The ‘PG Era’ of WWE is officially a thing of the past though the promotion will continue to adhere to its viewing guidelines for now.
WWE transitioned into a PG rating in 2008 in a move that saw the promotion tone back on its more suggestive storylines, ban chairshots and greatly reduce the amount of blading allowed on-screen. The ‘PG Era’ has often been criticized by fans as a time when WWE became ‘too kid-friendly’ compared to how it once was.
This era of WWE is officially dead, Dave Meltzer reports, as the promotion is all-in on its current period dubbed by some as the ‘Renaissance Era.’ The Rock’s scathing promos in the run-up to WrestleMania 40 played a factor in the “official end” of the PG Era. The Final Boss certainly didn’t hold back with his promos which at the time seemed entirely opposed to WWE’s rules about what was allowed to be said.
Paul Heyman’s Hall of Fame acceptance speech was also part of the end of the PG Era. The Bloodline’s special counsel responded to a ‘You deserve it’ chant with “You’re damn f***ing right I do!’ and told haters of ECW to “suck my f***ing d**k!”
While this era is a thing of the past, WWE programming remains PG for the time being. It’s entirely possible that ratings could change once Raw moves to Netflix in January 2025 or when WWE NXT heads to The CW later this year. Any potential change will hinge on what those broadcasters want and also what sponsors will be comfortable with.
WWE made a big deal about ECW WrestleMania weekend and it was reportedly for good reason.
With WrestleMania 40 taking place in Philadelphia it only seemed appropriate for WWE to induct Paul Heyman into the Hall Of Fame. The home of Extreme Championship Wrestling was in the “City Of Brotherly Love” and Heyman had a lot to say about Philly and the homebase fans.
Heyman hat-tipped not just the fans but the legends ECW helped to cultivate, shouting out names like Rob Van Dam and Bully Ray. He even donned the appropriate attire as he pulled out the hat, headset, cinderblock cell phone and leather duster. Heyman’s words immediately became an all-time Hall of Fame speech, but that speech could be bittersweet in the immediate.
According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Heyman’s speech signified WWE “spiritually closing” the book on ECW. This was also why Heyman was the primary induction for the year and the focus was put on Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer and The Dudley Boyz.
ECW fans experienced a satisfying follow-up on night two of WrestleMania 40 as Bully Ray ended up being the surprise referee for the Philadelphia Street Fight between The Final Testament and The Pride.
WWE also had a full ECW entryway set-up installation on display at WWE World over WrestleMania weekend.
As for the actual ECW residence, the 2300 Arena on the corner of Swanson and Ritner, the venue stayed very busy with live events including a Busted Open Radio party and RVD in competition.
Roman Reign is off filming a movie while on ‘indefinite hiatus’ from WWE, but he’s remain a driving force behind The Bloodline both on television and behind the scenes.
Reigns’ world came crashing down at WrestleMania 40. Once thought to be invincible, his historic title reign is finished and The Bloodline has undergone a dramatic shakeup. Jimmy Uso is out, Tama Tonga is in and Solo Sikoa is the group’s new on-screen figurehead.
We later learned Tribal Chief made the call for Jimmy to be removed, a sign of how his character will be kept in the mix while he’s off TV. According to WWE insider Wrestlevotes, Reigns “will still have substantial creative input in the evolving Bloodline storyline over the course of the next few months.
Roman Reigns’ creative direction has been closely guarded since his evolution into the Tribal Chief and the rise of The Bloodline. the Bloodline chapter of his career started. Only a select few people have been involved in the Bloodline’s storyline development and that number is even smaller with Vince McMahon’s departure.
The Rock brought in Brian Gewirtz during his road to WrestleMania 40 for the Final Boss storyline. Since the show of shows is in the rearview mirror, Dwayne Johnson and his writer went back to Hollywood.
The Tribal Chief and the Wise Man
Paul Heyman recently spoke about The Bloodline with Jimmy Traina on the SI Mediapodcast. The ‘Wise Man’ says one of their keys to success is their ‘collaborative teamwork’ approach.
“You know the old expression, ‘it takes a team?’ It certainly has with us. There are a lot of people who have worked really hard to make this work. It kind of all filters through Roman Reigns’ field. There are several people that come to me to present things to Roman, and then Roman and I will talk about it and comeback with either something that fits into their narrative or something that we would hope, we could perhaps enhance it or put it in our own words, or come back with, ‘that doesn’t work for us, what about this?’ and start a different process and we’re bouncing ideas off of them.”
Heyman said creative rumblings for the Bloodline storyline began under Vince McMahon’s leadership and continued without disruption when Paul “Triple H” Levesque took over.
He also praised Michael Hayes for his exceptional ability to weave a narrative into wrestling matches, a rare and valuable skill. The SmackDown writing team, led by the often overlooked Ryan Callahan, along with Michael Kirshenbaum, Chad Barbash, and Zach Hyatt, are also involved in these discussions
Paul Heyman is now a WWE Hall of Famer, and fans won’t forget his induction speech any time soon. The same is true for those within the company who witnessed his speech.
Brock Lesnar has been all but erased from WWE history at this point. The company did not even show him in the highlight video package for Heyman before his time on the show. That did not stop Paul E from mentioning the 1 in 21-1 several times. WWE realized who they were inducting, and where the ceremony went down as well.
After a day has passed since Heyman’s speech, I have been told that many within WWE are considering what Paul E did as one of the greatest promos in WWE history.
Internal Reaction to Paul Heyman’s WWE Hall of Fame Speech
I reached out to ask about Heyman name-dropping Brock Lesnar so much after WWE has made obvious efforts to not mention him. I was told by a tenured member of the creative team that Paul Heyman had a bit of “free rein.”
Prior to Heyman’s speech, several members of the creative team were told that, “We’re inducting Heyman in Philly, and we know what the audience is going to want, and we’re going to let Heyman give it to them.”
