Heyman wants Rey

First Big Show, now Rey?
By Ed Williams III
June 8, 2006

First Paul Heyman shocked the sports-entertainment world when he drafted Kurt Angle to ECW. Then another mammoth defection occurred Wednesday night when Big Show turned on his WWE compatriots and ripped off his WWE shirt to reveal an ECW shirt. And now Heyman is looking to deliver another crushing blow to WWE, SmackDown in particular, by trying to lure World Champion Rey Mysterio to his brand. Following vs. ECW Head to Head, WWE.com reported that there were rumors that Heyman was actively pursuing the World Champion. Well, according to Heyman himself, the rumors are true.

“Yes, ECW is actively courting and pursuing Rey Mysterio,” said Heyman. “Mysterio could not get a break in the United States in 1994 and 1995 when he was without questions unparalleled. He was the greatest high-flyer on the planet, bar none, and yet no one would recognize him – not WWE and certainly not WCW. Who recognized Rey Mysterio? ECW recognized Rey Mysterio.”

If successful in luring away Mysterio, Heyman, having already drafted Angle, would have taken away arguably SmackDown’s two greatest athletes. But Heyman insists that he’s not trying to destroy the rival brand.

“Contrary to popular belief, I am not trying to screw over SmackDown,” said Heyman. “I actually like SmackDown more than I like RAW. I have no reason to like RAW. I was General Manager of SmackDown and each and every week I did everything I could to try and make SmackDown better than RAW. I have an emotional attachment to SmackDown, but I have an obligation to ECW, and Rey Mysterio is the World Champion. Whether he’ll be World Champion after Sunday or not, I’m not going to hazard a guess. Either the Championship or Mysterio himself can come to ECW.”

Mysterio will be defending the World Championship against Sabu at One Night Stand Sunday on pay-per-view. If Heyman can bring Mysterio to ECW, he will guarantee himself that ECW would be the new home of the World Championship.

I am all for Rey in ECW. I think WWE is gonna end up putting the SD and RAW brands back together. keiblerfan69

I would have to agree with you on both parts. It is heavily looking like a brand reunification is in the very near future of the WWE. I don't necessarily want to see it, but with all the injury's and other things going on within the company I really don't see how they can keep it from happening. Along with that reunification, I see A LOT more people being added to FireFest '06.

I am all for Rey in ECW. I think WWE is gonna end up putting the SD and RAW brands back together. keiblerfan69

Honestly though, SmackDown! has lost a lot of star power and looking at its state right now, I think it would be best to unify the brand with RAW as a WWE type of brand. In the long run, it could be a great move considering the WWE brand could air live on Mondays (as RAW usually does), and the ECW brand could air live the next day, but with an extended time-slot of two hours instead of one. Think about the ratings and the profit made if they aren't done as tapings.

[QUOTE="keiblerfan69"]I am all for Rey in ECW. I think WWE is gonna end up putting the SD and RAW brands back together. hbk91

Honestly though, SmackDown! has lost a lot of star power and looking at its state right now, I think it would be best to unify the brand with RAW as a WWE type of brand. In the long run, it could be a great move considering the WWE brand could air live on Mondays (as RAW usually does), and the ECW brand could air live the next day, but with an extended time-slot of two hours instead of one. Think about the ratings and the profit made if they aren't done as tapings.

[QUOTE="keiblerfan69"]I am all for Rey in ECW. I think WWE is gonna end up putting the SD and RAW brands back together. icytower38

I would have to agree with you on both parts. It is heavily looking like a brand reunification is in the very near future of the WWE. I don't necessarily want to see it, but with all the injury's and other things going on within the company I really don't see how they can keep it from happening. Along with that reunification, I see A LOT more people being added to FireFest '06.

I think making things 1 brand again would be for the better, it has been a failed test and I think if it happens and they do a creative team overhaul as far as booking goes, WWE can be successful again as 1 brand

[QUOTE="icytower38"]

[QUOTE="keiblerfan69"]I am all for Rey in ECW. I think WWE is gonna end up putting the SD and RAW brands back together. Rvdecwthug1976

I would have to agree with you on both parts. It is heavily looking like a brand reunification is in the very near future of the WWE. I don't necessarily want to see it, but with all the injury's and other things going on within the company I really don't see how they can keep it from happening. Along with that reunification, I see A LOT more people being added to FireFest '06.

I think making things 1 brand again would be for the better, it has been a failed test and I think if it happens and they do a creative team overhaul as far as booking goes, WWE can be successful again as 1 brand

I'd rather see it that way again. Then could see the best matchups again anyone from raw vs Lashley, Booker, Benoit, etc...

The draft was interesting at first but after the first time, didnt care for it anymore. Broke up tag teams, and a couple went back and forth a few times.

Well Since WWE and the CW have already agreed to show SmackDown! after the merger in September it appears as though SmackDown! has many more months ahead of it.trick_man01