-Paul Heyman was spotted leaving the arena in Philadelphia on Sunday night after turning on CM Punk in the WWE “All-Stars” Money In The Bank ladder match. WWE.com attempted to speak with Heyman as he exited the building, but Heyman kept walking. Finally, Heyman turned around and yelled,
“Stay out of my personal life!”
-WWE caught up with Cody Rhodes following his crushing loss in the World Heavyweight Championship Money In The Bank ladder match on Sunday night. Rhodes didn’t have a response to Damien Sandow for turning on him and costing him the match.
Immediately after that, WWE cameras caught up with Damien Sandow. Sandow was proudly walking around with the briefcase. He noted that they have been saying, “may the best man win” and on Sunday, the best man won.
-Rosa Mendes recently noted on Twitter that WWE ring announcer Tony Chimel has lost 58 pounds — his original goal. Chimel used Rosa’s “Musclemania” program to shed the excess weight.
– In this week’s edition of Backstage Fallout for SmackDown, CM Punk consoles Paul Heyman after getting clocked by World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio and the Usos continue their hot streak, remaining focused on The Shield and the WWE Tag Team Championship.
– On August 27, WWE will release Best of WWE at Madison Square Garden on DVD and Blu-ray as the organization’s greatest moments at the famous New York City-based venue are highlights. WrestlingDVDNews.com has revealed that the following matches and segments will be featured in the video release.
Andre the Giant & “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper & “Cowboy” Bob Orton
10th August, 1985
Stone Cold Stuns The Boss
Raw – 22nd September, 1997
1st Ever Tag Team Tables Match
The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz
Royal Rumble – 23rd January, 2000
Booker T Attacks Mr. McMahon
Raw – 25th June, 2001
Match for the Undisputed Heavyweight Wrestling Championship
WWE Champion, Bob Backlund vs. NWA Champion, Harley Race
22nd September, 1980
Intercontinental Championship Match
Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase
29th December, 1991
Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship
Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon
WrestleMania X – 20th March, 1994
#1 Contender Triple Threat Match
Triple H vs. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Jericho
Raw – 7th August, 2000
John Cena Returns in the Royal Rumble Match
Royal Rumble – 27th January, 2008
Here are some highlights from WWE.com’s backstage interviews from Sunday night after WWE Payback:
– WWE doctor Michael Sampson commented on Dolph Ziggler’s condition, noting that Ziggler was checked out after his match and will continue to be monitored for post-concussion symptoms. According to WWE storylines, Ziggler’s in-ring status is up int he air until they get more results from Ziggler’s latest round of testing.
– Kane commented on his count-out loss to Dean Ambrose, promising that Dean Ambrose won’t escape him again.
– Paul Heyman said new Intercontinental champion Curtis Axel had the “perfect” victory at Payback and now has a bunch of “offers” coming in.
The Shield also gave WWE a hand-held video they shot backstage, mocking their opponents and declaring that The Shield dominated yet another pay-per-view event. Ambrose called WWE Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns “the best tag team walking today” and said that The Shield are the leaders of a”new generation” in WWE.
– WWE superstar Fandango recently spoke to WWE.com about being pulled from his Intercontinental title match at Sunday’s Payback PPV due to his concussion:
“If I’m not in the match, I don’t care about the match at all. If I had to make a prediction, I’d say Barrett hangs on to it. I don’t think Curtis Axel is even close to the caliber of a Superstar like Fandango. Barrett is obviously a tough bare-knuckle fighter, and Curtis Axel is a brawler himself. Miz, however, is a pretty-boy Hollywood star. I hope Barrett and Axel put a few scars on that face of his.”
– 3MB member Drew McIntyre has been teasing that his “Chosen One” gimmick could be returning soon. He tweeted this week:
During a recent interview with DigitalSpy.com to promote Sunday’s WWE Payback pay-per-view, WWE TV personality Paul Heyman commented on Dixie Carter recently tweeting that she’d like to do a TNA vs. WWE pay-per-view event. Heyman understands where she’s coming from, but thinks WWE would be crazy to work with TNA.
“I’m sure that Dixie Carter would love to do a WWE versus TNA PPV. Why wouldn’t she? A friend of mine who has way too much time on his hands just started a new beverage company here in the United States… He would like to do a global promotion with Coca-Cola. I don’t suggest that Coca-Cola would be profitable having to do a global co-promotion with Shmuley’s Soda Company. In the same way it would make no sense for WWE with 95% global share to do an event with TNA with its 5% global market share!”
