By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Paul Heyman was very critical of WWE and TNA for their lack of new talent development and says the pro wrestling industry will be in trouble in five years if the same top old stars continue to be featured on national TV.

Heyman cited a memo that Jim Ross sent out to WWE executives five years ago when Ross was VP of talent relations citing the problem. He implored WWE management to look into a scouting department that could help find new talent.

"Jim Ross would send memo after memo to Vince and Stephanie practically begging the company to devote more time, effort, and resources to an active recruitment process, much like the NFL, NBA, and Major League Baseball," Heyman said on his Crave Online blog.

Heyman said that Ross wrote: "'If we don't address this problem now, we're going to pay a heavy price for ignoring the situation in five years."'

Heyman worked in WWE as recently as three years ago when the ECW brand was re-formed. He says he doesn't blame current VP of talent relations John Laurinaitis, but rather the McMahon family.

"His hands are tied. His department is under the direction of Stephanie McMahon-LeVesque, and despite the fact the Chairman understands 'new, unique, different,' Vince has screwed up when it comes to the matter of finding and developing new styles and the superstars who will define those new ways of presenting the age old product," Heyman said.

Heyman cited this weekend's Dragon Gate USA debut show in Philadelphia. WWE will be in town for the Night of Champions PPV on Sunday, but Heyman claims he spoke with DGUSA head booker Gabe Sapolsky, who told him no one has expressed interest in coming to the show to scout for new talent.

"When I spoke with my old assistant Gabe Sapolsky, who is now the go-to guy as the VP of Dragon Gate USA, he told me he hasn't received a single call from anyone in WWE or TNA regarding dropping by the show to scout talent," Heyman said.

Heyman didn't just reserve his criticism for WWE. He ripped TNA for not understanding how to market pro wrestling. Earlier this week, his name popped up as a potential replacement for Jeff Jarrett as head of the booking team if Jarrett is ousted from TNA. Heyman indirectly identified one of the reasons why he said he would "never" work for TNA.

"TNA has spent more time promoting the fact their ring is six-sided, and advertising the anti-climatic debuts of former WWE color commentators than they have invested in the discovery of exciting new superstars who can capture the public's attention," Heyman said. "TNA-branded (an oxymoron if there every was one) headliner Samoa Joe turns heel so he can be the subservient second banana to former WWE main eventer Kurt Angle on TNA's television show. ... Maybe Joe will move in with Jeff Jarrett and people will be more interested in THAT than in anything happening on TNA television or pay per views."

Link: Read Paul Heyman's entire blog on Crave Online.

We suggest these recent related articles...

WWE NEWS: Superstars SPOILERS - Results from Chicago Raw

WWE NETWORK: Monday, Oct. 12 Schedule - Raw pre-show, Sting DVD preview

WWE NEWS: Lana & Rusev reportedly engaged - follow the interesting 2015 timeline