Paul Heyman (born September 11, 1965) is an American
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to Real life, real- ...
manager, former executive, promoter, and commentator. He is signed to
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...
as the on-screen manager of
Seth Rollins
Colby Daniel Lopez (born May 28, 1986), better known by the ring name Seth Rollins, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw WWE brand extension, brand and ...
,
Bron Breakker, and
Bronson Reed, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative figures in modern professional wrestling.
Heyman first gained prominence in the late 1980s as an on-screen manager under the name Paul E. Dangerously, working for promotions such as
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Ted Turner in 1988, after Turner Broadcasting System, through a subsidiary named Universal Wrestling Corporation, purchased the assets of National W ...
(WCW) and the
Continental Wrestling Federation. In 1993, he became the creative force behind
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) was an American professional wrestling promotion that was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and operated by its parent company HHG Corporation. The promotion was founded in 1992 by Tod Gordon as Nationa ...
(ECW), eventually purchasing the company in 1995. Under his leadership, ECW gained a cult following and introduced a more aggressive, reality-based style that influenced major wrestling promotions in the years that followed.
After ECW closed in 2001, Heyman joined WWE, where he worked as a commentator, writer, and on-screen manager. He played a pivotal role in the early career of
Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar ( ; born July 12, 1977) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and former Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, Amateur wrestling, amateur wrestler and professional American football player. As a ...
, serving as his manager for much of Lesnar's tenure in WWE. Heyman also contributed behind the scenes as a writer, including a run as lead writer for ''
SmackDown'' in the early 2000s and later as executive director of ''Raw'' from 2019 to 2020.
Heyman is best known for his work as a manager, widely praised for his promo ability, character work, and influence on talent development. He has managed some of wrestling's biggest names, including Lesnar,
CM Punk
Phillip Jack Brooks (born October 26, 1978), better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw brand. Regarded as ...
,
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9, 1968) is an American retired professional wrestler and amateur wrestling, amateur wrestler. He first earned recognition for winning a Wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle 100 kg, gold me ...
,
Big Show
Paul Donald Wight II (born February 8, 1972) is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under his real name of Paul Wight. He is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) f ...
,
Roman Reigns
Leati Joseph Anoaʻi ( ; born May 25, 1985), better known by his ring name Roman Reigns, is an American professional wrestler and former gridiron football, football player. As a wrestler, he has been signed to WWE , where he performs on the Sm ...
and Rollins, and is credited with helping elevate numerous stars through his work both on and off screen. In 2024, Heyman was inducted into the
WWE Hall of Fame
The WWE Hall of Fame is a List of halls and walks of fame, hall of fame which honors professional wrestlers and professional wrestling personalities maintained by WWE. Originally known as the "WWF Hall of Fame", it was created in 1993 when An ...
, recognized for his decades-long contributions to the industry as both a performer and creative visionary.
Early life
Paul Heyman was born on September 11, 1965, in
the Bronx, New York City
The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...
, to Sulamita (née Szarf; 1928–2009) and Richard S. Heyman (1926–2013), both of Jewish descent.
His mother was a
Holocaust survivor
Holocaust survivors are people who survived the Holocaust, defined as the persecution and attempted annihilation of the Jews by Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, its collaborators before and during World War II ...
who endured the
Łódź Ghetto
The Łódź Ghetto or Litzmannstadt Ghetto (after the Nazi German name for Łódź) was a Nazi ghetto established by the German authorities for Polish Jews and Roma following the Invasion of Poland. It was the second-largest ghetto in all of ...
and was later imprisoned at
Auschwitz
Auschwitz, or Oświęcim, was a complex of over 40 concentration and extermination camps operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland (in a portion annexed into Germany in 1939) during World War II and the Holocaust. It consisted of Auschw ...
and
Bergen-Belsen
Bergen-Belsen (), or Belsen, was a Nazi concentration camp in what is today Lower Saxony in Northern Germany, northern Germany, southwest of the town of Bergen, Lower Saxony, Bergen near Celle. Originally established as a prisoner of war camp, ...
concentration camps. His father was a personal injury attorney and served in the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.
From a young age, Heyman exhibited entrepreneurial instincts. By age 11, he operated a
mail-order
Mail order is the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote methods such as:
* Sending an order form in the mail
* Placing an order by telephone call
...
business from his home, selling celebrity and sports memorabilia. During his teenage years, he began attending events at
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...
, where he gained backstage access as a self-proclaimed photojournalist for wrestling publications. Some of his photographs were published by the
World Wide Wrestling Federation
Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) was an American sports promotion company. Run by Vincent J. McMahon from the 1950s until the 1980s, the company was originally a professional wrestling and boxing promotion and later became the holding company ...
(WWWF). He later graduated from
Edgemont High School and attended
SUNY Purchase
The State University of New York at Purchase, commonly referred to as Purchase College or SUNY Purchase, is a Public college, public Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Purchase, New York. Established in 1967 by G ...
, where he worked as an on-air personality at the college's radio station. He also hosted programs on WARY-FM, a station affiliated with
Westchester Community College
Westchester Community College (WCC) is a public community college in Valhalla, New York, in Westchester County. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system.
History
New York state opened five coed technical institutes in 194 ...
. In 1985, at age 19, Heyman began working as a photographer and subsequently as a producer and promoter at the New York City nightclub
Studio 54
Studio 54 is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater and former nightclub at 254 West 54th Street (Manhattan), 54th Street in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, New York, U.S. Opened as the Gallo Opera House in 1927, it served ...
.
[The rise & Fall of ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling. Thom Loverro, Paul Heyman, Tommy Dreamer]
Professional wrestling career
Early interests and formative years (1970s–1986)
Heyman's interest in professional wrestling began in childhood and was solidified after watching a televised interview between
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy McMahon ( ; born August 24, 1945) is an American businessman and former professional wrestling promoter. McMahon, along with his later-estranged wife Linda McMahon, Linda, is a co-founder of the modern WWE, the world's largest ...
and
"Superstar" Billy Graham.
At the age of 13, he began photographing wrestling events in New York City and later invested in his own photo lab to develop and sell his work.
He published ''The Wrestling Times Magazine'', a self-produced newsletter, and contributed to wrestling periodicals such as ''
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishing Group. The maga ...
''.
[, Slam.canoe.ca. Retrieved May 8, 2012.]
In 1980, at the age of 14, Heyman contacted
Capitol Wrestling Corporation
Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) was an American sports promotion company. Run by Vincent J. McMahon from the 1950s until the 1980s, the company was originally a professional wrestling and boxing promotion and later became the holding company ...
—the parent company of the WWWF—and secured a press pass for an event at Madison Square Garden. His presence at such events resulted in posed photographs with leading
heel
The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg.
