#2 Paul Heyman
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In 2003, Paul Heyman was appointed to the role of SmackDown general manager, a fine spot for one of the best talkers in wrestling history. Heyman was successful, if unremarkable in his role as the blue brand’s figurehead, but after a half year, he got moved out of that spot when he was drafted to the Raw brand, only to reject the position on account of not wanting to work as Eric Bischoff’s assistant.
In reality, WWE was strategically positioning Heyman for the relaunch of ECW as a third brand. Heyman would become the on-air authority figure for the ECW brand that he had, in reality once presided over, while having creative input, but not autonomy. In the end, Heyman has confessed to having been dissatisfied with WWE’s vision for ECW—particularly in pushing established stars like The Big Show and more mainstream guys like Bobby Lashley over more organically ECW styled performers like CM Punk.