The Dudley Boyz were known to lose high-profile matches in ECW, and Bully Ray was a recent guest on the “Busted Open Radio” podcast to discuss why Paul Heyman often booked them to lose. He said,
“We would beat Dreamer and Sandman every night, but no world titles were on the line. Every time Paul put a world championship on us was for us to drop it because he knew that any babyface team that beat the Dudleys instantly became credible.”
He continued, “And this is not my words, this is Paul’s words on how he built us. Paul knew he could beat us every single night, ‘But as long as I gave Bubba the microphone the next night, everything would be fine, because he would get all the heat back.’”
The Dudley Boyz, one of the most iconic tag teams in professional wrestling history, were known for their intense matches and captivating storylines. However, they were also known for frequently losing high-profile matches during their time in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). Recently, Bully Ray, also known as Bubba Ray Dudley, shed some light on why their boss, Paul Heyman, often booked them to lose.
In a recent interview on the “Busted Open Radio” podcast, Bully Ray revealed that Paul Heyman’s strategy was to make any team that defeated the Dudley Boyz instantly credible. He explained that while they would consistently defeat other popular teams like Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman, no world titles were on the line during those matches. However, whenever Heyman decided to put a world championship on the Dudley Boyz, it was solely for the purpose of having them drop it to another team.
According to Bully Ray, Heyman understood that by having the Dudley Boyz lose the title, it would elevate the status of the team that defeated them. This tactic was a way to create instant credibility for any babyface (heroic) team that managed to defeat the Dudley Boyz. Heyman’s belief was that as long as he gave Bubba Ray the microphone the next night, he could easily regain all the heat and momentum for the Dudley Boyz.
This strategy employed by Paul Heyman speaks volumes about his understanding of the wrestling business and his ability to create compelling storylines. By positioning the Dudley Boyz as dominant champions who eventually fell to their opponents, Heyman effectively built up other teams and made them more popular among fans. This approach not only added excitement to the matches but also allowed for fresh rivalries and new stars to emerge.
Bully Ray’s revelation sheds light on the behind-the-scenes thinking that goes into booking decisions in professional wrestling. It highlights how important it is for promoters to carefully plan and strategize in order to create engaging storylines and maintain the interest of the audience. Heyman’s decision to have the Dudley Boyz lose high-profile matches was a calculated move to elevate other teams and generate new opportunities for storytelling.
The Dudley Boyz, despite frequently losing in high-profile matches, remained one of the most beloved tag teams in wrestling history. Their unique blend of power, agility, and charisma made them fan favorites, and their matches were always highly anticipated. The fact that they were willing to put over other teams and help build new stars speaks volumes about their professionalism and dedication to the business.
In conclusion, Paul Heyman’s decision to frequently book the Dudley Boyz to lose high-profile matches was a strategic move to elevate other teams and create new opportunities for storytelling. By positioning the Dudley Boyz as dominant champions who eventually fell to their opponents, Heyman effectively built up other teams and made them more popular among fans. This behind-the-scenes insight provided by Bully Ray sheds light on the intricacies of professional wrestling booking and highlights the importance of careful planning and strategizing in creating compelling storylines.