Did you know WWE Chairman Vince McMahon wanted Tommy Dreamer and a cast of
ECW originals fired right after the relaunch of ECW in 2006?
Paul Heyman has posted a new blog exclusively on THE SUN
(UK) and revealed inside details on Tommy Dreamer's trials
and tribulations within Vince McMahon's World Wrestling
Entertainment. Heyman reveals a never-before-disclosed fact that WWE
Chairman Vince McMahon wanted to legitimately fire Dreamer and the rest of the
ECW Originals (except for Sabu and Rob Van Dam) in 2006.
In his latest blog, which is part of the Heyman Hustle
series in the Sun, the controversial New York-based sports entertainment icon
writes:
While many members of the creative team, like Ed
Koskey and David Lagana, actually grew into wrestling fanatics cheering in the
bleacher section of the ECW Arena during the 1990s, Vince McMahon just didn't
understand the character.
"Paul," the Chairman of the entire industry would say,
"what exactly IS a Tommy Dreamer? I don't get it!"
This was never more apparent than a few weeks into the
re-birth of ECW as a television property in 2006, when Vince had an epiphany.
Kill off the originals. All of 'em. Well, we'll keep
Sabu and Rob Van Dam, but the first week after Big Show won the ECW title, Vince
wanted the newly-minted "Heel Heyman" to come out on television and publicly
fire Sandman, Balls Mahoney, Little Guido, Francine, Al Snow and especially
Tommy Dreamer.
Vince declared: "Time to let people know that concept
is dead, and so are those guys, one and all."
With help from Talent Exec John Laurinaitis, and even
a surprisingly impassioned endorsement from Stephanie McMahon-LeVesque, I was
able to persuade Vince to keep the originals on board, and not because the brand
needed the Bingo Hall alumnae, but because there was actual value in those
talented performers.
While the firings, which were going to include the
real life behind the scenes "best wishes in all you future endeavors" notice
given to Dreamer and company were averted, Vince's lack of belief in Dreamer
continued.
Heyman also reveals the character of Tommy Dreamer was based on
Bruce Willis' portrayal of John McClain in John McTiernan's original Die
Hard movie.
Heyman, who worked with McTiernan in 2002, playing the
English Speaking Announcer in McTiernan's remake of "Rollerball,"
writes:
I always explained to Tommy the inspiration for his
character was Bruce Willis as John McClane in the John McTiernan movie Die Hard.
An ordinary man, pushed to extraordinary
circumstances, who has no option left but to resort to extreme means just to
survive. The formula
worked.
A fascinating read, exclusively at this link:
