Former WWE star Mr. Anderson recently reflected on how a simple yet pivotal piece of advice from Paul Heyman transformed his wrestling career. During his conversation with Kevin Kellam of Sportskeeda, Anderson shared the origin story behind his signature introduction style that quickly became his trademark.
Anderson’s WWE run during the mid-2000s featured notable accomplishments including capturing the United States Championship and winning Money in the Bank. His career path included memorable feuds with Eddie Guerrero, Batista, and The Undertaker, along with significant on-screen interactions with Vince McMahon.
During the Sportskeeda interview, Anderson revealed how his iconic ring introduction originated from direct guidance given by Heyman during their time together in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), which served as WWE’s developmental territory at the time.
When I was at OVW, I had this moment where Paul Heyman was writing OVW television. He just said, ‘Hey, go out. Cut the ring announcer off tonight, cuss him out and then do your own introduction. You know, make it big!’ So I did that, and I hit the last name twice and everybody was like keep doing that.
The moment proved transformative, with Anderson’s distinctive delivery of his surname becoming instantly recognizable to wrestling fans. The simple instruction to “make it big” led to one of the most memorable character traits of his WWE tenure.
Heyman’s eye for talent and character development has benefited numerous WWE stars throughout his career. His guidance has proven instrumental for performers including Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and Rob Van Dam, with many top stars crediting the former ECW promoter for contributing significantly to their success.
