Billy Corgan tried to persuade Dixie Carter to hire Paul Heyman to TNA/Impact Wrestling and argued that Carter should give Heyman whatever he wanted.
Heyman was in talks with TNA over a decade ago but reportedly wanted a lot of control over the promotion that fans know today as Impact.
During the “Kurt Angle Show,” Corgan recalled speaking with then-TNA head Dixie Carter about Heyman. He said,
“I’m sitting at a table, and she says, ‘If you were me, would you hire Paul Heyman?’ I said, ‘Give him whatever he wants.’ She told me what he wanted. It was a big pile of money and he wanted absolute total control. He gave one interview where he later said, after the whole thing didn’t happen and he was back working with WWE, he said what he would have done, and he said he would have cleaned out every veteran except [Kurt].
“He would have kept Kurt Angle, went young, and went more MMA-shooter style. It was very interesting. Back to the conversation with Dixie. I said, ‘Please, give him whatever he wants.’ ‘Well, he wants this and that. He wants total control of my company.’ I said, ‘Please, give it to him. Number one, your ratings will double overnight. Number two, you’ll get all the smart marks off your back, instantly. Number three, they’ll hail you as a genius for bringing in Heyman. Number four, the company will be on fire within six months. I guarantee it. Just do it.’
“She said, ‘what about giving up control?’ I said, ‘I don’t care, just give it to him.’ I begged her. Imagine what that company would have been, with that roster, or whoever he would have brought it. It would have been hot fire. I think she was very reluctant to give up control.”
Heyman would not sign with TNA Wrestling and would instead return to WWE in 2012 where he continues to appear on-screen to this day.
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In the world of professional wrestling, there are many behind-the-scenes decisions that shape the direction of a promotion. One such decision involved the potential hiring of Paul Heyman by TNA/Impact Wrestling over a decade ago. This move was suggested by Billy Corgan, who believed that Heyman could bring a new level of success to the promotion.
Heyman, known for his work in WWE and ECW, was in talks with TNA about joining the company. However, it was reported that Heyman wanted a significant amount of control over the promotion. Corgan, in his conversation with then-TNA head Dixie Carter, argued that she should give Heyman whatever he wanted.
During an interview on the Kurt Angle Show, Corgan recalled his conversation with Carter. He stated that he urged her to give Heyman total control and a large sum of money. Corgan believed that Heyman’s vision for the promotion, which involved cleaning out veterans and focusing on a more MMA-shooter style, would have been a game-changer.
Corgan emphasized the potential benefits of hiring Heyman. He believed that TNA’s ratings would double overnight, the criticism from smart wrestling fans would diminish, and Carter would be hailed as a genius for bringing in Heyman. Corgan was confident that the company would be on fire within six months if Heyman was given control.
However, Carter was hesitant to give up control of her company. Ultimately, Heyman did not sign with TNA and instead returned to WWE in 2012. He has since continued to make appearances on-screen for the company.
The potential hiring of Paul Heyman by TNA/Impact Wrestling could have had a significant impact on the promotion’s trajectory. Heyman’s reputation as a creative mind and his ability to generate buzz could have revitalized TNA and brought in a new era of success.
While we can only speculate on what could have been, it is interesting to consider the possibilities. Heyman’s influence on the roster and his unique storytelling style could have created a hot fire within the company.
In the end, TNA/Impact Wrestling took a different path, and Heyman returned to WWE. However, the conversation between Corgan and Carter sheds light on the potential opportunities and risks that come with making bold decisions in the wrestling industry.
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