PAUL HEYMAN RANTS ABOUT HOW THE BIGGEST STARS IN THE BUSINESS MADE IT AND WHAT TODAY'S YOUNG TALENTS NEED TO DO TO GET TO THAT LEVEL OF SUCCESS
By
Mike Johnson on 2012-06-01 08:10:00
Paul Heyman, via his Twitter account at
www.twitter.com/heymanhustle.com had his "Jerry Maguire" moment where he
reflected on his career and discussed how he broke through while advising the
current crop of talents trying to make it what they needed to do to make it. It
was a hell of an interesting read, which we've cleaned up and reprinted here
(cleaning up the explicit language along the way):
"I walk into the offices of #Looking4Larry and there's a bunch of
#ECW pics sent to me by George Tahinos (who is a phenomenal photographer) . I
guess in honor of the #ECW DVD / Blu-Ray coming out next week and NO, I can't
express myself in 140 characters or less and I couldn't help staring at this pic
of me and Bill Alphonso from 1995 ...
http://pic.twitter.com/67xt8khB and I'm looking
at that pic and wondering "how f**kin' long was my hair back then?" #HolySh**
And then I immediately thought, "Who would follow THAT rebel leader?
I look at some of these pics, and I realize how blessed I was in my career. Some
guys have to wait forever for a lucky break. I managed @AustinIdolLive and
Tommy Rich at the age of 21. Also The Orig Midnights, which I got to do on
@ESPN. Got to debut in WCW on TBS at 23 years old.
http://pic.twitter.com/0zAOn40l So I was
@JRsBBQ color commentator at 23 years old. NO ONE IS GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY IN
TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT!
I will admit, with all modesty, I #Hustled my ass off, and GOT MYSELF the
opportunity with ambition, politics, and pure assertiveness. Even "down
periods" would give me the chance 2 work w/ people like Mean Mark. U know him as
"The Undertaker" @WWE
http://pic.twitter.com/zC1uUZnH
At 26, I managed @SteveAustinBSR, Rick Rude,Arn,Eaton, Zbyszko ...
The Dangerous Alliance (didn't forget @Madusa_Rocks)
http://pic.twitter.com/j5vvMfgU I'm working
with these legends, these giants of the industry, these absolute top guys in my
20s In today's system, most super talented people spend a great portion of
their 20's just trying to make it onto the main roster and yes, that has to
change. I got to take over the creative of #ECW a week after my 28th
birthday
http://pic.twitter.com/bihGY6Kp. By the time
I became @JRsBBQ commentator on @WWE #Raw in 2001, I was 35 years old. STILL a
"kid" but I was already a veteran with decades in the business, and yet a 35
year old today would just be getting that chance and working with @JRsBBQ on
#RAW allowed me to commentate Wmania 17 and @SteveAustinBSR vs @TheRock.
By the time I worked with Brock Lesnar, which has become my best
known managerial role, I was 36 years old. I look at some of these pics and
videos #HustleTweeters send me, and I realize what an amazingly blessed career
I've had.
I've had more lucky breaks, more open doors, more
perfect-storm-timing-opportunities than anyone else I've known. These pics
don't just remind me of "accomplishments," they remind me of what a lucky
bastard I've been to be able to ...work with these magnificent people, and play
these roles, under these various circumstances. I've hit the lottery so many
times, it's easy to just "expect" the next opportunity, or get a sense of
entitlement. But I've never felt entitled. Always blessed. Privileged. Lucky as
all Hell. And yet, I know how much hard work goes into it, and how you have to
SCORE with your opportunities.
The next generation in this (or any other business) doesn't just need to "Step
Up," they need to "Stand Up" and "Get Noticed!" Think it was easy for @CMpunk?
Think it was easy for @WWEDanielBryan? They had to scratch and claw and fight
for every ...inch of turf they could pry away from the previous generation, who
made them f**kin' earn it!!!
It's not about backstabbing. It's not about
kissing ass. It's not about pulling a hot stunt and getting momentary
publicity. It's about creating your own opportunity (like @SteveAustinBSR did
with "Stone Cold") and working harder than every1 else looking for the big
break, the next chance, the golden opportunity.
This isn't a pep talk. It's
the lay of the land as I see it in today's sports entertainment industry. I would have written a blog, but who knows if anyone will click on
the link? And while this may be a "stream of consciousness" diatribe, it's a
message to those who may be getting frustrated a message to those who may be
wondering "will I ever get that chance? that break? that opportunity?" DON'T
WAIT FOR IT TO COME TO YOU! RELY ON YOURSELF!!! Do you think @SteveAustinBSR
relied on anyone? Did HHH? Did @TheRock? Did Hulk Hogan? Did @CMpunk?
With great humility, I ask you, did I? F**K NO. If there was no
opportunity, I created my own, pushed my way in, manipulated the
circumstances to beg, borrow, plead, blackmail, bribe, cajole, threaten,
bullshit and/or manufacture. All I wanted was a mic in my hand and a time
frame in which I had to deliver my message. I knew I would score.
I've seen
it in this business for ages.
I saw @ShawnMichaels go from tag team wrestler to greatest all
around in-ring performer ever. Think it was easy for him? I remember when Shawn
and Marty were blackballed in the business, and could only work in
Ala-f**kin-bama. Think it didn't take @ShawnMichaels everything "and then some"
to break out of The Rockers and get a chance as "HBK"? AMBITION. ASSERTIVENESS
and the ABILITY TO BACK IT UP is what it takes to create the next generation of
main eventers.
And it's time for the next group of superstars to stake their claim and create
their own generation for others to follow. Period. Excla-f**kin-mation point.
The lecture is over. Pontification has ended. Hope I've been of help 2 ANYONE
who follows this acct and maybe even to someone who doesn't!
We now return you to our regularly scheduled nonsense...."
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