Some within the company consider Heyman’s speech to be the greatest Hall of Fame speech, if not the greatest promo, in WWE history. It was viewed as “insane” by many, in a very good way.
I was additionally told that what struck many people backstage was that Heyman wasn’t cursing just for the sake of it; he used profanity strategically to emphasize his points, which made it all the more effective.
Heyman’s control of the audience was also praised as “a master class in psychology,” where “the ebb and flow of his promo resembled the structure of a public speech or rally unlike anything seen before in WWE.”
I will have more in an exclusive on @sescoops soon, but concerning Paul Heyman's #WWEHallOfFame speech:
Members of the team were told: "We're inducting Heyman in Philly, and we know what the audience is going to want, and we're going to let Heyman give it to them." pic.twitter.com/U4XLE325C6
Paul Heyman’s induction was first on the night, so more people would see it. Those props that Heyman used were also legit, as they added even more legitimacy and nostalgia to his speech.
In the end, nobody had anything bad to say about any portion of Heyman’s speech, even his mention of Brock Lesnar. If anything, Heyman is seen as more of a GOAT than ever at this point.
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.
The man who will induct Paul Heyman into the WWE Hall of Fame this Friday was revealed during the April 1, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw.
Heyman was the first name announced for this year’s class of Hall of Fame inductees. The honor is richly deserved given Heyman’s success in multiple roles in the world of wrestling. Heyman has served as a manager, a producer, a promoter, and as a member of WWE’s creative team throughout his lengthy career.
Paul Heyman’s WWE Hall of Fame Inductor
During a backstage segment on the April 1, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, Heyman, The Rock, and Roman Reigns were seen conversing. Reigns had to leave early to work on his ‘speech’ for the Wise Man. Heyman then made clear to anyone who hadn’t figured it out that Reigns would be inducting him into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Heyman is hardly the only notable name to make up this year’s class of WWE Hall of Famers. The US Express will also be inducted this year, the only tag team as part of the 2024 class. Bull Nakano was announced as a WWE Hall of Fame inductee. The Japanese star is a former WWE Women’s Champion and is currently the commissioner for the all-women’s Sukeban promotion.
Thunderbolt Patterson has also been confirmed as an inductee. The late Muhammed Ali will be posthumously inducted for his contributions to the world of Sports Entertainment.
The final inductee is Lia Maivia, one of the first female wrestling promoters and a trailblazer in her own right. Her induction was announced by her grandson The Rock and will come 16 years after her husband ‘High Chief’ Peter Maivia was inducted in 2008.
WWE Hall of Fame Inductors
Here is the known inductors for this year’s WWE Hall of Fame:
Paul Heyman doesn’t know of any hidden intentions behind The Rock’s ‘L’ but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to the fan-led conspiracy.
The Great One returned to WWE earlier this year and was poised to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. This didn’t sit well with the WWE Universe, who believed the spot rightly deserved to Cody Rhodes.
The Rock and His L
With the WWE Universe rejecting The Rock, the company changed course, turning the Brahma Bull heel and aligning him with the Bloodline. In segments, Rock has been aligned with his family but his choice of hand gesture has raised some eyebrows.
While the Bloodline points to the sky, The Rock has performed the same gesture with his thumb outstretched, giving an ‘L’ shaped symbol. Fans have speculated as to whether there’s a reason for this. Some have even speculated that it could be a sign of his intent to betray Roman Reigns when the time is right.
Paul Heyman on The Rock’s L
Sitting down with Forbes, Heyman was asked about The Rock’s ‘L’ symbol and whether there’s some meaning behind the gesture. The future WWE Hall of Famer argued that there’s no hidden meaning that he’s aware of, though that doesn’t mean there isn’t something to it.
“It is a conspiracy. And just because it’s a conspiracy theory doesn’t mean there’s not a conspiracy behind it.”
“My father always taught me, “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean the whole world’s not against you.”
Heyman added that he is sure there’s “something to it” and suggested that the only person who knows the truth is the Final Boss himself.
What’s to Come?
The Rock will make his long-awaited return to the ring at WrestleMania 40: Saturday where he’ll team with Roman Reigns to face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The match will determine the stipulation for the following night’s Undisputed WWE Universal Title match.
If Rhodes & Rollins win, the next night’s match between Rhodes and Roman Reigns will be free of Bloodline interference. Should the Bloodline win the Saturday match, the title match will be under ‘Bloodline Rules.’
Roman Reigns will headline WrestleMania once again next weekend, but WWE’s Tribal Chief was ready to leave the wrestling ring behind him four years ago.
Next weekend, Reigns will compete on both nights of WrestleMania 40. On the first night, he will team with The Rock to face Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The following night, he will put his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship on the line against Rhodes. This will be the American Nightmare’s last opportunity to win the gold from Reigns, an edict made by TKO board member/Bloodline member The Rock.
Roman Reigns in 2020
In the run-up to WrestleMania 36, Reigns was poised to challenge Goldberg for the WWE Universal Championship. Goldberg had won the title from ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt at WWE Super Showdown in February that same year.
In the days running up to WrestleMania though, Reigns pulled out of the show, thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. As someone who was immunocompromised due to his past battles with leukemia, Reigns opted to prioritize his health over the risk of being infected at the WrestleMania taping.
Roman Reigns Was Ready to Retire
Reigns didn’t just miss WrestleMania 36 but would miss months of programming after the event. Speaking recently to Uproxx, Paul Heyman said that Reigns was ready to leave WWE behind at the time.
“He considered himself retired. He wasn’t coming back… I would ask, has anybody talked to him? Yeah, he says he’s retired. He’s not coming back. No way. Thanks a lot. Done. Finished. Goodbye.”
Heyman added that with this in mind, Reigns’ return to WWE and subsequent run as the Tribal Chief has been nothing short of “miraculous.”