Structure
To distribute the compressive forces exerted ...
managers of the era, including
Lou Albano
Louis Vincent Albano (July 29, 1933 – October 14, 2009) was an Italian-American professional wrestler, manager and actor, who performed under the ring/stage name "Captain" Lou Albano. He was active as a professional wrestler from 1953 until 1 ...
,
Fred Blassie, and
The Grand Wizard. These images were later published by ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'', which characterized Heyman as having learned from the so-called "Three Wise Men" of heel management.
Heyman's proactive approach continued throughout his adolescence. He attended tapings for
Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions, at times branded as Eastern States Championship Wrestling and Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, is a Family business, family-owned professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, United Sta ...
, where he met
Dusty Rhodes
Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. (October 11, 1945 – June 11, 2015), better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, was an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, booker, and trainer who worked for the National Wrestling Alliance ...
after entering a production meeting.
In 1985, Heyman began working at Studio 54, initially as a photographer before being promoted to producer. That same year, he organized "Wrestle Party '85", a professional wrestling-themed event at the venue. The show featured the debut of
Bam Bam Bigelow
Scott Charles Bigelow (September 1, 1961 – January 19, 2007) was an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Bam Bam Bigelow. Recognizable by his close-to-400-pound frame and the distinctive flame tattoo that spanned mo ...
and included appearances by
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr (born February 25, 1949), known professionally as Ric Flair, is an American retired professional wrestler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Flair's career spanned 50 years.
He is ...
, Dusty Rhodes, and
Magnum T.A., who were sent by
Jim Crockett in response to Heyman's outreach.
Early managerial career (1987–1988)
Heyman made his managerial debut on January 2, 1987, with encouragement from Bigelow. He began working on the
independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit (often shortened to the indie circuit or the indies) is the collective name of independently owned promotions which are deemed to be smaller and more regionalized than major national promotions. ...
in the Northeastern United States before joining
Championship Wrestling from Florida
Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF) was the corporate and brand name of the Tampa, Florida professional wrestling promotion, wrestling office existing from 1961, when Eddie Graham first bought into the promotion, until 1987, when it close ...
(CWF) in February of that year. There, he aligned with
Kevin Sullivan and
Oliver Humperdink, adopting the ring name "Paul E. Dangerously"—a character inspired by
Michael Keaton
Michael John Douglas (born September 5, 1951), known professionally as Michael Keaton, is an American actor. He has received numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for an Aca ...
's role in ''
Johnny Dangerously''.
Following CWF's acquisition by Jim Crockett Promotions, Heyman transitioned to the Memphis-based
Continental Wrestling Association
Continental Wrestling Association (later the Championship Wrestling Association) was a wrestling promotion managed by Jerry Jarrett. The CWA was the name of the "governing body" for the Championship Wrestling, Inc. promotion which was usually ...
(CWA), where he managed
Tommy Rich
Thomas Richardson (born July 26, 1956) is an American professional wrestling, professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Tommy "Wildfire" Rich. He is a one time former National Wrestling Alliance NWA World Heavyweight Championship, Wo ...
and
Austin Idol in a high-profile feud with
Jerry Lawler
Jerry O'Neil Lawler (born November 29, 1949), better known as Jerry "the King" Lawler, is an American retired color commentator and professional wrestler signed to WWE under a Legends contract.
Prior to joining the World Wrestling Federati ...
. This storyline would later extend into the
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association (AWA) was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 until 1991. It was founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo. The promotion was born out of the Minneapolis ...
(AWA), where the
Midnight Express (
Dennis Condrey
Dennis Condrey (born February 1, 1952) is an American retired professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the Continental Wrestling Association, Jim Crockett Promotions and World Championship Wrestling ...
and
Randy Rose) took over as Heyman's clients.
The Paul E. Dangerously persona—a brash, fast-talking New Yorker often seen with a mobile phone—was a theatrical extension of Heyman's own personality. The mobile phone, at the time an expensive status symbol, became a trademark prop and was occasionally used as a weapon during matches, a creative decision inspired by the character
Gordon Gekko
Gordon Gekko is a composite character in the 1987 film '' Wall Street'' and its 2010 sequel '' Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps'', both directed by Oliver Stone. Gekko was portrayed in both films by actor Michael Douglas, who won the Academy A ...
from ''
Wall Street
Wall Street is a street in the Financial District, Manhattan, Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It runs eight city blocks between Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway in the west and South Street (Manhattan), South Str ...
''.
After leaving the AWA, Heyman returned to the CWA and formed an alliance with
Eddie Gilbert and
Missy Hyatt, engaging in a renewed feud with Lawler. Heyman subsequently joined the Alabama-based
Continental Wrestling Federation, where Gilbert served as head booker and Heyman worked as his assistant. Concurrently, Heyman held the position of head booker for
Windy City Wrestling in Chicago, further establishing his reputation as an innovative writer and producer of wrestling television.
National Wrestling Alliance / World Championship Wrestling (1988–1993)
In 1988, Heyman joined
Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions, at times branded as Eastern States Championship Wrestling and Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, is a Family business, family-owned professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, United Sta ...
, which soon became part of
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Ted Turner in 1988, after Turner Broadcasting System, through a subsidiary named Universal Wrestling Corporation, purchased the assets of National W ...
(WCW). Reprising his Paul E. Dangerously persona, he managed the Original Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose) in a storyline rivalry against the new incarnation of the team—
Bobby Eaton and
Stan Lane—who were aligned with manager
Jim Cornette
James Mark Cornette (born September 17, 1961) is an American author, sports historian, and podcaster who previously worked in the professional wrestling industry as an agent, booker, color commentator, manager, photographer, promoter, tra ...
. During this period, Heyman also briefly managed "Mean" Mark Callous, the future
Undertaker
A funeral director, also known as an undertaker or mortician (American English), is a professional who has licenses in funeral arranging and embalming (or preparation of the deceased) involved in the business of funeral rites. These tasks o ...
in
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...
.
Although originally brought in as an on-screen manager, Heyman gradually transitioned into broadcasting. He became a color commentator alongside
Jim Ross
James William Ross (born January 3, 1952) is an American professional wrestling commentator, sports announcer, and podcaster, better known by the ring name Jim Ross (often shortened to JR). He is signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he ...
, calling matches for ''
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Ted Turner in 1988, after Turner Broadcasting System, through a subsidiary named Universal Wrestling Corporation, purchased the assets of National W ...
'' on
WTBS and other WCW programming. Heyman would later credit Ross with significantly shaping his understanding of wrestling presentation and production.
Between stints with WCW, Heyman was briefly hired as a writer for
International Championship Wrestling (ICW), but was dismissed during his first taping session.
In 1991, WCW sought to reestablish its
heel
The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg.
