WWE icon Paul Heyman recently shed light on his decision to decline Hall of Fame induction during his tenure managing Brock Lesnar.
The duo shares a storied history, with Heyman guiding Lesnar to becoming the youngest Undisputed Champion in 2002. After parting ways, they reunited from 2012 to 2020 before Heyman joined Roman Reigns’ Bloodline.
Despite reportedly rejecting Hall of Fame induction for years, WWE recently announced Heyman’s inclusion in the 2024 Hall of Fame.
In a recent interview with TMZ, Heyman disclosed that he declined earlier inductions because he wanted his work with The Bloodline, particularly Roman Reigns, to be part of the Hall of Fame narrative.
Heyman explained,
“Well, I mean, imagine it this way, 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.'”
He also expressed confidence in Reigns’ ongoing dominance as the Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion, citing their commitment to disrupting the industry, a mission initiated in August 2020.
In the same interview, Heyman shared his perspective on the Hall of Fame induction, likening it to a “Rookie of the Year award.” He emphasized his forward-looking approach, stating,
“I never dwell on the past. You know, I’m always looking into the future, which is another reason why I’ve never accepted it before.”
Heyman sees the induction as recognition for his evolving understanding of the industry over 40 years, considering himself a rookie in the sense that he continues to enhance his skills and learn the art of presentation.
As speculations arise about Heyman potentially betraying Reigns to align with The Rock, the future remains uncertain. Fans eagerly await The Wiseman’s next moves and his continued impact on the WWE landscape.
