Paul Heyman is considered one of the most influential and greatest masterminds in wrestling history. He has managed stars like Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar, who are now two of the most notable and successful names in the business. However, the 59-year-old is also involved in many more decisions and actions backstage.
In June 2024, Paul Heyman was attacked by Solo Sikoa after The Wiseman refused to acknowledge The Street Champion as his Tribal Chief in Roman Reigns' absence. Despite not appearing on WWE television for several months, he was present backstage to help with the creative decision-making.
Last week, The Wiseman finally returned and even linked Roman and CM Punk together. Following the SmackDown episode, Paul gave an interview to CBS Sports in which he revealed several stories going on behind the scenes.
For this list, we will look at five things we learned from Paul Heyman's latest interview:
#5. What makes The Bloodline storyline the most compelling act in wrestling?
The Bloodline began in 2020 after The Usos and Roman Reigns decided to join forces with Heyman in tow. Since then, The Bloodline saga has become the most compelling act on WWE TV. Despite it being in play for so long, the story remains exciting and a must-see for fans.
When Heyman was asked where he would rank the current Bloodline saga among the greatest wrestling storylines, he placed it first and said it was the greatest because of its longevity. The WWE Hall of Famer shared that what made the story so intriguing and compelling was that the actions of the characters had long-term effects and kept evolving.
#4. CM Punk was dragged down for being a Paul Heyman Guy
Heyman has worked with several superstars on television over the years, with his clients eventually earning the "Paul Heyman Guys" tag. While this tag worked successfully for others, the Hall of Famer claimed it affected CM Punk negatively.
The Wiseman shared that due to his previous fallout with the Vince McMahon-led management, The Best in The World was affected and was "dragged down," as the higher-ups only saw him as a Paul Heyman Guy. However, The Voice of The Voiceless proved himself to be a magnificent performer and fought against those perceptions.
#3. Paul Heyman provided guidance to Solo Sikoa's current ally during his absence from WWE TV
During Paul's television absence, he was busy working backstage with other superstars like Bron Breakker, Damian Priest, Solo Sikoa's current ally "Big" Bronson Reed for the upcoming Men's WarGames Match, Gunther, and more. Unsurprisingly, most of the stars the 59-year-old mentored have risen in the division recently.
According to Heyman, he enjoys mentoring young stars as they have only a few veterans ''available at their disposal.'' The legendary manager shared that after surviving in the industry for so long, it's time for him to pass on the wisdom to others.
#2. The Wiseman revealed a shocking thing about CM Punk's character
CM Punk is arguably among the top clients Paul Heyman has worked with in WWE. Although they are no longer working together, the Hall of Famer still has a lot of respect for the RAW Superstar.
The Wiseman praised Punk's character, stating that the latter never aged being a "rebel!'' Heyman shared that The Second City Saint portrayed his character better than before and was now an "older rebel" with more wisdom. The veteran added that if he had been told a decade ago that Punk's character would be better in 2024, he wouldn't have believed it.
#1. Brock Lesnar won't return to WWE this year
Brock Lesnar, Paul Heyman's former client, hasn't been on WWE television since August 2023. The Beast was reportedly set to return at the 2024 Royal Rumble but plans allegedly fell through after he was seemingly referenced in the Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon. Meanwhile, according to Heyman, fans may not see The Beast Incarnate back anytime soon.
During the same interview, the WWE Hall of Famer shared that he tried not to think much about the subject, adding that it's something that wouldn't be resolved anytime soon.