Paul Heyman Talks About His Relationship With Vince McMahon
Heyman also responded to whether CM Punk is the best wrestler he’s ever worked with:
“Well, that’s a very interesting question. CM Punk is the best in the world and he is the longest-reigning WWE Champion of the past 25 years. His goals are to be recognized as the best in the world, so on that basis, yes. Brock Lesnar has different goals from CM Punk, and Brock Lesnar achieves his goals with me, together, as a unit.”
“So I could not honestly state that CM Punk’s success is any greater than Brock Lesnar’s success. Nor could I state that Brock Lesnar’s success supersedes CM Punk’s. These are individuals with dramatically different goals and they both achieve them.”
As for which WWE superstars should headline WrestleMania XXX in April 2014, Heyman says he’s got the perfect special attraction match in mind:
“I have a very standard answer for that because it’s the most genuine answer I can give someone. I think the main event for WrestleMania 30 should be a battle for the WWE Championship against the World Heavyweight Championship, to unify the titles.
And that match should feature Brock Lesnar versus CM Punk, with Paul Heyman advising both men and therefore getting a percentage of the profits of both sides of the main event at WrestleMania.”
– Triple H will be in action tonight on Raw as the official WWE website has announced that he will face Curtis Axel. Also tonight, Randy Orton partners with Team Hell No to battle The Shield for the first time ever in a Six-Man Tag Team Match.
– The latest edition of WWE en Espanol is now online.
– The official WWE website has a poll asking fans how Curtis Axel will peak under Paul Heyman’s guidance; World Champion (39%), Intercontinental Champion or U.S. Champion (30%), Topflight competitor, but he won’t win a singles title (31%).
After a brief hiatus away from WWE television, it was announced on Monday’s RAW that CM Punk will be returning to action next month – sooner than expected.
During his Highlight Reel segment on Monday’s RAW where he was interviewing Paul Heyman, Chris Jericho challenged Heyman’s client CM Punk to a match at next month’s WWE Payback pay-per-view. Heyman accepted on Punk’s behalf.
WWE Payback takes place on Sunday, June 16th from the Allstate Arena near Punk’s hometown of Chicago, Illinois.
On Monday’s RAW, Paul Heyman introduced his newest client to be Curtis Axel (Joe Hennig). Here are some reactions from various WWE personalities regarding Axel’s debut:
Proud & excited for the debut of #CurtisAxel! He’s been waitin for this his whole life. Somewhere Mr Perfect is smiling his mischievous grin
– After visiting Dr. James Andrews earlier today, injured WWE superstar Rey Mysterio tweeted the following update on his condition and says he still plans to be back in action this summer:
Great news today with Doc Andrews! Revisit on the 19th of June for a minor procedure and still trying to b back in the ring by late August!
Here are some more WWE tweets regarding the new “Paul Heyman Guy” who will be revealed on tonight’s WWE RAW:
Michael Cole: “Rumors flying backstage at #RAW that @HeymanHustle is about to add client number 3! Who will it be. Heyman is here!”
Justin Roberts: “Walked out of locker room…We’re all wondering if @HeymanHustle will be adding a 3rd client to his already dangerous alliance 2night? #RAW”
Joey Styles: “Could @HeymanHustle’s new client be an announcer? Paul’s @WWE politically incorrect truth should be heard throughout #RAW. #ImAPaulHeymanGuy”
– As noted earlier, Paul Heyman is teasing that he will be debuting a new client tonight on RAW. For what it’s worth, Tampa-based radio host Cowhead (on 102.5 The Bone) stated today that they heard Rob Van Dam will be the new “Paul Heyman Guy.”
– Here are some tweets from WWE and WWE personalities about a possible new member of Paul Heyman’s group on tonight’s RAW:
WWE: “Will @HeymanHustle unveil a third #PaulHeymanGuy tonight at #RAW? Rumors running rampant.”
Joey Styles: “@BrockLesnar … @CM Punk … Who Is The New Paul Heyman Guy? @WWE #RAW”
Michael Cole: “Rumors flying backstage at #RAW that @HeymanHustle is about to add client number 3! Who will it be. Heyman is here!”
Brooklyn Brawler: “#BackstageScoop Huge buzz backstage as to the new @HeymanHustle Guy @WWE #RAW”
Josh Mathews: “Rumors swirling at #raw that @HeymanHustle plans on unveiling a new client tonight?!? No one will talk to me b/c @Matt_Striker_ is lurking”
[heyman2extreme]Paul Heyman is teasing some “#BreakingNews” for tonight’s WWE RAW. Heyman tweeted the following on Monday afternoon:
“#BreakingNews … @WWE #RAW A New #PaulHeymanGuy? @BrockLesnar @CMPunk”
Heyman linked to an article on his HeymanHustle.com site, which states:
“It appears as though WWE needs to brace itself. Following Brock Lesnar’s epic victory over Triple H at Extreme Rules, our very own Hustler De Tuti Hustlers Paul Heyman is set to make history … AGAIN!”