What Came Next?
After months away, Reigns would return to WWE TV at SummerSlam 2020, attacking Wyatt and Braun Strowman. On the following SmackDown, Reigns aligned with Paul Heyman and would capture the Universal Championship he holds to this day at Payback 2020.
Being active in the industry since 1986, Heyman has had an illustrious career as a professional wrestling manager, promoter, and executive. It was announced in March that Heyman will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 5, 2024. As for whether he’s got a speech prepared, Heyman said that he doesn’t, because he is going to “just wing it.”
“No, I’m going to figure this out as we go along. I’m going to take the pulse of the room that night. I’m going to wing this, because I don’t know really what the crowd itself is expecting from me. Is this a crowd that wants me to talk about the modern-day WWE, Roman Reigns, The Bloodline, the WrestleMania main event of Roman Reigns versus Cody Rhodes? Is this a crowd that in Philadelphia wants to talk about ECW? Is this a crowd that’s looking for some inspiration in a speech about pursuing one’s own dreams? I really won’t know until I take the temperature of the room that night, and as you know better than I, you always have to know your audience.”
Paul Heyman Says The Bloodline Story Could Have Some Extra Innings
Speaking about Roman Reigns, whom Heyman manages alongside The Bloodline on SmackDown, he said that Reigns would be the greatest star in the industry regardless of the generation he was in.
Paul Heyman also recalled his first meeting with Roman Reigns, revealing that The Tribal Chief was only 3 years old at the time:
“I first met Roman Reigns when he was three years old and his father Sika of the Wild Samoans brought him into the locker room at Panama City, Florida. Even at three years old, he had so much charisma. I thought he was going to become a child star like Ron Howard or whomever. Roman had so much charisma even at three years old. You look into his eyes and say, ‘Oh my god this kid’s a star and he’s three years old!’ He just had that intangible It Factor. You knew you were in the presence of someone or something special even though it’s a three-year-old kid running around.”
Heyman also spoke about how the partnership of him and Reigns came about together. While Heyman was with Brock Lesnar, a golden opportunity presented itself when the pandemic hit and Lesnar took time away from the WWE.
“Well, Roman and I had been talking about working together for many, many years. The timing was never right in that WWE was presenting him as The Big Dog, as the big hero, this WrestleMania main-eventer to follow in the steps of John Cena.
“And I was the advocate for Brock Lesnar, and just leaving that position would have been insane. I also then became the executive director of Monday Night Raw. Now the pandemic hits and Brock Lesnar wraps up his time in WWE and he goes off to Saskatchewan to hunt and kill whatever he puts on the family’s dinner plates.
“The entire landscape of sports and entertainment and sports entertainment was changing, and Roman Reigns had taken time off because his wife had given birth to another set of twin boys, and also because of the pandemic and his health concerns regarding staying safe for his family during this unfathomable health crisis that was gripping the entire world. So in August 2020 when I’m Brock Lesnar-free, I’m no longer the executive director of Raw, so I’m in the ocean of obscurity at that point, and Roman Reigns agrees to come back to WWE if he’s allowed to portray himself, and we get a chance to work together. He rescued me from the ocean of obscurity, pulled me onto the island of relevancy with him, and we have been together ever since.”
Heyman had previously said that The Bloodline was in only in the third inning, and speaking about that, Heyman said that there may be many extra innings in store for the faction.
“Every time I talk about innings, it gets shoved up my tuchus. Also, I’ve kind of gotten away now from baseball analogies because I’ve learned in my experience that baseball is fake.
“So whatever inning that we’re in, we’re dominating that inning, and it’s a game that I would suggest may go into many extra innings as well. And some of that, we have to give credit to The Final Boss, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, for adding a whole new set of layers, and therefore innings, to the story of the Bloodline.”
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Tuesday, March 26. WWE held a huge episode of RAW this week in Chicago, and there is a lot to unpack, so let’s get right into it.
– Fire The Man: Becky Lynch expressed the idea that she was legit worried that Vince McMahon would fire her in 2020 when she became pregnant.
– WrestleMami: WWE dropped a new Rhea Ripley t-shirt that looks very Undertaker-ish. It is also done up in the Judgment Day style, and we can imagine these will sell well. You may click here to see what they have to offer in the WWE Shop.
– Dominik Got Smashed: Becky Lynch really clocked Dominik Mysterio with a punch this week on RAW. The slow motion video is going viral, and you may check it out below.
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) March 25, 2024
– JR’s New Book: Jim Ross announced that his new book, “Business Is About to Pick Up!: 50 Years of Wrestling in 50 Unforgettable Calls,” co-written by Paul O’Brien, will be released on May 27.
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events
Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:
April 6:NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.
May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.
WWE Monday Night Raw also saw an appearance by CM Punk, who shared a segment with his two biggest rivals: Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre. Amid personal digs, humorous quips, and a nod to Vince McMahon, it was announced that Punk will be on commentary when McIntyre challenges Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. An agitated Rollins delivered a stomp to McIntyre to close things out.
Paul Heyman’s Cameo on Raw
During a backstage segment featuring the New Day and DIY, Paul Heyman could be seen in the background, speaking to Drew McIntyre. On Twitter, the WWE on TNT Sports account brought attention to this interesting development.
McIntyre’s issues with The Bloodline are well-documented, as it was the debuting Solo Sikoa who cost the Scottish Warrior his shot at the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Clash at the Castle in 2022. McIntyre would also stand against The Bloodline in that year’s Men’s WarGames match, but would once again come up short.
With that said, Drew has a lot to gain by forming a pact with The Bloodline. One day before McIntyre challenges Seth Rollins, the World Heavyweight Champion will team with Cody Rhodes to face The Rock and Roman Reigns. McIntyre will no doubt be hoping that The Bloodline softens up the Architect ahead of their title match on WrestleMania 40: Sunday.
