During a recent episode of his radio show Carton and Roberts (via Wrestling Inc), radio personality Craig Carton claimed he was offered a job to announce for ECW, where he would go by the named Joey Styles. The man that was hired to be Styles, Joseph Bonsignore, was hired in 1993.
Carton claims: “I was once offered a job in wrestling when I worked in Philly. I don’t even know the name of the company (at the time). It was in the mid 90s. I was going to be Joey Styles, I was on the WIP Radio in Philadelphia, someone came to me from ECW and said, ‘we’d love you to be our ringside announcer, and you’re gonna go by the name Joey Styles.’ My schedule didn’t allow it or something. I don’t remember being against it, because I wasn’t making much money. I don’t remember why I didn’t take up the job. But I was going to be Joey Styles, I’ll never forget the name because it was such a cool name.”
In a reply post on Twitter, Paul Heyman denies this was true, saying Joe Bonsignore was the only one ever considered for the name of Joey Styles:
Sorry, @craigcartonlive. I'm calling bullshit on this one. #JoeBonsignore was @JoeyStyles even before I hired him in 1993.
In '94, we needed a replacement that summer.
There were a few considerations.
None of them were to be named #JoeyStyles. #ECW @EvanRobertsWFAN https://t.co/9Cs6Y7ijeQ
— Paul Heyman (@HeymanHustle) February 25, 2021
