Why Paul Heyman's 2002 WWE Smackdown Was The Best
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 พ.ย. 2023
- Paul Heyman has a genius mind for the wrestling business, and Vince McMahon saw this when he made Heyman the WWE SmackDown lead writer in 2002. In fact, McMahon gave Paul Heyman almost free reign over the product, thanks to his track record with ECW, where he worked magic with far more limited resources. He transformed SmackDown at the start of the WWE brand extension, making it feel like a totally separate product to WWE Raw. In this wrestling documentary we will see how Paul Heyman introduced the SmackDown Six and pushed Brock Lesnar, revolutionising the brand, and we will also look at why his tenure was relatively short lived.
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#wwe #wrestling #paulheyman - กีฬา
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! MY NAME IS PAUL HEYMAN!"
Michael Cole and Tazz played a very underrated but huge role in SD's success. They were class on the commentary.
The time when SmackDown was the top brand in that era.
Smackdown was awesome back then during the Ruthless Aggression Era when I was in my late childhood and teenage years in the 2000s.
From mid 2002-late 2003: Smackdown was the better show.
Late 2003-early 2005: Even Steven.
Early 2005-mid 2008: Raw was better.
Mid 2008-early 2010: Smackdown was better.
2010-mid to late 2011: Even Steven. And they were garbage.
Mid to late 2016-early 2017: Smackdown was better.
2017-early 2018: Raw was better.
2018-early 2019: Smackdown was better.
2019: Even Steven. And they were some of the worst television in history.
Early-mid 2020: Raw was better.
Mid 2020: Even Steven. And they were shit.
Mid to late 2020-Late 2021: Smackdown was better.
Late 2021-mid 2022: Even Steven. And they were shit.
Mid 2022-late 2023: Smackdown was better.
Now: Raw is better.
And of course it's when talent were given freedom that we saw them flourish. Now 20 years later we're finally seeing that again.
Sometimes giving them freedom might come back to haunt you. Look at what has happened to AEW. There has been backstage fights happening numerous times, when cm punk and elite were there.
@@mrnicemam8523that’s AEW though, this is WWE where yes they might get freedom but under a controlled environment like if something were to happen backstage, there would be talks & trying to to handle the situation instead of dragging it down even further
Aww man this was my favorite era of Smackdown 2002-2003 mostly under Paul Heyman's creative direction it was an awesome period and was the time where I preferred Smackdown over Raw.
Heyman is the most slept on mind in the business.
Smackdown from 2002-2003 was amazing Stephanie McMahon's run as Smackdown GM was amazing Torrie Wilson's Feud with dawn Marie was awesome Sable's return to WWE in 2003 was awesome her second run is more iconic than her first run from 1996-1999 her Feuds with Torrie Wilson and Stephanie McMahon were awesome Especially those Backstage brawls they had those were great I find it hilarious that Paul Heyman got fired as smackdown head writer by Stephanie McMahon months later he would replace her as smackdown gm after no mercy 2003.
The Torrie Wilson and Dawn Marie storyline was probably the worst part of SD back then lol.
@@darkchocolate3390true but I wished smackdown had more women around that time because they got the Raw end of the Deal no pun intended Stephanie McMahon was an amazing smackdown GM her Feud with sable in the summer of 2003 was amazing they had such awesome segments especially their Backstage brawls the one they had in a skybox was absolutely hilarious.
@@benespinosa6725 Yea, pretty fair. The women scene in WWE was never really given a chance until the mid 2010s.
@Kevin-tb8ng Great workers, but they never got 10 mins on a ppv or the main even on TV. That's what I meant. Also 🤮
@@darkchocolate3390I Absolutely Agree
Wow, I watched smackdown for years, and that era still stands out as it's strongest in memory.. I never knew it was Heyman behind it. Fair play to him. Just shows what happens with the right people in charge.
I'd have rather had Jericho on smackdown than Taker though. Adding Jericho to the Smackdown 6 mix would have made it incredible, and biker Taker was much more suited to Raw, which was soon becoming the Triple H show, so needed some more weight.
Ngl putting Smackdown on a channel where pretty much anyone could watch was a very smart decision.
Vince just can't handle it when someone does a better job than he does running a promotion.
that period in smackdown from 2002 to 2005 was some of the best stuff on TV. eddie guerrero was HOT during that time. his time being both the tag champs with chavo and being the u.s. title and his feud w/ the big show that had some entertaining moments. the competition and wrestling at that time was top-notch.
2000s era of wrestling is still unmatched tna and smackDown
I luvedddd Smackdown from mid 02-04/05. Obviously the Attitude Era woill never be topped imo, but that era I just mentioned in Smackdown was pretty damn good. Paul Heyman doesn't get enough credit
The Undertaker was in his late 30s by 2002. I don't see how people was losing interest in him.
Taker had some of his best works in 2002!
Heyman joined commentary in February 2001. Many months before the invasion angle.
The draft was at its best with Bishoff vs Heyman....Raw and Smackdown both felt like different shows, got a great elimination chamber match (the original) and a great hell in a cell match (Taker/Lesnar)
Another fantastic video, keep it up.
It's interesting that while the stars of raw are stacked with well-known indie talent, smackdown is with the brands well-known recognisable guys.
One of your best videos yet. Please do one on RAW during this time period too...one on the draft in general would be cool as well.
Paul Heyman did a great job for Smack Down should have lasted longer
Minor factoid - Rey was "allowed" to remask inasmuch as his uncle(the original Rey Mysterio) let him use the name(and thus be able to remask)
Your content is great and i am your subscriber from 3 k but only thing which i want to suggest you that there is so much gap in between videos...Post regularly...it will be beneficial for the channel too...