Structure
To distribute the compressive forces exerted ...
roster and reintroduced Heyman as an on-screen manager. He was positioned as the leader of a new faction, the
Dangerous Alliance, with
Rick Rude
Richard Erwin Rood (December 7, 1958 – April 20, 1999), better known by his ring name "Ravishing" Rick Rude, was an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler who performed for many Professional wrestling promotion, promotions, incl ...
as its focal point. The stable also included
Arn Anderson
Martin Anthony Lunde (born September 20, 1958), better known by his ring name Arn Anderson, is an American professional wrestling Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Agent, road agent, author, and retired professional wrestler. Although he ...
, Bobby Eaton,
Larry Zbyszko
Lawrence Whistler (born December 5, 1951), better known by the ring name Larry Zbyszko, is an American retired professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his Feud (professional wrestling), feud with his mentor, Bruno Sammartino, during ...
, and a young
Steve Austin
Steve Austin (born Steven James Anderson and later Steven James Williams; December 18, 1964), better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American media personality, actor, producer and retired Professional wrestling, profes ...
, among others. According to Heyman, he and Austin both considered Rude a mentor during this time.
Under Heyman's management, Rude captured the
United States Heavyweight Championship, while Anderson and Eaton won the
World Tag Team Championship
In professional wrestling, a championship or title is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in predetermined rival ...
. The Dangerous Alliance was prominently featured throughout 1992 and was widely regarded as one of WCW's top villainous factions.
Heyman's tenure with WCW came to an end following backstage conflicts with then-booker
Bill Watts
William F. Watts Jr. (born May 5, 1939), better known under the ring name Bill Watts, is a retired American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, promoter and former American football player. Watts garnered fame under his "Cowboy" Glos ...
. In early 1993, Heyman filed a lawsuit against WCW, alleging wrongful termination and ethnic discrimination. The matter was resolved privately out of court.
Leadership of Extreme Championship Wrestling (1993–2001)
After departing WCW in early 1993, Paul Heyman explored starting a new wrestling promotion in Texas with
Jim Crockett Jr. However, the partnership was short-lived due to creative differences.
Later that year, Heyman joined
Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW), a Philadelphia-based promotion affiliated with the
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is an American professional wrestling professional wrestling promotion, promotion and governing body owned by Billy Corgan and operated by its parent company Lightning One, Inc.
Founded in 1948, the NWA be ...
(NWA). The company was owned by local entrepreneur
Tod Gordon and at the time was being booked by
Eddie Gilbert. Heyman was initially brought in to assist with character development and promo coaching, particularly for younger talent. Following Gilbert's departure in September 1993, Heyman took over as ECW's head booker and assumed full creative control. He also returned to an on-screen role under his "Paul E. Dangerously" persona, managing wrestlers such as
Sabu and
911
911, 9/11 or Nine Eleven may refer to:
Dates
* AD 911
* 911 BC
* September 11
** The 2001 September 11 attacks on the United States by al-Qaeda, commonly referred to as 9/11
** 11 de Septiembre, Chilean coup d'état in 1973 that ousted the ...
.
In August 1994, ECW
hosted a tournament to crown a new
NWA World Heavyweight Champion. The NWA had intended to use the event to restore prestige to its title, with ECW's
Shane Douglas
Troy Allan Martin (born November 21, 1964) is an American professional wrestler, manager, and promoter, better known by his ring name Shane Douglas. He is best known for his tenures in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship ...
selected as the planned winner. However, Heyman, Gordon, and Douglas orchestrated a controversial angle in which Douglas, after winning the final match, publicly rejected the NWA title and declared the
ECW World Heavyweight Championship
The ECW World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling Professional wrestling championship#World championships, world heavyweight championship originally used in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and later, WWE, World Wrestling Ent ...
as the only belt he recognized. The moment effectively severed ECW's ties with the NWA.
Following the incident, the company rebranded as Extreme Championship Wrestling, dropping its NWA affiliation and "Eastern" label. Under Heyman's leadership, ECW developed a reputation for a gritty, hard-hitting style that blended elements of
Japanese strong style,
lucha libre
''Lucha libre'' (, meaning "freestyle wrestling" or literally translated as "free fight") is the term for the style of professional wrestling originating in Mexico. Since its introduction to Mexico in the early 20th century, it has develope ...
, and
hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling is a form of professional wrestling where disqualifications, count-outs, and all other different rules do not apply. Taking place in usual or unusual environments, hardcore wrestling matches allow the use of numerous items, inc ...
. The promotion became known for its willingness to feature controversial subject matter and blur the lines between scripted storylines and real-life tensions. In May 1995, Heyman acquired Gordon's remaining interest in the promotion, becoming ECW's sole owner.Despite its anti-establishment image, ECW maintained informal ties with
World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...
(WWF) during the late 1990s. WWF chairman
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy McMahon ( ; born August 24, 1945) is an American businessman and former professional wrestling promoter. McMahon, along with his later-estranged wife Linda McMahon, Linda, is a co-founder of the modern WWE, the world's largest ...
allowed some of his underused or developmental talent to appear on ECW programming, including wrestlers such as
2 Cold Scorpio and
Terry Gordy
Terry Ray Gordy Sr. (April 23, 1961 – July 16, 2001) was an American professional wrestler from Soddy-Daisy, TN. Gordy appeared in the United States with promotions such as Mid-South Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling, World Class Ch ...
. Heyman has stated that McMahon paid him $1,000 per week to feature Scorpio. The relationship also extended to behind-the-scenes lobbying, with Heyman later claiming that McMahon encouraged cable executives to offer ECW a television deal. A potential agreement with
USA Network
USA Network (or simply USA) is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. It was launched in 1977 as Madison Square Garden Sports Network, one of the first national sports ...
fell through, reportedly after network president Stephen Chao was alerted to an internal WWF memo that undermined ECW's position.Although ECW became a launching pad for numerous future stars—including
Taz,
Rob Van Dam
Robert Szatkowski (born December 18, 1970) better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam (frequently abbreviated to RVD) is an American professional wrestler. Known for his unique ring style—which includes his variety of kicks, acrobatic movemen ...
, the
Dudley Boyz
The Dudley Boyz (also known as Team 3D) are an American professional wrestling tag team who consisted of kayfabe half-brothers Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley. The team was also joined by various Dudley family members, notably Spike Dudley and ...
, and
Tommy Dreamer
Thomas James Laughlin (born February 13, 1971) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and professional wrestling promotion, promoter better known by the ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestli ...
—it struggled financially throughout its existence. The promotion's business model relied heavily on live event revenue, tape sales, and pay-per-view buys, with little corporate backing. By 2000, ECW had lost its national television slot on
TNN and was facing mounting debts. Heyman gradually reduced his on-screen appearances and delegated day-to-day operations to Dreamer, while attempting to secure new financial backing and distribution deals.
