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Joey said they had some bonus questions because they were abruptly cut off at midnight just as they were answering fan questions, “because of course you cut off television at the most compelling part to show I don’t know what rerun†to which Heyman replied, "Wow! Are you that ramped up? If you had done this then, you never would have been replaced with Michael Cole on Monday Night Raw!†Heyman then joked they actually replaced him with Coach. Styles corrected him that they brought back Jim Ross. Heyman said, “And they hate him!â€
They went back to the questions. The first was whether Paul misses running ECW. Heyman said that he doesn’t look back and doesn’t miss anything in his life. He said this is the most he’s looked back. Styles asked him if he enjoys working with Brock Lesnar. Heyman said when he went on the road as Paul E., he was asked if he missed Studio 54 and the answer was no, he had fun, but he wanted to do this now. When he left WCW to run ECW, it was the same thing, he had fun in the WCW era but he was onto something new. Heyman said he lived 7 ½ years for ECW and he loved every minute of it – even the worst moments. It was his dream, his baby and his life, but it’s not his life now. He doesn’t want to be the stereotypical boxer who watches old films of when he was relevant. He wants to be relevant today and doesn’t want to re-live the glory of the past.
Heyman was asked if he still hates Eric Bischoff. Heyman said he doesn’t think of him, so he can’t hate him. Heyman said, “ECW grudges died with ECW.†He said that even if they didn’t, hate is a “pretty strong emotion†and he doesn’t know he’d invest that emotion into someone he doesn’t see and think of. Styles said that was a great answer and Heyman questioned why. Styles said he had reservations as to whether Heyman would hold back. Heyman said ECW always lived up to their stipulations and this is ECW Exposed. Styles said he liked Bischoff and had an open invite to join WCW anytime. Heyman jokingly said, “That son of a bitch! I hate him!†Styles said he and Tommy Dreamer went down with the ship. Joey said he liked working with Eric on Raw and he still talks to him on occasion and he likes him.
Paul was asked who he thought the biggest name from ECW would be. Heyman thought about it and asked, “Homegrown talent?†Styles said yes. Heyman said he thought Taz would have translated better in ECW before naming The Dudley Boys, Joey Styles and Rob Van Dam. Heyman said he wouldn’t name himself but thinks he’s done well for himself. Styles said he’s the best manager of all times. Heyman said he’s not a manager, but an advocate. Heyman also said he never envisions being back on the air and part of his deal in 2001 was to not be back on the air until he got the call asking him to sit next to Jim Ross on Raw when Jerry Lawler walked out. Heyman said that being the co-host of Raw was an accomplishment.
Heyman was asked about international talents he would have wanted to be in ECW. Heyman said Misawa vs. Kobashi and he almost had it for Heatwave 1998. Styles explained it’s so easy to find footage of Japanese wrestling but in the 1990s, you had to track down VHS footage in the 1990s. Styles said it was coup having so many Japanese wrestlers in ECW. Heyman said Tajiri vs. Super Crazy was one of the best feuds in ECW and so was the three-way feud with Little Guido. Styles said Guido was underrated and Heyman called Guido a “great, great company man.â€
Heyman was asked that if he could change one thing from ECW, what would it be? Hyeman said it goes back to having an in-house ad sales team. Heyman said they had a General Manager, Steve Karel and he was in charge of a lot. He said Karel excelled in a lot of things he was in charge of, saying they never would have had a videogame deal or an action figure without him. He said the one thing Karel did not excel at was ad sales. Heyman said that in hindsight, if he could change one thing, he would have put together an ad sales team or having Karel channeling his energies on ad sales instead of trying to get so many licenses at the same time.
Styles asked him if they would have had a problem getting national ad campaigns given how far they went as a product. Heyman said yes, but it all would depend on what they pursued, noting Tommy Boy Records never had an issue with the ECW product. BMG Music never had issues advertising with ECW. Pinnacle bodybuilding (“Ah, yes, The leading brand!â€), Interscope, Geffen, and Universal all worked with them at the end. He mentioned that Universal bought a piece of the company at the end which gave them a few more weeks to negotiate deals at the end with (it was bleeped, but I believe he said USA) and it all depended on who they took the deals too.
Heyman said that the style of ECW was going to change in 2000 and 2001 and that would have helped them with ad deals. Styles asked him to explain that. Heyman said the blood and guts era was over and it would have been something similar to what eventually the ROH promotion was like – a hybrid of wrestling and MMA. He said the Bryan Danielsons, CM Punk, Samoa Joe, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins as guys from the independents in that era would have grativated towards ECW instead. Heyman said Punk was on his radar in 2000. Heyman said Low Ki was showing up looking to wrestle and Heyman wouldn’t start him because they looked like they were going down. Heyman said they would have tried to rebrand themselves.
Heyman was asked his favorite ECW episode. Styles said his favorite was the Malenko vs. Guerrero send-off episode and Styles said that was the single greatest match he’s ever called. Styles said it was magic and he was lost in the moment in the story they were telling in the ring. Heyman said he respects that answer. He said his favorite is the one hour broadcast from WrestlePalooza 1997 with Dreamer vs. Raven going into the Jerry Lawler invasion going into Taz vs. Sabu leading into Taz wining the ECW TV title. Heyman said it was the best of ECW and praised Tommy Dreamer, Raven, Beulah, Francine, Sabu, Taz, Shane Douglas and Jerry Lawler, as well as Styles, saying that was the best call Styles ever had. Styles noted that Heyman picked the best storyline and Styles picked the best call. Heyman said it was a personal preference.
The last question was how Heyman feels about having such a lasting legacy after 13 years of ECW being out of business. Heyman said it’s gratifying but he doesn’t want him to be defined by it. He said that whatever he’s labeled for ECW, he’s proud and appreciative but doesn’t want to only be known for it. He wouldn’t trade those 7 ½ years for anything but his children are his legacy. He said that he doesn’t know what he did in ECW is going to matter when he’s gone. What his children do is what’s going to matter. He doesn’t want ECW to define him as a man.
Styles said that he felt his announcing career should have ended after the first One Night Stand. He came to WWE for business reasons and announced for another 2 ½ years then went into WWE digital media and loves his job. He said that he wishes he could have gone right from One Night Stand to WWE digital, but Heyman touched on being a parent, so he wanted to tell this story. He said his son isn’t into wrestling or sports but loves his action figures and heroes. Joey got a WWE action figure and asked his son if he wanted to play with the “Daddy action figure†and his son said, “No, can’t I just play with you?†which is the most gratifying thing ever.
Joey signed off as Heyman told him that he knows Joey is “jonesing†to still be on TV. That was it for the broadcast.
This was a fun 30 minutes! WWE would be well advised to do similar shows not just on ECW but all the other promotions they own, i.e. World Class, Jim Crockett Promotions, etc.
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