WWE’s WrestleMania XL unfolded at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with significant moments and records.
Among them was the induction of Paul Heyman into the Hall of Fame, orchestrated by Roman Reigns on Friday’s SmackDown.
Reigns, also known as The Tribal Chief, later lost his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to Cody Rhodes in the WrestleMania main event.
Heyman, serving as The Wiseman of The Bloodline, delivered a charming speech at the ceremony, setting a new record for WWE.
According to WWE’s official X account, Heyman’s Hall of Fame speech garnered a staggering 27 million views across all digital platforms, marking it as the most-watched moment in Hall of Fame history.
Corey Graves, a SmackDown announcer, praised Heyman’s influence on professional wrestling during an exclusive interview.
With over 27 million views across all WWE digital and social platforms, @HeymanHustle’s WWE Hall of Fame speech is the most socially viewed #WWEHOF moment of all time. pic.twitter.com/FibiJ54aWj
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2024
Graves compared Heyman’s impact to that of Dusty Rhodes, emphasizing ECW’s transformative role in the industry, particularly in Philadelphia, where it made its home.
“I would put him as far as influence, up there with the greats. With a Dusty Rhodes, any of these great wrestling minds. And I think it’s really, really special to be in Philadelphia, the city that has meant so much to Paul, depsite being a New Yorker! Philadelphia is where ECW made their home and really changed the industry,”
said Graves.
The bond between Heyman and Reigns was evident as they shared a hug after Reigns’ loss at WrestleMania.
Reigns’ response to losing his title to Cody Rhodes remains uncertain as the aftermath of WrestleMania continues to unfold.