The smackdown 6 are what got me into wrestling. That probably warped my perception of what your average match should be. But I dont give a fuck because I am not a wwe for lifer.
When Taker joined SD after summerslam 02, SD started kick Raw’s ass big time until late 03 ~
and now SmackDown is on top because of Pauly again
WWE could have easily had 3 seperate brands at that time .
They should have rather aimed to make Velocity its own standalone brand like Raw and Smackdown.
Velocity should have been the 3rd Brand .
Raw had the red colour scheme complete with red ring ropes while Smackdown had a blue colour scheme complete with blue ring ropes.
Velocity should have retained the green colour scheme and make the ring ropes green.
RAW SHOULD have hosted the following championships :
- WWE championship
- Intercontinental Championship
- WWE tag team championship
Smackdown championships should have been :
- WCW World Heavyweight Championship
- US Championship
-WCW tag team championship
Velocity should have hosted the following championship :
-ECW World Television Title
-Women's Championship
-Cruiserweight title
-WWE Hardcore Title
This format would have been better because it would have allowed the guys who werent really being used at raw and smackdown that time to ge a new lease on life on Velocity . Guys like Shelton ,Test ,Hardcore Holly and Charlie Haas would have benefited from being on Velocity.
Same thing applies to the championships as well. Especially womens wrestling that time would have benefitted if they were exclusively on Velocity . Only those women with incredible sex appeal ,who couldnt really wrestle , like Torrie Wilson could have been used in the GM role or the valet role on Raw and smackdown while the likes of Victoria and Beth Phoenix and co would move over to Velocity and showcase their skills .
Plus reviving the ECW world television would have been a cool way to acheive some goodwill with the ECW fans that WWE wanted a part of ECW to live on just like reviving the WCW tag team titles . The Wcw Fan base would have no doubt appreciated that a part of Wcw would live on in the form of these revived titles.
Great news
You know, if not for Heyman's flaw when it comes to the business side of things, he would have been the absolute perfect non-wrestling personality in existence. It was this flaw that actually prevented TNA wrestling from hiring Heyman, cause one of Heyman's demands for joining TNA was that besides creative control of the roster, he also wanted stocks and an ownership stake, which also means putting financial management in his hands. Heyman's vision for TNA also clashed with Spike TV (who had broadcasting rights to Impact), cause Heyman wanted to slowly build up TNA's fledgling roster (not unlike the Smackdown Six), whereas Spike TV wanted to compete with WWE right away.
A shame too, cause in the early 2010s, TNA had a treasure trove of talent that would have given WWE serious competition had Heyman's vision been enacted. No, I highly doubt TNA would have wrested WWE's crown away even with Heyman onboard, but TNA certainly could have made a lot of noise, and maybe WWE would have snapped out of their stagnation period a lot sooner too.
Hell yeah eddie guerrero 🇲🇽
Smackdown > The Triple H Show
Is this video a joke ?
Paul heyman was not the reason for smackdown success
It was the star power of smackdown
Eddie guerrero
Undertaker who made smackdown a great brand
John cena
Brock lesnar
Technically, yes. Haymen was one of the reasons for Smackdown's popularity. Without his vision, Smackdown wouldn't have beaten Raw in the ratings in '03.
🕵️♀️
Mid to late 1999-mid 2002: Edge of your seats entertainment. Stemming from the Attitude Era.
Mid 2002-late 2003: Smackdown 6. Smackdown's best period.
Late 2003-late 2005: Smackdown started going downhill.
Late 2005-mid 2008: Smackdown's struggling period.
Mid 2008-early 2010: Smackdown's renissance.
2010-mid 2016: Boring and repetitive.
Mid to late 2016-early 2017: The A-show.
2017-mid 2020: Smackdown's worst period.
Mid to late 2020-now: The Tribal Era. Some good periods, some bad periods.
5:40 young Brock would destroy HHH w/o breaking a sweat !
Vince McMahon was the filter. He selected the best ideas and put them on TV.
Imagine getting removed for doing your job well....Wtf man
Smackdown around late 03 was starting to go downhill a bit once 04 hit and a ton of guys would end up getting released or left Smackdown legit lack star power and 05 to 07 was legit awful
Stupid Gimmicks
Laughable bad angles
A ton of worthless matches
Lack of a tag and cruiserweight division efficiency
Unproven wrestlers getting pushed like Khali
The Women’s division in general
A ton of injuries
and Raw wasn’t better mind u they had some of their issues too and once ECW was added it was clear the WWE had no idea what to do especially when a ton of more stars would end up leaving
Honestly this was the draft done right especially cause they gave each brand a distinct identity plus Heymans creative genius saved Smackdown from cancellation. The Smackdown 6 concept was just awesome especially considering how it benefitted each of them its just a shame none of it can be mentioned due to Benoits disgusting actions
But if triple h was in charge or on both shows
We wouldn’t even have the smackdown 6
SMH
Triple h is cancer to the wwe
Paul Heyman a genius? No the credit goes to the talent I mean look what Paul Heymanlan aka ''Humpty Dumpty'' has been doing lately insulting Bobby Heenan for cheap heat no he's no genius.
I think Heyman is very overrated. His entire gig has been having Brock has the unbeatable monster, building up 'threats' having then go over to make Lesnar look even better.
He is doing the same with Roman to break this 'days as champion' record and its killed so much interest.
Wrestling turned super lame at the end of 99-00
🧢
around the time stone cold retired wrestling died a slow death for years starting then.