If you ever need a reason to watch WWE programming, one name is enough to captivate the imagination of the wrestling fans and superstars alike. It is often said that the superstars take note of what the veterans do – whether it is performing inside the squared circle or cutting a promo like only they can. Whilst most of the superstars are busy preparing for their own segments when RAW rolls on, you can be rest assured that they are glued to the TV monitors when one man takes the microphone. This one man was successful in changing the landscape of professional wrestling, and he did it while ticking the rest of the world off.Paul Heyman is undoubtedly one of the greatest managers in the history of professional wrestling. He is also one of the greatest talkers that the business has ever witnessed. Whether you like him or despise his very existence, when Heyman speaks, you listen. Very few in the industry command as much respect and reverence as Heyman, and that status quo is for a good reason. Like a fine wine, the master manipulator just gets better with time, and when you think he cannot outdo himself, he surprises everyone and delivers yet another epilogue that will go down as one of the most iconic words in history.But why am I writing about it today? Because it just so happens to be the birthday of the man who not only turned the professional wrestling world upside down, but also made all of his haters stand up and applaud his genius, no matter how hard they tried to ignore his existence. In this article, we take a look at 5 of the greatest promos that Heyman delivered, although it would be an arduous task to pick 5 among so many!
#5 Paul Heyman in ECW \'94
Paul Heyman has always been methodical in his verbiage. He could channel his inner Jake Roberts and deliver a promo, carefully playing with words and yet have a subtle darkness about it, or can be aggressive and drive his point through. But back in 1994, Paul E. Dangerously showed another dimension of his personality when he cut an intense promo, perhaps showing the fans a glimpse of things to come in the future.
Paul Heyman wasn’t a big name back in ’94, neither was he the same person who could stand toe – to – toe with Vince McMahon and hold his own. Twenty years later, Heyman is one of the greatest names to ever enter the professional wrestling business, and you could see that Heyman was just as passionate, as just as talented two decades ago as he is today.
#4 Heyman talks about Lesnar ending the streak
This year’s WrestleMania will be remembered for many reasons. Daniel Bryan won the WWE World Heavyweight championship at WrestleMania, thus reaching the pinnacle of sports entertainment, while many future stars stamped their mark in the company. But perhaps, this year’s WrestleMania will stand out for a long time to come because of Brock Lesnar defeating, and thus ending the legendary run of arguably the greatest superstar that ever lived. WrestleMania, for the past two decades, was home for the greatest streak in sports entertainment history, as The Undertaker laid waste to everyone who dared to challenge him at the grandest stage of them all.
The wrestling fraternity was enraged by the fact that Brock Lesnar was the “chosen one” to break the streak, and thus, the following episode of RAW was pivotal to set the record straight. When Heyman and Lesnar came out, they were booed out of the building, but by the time Heyman stopped speaking and dropped his microphone to the mat, even the most ardent fan of the Phenom was forced to applaud the true genius of Heyman. In a matter of minutes, Heyman turned the angry fans into his admirers – those who were fortunate enough to witness the work of a true genius.
#3 ECW One Night Stand 2005
ECW was one of the greatest promotions to have ever existed. Not only did it revolutionize the wrestling business, but it also gained a cult following – a status as a rebel organization, going against the mighty WWE and WCW. In 2005, Heyman got the opportunity to address the WWE and Eric Bischoff - the man who left no stone unturned while trying to run ECW out of business. While everyone wanted a piece of Eric, Heyman had the opportunity to voice the opinions of millions of fans around the globe; fans who wanted ECW to thrive, and the fans who wanted to see Eric Bischoff get kicked out of the WWE.
One of Heyman’s forte is to control the crowd; like a snake charmer enticing the reptile to sway to his movements, Heyman has the ability to make the people dance to his tunes. When he ripped into the WWE and Eric Bischoff, the entire arena started singing hymns about their leader. The way Heyman took his time meticulously dissecting each and every member of the WWE was one of the greatest sights you could see as a wrestling fan!
#2 Heyman takes over Chicago
When WWE rolled into Chicago in March, they were worried about the response they would receive. Understandably, they feared the worst, and hoped that the entire show wouldn’t be hijacked by the ruckus Chicago crowd, who were notorious for being one of the most vocal fans in the world. Even before the show started, the crowd started a huge “CM Punk” chant, and wanted to hear from their local hero who walked out of the WWE a month ago. While everyone knew that Punk wouldn’t be seen on the show, they were adamant about “taking over” RAW. That was until WWE figured out the antidote.
As Punk’s music played and the entire arena exploded into loud cheers, Heyman strutted to the ring, and like a conductor directing the band, he subtly, yet surely put the focus back on the Lesnar – Undertaker match at WrestleMania. Heyman not only blamed the Chicago crowd for Punk walking away, but also used it as a means to put the spotlight back on Brock Lesnar’s conquest to beat The Undertaker at WrestleMania – something Punk was unable to do.
#1 Heyman\'s promo on Vince McMahon
Very few people have the audacity to speak up against the man who made professional wrestling what it is today; the most powerful figure in the industry – Vincent Kennedy McMahon. Even fewer people would actually go head to head with the man who not only made the WWE the single greatest promotion that ever existed, but also made it a point to drive all of his competitors out of business. Heyman not only stood up to Vince McMahon during the 90s, but also had the opportunity to tell the boss how he felt, and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands, as he spewed venom while the entire world stood up and applauded Heyman.
What started off as just another segment to push the Invasion storyline soon turned into a vicious, scathing promo, which was a result of years of anger and pent up emotions. Heyman was always known to be a great talker, but this promo grabbed the attention of the wrestling world, as Heyman said things that others could only imagine. If you thought Punk’s “Pipe bomb” promo was amazing, you should take a look at Paul Heyman verbally burying the chairman of the WWE!
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