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As the McMahons put it on so many occasions, professional wrestling is entertainment, where there are good guys and bad guys. The protagonists abide by truth, honesty and virtue; those whom the fans cheer for. The good guys are those who fight for justice and save those in peril. Basically, good guys are those who don’t have much fun. The antagonists on the other hand are the devious, sinister villains who try to harm the good guys, or anyone associated with them. We’ve all played games like Mario, where the villain captures the princess and keeps her captive; in short, the bad guys are the “cool ones”, who don’t have to worry about playing by the rules. This is probably one of the biggest reasons why I’ve always liked the “heels” – The Pipers, Jake Roberts’ and the likes. In today’s generation, there is probably only one such bad guy, one the wrestling fans loathe and despise for who he is. Like the clichéd Hollywood bad guys, he isn’t exactly a “pretty boy”. What he is, is one of the most ingenious personalities in the business. He is none other than Paul Heyman.
I have never watched a single episode of Breaking Bad or Dr. Who, and hence, I cannot draw similarities and comparisons between characters from those shows and Heyman. If you watch Supernatural like I do, there is a character by the name of Castiel. Supernatural series doesn’t necessarily “need” him; he’s more of a third wheel. If the directors and producers have the necessity or inclination to dissolve his character, they can and the protagonists can march forward. Castiel helps the protagonists, the Winchester brothers, but the series wouldn’t be the same without him. The fans, in some way have associated the series with the character. Without him, Supernatural wouldn’t be the same, and neither would be the protagonists, and the same applies to Paul Heyman.
In six days, the Heyman – Punk saga will likely reach its epilogue. After months, the two bitter rivals might finally settle their differences. The important part, however, is what WWE does with Heyman after the feud. It doesn’t matter who Axel faces next, or where Ryback goes; Paul Heyman needs to stay in the WWE. Heyman, for what he is and has done in the past, can be nothing but an asset to the company he works for. Whether Heyman goes to the independents and works with the talents from Ring of Honor (Although that will likely never happen), Pro Wrestling Guerrilla or the likes, or sticks to the WWE and begins a new program, the only winners are the wrestling fans. Paul Heyman, similar to very few performers such as Piper and Billy Graham, will always be “the ultimate bad guy” in the eyes of the WWE Universe.
Except for the ECW One Night Stands, I don’t remember Heyman being a “good guy” in the WWE, although I might be wrong. For the WWE fans, Heyman was always an outsider, the guy who tried to bring down the WWE machine. Heyman has given the WWE fans more reasons than anybody else ever has to hate him. Paul Heyman is your “once in a lifetime” character, who can do absolutely nothing wrong when he picks up the microphone. Paul Heyman would’ve made it big in Hollywood (although his stature would’ve made it hard for him). What I mean to say is – Paul Heyman needs to stick around in the WWE, for the sake of the WWE Universe.
When the so – called “bad guys” come out to cut a promo, they simply speak out the words, stare blankly into the camera and then make their way to the back. I can recollect so many instances when I looked at the TV set and said, “Well, this isn’t entertainment. These guys need acting lessons”. Call me whatever you want, but as a fan, I’m entitled to my opinions – Good, bad or indifferent. But when I see Paul Heyman, I see truth, I see tangibility. Heyman’s biggest asset is that he can make you live through the storylines. He doesn’t just blurt out the words and head to the back; if you had seen Heyman’s expressions while professing his “admiration” for Ryback, you’d understand just why Heyman is praised universally. It wasn’t exactly a “Casablanca” moment, but the way Heyman’s facial expressions tell the story is something that professional wrestling needs and the superstars need to learn.
Axel needs Heyman more than ever, and Heyman needs to be a part of the storylines like he has been for the past year. WWE can book him to manage the likes of Antonio Cesaro or debut a “new” Paul Heyman guy – The Ohnos or Zayns. Heyman can create a big stable of his own in the WWE, like the Four Horsemen or the New World Order. Whatever it may be, Heyman needs to stay, as professional wrestling needs Paul Heyman more than Heyman needs professional wrestling.
