome manager think the end of Evolution when he was helping HHH,he was brilliant(elimination chamber against goldberg)
I would love to see Paul Heyman come in and clean up and give WWE some competition but somehow it doesnt seem likely.
Posted By: The Reaper (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 07:33 PM
Word, this, and quoted for truth.
Posted By: Nate (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 07:34 PM
Some of what he says is justified, but he leaves out that the group "led by Ric Flair in his 60s" are young guys, and Flair wasn't involved in the beat down, just as a mouth piece. Old guys have been successful managers for many decades.
Posted By: No (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:32 PM
obviously you don't watch tna.flair was not involved in that beatdown,but he was flopping around in his underwear against jay lethal,now even 20 years ago NOBODY wants,asks or needs to see that.the only thing that spiked was the boner in the tna fanboys pants.tna has so much talent that they waste by brushing them aside for talentless assholes ev 2.0,hukster,bisch an company.they promoted NO INTERVIEWS for the whole f'n show and what was the main event? oh yeah hogan interviewing a bunch of old hacks who haven't been relevent in over a decade.so yeah heyman is pretty spot on,the old bastards need to delegated to managers at best but guess what flair can't keep his washed up ass out of the ring so it will never happen until he's dead,just the cold hard reality of tna and their love affair with old guys,recycled storylines and make fun of wwe.by the way i do like the talent in tna but just can't watch the garbage that is 75% of impact.cue fanboy bitching in 3....2..1 go.
Posted By: common sense (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 07:35 PM
Epic Win! Paul is the fucking man.
And while were at it, WWE could use the fucking help as well.
Posted By: Just Sayin' (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:31 PM
what does that to do with anything if heyman didnt mention wwe, let wwe figure their problems
Posted By: Guest#0729 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 07:37 PM
I for one was clamoring for TNA to do whatever it took to get Paul E. Now I say forget him. He wants EVERYTHING for goodness sake. While I would love to see him there, it's not worth giving him ALL he wants to come there. If TNA continues to put a better focus on the wrestling side of things, Heyman is not needed and that's the truth. Another thing, I'm sorry but I for one WANT the older guys there. Just so long as they aren't dominating the scene, I don't mind having the older guys around. I also disagree on the fact that Ric Flair leading the young guys is a bad thing. Arguably, the greatest promo person in history doesn't make for a bad manager just so long as the younger guys are the focus. Heyman is a great mind and all but it just seems like his demands are just too astronomical to be met.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 07:27 PM
do you think his demands for joining tna are high due to the fact dixies dumb enough to do it
Posted By: Guest#2932 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 07:42 PM
If he gets rid of all the old guys then the whole roster is gone. Badda bing!
Posted By: JM (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 07:52 PM
"If you were over 40, I'd chop your f***ing head off."
There can be only one!!!
ME!! ME!! ME!!!
Posted By: O.J. Simpson (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 08:02 PM
"Angle out. RVD out. AJ is 38 or so so hes out too. Daniels is out if he comes back. Heyman is way too extreme no pun int.."
Posted By: Guest#9718 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:53 PM
Actually, AJ is only 32. But, I agree with the larger point that certain guys (Angle, RVD, Jarrett, etc.) can still go. That doesn't necessarily mean that they should be in the main event...but they certainly could help with the development of the younger guys.
However, with others (Nash, Flair, Foley, Sting, etc.), enough is enough.
Posted By: Just some Massachusetts guy (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 08:08 PM
If only Cornette and Heyman got along. Between the two of them they've pretty much nailed what needs to be done right now.
Posted By: Mick Dundee (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 08:28 PM
1.its funny how NOW he has that "no old farts in main event spots" when in ecws first ppv they crowned terry funk as theyr world champ.
2.i,m sure dixie has on her collection the rise and fall of ecw dvd..check it closely to see just how "good" paul heyman was a businessman..