Many performers later stated that they were unaware of the company's financial instability at the time, and several went unpaid during ECW's final months.
The promotion held its last event on April 4, 2001, and formally filed for bankruptcy later that year, citing over $7 million in liabilities—including more than $3 million owed to pay-per-view distributor In Demand.
On January 28, 2003, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) acquired the remaining assets of ECW from the promotion's parent company, HHG Corporation, through a bankruptcy court settlement. The acquisition included ECW's video library, brand trademarks, and intellectual property, which would later be used in WWE-produced documentaries, events, and merchandise.
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (2001–2006)
Various roles (2001–2005)
Following the closure of ECW in early 2001, Paul Heyman joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE). In March of that year, he replaced
Jerry Lawler
Jerry O'Neil Lawler (born November 29, 1949), better known as Jerry "the King" Lawler, is an American retired color commentator and professional wrestler signed to WWE under a Legends contract.
Prior to joining the World Wrestling Federati ...
as a commentator on ''
Raw Is War''. Lawler had resigned after the company released his then-wife,
Stacy "The Kat" Carter. Heyman resumed his long-standing on-air dynamic with
Jim Ross
James William Ross (born January 3, 1952) is an American professional wrestling commentator, sports announcer, and podcaster, better known by the ring name Jim Ross (often shortened to JR). He is signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he ...
, serving as a color commentator during a period of transition as WWF prepared to absorb both ECW and WCW talent.
In mid-2001, Heyman returned to an on-screen managerial role during
the Invasion storyline, a company-wide angle that portrayed former WCW and ECW talent as outsiders challenging the WWF. As part of the angle, ECW was revived as a fictional faction, with Heyman cast as its spokesman. The ECW contingent later merged with
Shane McMahon
Shane Brandon McMahon ( ; born January 15, 1970) is an American businessman and retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler best known for his tenures in WWE.
The son of Vince McMahon, he is a fourth-generation wrestling promoter as a ...
's WCW-aligned wrestlers to form "
The Alliance." The storyline culminated at
Survivor Series
Survivor Series, branded as Survivor Series: WarGames since 2022, is a professional wrestling event produced annually since 1987 by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. Held in November generally the week of Thanksgiving ( ...
in November, where the WWF defeated The Alliance in a winner-takes-all elimination match. Following the conclusion of the angle, Heyman was written off television, and Lawler returned to the commentary team alongside Ross.
Behind the scenes, Heyman was appointed head writer of ''
SmackDown'' in July 2002. During his tenure, which lasted until February 2003, he oversaw a creative direction that focused on athletic competition and elevated several rising talents. According to Heyman and various WWE personnel, ''SmackDown'' outperformed ''Raw'' in several key metrics during this period, including television ratings and live event attendance, despite internal creative competition between the brands.
Heyman also played a critical role in launching the career of
Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar ( ; born July 12, 1977) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and former Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, Amateur wrestling, amateur wrestler and professional American football player. As a ...
. After being introduced to Lesnar by fellow wrestler
Tazz
Peter Senerchia (born October 11, 1967), better known by the ring name Taz (also spelled Tazz), is an American radio personality, color commentator, and retired professional wrestler signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a color commentator f ...
, Heyman became an early mentor and advocate. When Lesnar debuted on the main roster in 2002, Heyman was assigned as his on-screen manager. Under Heyman's guidance, Lesnar quickly ascended to the main event scene, defeating
The Rock at
SummerSlam
SummerSlam is a professional wrestling event, produced annually since 1988 by the world's largest professional wrestling promotion, WWE. Dubbed "The Biggest Party of the Summer", it is considered WWE's second biggest event of the year behind th ...
to become the youngest
WWE Undisputed Champion at the time. The pairing established Heyman as Lesnar's primary spokesperson, a role he would reprise for much of the next two decades. However, in storyline, the alliance ended later that year when Heyman turned on Lesnar at
Survivor Series
Survivor Series, branded as Survivor Series: WarGames since 2022, is a professional wrestling event produced annually since 1987 by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. Held in November generally the week of Thanksgiving ( ...
and began managing
Big Show
Paul Donald Wight II (born February 8, 1972) is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under his real name of Paul Wight. He is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) f ...
.
In October 2003, Heyman returned to television as General Manager of ''SmackDown!'' following the departure of
Stephanie McMahon
Stephanie Marie McMahon Levesque ( ; ; born September 24, 1976) is an American businesswoman and retired professional wrestler. She is known for her various roles within WWE between 1998 and 2023.
The daughter of Vince McMahon, Vince and Lind ...
's character, who had lost a match to Vince McMahon at
No Mercy. His tenure as on-screen GM continued until March 2004, when he was drafted to the ''Raw'' brand during that year's
WWE Draft Lottery. Rather than work under ''Raw'' General Manager
Eric Bischoff
Eric Aaron Bischoff (born May 27, 1955) is an American television producer, Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Booker, professional wrestling booker, promoter, and performer. He is best known for serving as Executive Producer and later Sen ...
—whom Heyman blamed, both on-screen and in real-life interviews, for contributing to ECW's demise—he declined the assignment and was removed from television. His role as ''SmackDown'' GM was subsequently filled by
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9, 1968) is an American retired professional wrestler and amateur wrestling, amateur wrestler. He first earned recognition for winning a Wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle 100 kg, gold me ...
.
In mid-2005, Heyman was reassigned to WWE's developmental system, becoming the head writer and booker for
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) is an American professional wrestling promotion, professional wrestling promotion and former developmental territory based in Louisville, Kentucky. The company is currently run by Al Snow, Matt Jones (radio host), Ma ...
(OVW), WWE's primary talent development territory at the time. While in OVW, Heyman developed a reputation for championing younger wrestlers and was notably supportive of
CM Punk
Phillip Jack Brooks (born October 26, 1978), better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw brand. Regarded as ...
, advocating for his eventual promotion to WWE's main roster.
ECW revival and departure (2005–2006)

Paul Heyman returned to WWE programming on May 23, 2005, in a televised segment alongside Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff to promote
ECW One Night Stand, a pay-per-view event produced as a tribute to the original Extreme Championship Wrestling. Held on June 12, 2005, at the
Hammerstein Ballroom
The Hammerstein Ballroom is a ballroom located within the Manhattan Center at 311 West 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The capacity of the ballroom is dependent on the configuration of the room; it seats 2,000 people for theat ...
in New York City, the show featured former ECW wrestlers and was designed to celebrate the promotion's legacy. Heyman appeared on-screen as the face of the ECW brand and also contributed to the event's creative direction.