“WWE is about to get a little more EXTREME! Our boss, the Hustler De Tuti Huslters Paul Heyman is keeping quiet on this for the moment, but it appears as though we’re about to be introduced to Brock Lesnar and CM Punk’s new stablemate!”
– Ring of Honor star Mike Bennett is said to be on WWE’s radar, however people in ROH don’t expect him to leave any time soon. There is also renewed speculation that WWE is interested in Mark and Jay Briscoe.
– To promote the limited theatrical release of the WWE Studios horror movie No One Lives, Brodus Clay will be hosting a Q&A this Friday night after a 7pm screening of the movie at the AMC Veterans 24 theater in Tampa, Florida. No One lives is being shown in 23 states.
– This week’s WWE Five-Star Match of the Week was chosen by Paul Heyman and he picked The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar from SummerSlam 2002. Heyman told WWE.com:
“First of all, I disagree with the designation that it’s The Rock vs. Brock. It is Brock Lesnar vs. The Rock. Brock deserves top billing. And he deserves top billing because he won the match. [Brock] did not win the match with outside interference. In fact, The Rock hit me with a Rock Bottom through a table. I was not an equation. Brock Lesnar defeated The Rock cleanly to become the Undisputed WWE Champion, and in doing so, he put his boot on the neck of The Attitude Era and anointed himself the new reigning monarch of the WWE Universe.”
– In response to Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar making a surprise appearance at WWE Headquarters earlier today (and Lesnar destroying Triple H’s office) – Stephane McMahon tweeted the following on Monday afternoon:
[heyman2extreme]Paul Heyman & Brock Lesnar made a “surprise” appearance at WWE Headquarters this morning – and destroyed the office of Triple H.
WWE.com has a storyline-driven article up featuring comments from WWE employees talking about Heyman & Lesnar’s apperance. “Superstars are here pretty regularly, but this was something different,” said one employee. “You could tell they were here on a mission.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it here,” another employee said. “This isn’t supposed to happen in an office.”
Heyman tweeted that footage of the incident will be shown tonight on Monday Night RAW.
Paul Heyman has been teasing that his client Brock Lesnar is in a “Breaking News” sort of mood today and won’t be waiting for RAW to get people talking. Heyman then tweeted:
… about to give my client @BrockLesnar a guided tour … of @WWE World HQ in Stamford, CT!
WWE.com has confirmed that Lesnar and Heyman did in fact show up “unannounced” at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut this morning.
WWE’s storyline-driven article is questioning what their “tour” of WWE HQ will entail – and whether it has anything to do with Brock’s upcoming Steel Cage match against Triple H at Extreme Rules.
– Paul Heyman continues to tease big news for today. After teasing something “extreme” for RAW – Heyman now says his client Brock Lesnar is in the mood to break some news and won’t be waiting for RAW:
– During last week’s investor conference call, WWE officials stated that the Legends House reality show is behind held back until the eventual launch of the WWE Network. However, PWInsider.com reports that there are people within WWE pushing for Legends House to be aired on an NBC Universal affiliate station, much like the Total Divas reality show.
The general feeling is that a launch date for the WWE Network is still very up in the air – and WWE does not want the show to be too “dated” by the time is actually sees the light of day. Legends House was filmed in early 2012 and features Gene Okerlund, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Hillbilly Jim, Howard Finkel, Jimmy Hart, Roddy Piper, Pat Patterson and Tony Atlas.
Paul Heyman was recently interviewed by Brian Soscia. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
What He Would Do Differently If He Ran WWE:
“I’d fire the McMahons immediately.”
His First Reaction To Seeing CM Punk:
“How could you look at CM Punk and not think that he has the it factor? I don’t think I’m any great visionary or genius because I saw something in CM Punk, I think everyone else is a stupid schmuck for not seeing it in CM Punk. They’re blind. I mean truly, in the land of the blind the one eyed man is king and if you can’t spot that CM Punk is magic from the moment he walks in the door then you’re reading a playbook from an antiquated writer.”
What Drew Him Into Wrestling:
“The very next week [following the Apollo and Martinez vs. Love Brothers match] they were replaced on television by Vince McMahon’s father’s television show and I saw Superstar Billy Graham do one interview and I was blown away by it. I realized that that man does not work for a living. I said I don’t want to work for a living either. I want to talk s*** on TV like Superstar Billy Graham. That’s what I get to do for a living now.”