Posted By: ak guzman (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 08:32 PM
I'd just want to see Cornette and Heyman blast each other so all the IWC here on 411 would explode. Most everyone would side with Heyman though, yes?
Posted By: Charles (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:04 PM
_____________________________________
It would never happen. True, they are not friends as Cornette as said, but they still respect each other and know that they're capable of good things in wrestling.
_____________________________________
Paul gets it. Jim Cornette gets it. These guys hate each other and they both agree on where TNA is screwing up. Why can't the wealthy ring rat Dixie listen?
Posted By: Scott B (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 05:25 PM
See above. But beyond that, yeah, they're both spot on with what they say.
Posted By: Guest#9447 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 08:33 PM
"common sense"
Wow, I'm glad you can cite one example from a few weeks ago of Flair flopping around. I'm glad that has everything to do with the show Heyman is discussing in your eyes, but to everyone else, it doesn't. He was talking about their special last week. Hogan gave a promo that was all of a minute long, oh wow, heaven forbid. It was all a setup for the new young stable to come in and get their heat back from some recent jobbing they did.
Besides, if TNA were already perfect, why would they need a new head of creative??
Posted By: No (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 08:45 PM
I for one was clamoring for TNA to do whatever it took to get Paul E. Now I say forget him. He wants EVERYTHING for goodness sake. While I would love to see him there, it's not worth giving him ALL he wants to come there. If TNA continues to put a better focus on the wrestling side of things, Heyman is not needed and that's the truth. Another thing, I'm sorry but I for one WANT the older guys there. Just so long as they aren't dominating the scene, I don't mind having the older guys around. I also disagree on the fact that Ric Flair leading the young guys is a bad thing. Arguably, the greatest promo person in history doesn't make for a bad manager just so long as the younger guys are the focus. Heyman is a great mind and all but it just seems like his demands are just too astronomical to be met.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 07:27 PM
do you think his demands for joining tna are high due to the fact dixies dumb enough to do it
Posted By: Guest#2932 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 07:42 PM
It would be smarter than letting Vince Russo hold on to such a high position.
Posted By: Guest#4885 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 08:47 PM
He is a genius!!!
Posted By: Iceberg (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 08:53 PM
Paul E. right on the money as usual!
Totally agree with his take on things, Angle already said he's gonna be done within the next year and he's the only guy over 40 in TNA that can still go in the ring (still love Foley's promo's and storytelling but his body's shot to hell).
Keep Flair as the mouthpiece for Fortune but the rest need to go, focus on the future and give these guys a chance to shine. The rating won't plunge because Hogan, Nash, Sting, Team 3-D etc. arent on TV every week.
Posted By: ScottishDave (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 10:40 PM
He neglects to mention that Kurt FN Angle is over 40 but can still go with the young ones. You still need at least ONE grizzled vet who can still go, and that's Kurt FN Angle.
Posted By: Shio (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 10:41 PM
Angle should really go back to WWE, he would be golden against some of the stars they have now, Angle vs Swagger, Orton, even guys like he's wrestled in the past, Jericho, Edge, even an angle with Bret Hart would be awesome, maybe not a match, but Hart has said that angle is is his Fav wrestler. I could see something there. Either way, i agree with Heyman, but yea, Angle is still the man, reguardless of his age.
Posted By: Guest#6199 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 11:31 PM
See but you dont understand the politics behind the scenes. Hogan, Bischoff, Flair, Sting, Nash, etc...they all have TNA mgmt convinced they can't survive without them. WAKE UP TNA, you dont need a guy who was in the first wrestlemania to lead your company in 2010.
Posted By: Guest#3852 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 11:34 PM
Although I totally agree with Paul Heyman in that TNA ought to put more focus on the long term rather than short term...I do also understand that in order to do that, you first need to draw attention to yourself. To do this when you're up against the mighty WWE, maybe it takes some short term programs to get the long term ones noticed.