Paul Heyman is arguably one of the most influential managers of the wrestling business of all time. From Steve Austin to Jimmy Snuka and from CM Punk to Roman Reigns, the former ECW promoter has been an instrumental figure in the careers of some of wrestling’s biggest names. The Undertaker is another such guy who credits Heyman for his early success in wrestling without which his legendary WWE run may have never started.
“Hall of Fame man. Well-deserved too. Not only has he got like a brilliant wrestling mind. But even for as long as he’s been involved in the business and around, he’s still so passionate. He’s one of those guys like Paul Bearer was the same way with me. When he was managing Brock and obviously now he’s managing Roman Reigns. He is so invested in those guys and their well-being, their decision-making.
When I went solo in WCW, after Danny left, they put Paul with me. He was so instrumental in keeping me sane because I was so frustrated there with what they were doing with me. Obviously, the infamous meeting that I had with WCW’s upper management. He was such an advocate for me, in the sense of getting me to Bruce [Prichard], who would eventually get me to Vince [McMahon] and that whole thing.
He was a little better off than I was, I wasn’t making any money. A lot of times, he would just pick up the rental cars instead of us splitting it or help me out when he could, but obviously, the biggest contribution on my part with him was just that connection to get me out of WCW and into an opportunity with WWE”
The Undertaker then discussed how Paul Heyman not only plays the part of an on-screen manager for any talent he is paired with but also acts as a real-life advocate for them behind the scenes:
“Paul, if he’s passionate about an idea, or his guy is passionate about an idea, he will flat out go to battle. It’s not his hill really to die on, but he will. He truly is representing, what they feel is the best move for where they’re positioned. Not every manager is like that. Not every manager is as invested as Paul is.
Paul can be brash and he can say some things that will ruffle your feathers. But overall he’s very smart about the business. He’s totally invested. A lot of times too, he’ll go and rely things that maybe his guy doesn’t wanna do. ‘Hey what you think about this.’ Paul earns his money man. He does a really, really good job of advocating for his guys.
Not everybody is that invested. But he’ll fight and argue and try and get his point across and change people’s minds which is what you want. As a talent sometimes, you’re trying to focus on ‘Okay, I have to focus on this match’ and whatever that might be. So it’s nice to have somebody, who is so knowledgeable of the business, going in there and not to say politicking, but being an advocate.”
You can check out Undertaker’s full interview below:
If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
Marlon Brando’s incredible performance as Col. Walter Kurtz helped inspire Roman Reigns to be the Tribal Chief, Paul Heyman has revealed.
In 2020, Reigns turned heel and aligned himself with Paul Heyman, a move that ironically made the Shield alum the most popular he’d been in years. Since then, Reigns has dominated WWE as Universal Champion, a title he unified with the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 38 in 2022. Reigns is currently closing in on 1,300 days as Universal Champion.
Roman Reigns & Apocalypse Now
Reigns hasn’t just dominated WWE’s roster, but has dominated his family as the ‘Tribal Chief.’ In a recent talk at the BSM Summit, Heyman spoke about Reigns and the Hollywood inspiration behind his character.
“I had Roman Reigns watch ‘Apocalypse Now’ multiple times. To me, that was the heart and soul of the character of the Tribal Chief. A warrior so great that he conquered his own island.”
The 1979 film sees Marlon Brando portray Colonel Walter Kurtz, a U.S. military powerhouse who has gone mad and now leads his own tribe deep in the Cambodian jungle. In the interview, Heyman compared Reigns to Brando’s gripping rendition of the character.
“Brando presented himself as a pseudo-God. We call it a Tribal Chief. ..That’s where the villainry of Roman Reigns comes in because he says ‘Acknowledge me,’ and [at] once you acknowledge him.”
WATCH: @HeymanHustle shared incredible insight on the inspiration for the @WWERomanReigns 'Tribal Chief' character at the 2024 BSM Summit. This was simply outstanding! @WWE and #wrestling fans, this is must-watch!
If Reigns is indeed the Col. Kurtz of WWE, his reign of terror may be coming to an end. The film ends with Kurtz being killed by Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) at the behest of the U.S. government. Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40.
Paul Heyman was the first name announced as an inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024. This was a completely non-controversial choice among the wrestling community. Even if one were to only consider his on-screen work as a manager, his efforts have been worthy of recognition.
Heyman’s career spanned a number of territories, leading to an important run at the head of The Dangerous Alliance that dominated WCW programming in 1992. From there, he served as the manager, consultant, or wise man to no fewer than three long-reigning world champions in WWE (in addition to briefer stints managing others).
Heyman was a key color commentator in the late stages of the Attitude Era as well, particularly during the Invasion angle, and then an on-screen authority figure.
On top of the work fans have seen firsthand, though, there are Heyman’s behind-the-scenes work, which include major contributions during multiple eras of WWE programming. Perhaps most importantly of all, though, he’s the evil genius most widely credited with masterminding ECW when it caught fire in the 1990s.
For all of the aforementioned reasons and more, Heyman should become the first non-wrestler WWE Hall of Fame inductee to go on last, officially headlining the Class of 2024.
The 2024 WWE Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony Will Occur In Philadelphia
Paul Heyman was born and got his start in pro wrestling in New York. His first claims to national fame came in the south or in the Midwest with the AWA, depending on which promotions one most paid attention to.
However, when it comes to the heart of Heyman’s contributions to the wrestling business, it all comes back to Philadelphia. In the Cit of Brotherly Love, Heyman was the driving creative force behind Eastern Championship Wrestling’s reinvention as Extreme Championship Wrestling. More than a simple rebrand, Heyman tapped into the wrestling atmosphere. He recognized the limitations of the family friendly products WWE and WCW produced at the time and capitalized on an opportunity, promoting an edgier, more adult style.
