Along with Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman is getting comparisions to the legendary pairing of Nick Bockwinkel and Bobby Heenan, but ‘The Wiseman’ doesn’t want to hear any of that.

Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Heyman was asked what he thought about being in that echelon of superstar and manager. Instead of comparing Heyman stated that he’d like to “set the standard” with Reigns so others will be looking at them as the measuring stick.

Heyman went on to talk about his admiration for Bockwinkel, noting that he left WCW just before Nick arrived. However, Paul did recall when their paths briefly crossed all the way back in Verne Gagne’s AWA.

Nick Bockwinkel was on commentary for the broadcast on ESPN and Heyman decided to take the initiative.

“I walked over to the commentary position and said, ‘I know why Greg Gagne gets to commentate on ESPN, but exactly who are you related to?’ It was an off-script, impromptu line.”

After the show, Heyman was approached by Bockwinkel, who told the young mananger what he thought of that move.

“Nick came up to me and said, ‘Young man, it took a lot of balls to challenge my position that way.’ I thought he was really pissed. I said, ‘Yes, sir. Seizing the moment, sir.’ And Nick looked at me and said, ‘I admire the gumption it took to do it.’ And then he walked away. I figured if he walked away without slapping me, it was a victory.”

Bockwinkel never made it to the WWE, but he was inducted into the Hall of Fame back in 2007 as his star really shined in the AWA as a heel champion, feuding with Hulk Hogan and Verne Gagne.

– Veteran wrestling journalist Bill Apter released the above video on Sunday to share his thoughts on the passing of wrestling legend Nick Bockwinkel, who passed away this past weekend at age 80.

– The new WWE Studios film, “Santa’s Little Helper” starring The Miz and Paige will be released in stores and on-demand on Tuesday.

– WWE taped the following two matches on Monday night in Greenville, South Carolina prior to RAW for this week’s edition of WWE Superstars.

* Brie Bella def. Naomi in Divas action to kick off the evening at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. This was said to be a pretty basic Divas match, which Brie won via pinfall.

* Titus O’Neil def. Bo Dallas in the second of two matches taped for this week’s WWE Superstars. The crowd was actually pretty into this match live in the arena.

• Donald Trump Takes Cheap Shot At Ronda Rousey Following Her Loss At UFC 193

– WWE posted the above video on their official YouTube channel on Monday evening, honoring the life and career of the late WWE Hall Of Famer and former AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel.

– ECW Original Axl Rotten noted on his official Twitter account that fellow ECW Original Hack Meyers is at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland to undergo brain surgery. Rotten posted the following:

Please pray for my close friend & brother #ECW ORIGINAL #HackMeyers He is in #JohnsHopkins Awaiting Brain Surgery. pic.twitter.com/YWlhUC0eXW

— AXL ROTTEN (@AxlRottenECW) November 16, 2015

• Donald Trump Takes Cheap Shot At Ronda Rousey Following Her Loss At UFC 193

WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross updated his official website blog on Monday with his thoughts and memories on the late wrestling legend Nick Bockwinkel.

As reported this past weekend, Bockwinkel, a former AWA Champion and WWE Hall Of Famer, passed away just shy of his 81st birthday.

Below is an excerpt from JR’s blog on the wrestling legend. To read the complete blog, visit JRsBarBQ.com.

“It is another sad day to awaken but thank God that I did unlike my my friend Nick Bockwinkel who passed away Sunday at the age of 80. Nick had been ill for a few years now and is condition was getting progressively worse for the all time great who was living in Las Vegas.

Nick’s father Warren Bockwinkel was a top pro wrestler and legend has it that Nick was trained by his Dad and Lou Thesz and that Nick had his first official pro match versus hesz when Nick was only 16 years of age. Nice way to break in, huh, with a family friend, essentially a God Father who also just happened to be the best in the world in his profession.

Nick and his often times manager and close friend Bobby Heenan were an amazing duo. Any wannabe wrestler who doesn’t study the crowd psychology of these two artisans really don’t want to become great pros but only want talk a good game. For any one to think that what men like Bockwinkel and Heenan did is now obsolete is being absurdly foolish.