Following the event's success, WWE announced in mid-2006 that
ECW would be revived as a full-time third brand, alongside ''Raw'' and ''SmackDown''. The relaunch was accompanied by a new weekly television program on the
Sci Fi Channel (later Syfy), and Heyman returned to television as the on-screen "ECW Representative." Although his creative input backstage was reportedly limited, he was involved in helping to shape the early presentation of the show and its integration within WWE's existing structure.
As part of the brand relaunch, Heyman was given two storyline draft picks to help build the ECW roster, selecting
Rob Van Dam
Robert Szatkowski (born December 18, 1970) better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam (frequently abbreviated to RVD) is an American professional wrestler. Known for his unique ring style—which includes his variety of kicks, acrobatic movemen ...
from ''Raw'' and Kurt Angle from ''SmackDown''. Van Dam was subsequently positioned as the face of the new ECW brand. At
ECW One Night Stand on June 11, 2006, Van Dam defeated
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena ( ; born April 23, 1977) is an American actor and professional wrestler. As a wrestler, he has been signed to WWE , where he is the current WWE Championship, Undisputed WWE Champion in his record 14th reign, which is ...
to win the WWE Championship in a match billed under "ECW rules," which permitted no disqualifications. When the official referee was knocked out during the bout, Heyman entered the ring and counted the winning pinfall. On the premiere episode of ''
ECW on Sci Fi
''WWE ECW'' (officially known as simply ''ECW'' and colloquially known as ''ECW on Sci-Fi'' or ''ECW on Syfy'' and ''WWECW'', a portmanteau of both "WWE" and "ECW") is an American professional wrestling television program that was produced by W ...
'', Heyman presented Van Dam with the reactivated
ECW World Heavyweight Championship
The ECW World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling Professional wrestling championship#World championships, world heavyweight championship originally used in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and later, WWE, World Wrestling Ent ...
, and Van Dam was briefly recognized as a dual champion.
In the weeks that followed, Heyman transitioned to an antagonist role on television. On the July 4 episode of ''ECW'', he assisted
Big Show
Paul Donald Wight II (born February 8, 1972) is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under his real name of Paul Wight. He is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) f ...
in defeating Van Dam for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, signaling a character shift that coincided with growing creative tension behind the scenes.
Heyman's tenure with WWE came to an end later that year. On December 4, 2006, following the
December to Dismember pay-per-view, WWE issued a statement indicating that Heyman had been sent home by Vince McMahon. While the official explanation cited declining television ratings and internal dissatisfaction, multiple reports pointed to significant creative disagreements between Heyman and McMahon regarding the event's booking.
Heyman had reportedly advocated for CM Punk to emerge as a major star at the pay-per-view, proposing that Punk eliminate Big Show via submission early in the main event's
Extreme Elimination Chamber match. Big Show was said to have supported the idea, but McMahon rejected it, opting instead for Punk to be eliminated early.
According to multiple accounts, the tension between Heyman and McMahon culminated in a heated exchange aboard McMahon's private jet after the pay-per-view. Heyman was removed from the ECW creative team shortly thereafter and ceased appearing on WWE programming. Though he remained under contract for several weeks, he reportedly declined an offer from Stephanie McMahon to return as a writer for WWE's developmental territory. On December 17, 2006, Heyman officially parted ways with the company.
Return to WWE (2012–present)
On-screen partnerships (2012–2014)

After several years away from WWE, Paul Heyman returned to television in May 2012 as the on-screen legal representative of
Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar ( ; born July 12, 1977) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and former Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, Amateur wrestling, amateur wrestler and professional American football player. As a ...
, who had re-signed with the company following a successful stint in the
UFC. Lesnar specifically requested Heyman's return to serve as his spokesperson, citing Heyman's ability to elevate his presentation through promos and narrative storytelling.
Heyman quickly re-established himself as a major presence on WWE programming, guiding Lesnar through his feud with
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque (; born July 27, 1969), also known by the ring name Triple H, is an American business executive and former professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he serves as its chief content officer.
Levesque began his wres ...
.
Later in 2012, Heyman began an on-screen partnership with
WWE Champion CM Punk
Phillip Jack Brooks (born October 26, 1978), better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw brand. Regarded as ...
. Although the alliance was fictional, it was built on real-life mutual respect, as Heyman had previously supported Punk's rise within the company. Heyman accompanied Punk during his extended title reign, often contributing to his promos and adding dramatic weight to his matches. This period helped solidify Heyman's reputation as one of the industry's most compelling orators.

Heading into
WrestleMania 29
WrestleMania 29, also promoted as WrestleMania NY/NJ, was a 2013 professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by WWE. It was the 29th annual WrestleMania and took place on April 7, 2013, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New J ...
in 2013, Heyman simultaneously managed both Punk and Lesnar, each featured in top-tier matches. Later that year, he introduced
Curtis Axel as a new client, briefly managing him to an
Intercontinental Championship victory. Around the same time, Heyman's on-screen relationship with Punk unraveled in a long-running storyline that culminated in Lesnar defeating Punk at
SummerSlam
SummerSlam is a professional wrestling event, produced annually since 1988 by the world's largest professional wrestling promotion, WWE. Dubbed "The Biggest Party of the Summer", it is considered WWE's second biggest event of the year behind th ...
in a match widely praised by critics and fans.
During the conclusion of the Punk rivalry, Heyman aligned with
Ryback for a short-lived program and then resumed his role exclusively managing Lesnar. In early 2014, the two began a feud with
The Undertaker
Mark William Calaway (born March 24, 1965), better known by his ring name the Undertaker, is an American retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Calaway ...
, leading to
WrestleMania XXX
WrestleMania XXX was a 2014 professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event produced by WWE. It was the 30th annual WrestleMania and took place on April 6, 2014, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. This ...
, where Lesnar famously ended The Undertaker's
21–0 undefeated streak. The result was considered one of the most shocking outcomes in WWE history and significantly elevated Lesnar's character as a dominant force, with Heyman playing a central role in amplifying the impact through post-match promos and television appearances.
Shortly after WrestleMania, Heyman was paired with
Cesaro following his victory in the inaugural
André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Despite initial momentum, the alliance was underutilized creatively and ended within a few months without a major storyline payoff.
Continued association with Brock Lesnar and executive role (2014–2020)

Paul Heyman resumed his role as the on-screen advocate for Brock Lesnar, who defeated
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena ( ; born April 23, 1977) is an American actor and professional wrestler. As a wrestler, he has been signed to WWE , where he is the current WWE Championship, Undisputed WWE Champion in his record 14th reign, which is ...
in dominant fashion at
SummerSlam
SummerSlam is a professional wrestling event, produced annually since 1988 by the world's largest professional wrestling promotion, WWE. Dubbed "The Biggest Party of the Summer", it is considered WWE's second biggest event of the year behind th ...
to win the
WWE World Heavyweight Championship WWE World Heavyweight Championship may refer to:
* World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013), a professional wrestling championship that existed between 2002 and 2013
* World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2023–present), a professional ...