Indeed, the general consensus is that the more realistic presentation WCW embraced in the Monday Night War and the Attitude Era that elevated WWE to such heights were directly influenced by ECW’s success. In addition to pushing a different style of wrestling, there were the individual stars Heyman cultivated. Some, like Mike Awesome, Raven, and The Sandman peaked in ECW as Heyman hid their weaknesses, capitalized on their strengths, and put the right creative behind them. Other acts like The Dudley Boyz, Taz, and Eddie Guerrero would become foundational contributors for bigger promotions for years to come—talents in whom Heyman recognized profound potential who might not have wound up on the radar of bigger companies had Heyman not spotlighted them first.
All of these successes were born out of a bingo hall in Philly. Hardcore mirrors the gritty spirit of the city and the city remains inextricably linked to the ECW legacy. As such, Heyman is quite arguably the wrestling legend most synonymous with Philadelphia and a perfect choice to headline during a WrestleMania weekend staged there.
Paul Heyman Is Part Of The Current WWE Main Event Picture
One of the struggles of the WWE Hall of Fame is that, in presenting the induction ceremony is a live event held in a reasonably sized arena, broadcasted live. There’s a pressure not to simply induct worthy names, but induct draws—names modern fans will recognize and be excited about. Main eventers tend to have staying power, such that even fans who weren’t watching their primes stil know the names and have at least some familiarity with their work. Mid-card acts, tag teams, and managers have a tougher go of it.
In 2023, Rey Mysterio headlined the Hall of Fame class. In addition to having had a lengthy, legendary career the luchador benefited from still being a part of the active roster, embroiled in a hot father-son feud at the time. This dynamic meant everyone who might attend a Hall of Fame induction ceremony—even children who weren’t yet born for either of Mysterio’s world title wins—were still familiar with him.
Paul Heyman has been active in wrestling since since the 1980s, meaning he truly spans generations of fans. But perhaps most importantly for his status as a Hall of Fame draw, he has been heavily embroiled in The Bloodline’s main event storyline that has dominated nearly four years of WWE programming. That’s in addition to standing in the corner of top champions like Brock Lesnar and CM Punk off and on for the preceding two decades. Thus, Heyman is that rare manager whose main event level credentials are beyond reproach.
Paul Heyman Could Deliver One Of The Greatest WWE Hall Of Fame Induction Speeches Ever
One of the awkward realities of WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremonies is that not all speeches are created equally. Regardless of star power, some talents are simply better talkers than others. Meanwhile, there are those talents who clearly take the induction seriously and craft speeches perfectly tailored to the moment, in contrast to those who take a more cavalier approach.
A big part of Paul Heyman’s legacy in wrestling is being an all-time great promo guy. He’s a brilliant wrestling mind with a real sense of history too, all of which is a recipe for a genuinely special induction speech. Rather than someone else being forced to follow the speech of the night, the most straightforward answer is to let Heyman close out the evening.
In the end, whether Paul Heyman goes on first, last, or somewhere in between for his WWE Hall of Fame induction, the bottom line is that after WrestleMania 40 weekend he’ll be a bona fide Hall of Famer. Few men—and particularly few men who were never proper wrestlers—were ever more worthy of this particular brand of recognition. There’s also a small sense of poeticism to Heyman being featured here as a sort of antithesis to Vince McMahon’s style and aesthetic. Heyman headlining may well further establish the launch of a new era in WWE.
Rob Van Dam is a bonafide WWE Hall Of Famer and now so is the man who put him on the map in Paul Heyman, but who will induct the original orchestrator of extreme?
In the upcoming episode of “1 Of A Kind With RVD” Van Dam said that he wasn’t originally planning on attending the WWE Hall Of Fame this year, but with Heyman getting announced, RVD said he’ll have to make plans.
Per usual, a lot of the fun speculation heading into WrestleMania is who will induct the inductees and there are several names who are worthy of inducting Heyman, including RVD. However, Rob had his own thoughts regarding that matter.
“I think they can definitely find somebody better than me. You know, it’d be an honor. And of course, if I was, nominated and asked to do it, I would give it my best.”
Who will induct Paul Heyman into the WWE Hall of Fame?
If I were to induct Paul Heyman…
Van Dam added that if he were to induct Heyman, he’d want input from other wrestlers who were impacted by Heyman, but named three names who would be more fitting to do the actual induction.
“I mean, [Tommy] Dreamer, Bubba [Ray Dudley]. Taz, those guys, they know Paul a lot more than I do. They were in New York.
“I would see him on the weekends. They’d see him all week too and they were there in the office and the production studio helping move the TV forward, also with the merchandise and just booking towns.”
Taz or RVD would both be interesting names considering both have a working relationship with AEW, but Van Dam is featured in WWE 2K24 and has an upcoming figure set to be released by Mattel.
Heyman leads a Hall Of Fame class that so far has Bull Nakano, The U.S. Express and Muhammad Ali.
The new episode of 1 Of A Kind With RVD releases Monday at 4:20 PM ET.
Please credit “1 Of A Kind With RVD” and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.
Former WWE and ECW World Champion Rob Van Dam is pleased that Paul Heyman is getting his proverbial ‘flowers’ with his upcoming Hall of Fame induction.
Earlier this month, it was announced that Heyman will be inducted as part of this year’s class on April 5. The honor is richly deserved for Heyman, who has excelled in various roles in wrestling. In addition to being Roman Reigns‘ special counsel, Heyman has managed others, worked as a commentator, a writer, and ran ECW during the company’s peak.
Rob Van Dam on Paul Heyman’s Induction
Few names did better under the watchful eye than RVD, who became a success in both the original ECW and WWE. In a recent interview with Wrestle Binge, the former World Champion was pleased that Heyman is getting his due.