By the way, the group "led" by Ric Flair (Who beat up the 40 something ECW guys)is a collection of YOUNG wrestlers, including "Beer Money"; who Heyman spoke so highly of. Flair is merely acting as their advisor/manager. Yes, he's wrestled a couple of matches...but so has Vince McMahon over the years. Who would you prefer to watch in the ring, Flair or McMahon???
Oh by the way, there are some WWE wrestlers who are over 40...
Kane (Current World Champion) is 43
Triple H is 41
William Regal is 42
Jerry Lawler (Who wrestles an occasional match, not unlike Hogan or Flair) is 60, and will be 61 by years end.
Recently retired Shawn Michaels is 45
The Undertaker is 45
Chavo Guererro is 40
Finlay is 52
Goldust is 41
Bret Hart? I didn't look up his age...
Not quite 40??? That list includes 39 year olds Chris Jericho and Mark Henry.
Both Christian and Edge will be 37 by years end, and Rey Mysterio will be 36.
Need I go on???
Heyman has forgotten more than I know about the wrestling business...However, as someone who has been a fan since my childhood and has watched rasslin since about 1970,(Give or take)I do know what I like to watch. That being said, I think that the WWE is, and has been STALE for several years now. They have at least been making an effort to keep things new recently...
The Nexus angle/story and Sheamus have been a fresh and interesting reason to watch. So has the C.M. Punk/Straight Edge Society saga.
Of course, TNA can counter that with young talent such as the Motor City Machine Guns, Beer Money, AJ Styles, Jay Lethal, Kaz, Samoa Joe, "Super Mex" Hernandez, Amazing Red, Doug Williams, "The Freak" Rob Terry, "The Pope" DiAngelo Dienero (Sp???)Matt Morgan, Desmond Wolfe, Eric Young, Abyss, Homicide, Jeff Hardy, Mr. Anderson etc...
Posted By: The Missing Link (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Beer Money vs Motorcity Machine Guns 2/3 falls=MOTMFY. I'd be shocked if anything comes remotely close.
Posted By: Guest#6891 (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 01:04 AM
Paul Heyman is 45 years old.
Posted By: Rhet (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 01:27 AM
Hmmm...
I guess the point being that anyone disagreeing with Heyman at this point is now agreeing with Hogan.
Also, loved the way he just cut the motherfucking arthritic legs out of the ECW almost were's, Hogan and Flair.
Paul Heyman.
Saying what we all were thinking.
Posted By: Darth Mortis (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 01:39 AM
Some of what he says is justified, but he leaves out that the group "led by Ric Flair in his 60s" are young guys, and Flair wasn't involved in the beat down, just as a mouth piece. Old guys have been successful managers for many decades.
Posted By: No (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:32 PM
that would be true, if we all hadn't seen ric flair high up the card in the last two weeks, and being stripped down to his underwear last week.
you lose your argument for only one reason.
flair is a wrestler leading Fortune, not a manager leadign Fortune.
Posted By: Guest#9423 (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 01:42 AM
I agree with Paul to a certain extent, especially about TNA not thinking long-term. That is the exact reason they've only ever made marginal gains in their existence
yea, that is why they have shifted their storylines and direction more often than a 14 year old boy shifts his balls.
Posted By: Guest#9872 (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 01:44 AM
@ missing link:
Kanes been stale as fuck and doing the same stchick for years. They put the belt on him cause their options were limited.
Lawlers a special nostalgia act to pop the crowd. Its liek saying mae young is younf hot diva.
Chavo, Goldust and regal are jobbers and have been for some time. Theyre pretty much there to help with younger talent.
Triple H takes regular vacations and is the heir apparrent to the company.
Bret Hart doesnt wrestle anymore. At wresltmania he walked around and occasionally hit McMahon with things. Since then his matches have been him standing around looking sickly and puttin on the sharpshooter. Which is basically sitting down.
Whens the last time anybody even saw Finlay? A battle royal cameo?
Posted By: Guest#4566 (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 01:46 AM
"I agree with Paul to a certain extent, especially about TNA not thinking long-term. That is the exact reason they've only ever made marginal gains in their existence."
