Paul Heyman: 2024 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee
Growing up as a pro wrestling fan, I have many fond memories of what I watched as a kid. My earliest memories of Paul Heyman were watching WCW and seeing him manager the Dangerous Alliance, which consisted of Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, and Larry Zbyszko. Paul E. Dangerously always seemed so cool and slick with his suits and a bulky cellphone that no one else even had at the time. Heyman disappeared from WCW and I didn’t see him again until he showed in WWF Monday Night Raw in early 1997 with a group of renegade wrestlers known as ECW. Unfortunately, cable wasn’t like it is now and I never saw ECW, but Paul was helping making careers and making a name for himself as a promoter and innovator in the wrestling business.
As I got older, I began to watch ECW from the beginning until it closed its doors in 2001. He helped launched the careers of so many stars like Tommy Dreamer, Tazz, Rob Van Dam, The Dudley Boys and Raven. He helped guys like Chris Jericho, Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero, and Konnan get exposure in front of the American audiences. We also can’t forget how he brought in Mick Foley and Steve Austin in between their stints in WCW to WWE. Let’s not forgot, he gave legends a chance to shine when everyone else wrote specific legends off like Terry Funk and Dusty Rhodes.
Paul grew up loving this business. When I watched the documentary that WWE did on him in 2014, I learned a lot about Paul that I didn’t know. He grew up loving professional wrestling and started taking photos at thirteen years old and struck up a relationship with The Grand Wizard, Freddie Blassie and Lou Albano. Shortly thereafter, he made his to WCW, which was under the National Wrestling Alliance at the time. Besides managing the Dangerous Alliance, he also managed the original Midnight Express and Mark Callous (The Undertaker). He was also a fixture in the commentary booth during his time in WCW and was paired Jim Ross, which wasn’t the last time they would be paired together.
After ECW shutdown in 2001, Heyman made his way to WWE and initially started out at the broadcast table with Jim Ross. He became a pivotal part of the Invasion storyline with ECW and WCW. Once that story ended, he became a writer for Smackdown. In 2002, Smackdown was an amazing show because Heyman was pushing guys like Guerrero, Jericho, Edge, Mysterio, Cena, and Angle. He utilized veterans like Hogan and The Undertaker that helped get the younger talent to the next level. He also served as on-screen General Manager and played a role in developing talent down in OVW. I believe it was CM Punk who called himself a “Paul Heyman Guy,” which became a term of endearment for those who Heyman believed in and fought for.
Heyman departed WWE in 2006 and did not return until 2012, where he’s been a fixture on television since his return. He’s managed CM Punk, Cesaro, Curtis Axel, and was eventually paired with Roman Reigns in 2020. Heyman has been an integral part of The Bloodline story. He has been a manger, an advocate, and he’s now known as the wiseman. No matter where Paul has been, who he has been involved with, or what situation he’s in, there has always been common theme with Heyman. He makes everyone and everything he talks about believable and convincing. He very well could be one the greatest storytellers ever on the microphone.
The pro wrestling world go on and on about Heyman’s accomplishments and contributions to the business he grew up loving. He learned from some of the best in the business and he taught those went on to be some of the best in the business. He has transcended the business and has bridged the gap between multiple generations. Congratulations to Paul Heyman on being named to the WWE Hall of Fame, class of 2024.