“It’s pretty cool they’re giving him his flowers because he was the man. He was the one that made ECW happen… he’s the guy that made everything possible.”
RVD also heralded Heyman’s work in WWE and recalled many in the company being opposed to Paul at first due to his ECW history.
“When I was there back then… he didn’t get a lot of respect in the way of the other agents didn’t like ECW, were trying to fight it, didn’t want it to come in. They were giving him a hard time.”
Van Dam concluded by stating that ECW became a success of Heyman’s leadership, braveness, and passion, and is pleased to see the sacrifices Heyman has made pay off.
Paul Heyman has shared why he turned down the WWE Hall of Fame ahead of his induction the night before WrestleMania 40.
Earlier this month, it was announced that Heyman will be inducted as part of this year’s class on April 5. The honor is richly-deserved for Heyman, who has excelled in various roles in wrestling. In addition to being Roman Reigns’ special counsel, Heyman has managed others, worked as a commentator, a writer, and ran ECW during the company’s peak.
Turning Down the WWE HOF
While Heyman will be inducted this year, the Bloodline’s spokesman has turned the honor down in the past. Sitting down with TMZ Sports, Heyman explained his reasoning for why he didn’t want to be inducted years earlier during his run with Brock Lesnar.
“If I had accepted the award while I was The Advocate for Brock Lesnar and none of my work with Roman Reigns and The Bloodline was part of my Hall of Fame induction, then by now, we’d be sitting there saying, ‘Oh, how did we induct him five years ago and missed this whole chapter of his career.’”
The only flaw of Heyman’s plan, as he pointed out in the interview, is that he has no plans on wrapping up his career despite his impending induction.
“Roman Reigns and I are not going anywhere. We plan on sticking around. He will continue to be the reigning defending Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion in the greatest title run of all time.”
WWE Hall of Fame 2024
Heyman will be part of what is shaping up to be a star-studded class of inductees. Bull Nakano will be inducted this year. The former WWF Women’s Champion had a successful run in and out of WWE and is currently the commissioner of Bushiroad. The US Express will also be inducted as part of this year’s class.
WWE is less than 30 days away from WrestleMania 40, and they booked a huge match during SmackDown this week. The Rock issued a challenge to Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, and this week he got his answer.
During the closing segment of WWE SmackDown this week, they confirmed that Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins will take on Roman Reigns and The Rock during Night One of WrestleMania 40. They did so with a very tense closing segment on the show this week.
WWE SmackDown Closing Segment
The Bloodline took to the ring during the closing segment of SmackDown this week. The Rock joined them, and then Reigns told Dallas to acknowledge them, because greatness stands before them.
Before they could get much further, Cody Rhodes’ music hit, and he entered the screen from the crowd. He didn’t come alone, as Seth Rollins was there in the crowd as well as his backup.
Cody Rhodes admitted that it is very tense in the ring. Then he suggested that they just soak up that moment in Dallas, Texas. Then Cody asked if The Rock had the authority to make any stipulations for WrestleMania, because he acknowledged Roman as his Tribal Chief last week on SmackDown.
The Rock cut Cody off, and then he laid down a bit of a promo about being a family. Then he made it clear that he was serious about the stakes of the match. Suddenly, “diarrhea” chants broke out and interrupted him. Seth Rollins laughed at this, because it was his “Diarrhea Dwayne” line from RAW that inspired the chant.
Finally, The Rock continued, and then Seth Rollins told him to “shut the hell up,” while calling him “Mr. Midlife Crisis.” Then he accepted the tag team match at WrestleMania 40.
The whole segment ended with The Rock taking things too far, and then it was Cody Rhodes who nailed him with a slap this time.
The Rock made it clear that this tag team match at WrestleMania will have big consequences for the main event of WrestleMania 40. If Cody and Seth can win, then The Bloodline will not be around for the main event match. If the Bloodline wins, then it will be “Bloodline Rules” for the main event.
Then The Rock said that, as a member of the TKO board, he has another thing to say. He made it clear that Cody will never get another shot at the title if he loses at WrestleMania 40. Interestingly enough, that is the same stipulation he had in AEW that stuck with him throughout his run with the company, where he was never allowed to challenge for their World Title.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and the rest of the road to WrestleMania. Keep checking back for more updates.
WrestleMania is in Philadelphia this year, and that city means a lot to Paul Heyman. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, which is a perfect location for him to receive that honor. It turns out that this was not the first time WWE tried to enshrine him into their Hall of Fame.
This year will mark the first year that Triple H gets to pick his Hall of Fame. Paul Heyman just so happens to be the first name that was announced under this new era. Although it’s not clear when WWE tried to induct him before, Heyman turned down that spot in the past.
Paul Heyman’s WWE Hall of Fame Induction
Paul Heyman’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame this year wasn’t unexpected, given his longstanding contribution to WWE programming. As we stated above, the Philly location made everything perfect.
During a segment on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed insights into Paul Heyman’s induction. He highlighted that this year’s class was selected by Paul Levesque rather than Vince McMahon, signifying a shift in decision-making authority.
Meltzer mentioned that Heyman had previously declined the offer to join the Hall of Fame but accepted this time, likely influenced by being the inaugural Paul Levesque inductee and the connection to Philadelphia, the birthplace of ECW, a pivotal chapter in Heyman’s career. Additionally, Meltzer speculated that Heyman’s inclusion might fulfill the requirement for a main eventer in the class.
“Yeah, so trivia note, this will be the first Hall of Fame class chosen by Triple H, and not Vince McMahon. So, Paul Heyman is the first Triple H Hall of Famer. He’s been offered the Hall of Fame before, but he turned it down with the idea that, you know, he’s still active. He didn’t want to be in the Hall of Fame until his career was over. I think the idea of being the first Triple H inductee, and it’s in Philly where ECW is from, and one of his main career claims to fame is ECW, maybe his biggest in a lot of ways, so there’s that.”
