Paul Burchill worked in WWE from 2005 to 2010, and he was a recent guest on the “The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling” podcast to discuss the old pirate gimmick that he used to have while in WWE and why it didn’t pan out.
According to Burchill, Disney had an issue with his pirate gimmick due to the company’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On his pirate gimmick: “I would have loved to have done more, I would have loved to be able to continue it, but I’m not sure that the bigger company than WWE was not too happy about it, so that’s where it ended.”
On Disney not liking the gimmick: “Yep, it was Disney, so it wasn’t gonna keep going for too long on network TV. It was a shame, but it was fine. The plan was to evolve it, make it more edgy, but still be a very [childlike] and directed character and just a fun kind of underneath babyface one.”
On the reaction to his entrance: “And I walk out to the ring and there’s this seventy-five-foot rope hanging from the ceiling and I’m like, ‘Oh, I really do have a rope? Cool!’ And then my first time going I realized that you have to wear gloves.”
Paul Burchill, a former WWE wrestler, recently discussed his old pirate gimmick during his time in the company. In a recent appearance on “The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling” podcast, Burchill revealed why the gimmick didn’t last and the role Disney played in its demise.
Burchill worked for WWE from 2005 to 2010 and gained attention for his unique pirate character. However, it seems that Disney’s popular “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise caused some issues with his gimmick. The company reportedly had concerns about potential confusion between Burchill’s character and their own pirate-themed brand.
During the podcast, Burchill expressed his disappointment that he couldn’t continue with the pirate gimmick. He stated, “I would have loved to have done more, I would have loved to be able to continue it, but I’m not sure that the bigger company than WWE was not too happy about it, so that’s where it ended.”
Burchill also confirmed that Disney was indeed the reason behind the gimmick’s premature end. He said, “Yep, it was Disney, so it wasn’t gonna keep going for too long on network TV. It was a shame, but it was fine.” He further explained that the plan was to evolve the character and make it more edgy while still maintaining a childlike and fun persona.
One interesting detail Burchill shared was his initial reaction to his entrance. He described walking out to the ring and seeing a seventy-five-foot rope hanging from the ceiling. He recalled thinking, “Oh, I really do have a rope? Cool!” However, he soon realized that wearing gloves was necessary for his performances.
Despite the setback with the pirate gimmick, Burchill had a successful career in WWE and left a lasting impression on fans. His unique character and dedication to his role made him stand out among other wrestlers.
For those interested in hearing more about Burchill’s experience with WWE and his thoughts on various aspects of the industry, a link to the podcast episode is provided in the article. The interview offers an opportunity to gain further insight into Burchill’s time in the wrestling world.
In conclusion, Paul Burchill’s pirate gimmick in WWE was cut short due to Disney’s concerns about potential confusion with their “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise. Despite his disappointment, Burchill remains grateful for the opportunity and continues to be remembered as a memorable character in the wrestling industry.