"Paul never forgot what I did to him" - Former WWE star reveals backstage heat with Paul Heyman; says he "let down and screwed over a lot of people"
A former WWE superstar revealed having backstage heat with Paul Heyman for all the things he did in the past. Stevie Richards recently discussed why Heyman doesn't like him despite working for him in ECW.
Richards made his name in ECW under the tutelage of Heyman, who was the main booker of the promotion. However, his departure in 1997 to sign with WCW tarnished the relationship they had despite working for WWE a decade later.
On the latest episode of The Stevie Richards Show, the 21-time Hardcore Champion explained that many in ECW were unhappy when he left to join rivals WCW. Paul Heyman hated his decision, with Richards claiming that his poor stint in the reincarnated ECW in WWE was a receipt for jumping ship.
"I got buried in the new ECW, probably rightfully so, because Paul (Heyman) never forgot what I did to him in ECW. That was the receipt on me, so yeah, everybody was mad. I left (Blue) Minnie and (Hollywood) Nova high and dry with the most successful gimmick that any of the three of us have ever had up to that point. I disappointed and let down and screwed over a lot of people," Richards said. [From 7:57 - 8:27]
Despite what happened in the original ECW, Stevie Richards returned briefly in 1997 after just four months in WCW. Richards wrestled on the independent circuit for a few months before WWE signed him in 1999.
Stevie Richards credits Paul Heyman for helping him make a name for himself
Despite the heat between him and Paul Heyman, Stevie Richards has the utmost respect for the WWE Hall of Famer. Richards credited Heyman for helping him become a household name in ECW and wouldn't be who he was a wrestler without the Wiseman's guidance.
"I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for Paul (Heyman.) Paul produced me ... He had patience, he disarmed me, he made me feel comfortable in my own skin when doing promos. He featured me, he made a guy with daisy dukes and a half shirt a viable world title contender in probably the roughest wrestling promotion that would never like a guy with that presentation," Richards said. [From 12:08 - 13:00]
Richards retired from pro wrestling in 2021 and is currently a podcaster on his own YouTube channel.