It was noted that “he has been offered this before,” but this year was a year he took the honor. It’s unknown exactly why Heyman didn’t turn it down this year, but fans in Philly will certainly show up to give Paul E his flowers.
2024 WWE Hall of Fame
As of this writing, we do now know who will induct Paul Heyman into the WWE Hall of Fame. We will have to see who else receives an honor this year to round out the class.
The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will go down after the final SmackDown before WrestleMania 40. Although no other inductees have been announced, Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer mentioned that they heard a rumor that Haku is receiving an induction this year as well.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story as more information is made available.
The industry veteran who today serves as the special counsel to The Bloodline is the first name confirmed for this year’s class of inductees. It’s fitting that Heyman is being inducted in Philadelphia, as ECW is synonymous with the City of Brotherly Love.
Reactions to Paul Heyman in the WWE Hall of Fame
With such a significant career in wrestling, many stars have paid tribute to Heyman ahead of his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. Reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns made it clear he acknowledges the Wise Man.
Tommy Dreamer, another man who worked closely with Heyman in ECW, was appreciative of all that Paul had done for the industry.
Congratulations @HeymanHustle entire career made a mark wherever he went Florida,Continental,Memphis,AWA WCW,ECW WWE He changed the industry He is great at everything he has ever done in the wrestling business Well deserved. https://t.co/ipovXo2TUU
Heyman is so far the only name confirmed for this year’s Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place on Friday, April 5, following that night’s edition of SmackDown on FOX. Heyman will become the first active manager to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Paul Heyman, the legendary manager of some of WWE’s biggest stars, will take his place in the WWE Hall of Fame later this year.
The Associated Press broke the news of Heyman’s induction, which will fittingly take place in Philadelphia, PA. Heyman is no stranger to the City of Brotherly Love, where ECW held some of its biggest shows with the industry veteran at the helm. In a statement to the AP, Heyman recalled the efforts made in the original ECW.
“The extreme in ECW stood for the work ethic involved… The legacy of ECW is firmly rooted in the very simple concepts of paying attention to the cultural curve and obsessively trying to stay a few steps ahead of it.”
Paul Heyman Isn’t Finished Yet
While Heyman will soon be a WWE Hall of Famer, this won’t mark the end of his current work on TV as part of The Bloodline. Speaking to the Associated Press, Heyman made clear that there is still work to be done.
“I consistently feel like I’m just getting started, and I’m just figuring this out. To me, what is an incomplete body of work, because there’s still things I want to accomplish, I never felt comfortable accepting that is a reflection upon an entire career.”
Triple H Reacts
On WWE programming, Paul Heyman and Triple H have often been rivals, with Heyman being in Brock Lesnar’s corner when the Beast feuded with the Game in 2012 and 2013. On Twitter though, the WWE COO was pleased to share his take on Heyman’s impending induction.
He’s been a promoter, a manager, an executive, a “Wiseman,” and now, a @WWE Hall of Famer.
Heyman is so far the only name confirmed for this year’s Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place on Friday, April 5, following that night’s edition of SmackDown on FOX. Heyman will become the first active manager to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Heyman advised that Cody Rhodes needs to take The Rock’s name out of his mouth.
Cody Rhodes Gets Message From Paul Heyman
After Cody Rhodes beat Grayson Waller in the main event of RAW this week, he had company. Paul Heyman made his way to the ring with security guards around him, who he claimed were off-duty police officers.
Heyman said that he knows how embarrassing it must have been for Cody to get “Will Smith’ed” by The Rock like he did during the WrestleMania kickoff conference in the T-Mobile Arena, but he said Cody “needs to take The Rock’s name out of your freaking mouth.“
After a back-and-forth, Cody delivered a message to The Rock through Heyman. He told The Rock to come get him, and that caused Heyman to get into the ring, but Cody wouldn’t let him.
Heyman’s security guards got in the ring instead, and they surrounded him. Then Cody made it clear that he will drop everyone in the ring if anyone takes a step closer to him. Paul said that doesn’t count if he’s the one person stepping toward him, and Rhodes said that was wrong before he took out all the security guards.
Cody made it clear that he is hunting The Bloodline, and it’s not the other way around.
"The Bloodline isn't hunting me… I'M HUNTING THE BLOODLINE!"
After Paul Heyman got out of the ring, he pulled out two cell phones. He told one phone to call The Rock, as the other he ordered to phone up Roman Reigns.
RAW ended this week after Cody Rhodes laid out another dish of punishment to Heyman’s security guards. The Rock will be on SmackDown this week, so we will have to see if he answers Rhodes’ challenge for a match.
The Road to WrestleMania
WrestleMania 40 will be a huge two-night event, so we will have many more matches confirmed for the show as we make our way to the extravaganza. Keep checking back with SEScoops for more information, and you can check out the updated card, including these two reported matches, below.
WrestleMania 40 Card:
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes: Singles match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley: Singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch: Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre: Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Jimmy Uso vs Jey Uso (reported)
LA Knight vs AJ Styles (reported)
Logan Paul vs Randy Orton for the United States Title (reported)
Swerve Strickland may have found a home for himself in AEW, but the popular star remains in touch with one of WWE’s most notable on-screen personalities.
Strickland joined WWE in 2019 and the former NXT North American Champion was released in late 2021. He would later join AEW at Revolution 2022 in March. On the latest edition of his Swerve City podcast, Strickland spoke about his journey in wrestling and revealed that he still converses with Paul Heyman.
“Little do people know, I still talk to Paul Heyman. Just on a mentorship-type state. I go to him for advice on like my promos and my segments that like … when I was doing the home invasion segments and all this stuff, I was like ‘how did this make you feel?’ I would get reception back from him.”