[...]
"I still think TNA, only due to the talent that goes out and puts on good matches, is a ship worth saving. But it's going to take a long-term plan, not short-term reboots/reruns/retreads, to make that happen. And long they sit around with their thumbs up their asses like they have for, quite frankly all of their existence (although from 2004-2006 they did take some of the right steps, but not all), the ship is going to keep sinking.
Posted By: Ocelot (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 03:45 PM"
off your meds, are you?
paragraph 1 is 100% contradicted by paragrahp 2.
author of both?
YOU.
it is good to see you posting, Mr. Russo.
Posted By: Guest#0613 (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 01:48 AM
Yeah Ric Flair's group in their 60's. Oh, right Flair's the MOUTH PIECE for that group filled with some of the youngest and most talented guys in the business. As usual, Heyman rambles on but has yet to produce anything.
Posted By: Guest#6796 (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 04:24 PM
you need to take reading comprehension lessons, and stop with the hooked on phonics shit.
he said that Flair was in his 60's, not the group.
he also said that Flair should not be wrestling at all, and he isn't wrong about that. i am sad every time flair gets in the ring and shits just a little be more on what is left of his credibility.
Posted By: Darth Mortis (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 01:55 AM
Heyman talks a lot of sense, and has a resapectable viewpoint here, apart from one major thing...
Why the hell does the guy think TNA should be a certain level before he comes in? sn't the reason they want to brin him in to try and improve the product?
So he's saying I'm not gonna come in and fix this place until you fix it first. It's silly. If he hates TNA so much, take the job, take the money, and fix all this stuff. Do it right. Why do you need them to do it first?
Posted By: Cammeh (Guest) on August 16, 2010 at 06:46 PM
that major thing is the major thing you are wrong about.
when Heyman is saying that TNA isn't ready for him, he means that TNA isn't ready to make the changes that he would bring in with him.
don't try and overthink this
Posted By: Guest#9925 (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 02:05 AM
"Who would you prefer to watch in the ring, Flair or McMahon???"
at this point.
Vince.
At least Vince McMahon is fully aware of his limitations in the ring, and will work around them.
Ric Flair's only able to have a barely watchable match so long as whomever is in the ring with him is good enough to make Flair not look like a chump.
Posted By: Guest#1031 (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 02:17 AM
Kurt Angle is well past his prime and a shell of what he once meant credibility wise. TNA can survive without him or any other Attitude era talent. I loved that timeframe but nobody wants to be reminded of it every week.
Posted By: TROOF (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 06:02 AM
To Guest#4566
I totally agree with you about the WWE wrestlers I listed, I was merely pointing out that they have old guys too and don't seem to get criticized for it.
People keep making it look as if the older wresslers are dominating the in ring action in TNA. Flair has wrestled about 3 or 4 matches, Hogan 1, Foley hasn't been in a match in many months, Jarrett has been in about two matches in the last year, (Less than Lawler) same for Sting. Kevin Nash is in the ring somewhat regularly, and TNA needs to use him less, but Kurt Angle is over 40 and can still go.
I'm not going to go on, hopefully I've made my point.
(By the way, I wish WWE had put the belt on Punk rather than Kane. This will be about feud number 19,877 between Kane and Taker. Yaaaawwwwnnn...)
:D
Posted By: The Missing Link (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 12:08 PM
All the ECW originals who are in their 40s are reading this and appalled that their former boss Paul Heyman wouldn't want to use them.
Posted By: Chico (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 12:50 PM
I still have my head
Posted By: Terry Funk (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 01:51 PM
As has already been said, Kurt Angle is over 40 and one of the best performers in the company. Paul Heyman would be wrong to ditch him, and the same could be said for RVD. Perhaps Paul should just ditch the deadwood like Rob 'under 40' Terry if he got the book.
Posted By: JAK (Guest) on August 17, 2010 at 03:52 PM
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