Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman were on opposing ends in the wrestling industry during the ’90s, when Heyman ran his ECW promotion and was the second competitor to WWE behind WCW. While their rivalry was legitimate, the two men ultimately were on the same side when Heyman signed with WWE in 2001, becoming a renowned manager.
Things, though, weren’t rosy between the two wrestling promoters, according to former WWE star Matt Hardy. In his “The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy” podcast, he claimed McMahon and Heyman once had a blowout backstage during ECW’s December to Dismember pay-per-view in 2006.
“We heard there was a big dust-up between Paul Heyman and Vince. And I guess, as the show was going on, there was big arguments and I guess the show, as it was going down, Vince wasn’t happy with it,” Hardy claimed. “There had always been a lot of tension between VKM and Paul Heyman, and I think a lot of that just comes from professional pride.”
He further suggested that McMahon sees himself as the greatest promoter while Heyman sees himself as a “breakthrough promoter” and that these two ideologies would naturally clash, especially during an infamous PPV, like December to Dismember.
“I feel like there was probably a little, you know, personal pride in the matter as well, and then, you know, Vince, like, made him eat the bullet for the show not being good,” said Hardy.
Heyman eventually left WWE at the end of December 2006, but returned six years later and has played a prominent role on WWE television since.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
In a recent interview, WWE legend Matt Hardy shared a story about a heated backstage altercation between WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and former ECW owner Paul Heyman.
Hardy revealed that tensions were running high between McMahon and Heyman during the early 2000s, as WWE was in the midst of a rivalry with Heyman’s ECW promotion. According to Hardy, the altercation took place at a backstage meeting where McMahon and Heyman were discussing business matters.
“Vince and Paul were going back and forth, arguing about something related to the business. The tension was palpable in the room,” Hardy recounted. “Things quickly escalated and before we knew it, Vince and Paul were standing nose to nose, shouting at each other.”
Hardy added that the situation became so intense that other wrestlers and staff members had to step in to defuse the situation before it escalated further. Despite their differences, both McMahon and Heyman were able to eventually resolve their issues and continue working together in the future.
“It was definitely a memorable moment backstage, that’s for sure. Both Vince and Paul are fiery personalities, so it’s not surprising that things got heated between them,” Hardy said.
The incident serves as a reminder of the high-pressure environment that exists behind the scenes in the world of professional wrestling, where egos and strong personalities often clash. Hardy’s firsthand account sheds light on the complex dynamics that can exist between top wrestling executives, even when they are working towards a common goal.
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