His Greatest Creation in ECW:
“The ECW audience itself. The audience was the biggest star. We played to them and for a reason. They were the greatest performers we had. I mean, who else would have thought about actually chanting the name of the promotion? We didn’t come up with that. They did. Who else thought of then screaming out the name of the company and literally fighting our battles for us? We didn’t ask them to do it. They volunteered to. We didn’t get on pay per view on our own merits. We got on pay per view because the audience got us on. The greatest creation of ECW was the ECW audience.”
New York City DJ Peter Rosenberg (@RosenbergRadio) from Hot 97 scored an exclusive interview with the one and only Paul Heyman this week. Among the topics discussed include:
– Doing the best and most-rewarding work of his career right now in WWE.
– Being part of 2 top matches at WrestleMania after watching the show from home last year.
– How he and Brock Lesnar became such close friends.
– Brock Lesnar battling diverticulitis for many years and only being able to use 60% of his body’s potential at his physical peak due to the disease.
– The differences between Brock Lesnar & CM Punk.
– Managers who were great bumpers.
– Remembering the late Sherri Martel.
It’s another phenomenal interview from Mr. Roseberg – enjoy!
– Paul Heyman’s Heyman Hustle website has posted exclusive pictures of Paul Heyman and CM Punk from Monday’s RAW, with Heyman dressed up as Paul Bearer.
– Paul Heyman announced on Twitter that the WrestleMania Store at the MetLife Stadium will be selling a Limited Edition EXTREME Style “Paul Heyman Guy” T-Shirt. Here’s a picture of the shirt:
– As part of Make-A-Wish’s “World Wish Day” on April 29th, John Cena is starting a campaign to raise money and airline miles for the foundation. Cena has vowed to match every frequent flier mile donated up to 4.5 million miles. For more on this story, click here.
– Brock Lesnar has joined Twitter and can be followed at @brocklesnar.
– LoHud.com has an interview with Paul Heyman, who talks about wrestling’s popularity over the years, how he got into the business and of course, WrestleMania 29.
– WWEDVDNews.com reports that the following people were interviewed for the Mick Foley DVD, which will be released next month: Mick’s trainer Dominic Denucci, Shane Douglas, Michael Hayes, CM Punk, Vader, Terry Funk, Paul Heyman, Jim Ross, Joey Styles, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, William Regal, Big Show, ReganBooks founder Judith Regan, The Miz, The Rock, Mick Foley’s daughter and more.
The following screenshot is a Facebook a post from Michael Moody, son of Paul Bearer. The post has circulated the internet since last night’s segment featuring Paul Heyman’s impersonation of Paul Bearer on Monday Night Raw.
Paul Heyman recently spoke with Phil Strum of the Poughkeepsie Journal to hype Sunday’s WWE WrestleMania 29 pay-per-view. Here are some highlights of what Heyman said about:
How He Feels About His Current WWE Run:
“It’s been a total career highlight. I never thought I was going to come back and to come back and get to be a part of two of the three main events of WrestleMania, in my hometown, with my two best friends? It’s circumstances I never thought and I couldn’t have imagined.”
Bringing A New Dimension To CM Punk & Brock Lesnar:
“It’s really easy with Brock Lesnar. All I have to do is sing the praises of the most gifted athlete that’s ever walked into a WWE ring. He’s a former NCAA heavyweight champion, a former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion and a former undisputed WWE heavyweight champion. He’s legitimate and these are his credentials, so how hard is that? He’s a beast. He’s the most physical. And CM Punk, he’s the best. Heh, I’ve got the beast and I’ve got the best. CM Punk is the most passionate, most driven superstar of this generation. Every time I am in the ring with him, listening to him or stepping back and watching him, I am a huge admirer of his extraordinary talent. It doesn’t take much to be his advocate and his confidant. What you see on TV is the true dynamic between us. Especially, when I’m off in the corner, plotting, conspiring.
The Most Appealing Thing About Today’s WWE Product:
“I’d say the global scale of it all. And the push to new screens that are still developing. People will say, ‘oh man, how exciting would have been to be around in the 1950s when television was expanding’ or ‘oh man, it would have been great to be watching in the 1980s when pay-per-view and cable television truly exploded.
Now, we have new platforms. We have new media, social media, the internet and all of these platforms are new screens to play on. We’re in the midst of a revolution and a lot of it could even be different a year from now. No viewing habit will ever be the same. WWE, to their massive credit, has an initiative to beat everybody else onto those screens and be a leader and a flagship in terms of content.
I own a viral marketing agency called Looking 4 Larry and that’s the type of stuff we keep a close eye on. It’s fun to see how WWE is so far ahead of the NBA, the NFL, Major League Baseball and the NHL and to see how those big sports are playing second fiddle because WWE is so far ahead of them as they push to be on new screens.
