By Mike Mooneyham
Just six months ago it would have seemed a near impossibility.
But it’s the latest rumor swirling around TNA circles, and it obviously has some credibility in the wake of recent talks between the former ECW guru and TNA president Dixie Carter.
Heyman, long regarded as one of the best minds in pro wrestling, has been viewed by many in the industry as the one individual who could make an immediate impact in TNA. While the roster is loaded with talent, the creative side has been blamed for the company not making more headway.
Creatively, the company has been torn in a number of directions over the past year, with Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff calling the shots in recent months.
The Hogan-Bischoff tandem, unfortunately, has fallen short of expectations. A bold move by TNA earlier this year to go live against WWE juggernaut Monday Night Raw lasted less than two months before the company retreated back to its Thursday night slot on Spike TV.
Hogan and Bischoff were not at last Sunday night’s Victory Road pay-per-view, nor did they attend Impact tapings last week.
Former ECW guru Paul Heyman (aka Paul E. Dangerously) is reportedly close to signing with TNA.
Hogan and Bischoff’s contracts run through the end of 2010.
While Heyman has been regarded as a possible game-changer in TNA, until recently he has expressed no great desire to get back into the wrestling business. He operates a popular online site, the Heyman Hustle, and is currently helping UFC champ Brock Lesnar write his autobiography.
Heyman, 44, has intimated in recent interviews that TNA owners would practically have to hand him the keys to the kingdom in order to lure him into the company. To drag him away from his family, he says, would require a position that not only would be financially lucrative, but also would allow him free reign and autonomy.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross also had been courted earlier in the year by TNA but, perhaps realizing the potential pitfalls of such a move, politely turned down the offer and remained with WWE.
In retrospect, the decision to go head-to-head with WWE on Monday nights was a strategic blunder. TNA would be better served to put its efforts toward being the best wrestling company it can be, focusing on the business at hand and the things that the company can control.
The company continues to have a problem maximizing its resources, and trying to compete with WWE, at least at this point, is simply a waste of valuable time and effort.
Despite all the bluster and bravado coming from the Hogan camp this year, the fact is that TNA is a long way from WWE. The company is still searching for an identity, that special combination of chemistry and talent that will build an audience and bring new fans into the fold.
Could Paul Heyman be that special someone who can come in and build up the bottom line, cut losses and lead the company to serious profitability?
If he can, then he’s worth every penny the Carter family might be willing to invest. If not, then he’ll just be the latest failed experiment.
He also talks about Flair and more. Credit to Mike Mooneyham and Post and Courier