. Heyman's promo work during this period was widely praised for amplifying Lesnar's presentation as an unstoppable force and helping reestablish him as one of WWE's top attractions.
Heyman remained central to Lesnar's onscreen storylines throughout his title reign and subsequent feuds, including those with
Seth Rollins
Colby Daniel Lopez (born May 28, 1986), better known by the ring name Seth Rollins, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw WWE brand extension, brand and ...
and
Roman Reigns
Leati Joseph Anoaʻi ( ; born May 25, 1985), better known by his ring name Roman Reigns, is an American professional wrestler and former gridiron football, football player. As a wrestler, he has been signed to WWE , where he performs on the Sm ...
. At
WrestleMania 31
WrestleMania 31 was a 2015 professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming List of WWE pay-per-view and livestreaming supercards, event produced by WWE. It was the 31st annual WrestleMania and took place on March 29, 2015, at Levi's S ...
in 2015, Lesnar lost the championship when Rollins cashed in his
Money in the Bank contract mid-match. Lesnar's subsequent (scripted) suspension wrote him off television,
but he and Heyman returned later that year for a renewed rivalry with The Undertaker. The two concluded their feud with Lesnar defeating Undertaker at
Hell in a Cell
Hell in a Cell is a professional wrestling steel cage-based match which originated in 1997 in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). It features a large cell structure, a four-sided cuboid made from open-weave steel mesh chain-link f ...
.
As part of WWE's 2016
brand extension
Brand extension or brand stretching is a marketing strategy in which a firm marketing a product with a well-developed image uses the same brand name in a different product category. The new product is called a spin-off.
Organizations use this ...
, Lesnar and Heyman were drafted to ''
Raw''.
That year, Heyman accompanied Lesnar through matches with
Dean Ambrose
Jonathan David Good (born December 7, 1985) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performs under the ring name Jon Moxley and is the current AEW World Champion in his record-setting fourth ...
at
WrestleMania 32
WrestleMania 32 was a 2016 professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming List of WWE pay-per-view and livestreaming supercards, event produced by WWE. It was the 32nd annual WrestleMania and took place on April 3, 2016, at the AT&T ...
and
Randy Orton
Randal Keith Orton (born April 1, 1980) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He has been signed to WWE since 2000, where he performs on the SmackDown (WWE brand), SmackDown brand. Orton is widely regarded as one of t ...
at
SummerSlam
SummerSlam is a professional wrestling event, produced annually since 1988 by the world's largest professional wrestling promotion, WWE. Dubbed "The Biggest Party of the Summer", it is considered WWE's second biggest event of the year behind th ...
. Toward the end of 2016, Lesnar entered a new rivalry with returning
Goldberg. Despite an initial loss at
Survivor Series
Survivor Series, branded as Survivor Series: WarGames since 2022, is a professional wrestling event produced annually since 1987 by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. Held in November generally the week of Thanksgiving ( ...
, Lesnar later defeated Goldberg at
WrestleMania 33
WrestleMania 33 was a 2017 professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming List of WWE pay-per-view and livestreaming supercards, event produced by WWE. It was the 33rd annual WrestleMania and took place on April 2, 2017, at Camping Wo ...
to capture the
Universal Championship.
Between 2017 and 2018, Heyman served as Lesnar's advocate during a 504-day reign as Universal Champion. In storyline, Heyman and Lesnar briefly teased a falling out in mid-2018, which was later revealed to be a deception leading into
SummerSlam
SummerSlam is a professional wrestling event, produced annually since 1988 by the world's largest professional wrestling promotion, WWE. Dubbed "The Biggest Party of the Summer", it is considered WWE's second biggest event of the year behind th ...
, where Roman Reigns ended Lesnar's title reign. Heyman remained part of Lesnar's presentation during his pursuit of the championship, including appearances at
Hell in a Cell
Hell in a Cell is a professional wrestling steel cage-based match which originated in 1997 in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). It features a large cell structure, a four-sided cuboid made from open-weave steel mesh chain-link f ...
and
Crown Jewel, where Lesnar reclaimed the vacant title following Reigns's real-life
leukemia
Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia; pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and produce high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or '' ...
diagnosis.
In 2019, Heyman continued his role at
WrestleMania 35
WrestleMania 35 was a 2019 professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming List of WWE pay-per-view and livestreaming supercards, event produced by WWE. It was the 35th annual WrestleMania and took place on April 7, 2019, at MetLife ...
, where Lesnar lost the Universal Championship to Seth Rollins in the show's opening match. That same year, WWE appointed Heyman as Executive Director of ''Raw'', giving him backstage responsibility for the brand's creative direction. Heyman was removed from the position in June 2020 and replaced by
Bruce Prichard
Bruce Prichard (born March 7, 1963) is an American professional wrestling executive, booker, and producer and a former manager, commentator, and occasional professional wrestler who works for WWE as Executive Director - CWT. In addition to ...
.
Heyman continued to manage Lesnar until early 2020 when Lesnar lost the WWE Championship to
Drew McIntyre
Andrew McLean Galloway IV (born 6 June, 1985) is a Scottish Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown (WWE brand), SmackDown brand under the ring name Drew McIntyre.
Galloway began ...
at
WrestleMania 36
WrestleMania 36 was a 2020 professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event produced by WWE. It was the 36th annual WrestleMania and was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw, SmackDown, and NXT brand divisions, the ...
. The match was held without a live audience due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. Lesnar's WWE contract expired shortly thereafter, marking the end of their decade-long partnership—at least temporarily—and leading to a period of inactivity for both men.
Managing Roman Reigns and The Bloodline (2020–2025)
Paul Heyman returned to WWE programming in August 2020, aligning with
Roman Reigns
Leati Joseph Anoaʻi ( ; born May 25, 1985), better known by his ring name Roman Reigns, is an American professional wrestler and former gridiron football, football player. As a wrestler, he has been signed to WWE , where he performs on the Sm ...
shortly after Reigns's return from a medical hiatus. Rebranded as Reigns's "special counsel," Heyman played a pivotal on-screen role in the character reinvention of Reigns, who adopted a dominant, antagonistic persona. Heyman also contributed behind the scenes to the creative direction of the long-running
Bloodline
Heredity, also called inheritance or biological inheritance, is the passing on of traits from parents to their offspring; either through asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction, the offspring cells or organisms acquire the genetic infor ...
faction and its storylines, which featured Reigns as the "Tribal Chief" and incorporated members of the
Anoa'i wrestling family, including
The Usos
The Usos were a Samoan-American professional wrestling tag team which consisted of twin brothers Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso. They are signed to WWE, where Jey performs on the WWE Raw, Raw brand while Jimmy performs on the SmackDown (WWE brand), Sma ...
and
Solo Sikoa.
