Paul Heyman Offers A Unique Perspective of WWE's Big Announcer Shift

"Good Ol' JR" Jim Ross was drafted from Raw to Smackdown this week, and as always in World Wrestling Entertainment, there's some controversy attached to the decision. It appears as though Ross had no advance notice of the announcing shift, and the former high ranking executive in WWE was plenty upset about it.

Ross wrote a blog late Monday/early Tuesday about the lack of respect he felt he was shown, saying "I am not happy with this surprise development." Later on Tuesday, he wrote a second blog vowing to make Smackdown "kick ass." But Ross had publicly revealed his hurt and anger, and there was no denying that.

Paul Heyman, the former ECW owner and also former creative team member (According to IMDB, Lead Writer for Smackdown and Lead Writer for ECW on Sci Fi) has a unique perspective on both parties. Heyman was Ross' color commentator in WCW in the late 80s and early 90s, and was also Ross' color commentator on Monday Night Raw in 2001 when Jerry Lawler was on the outs with the company. Heyman was also a top advisor, much like Ross, to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, but left the company sometime in 2007 after over 6 volatile years with them.

Heyman wrote a blog on the entire situation, trying to sort out the complex personalities, and it's a most interesting read. Here's a key excerpt:

I'm not surprised Vince McMahon didn't tell JR. I'm not surprised Jim Ross was disrespected. I'm not surprised they stuck a camera in his face to capture the real life turmoil going through his head when a bombshell just got lowered on him.

I'm surprised Jim Ross was surprised!

There's a lot to say about JR in this situation.

He knows Vince as well as anyone, besides Stephanie, Shane and Kevin Dunn.

He's been at the office at 7:30am when Vince wanted to handle something right away and not wait "til the lawyers get in".

He's been there at 10pm, still waiting for Vince to finish working out so they can conclude their 6 pm "end of the day" review of items. Jim Ross knows how Vince thinks, how he reacts to things, how the man operates.

So Jim Ross is surprised when Vince abuses him on live television?

What clues did Good Ol' JR miss?

Was it the way Vince dogs him on the plane and would encourage HHH to join in on the fray? Was it the way Vince has, on multiple occasions, demonstrated the desire to send him out to pasture?

Psssst... when they try to replace you three or four times, they don't all of a sudden change their mind and say: "Hey! He's our type now! We want him long term!"

Maybe I'm surprised that JR was surprised because I personally wouldn't have stayed if I was propped in a hospital bed with part of my colon in a medical waste container awaiting word on cancer and watching my boss do a 12 minute skit about pulling my head out of my arse.

So why is JR surprised? How could he be caught off guard? How could ever think a swerve wasn't coming, a curve ball being thrown, a disruption to any "normalcy" wasn't being contemplated?

Did Jim Ross dare Vince McMahon by publicly stating in advance "I have no interest in switching brands"? Maybe. It certainly didn't DISSUADE Vince from doing it. But I think the cross Jim Ross must bear is a little heavier than that.

Jim Ross, in my opinion, has cut a Faustian Bargain in life.

If you ever wanted a true insider's view of World Wrestling Entertainment politics and personalities, this is it. To read the entire blog, go to http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/heyman/article1350062.ece

or check out http://www.heymanhustle.com