Paul Heyman on AEW
Heyman has unsurprisingly never appeared for AEW, but the special counsel to Roman Reigns does keep an eye on the competition. Speaking to BT Sport ahead of Survivor Series 2021, Heyman was asked for his take on Tony Khan’s company.
“Oh, they’re viable. They are a viable entity, and God bless them for being there.”
What’s Next?
This weekend, Swerve Strickland will compete in the main event of AEW Revolution 2024. Strickland will challenge AEW World Champion Samoa Joe in a triple threat match that will also feature ‘Hangman’ Adam Page. With that said, the Cowboy may not be in the match despite his recent ‘injury’ on Dynamite being confirmed to be a work. This match will mark Strickland’s first AEW pay-per-view main event.
Paul Heyman has a long history of managing clients in the pro wrestling world. The Bloodline might not last forever, especially as the road to WrestleMania 40 becomes even more tumultuous. There are many more Superstars in WWE who may benefit from Heyman’s guidance, and we collected a list to explore a few options.
Throughout his career, Heyman has managed many top names including Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Rob Van Dam, The Dudley Boyz, Steve Austin, Rick Rude, and Matt Hardy. Additionally, Heyman has had stints managing factions such as The Dangerous Alliance in WCW and The Dangerous Alliance and The Alliance in WWE. That doesn’t even count his position as The Bloodline’s Wise Man.
Brock Lesnar is no longer in any WWE creative plans due to his name being connected to Janel Grant’s lawsuit. I asked just last week and was able to confirm that is still the case, and Lesnar’s name is not coming up in any creative fashion. Since the Beast Incarnate’s return to WWE might take a long while, let’s see who might be next for Heyman if the Bloodline implodes.
Bron Breakker
It seems that Breakker is the #1 candidate to become the next Paul Heyman Guy after The Wise Man’s Bloodline tenure is over. Heyman paid special attention to Breakker during SmackDown, as he made extra effort to introduce himself. Heyman and Breakker also had a segment on NXT months ago. The former NXT Champion also has all the tools needed to become a breakout star for the main roster once he can get things moving for himself after his NXT obligations are over.
GUNTHER
GUNTHER’s imposing presence and hard-hitting style would make him a perfect candidate for Paul Heyman’s stable. Heyman could amplify the IC Champion’s intimidating persona and help him become a dominant force in WWE, both in the ring and on the microphone. The Ring General has a pretty great thing going with Imperium right now, but that stable has showed signs of cracks in the past, and GUNTHER’s domination in WWE will not end with the stable’s eventual demise.
Pete Dunne
The former Butch is known for his intense in-ring style and captivating presence. Triple H gave Pete Dunne is name back, and the Brawling Brutes is now over. He teamed up with Tyler Bate, and they are getting a chance as a tandem. Some would say that Dunne may thrive under Paul Heyman’s guidance. Heyman could help Dunne further develop his character and storytelling abilities, solidifying his status as a top star in WWE.
Dexter Lumis
With his unique character and silent intensity, Dexter Lumis would be an intriguing addition to Paul Heyman’s stable. Heyman could help Lumis further develop his character and storytelling abilities, positioning him as a standout star in WWE. If anything, it would give Lumis something to do. I’ve asked around about his status many times, and I’ve been told that he’s not injured. Hopefully, WWE will figure out a way to use the serial killer with a heart of gold soon.
Raquel Rodriguez
As the current NXT Women’s Champion, Raquel Rodriguez has already proven herself as a dominant force in WWE. With Paul Heyman’s guidance, she could further elevate her character and mic skills, establishing herself as a top star on the main roster. She hasn’t been able to find her footing on the main roster since her call-up, although she has seen glimpses of good booking. Perhaps, Heyman advocating for her may do the trick.
Shotzi Blackheart
With her unique look, high-flying style, and charismatic personality, Shotzi Blackheart would be an excellent addition to Paul Heyman’s stable of clients. Heyman could help Blackheart refine her character and mic skills, positioning her as a standout star in WWE’s women’s division. Sadly, Shotzi is out of action with a knee injury which will keep her on the shelf for a majority of 2024, but her return as a Paul Heyman Girl may be just what she needs.
Rhea Ripley
The Nightmare could be a good fit as a Paul Heyman Girl due to her distinct appearance, impressive in-ring skills, and ability on the microphone. Ripley’s unique look and imposing presence make her stand out performer. With Heyman’s guidance, Ripley could further develop her in-ring storytelling and refine her microphone skills, enhancing her ability to connect with the audience and establish herself as a dominant force in the women’s division. She is currently in the Judgment Day, but that stable may open the door to Heyman swooping in eventually.
There are many options for WWE Superstars that would make fine Paul Heyman clients. SEScoops will have continued coverage of WWE, just in case any of these prospective pairings becomes a reality.
Now WWE has released a YouTube video package showcasing the skills and achievements of Breakker down during his NXT days and it starts with a voiceover by current Wiseman of The Bloodline, Paul Heyman.
Heyman hasn’t been shy about his enthusiasm for the talent and limitless ceiling of Breakker and that is clearly on display in the video.
The following SmackDown after the notorious WrestleMania Kickoff, Heyman even interrupted Breakker and Triple H to further hammer home his interest in the son of Rick Steiner.
Paul Heyman keeps crossing paths with Bron Breakker on WWE TV
Breakker’s trajectory to the SmackDown roster did get a bit interesting this past Tuesday as he along with Baron Corbin became the new NXT Tag Team Champions after winning the 2024 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. That aspect won’t slow Breakker’s rise to SmackDown down, however, but their have been discussions at bringing Corbin to the blue brand too due to the duo’s strong chemistry with one another.
Heyman has had a wide range of “Paul Heyman Guys” in his WWE tenure. Including Roman Reigns, Heyman has managed Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, CM Punk, Big Show, Brock Lesnar, Claudio Castagnoli and Curtis Axel.