Heyman was a prominent figure during Reigns's record-breaking run as Universal Champion, regularly appearing at ringside and in backstage segments. His character, often caught between loyalty and manipulation, added dramatic complexity to the evolving Bloodline narrative.
Reigns's reign included high-profile title defenses, including victories over
Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar ( ; born July 12, 1977) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and former Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, Amateur wrestling, amateur wrestler and professional American football player. As a ...
,
Daniel Bryan,
Edge
Edge or EDGE may refer to:
Technology Computing
* Edge computing, a network load-balancing system
* Edge device, an entry point to a computer network
* Adobe Edge, a graphical development application
* Microsoft Edge, a web browser developed by ...
, and
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena ( ; born April 23, 1977) is an American actor and professional wrestler. As a wrestler, he has been signed to WWE , where he is the current WWE Championship, Undisputed WWE Champion in his record 14th reign, which is ...
.

In late 2021, Heyman's allegiance became a focal point of storyline tension, particularly during Reigns's feud with Lesnar. After briefly being written off television in December, Heyman reunited with Lesnar at
Day 1 in January 2022. However, just weeks later at the
Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble is a professional wrestling event, produced annually since 1988 by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. It is named after, and centered on, the Royal Rumble match, a modified Battle royal (professional wre ...
, Heyman betrayed Lesnar and rejoined Reigns, allowing
Bobby Lashley
Franklin Roberto Lashley (born July 16, 1976) is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of The Hurt Syndicate and is one-half of the AEW World Tag Team C ...
to win the WWE Championship in a storyline twist.
The angle culminated in a Winner-Takes-All Championship Unification match at
WrestleMania 38
WrestleMania 38 was a 2022 professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming List of WWE pay-per-view and livestreaming supercards, event produced by WWE. It was the 38th annual WrestleMania and took place as a two-night event on Saturda ...
, where Reigns defeated WWE Champion Lesnar to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. Heyman continued in his role as Reigns's advisor and adopted the additional title of "Wise Man," serving as a central voice in the Bloodline's presentation.
Throughout 2022 and 2023, Heyman remained by Reigns's side during a dominant title reign that included a successful defense against
Cody Rhodes
Cody Garrett Runnels Rhodes (born June 30, 1985) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. As of April 2022, he is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown (WWE brand), SmackDown brand. He is also known for co-fou ...
in the main event of
WrestleMania 39
WrestleMania 39, also promoted as WrestleMania Goes Hollywood, was a 2023 professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming List of WWE pay-per-view and livestreaming supercards, event produced by WWE. It was the 39th annual WrestleM ...
. Reigns eventually lost the championship to Rhodes at
WrestleMania XL in April 2024, ending a historic 1,316-day reign. Shortly before the event, Heyman was announced as the first inductee into the
WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024 and was formally inducted during WrestleMania weekend.
Following Reigns's loss, internal conflict within The Bloodline escalated. Solo Sikoa was elevated in storyline as the group's new enforcer and assumed leadership after expelling
Jimmy Uso. New members, including
Tama Tonga,
Tonga Loa, and
Jacob Fatu
Jacob Fatu (born April 18, 1992) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown (WWE brand), SmackDown brand and is the WWE United States Champion in his List of WWE United States Champions, first re ...
, were introduced.
Heyman, portrayed as a reluctant supporter of this new regime, refused to acknowledge Sikoa as the new Tribal Chief, turning into a tweener in the process. On the June 28, 2024, episode of ''SmackDown'', he was forcibly removed from the faction, turning face for the first time since 2014.
Heyman returned to television in November 2024 and revealed
CM Punk
Phillip Jack Brooks (born October 26, 1978), better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw brand. Regarded as ...
as a surprise addition to Reigns's team for
Survivor Series: WarGames. Following the event, Heyman resumed managing Reigns independently of The Bloodline faction.
Managing Seth Rollins and various clients (2025–present)
In April 2025, it was revealed on ''SmackDown'' that Heyman would accompany CM Punk—not Reigns—to
WrestleMania 41
WrestleMania 41, also promoted as WrestleMania Vegas, was a 2025 professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming List of WWE pay-per-view and livestreaming supercards, event produced by WWE. It was the 41st annual WrestleMania and to ...
, honoring a storyline agreement the two had made following their alliance at Survivor Series. At WrestleMania 41, Heyman betrayed both Reigns and Punk, reverting to a heel and allowing
Seth Rollins
Colby Daniel Lopez (born May 28, 1986), better known by the ring name Seth Rollins, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw WWE brand extension, brand and ...
to pin Reigns and in turn aligning himself with Rollins. On the April 21 episode of ''Raw'', Heyman and Rollins added
Bron Breakker to their alliance. On May 24 at
Saturday Night's Main Event XXXIX,
Bronson Reed was added to the alliance.
Reception and legacy
Heyman's work as a promoter and booker has been praised by many wrestling fellows and critics. Former ECW World Heavyweight Champion
Raven
A raven is any of several large-bodied passerine bird species in the genus '' Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between crows and ravens; the two names are assigne ...
called him "the most creative genius the business has ever seen". Raven's description of Heyman as a "genius" was echoed by
Tazz
Peter Senerchia (born October 11, 1967), better known by the ring name Taz (also spelled Tazz), is an American radio personality, color commentator, and retired professional wrestler signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a color commentator f ...
and
Jim Cornette
James Mark Cornette (born September 17, 1961) is an American author, sports historian, and podcaster who previously worked in the professional wrestling industry as an agent, booker, color commentator, manager, photographer, promoter, tra ...
. Heyman has been described as the best orator in professional wrestling.
Heyman's skills were praised by his former broadcast partner
Jim Ross
James William Ross (born January 3, 1952) is an American professional wrestling commentator, sports announcer, and podcaster, better known by the ring name Jim Ross (often shortened to JR). He is signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he ...
, who stated: "He was a really good antagonist because sometimes the best antagonists are the villains that say things that you know are true but you just don't want to hear them. Heyman had the ability to tell his version of the truth,
e wasplausible. He just wasn't a heel getting himself over, he got talent over and did a great job."
Other media and endeavors
Heyman is the co-founder of the award-winning New York City firm The Looking4Larry Agency. The firm broke new ground with its initial campaign with
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) is an American video game company headquartered in Redwood City, California. Founded in May 1982 by former Apple Inc., Apple employee Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer game industry ...