Bobby also called, with tongue in cheek, the articulate, meticulously dressed, classy Bockwinkel, “Jim Barnett on steroids.” First of all Nick was not a steroid guy but a legit athlete and had been one his entire life including playing college football for my Sooners in the 50’s for the legendary coach Bud Wilkinson who was building a Sooner dynasty that included 47 straight wins during the mid 1950’s. After Nick injured his knee and had to withdraw from school and when he found himself healthy he turned to the family business and become a pro wrestler of which he had a 30+ year largely main event career and even when he retired in his early 50’s he was still better than the vast majority of his younger peers.”

As noted over the weekend, pro wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer Nick Bockwinkel passed away on Saturday night at the age of 80. The wrestling world has been speaking out on social media about Bockwinkel’s life and career:

The spirt of a champion is immortal. Rest peacefully #nickbockwinkel

— John Cena (@JohnCena) November 15, 2015

Nick Bockwinkle was a living edifice of eloquent elocution. Rest in power sir. https://t.co/UNvOeVLAr6 via youtube

— Samoa Joe (@SamoaJoe) November 15, 2015

RIP to an incredible legend and Greatest AWA Champion of all time-Nick Bockwinkle. A true gentlemen. I was honored to have known you.

— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) November 15, 2015

Very sad to hear of one of Nick Bockwinkle.I was with him a lot in WCW and he always called meHis Lordship.A true man of class and who….

— William Regal (@RealKingRegal) November 15, 2015

Dressed and acted like a real star.And a true great in the ring,one of my all time favourite American Wrestlers.

— William Regal (@RealKingRegal) November 15, 2015

AN ALL TIME GREAT WRESTLING LEGEND HAS PASSED…NICK BOCKWINKEL. A TRUE GENTLEMAN IN EVERY SENSE. HONORED TO HAVE KNOWN YOU. RIP @WWE

— Zeb Colter (@WWEZeb) November 15, 2015

So sorry to hear of the passing of one of my heroes NICK BOCKWINKEL who was a true Class Act! #ThankYouNick

— Scott Armstrong (@WWEArmstrong) November 15, 2015

As noted, legendary former AWA World Champion and WWE Hall Of Famer Nick Bockwinkel passed away just shy of his 81st birthday.

WWE.com issued the following statement regarding Bockwinkel’s passing:

WWE is saddened to learn that Nick Bockwinkel, a WWE Hall of Famer and former four time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, has passed away at age 80.

Bockwinkel, known for his great in-ring skill and intelligent interviews, began his sports entertainment career in the mid-1950s after concluding his time on the University of Oklahoma football team. Bockwinkel was trained by his famous father, Warren Bockwinkel, and wrestling legend, Lou Thesz. Nick teamed with his father on many occassions, competing in Georgia, Texas and the Pacific Northwest before moving on to the where he would find the most success: the American Wrestling Association.

Bockwinkel was famously managed by WWE Hall of Famer Bobby “The Brain” Heenan during his AWA tenure, with the two drawing the ire of crowds everywhere. The self-proclaimed “Smartest Wrestler Alive” did it all during his time in AWA, with his crowning accomplishment coming when he defeated fellow WWE Hall of Famer and AWA legend Verne Gagne to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, ending Gagne’s historic seven-year run with the title.

Bockwinkel would go on to accumulate many more accolades as his career went on. From his nationally televised rivalry with Larry Zbyszko on ESPN to guest starring on “Hawaii Five-O,” the legend truly did it all. It was only fitting that his great career be capped off by his 2007 induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, where he will forever be enshrined as one of sports entertainments’ all-time greats.

WWE extends its condolences to Bockwinkel’s family, friends and fans.

WWE Hall Of Famer and former AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel, one of the best world champions in the history of wrestling, passed away this weekend just shy of his 81st birthday.

• WWE Statement Regarding The Passing Of Nick Bockwinkel

Bockwinkel was the longtime President of the Cauliflower Alley Club before giving up his duties due to health issues over the past few years. The Cauliflower Alley Club was first to report the unfortunate news.

– Following the WWE SmackDown television taping on Tuesday night in Cincinnati, Ohio, a six-man tag-team dark match took place that saw Big Show, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose defeat The Wyatt Family.

– For those who have asked, Dolph Ziggler’s new ring trunks, which he wore this past Monday night on RAW, says “Over It” on the back.

– WWE Hall Of Famer Nick Bockwinkel has stepped down as the president of the Cauliflower Alley Club due to health issues. Former Killer Bees member Brian Blair will now serve as the president going forward.