,
THQ video games,
2K Sports
2K is an American video game publisher based in Novato, California. The company was founded as a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive in January 2005 through the 2K Games and 2K Sports sub-labels. The nascent label incorporated several developmen ...
, the Hard Rock Hotel, and Casino Las Vegas. Heyman also worked with
Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar ( ; born July 12, 1977) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and former Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, Amateur wrestling, amateur wrestler and professional American football player. As a ...
, collaborating with him on Lesnar's autobiography, ''Death Clutch: My Story of Determination, Domination, and Survival''.
[Amazon.com Death Clutch: My Story of Determination, Domination, and Survival](_blank)
Amazon.com. Retrieved September 7, 2015. He has appeared in the video games ''
WWE Day of Reckoning'', ''
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw'', ''
WWE 2K14
''WWE 2K14'' is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K (company), 2K for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was released on October 29, 2013, in North America, October 30, 2013, in Japan, October 31, 2013, i ...
'', ''
WWE 2K15
''WWE 2K15'' is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K (company), 2K for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. It is the sequel to ''WWE 2K14'', and was succeeded by ''WWE 2 ...
'', ''
WWE 2K16
''WWE 2K16'' is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. It is the sequel to ''WWE 2K15'', and was succeeded by '' WWE 2K17''. It w ...
'', ''
WWE 2K17
''WWE 2K17'' is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. It is the eighteenth game in the ''WWE'' game series (fourth under the '' ...
'', ''
WWE 2K18
''WWE 2K18'' is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K (company), 2K. It is the nineteenth instalment in the WWE 2K, WWE game series (fifth under the ''WWE 2K'' banner) and a follow-up to ''WWE 2K17''. It wa ...
'', ''
WWE 2K19
''WWE 2K19'' is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by 2K. It was released worldwide on October 9, 2018, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It is the twentieth game in the ''WWE'' series, th ...
'', ''
WWE 2K20
''WWE 2K20'' is a professional wrestling video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K. It was released worldwide on October 22, 2019, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It is the twenty-first installment of the ...
,
WWE 2K22
''WWE 2K22'' is a 2022 professional wrestling sports video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K. It is the twenty-second overall installment of the video game series based on WWE, the eighth game under the ''WWE 2K'' banner, a ...
,
WWE 2K23,'' ''
WWE 2K24'', and
WWE 2K25 as a cover star.
Heyman portrayed a sports announcer in 2002's ''
Rollerball'',
and an uncredited role in the WWE film ''
Countdown''. After a family emergency forced the original actor to pull out, he was chosen by ''I Am Legend'' executive producer Michael Tadross to play "Gino" in the film adaptation of the long-running
Off-Broadway
An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
show ''
Tony n' Tina's Wedding''.
Personal life
In 2001, Heyman married Marla Heyman, a businesswoman and entrepreneur. They had two children. Paul and Marla divorced in 2004 after nearly 3 years of marriage.
Heyman rarely sleeps more than three to four hours per night.
He is a film enthusiast who cites ''
Angels with Dirty Faces'' (1938) and ''
Léon: The Professional'' (1994) as his favorite films, and a great admirer of punk musician
Henry Rollins
Henry Lawrence Garfield (born February 13, 1961), known professionally as Henry Rollins, is an American singer, writer, spoken word artist, actor, comedian, and presenter. After performing in the short-lived hardcore punk band State of Alert in 1 ...
, whom he described as "one of the most underrated social commentators out there".
Former ECW wrestler
Tommy Dreamer
Thomas James Laughlin (born February 13, 1971) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and professional wrestling promotion, promoter better known by the ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestli ...
has spoken about how he planned to assassinate Heyman at
WrestleMania X-Seven
WrestleMania X-Seven, also known as WrestleMania 17, was a 2001 professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). It was the 17th annual WrestleMania and took place on April 1, 2001, at t ...
due to Heyman's financial mistreatment of both Dreamer and other ECW wrestlers.
Awards and accomplishments
* ''Inside The Ropes Magazine''
** Manager of the Year (2020)
* ''
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishing Group. The maga ...
''
**
Faction of the Year (2022) – with
The Bloodline
**
Manager of the Year (1992)
*
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...
**
WWE Hall of Fame
The WWE Hall of Fame is a List of halls and walks of fame, hall of fame which honors professional wrestlers and professional wrestling personalities maintained by WWE. Originally known as the "WWF Hall of Fame", it was created in 1993 when An ...
(
Class of 2024)
**
WWE Year-End Award
The WWE Year-End Awards is a concept used by WWE, where awards, similar to the Academy and Grammy Awards, are given to professional wrestlers at the end of the year who have performed on Raw and SmackDown. Introduced in 2018, there have been two ...
(1 time)
*** Best on the Mic (2018)
**
Slammy Award (1 time)
*** Mic Drop of the Year (
2024
The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...
) –
* ''
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
The ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' (''WON'') is a newsletter that covers professional wrestling and mixed martial arts.
Founded in print in 1982 by Dave Meltzer, the ''Wrestling Observer'' website merged with Bryan Alvarez's ''Figure Four Wee ...
''
**
Feud of the Year (2023)
**
Best Color Commentator (1991)
**
Best Booker (1994–1997, 2002)
**
Best on Interviews (2013–2014)
**
Best Non-Wrestler (2001, 2002, 2004, 2012–2014, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024)
** Best Non-Wrestler of the Decade (2010s)
** Best on Interviews of the Decade (2010s)
**
Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic (2012)
Angle with CM Punk
Phillip Jack Brooks (born October 26, 1978), better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw (WWE brand), Raw brand. Regarded as ...
, exploiting Jerry Lawler
Jerry O'Neil Lawler (born November 29, 1949), better known as Jerry "the King" Lawler, is an American retired color commentator and professional wrestler signed to WWE under a Legends contract.
Prior to joining the World Wrestling Federati ...
's real-life heart attack, playing footage of him near death
**
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
The ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' (''WON'') Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA) hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to their professions. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Mel ...
(
Class of 2005)
References
External links
*
*
*
Heyman Hustle Official Website*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heyman, Paul
1965 births
Living people
American color commentators
American male professional wrestlers
American male television writers
American photographers
American sports businesspeople
American television writers
Businesspeople from the Bronx
Dangerous Alliance members
Edgemont Junior – Senior High School alumni
Jewish American screenwriters
Jewish professional wrestlers
People from Scarsdale, New York
Professional wrestlers from New York City
American professional wrestling announcers
Professional wrestling managers and valets
Professional wrestling promoters
American professional wrestling trainers
Professional wrestling writers
Screenwriters from New York (state)
Sportspeople from the Bronx
Wrestling Observer Newsletter award winners
WWE executives
WWE Hall of Fame inductees
21st-century American Jews