WWE Superstar Paul Heyman on the Rich Eisen Show
Paul Heyman discusses impending Hall of Fame induction, origins of his career in wrestling, greatness of Roman Reigns, and The Rock's return to wrestling.
The Rich Eisen Show is available on The Roku Channel and today, on March 27, 2024, Rich and his colleague TJ had the honor and privilege of speaking with Mr. Heyman.
Rich Eisen — an excellent host — askes Paul Heyman about his speech plans for his impending induction into the WWE Hall of Fame which will be on April 5th right before WrestleMania 40. Paul announced he’s going to wing it because he doesn’t know what the audience wants to hear. Paul Heyman has an extensive wrestling career since the mid 80s hustling as a photographer for wrestling and Studio 54 to birthing the renowned Extreme Championship Wrestling and fitting in wonderfully with World Wrestling Entertainment. So, Paul Heyman has a lot to choose from, however, Rich helps Paul workshop a little to get a nice starting point.
Paul Heyman talks about his humble beginnings. Being a teenager, he had hustle and drive and the passion to stay behind the scenes during events as the photographer. He captured wonderful moments such as Vince Sr and Andre The Giant in the hallway.
Paul Heyman explains that he purchased a camera and BS his way into being the photographer at wrestling events. Paul explains that the 400 film camera he had was able to have fast photography without a flash. This means that he can snap about 10 pictures in a row without a flash and capture perfect moments in time. As Pual was walking down the hallway he spots Vince McMahon Sr — Vincent James McMahon, the promoter at the time of Madison Square Garden — with Andre The Giant and snaps a wonderful picture. Paul shows it to McMahon Sr next month and McMahon Sr is impressed and started paying Paul $50 for each show.
Then Paul Heyman discusses his time at Studio 54. Studio 54 opened in 1927 in NYC and has hosted the party life ever since.
Rich Eisen cleverly segways into a Roman Reigns conversation. Paul Heyman reveals that upon meeting Roman Reigns at just 3 years old, when Sika brought his son to a show, Paul saw the charisma in Roman. Paul knew Roman was going to be great.
Paul Heyman went into detail about creating, directing, and producing the Roman Reigns documentary that will appear on A&E Biography Legends. This documentary is available to watch on March 31, 2024. Roman Reigns asked for Paul Heyman specifically to tell the story of: Joe Anoa’i and Roman Reigns. This documentary will capture the core of the man as well as the character persona.
Paul Heyman praises The Rock’s move back into the wrestling world of sports and entertainment. The Rock understands what success looks like, smells like, and joining with Roman Reigns and The Bloodline is a merger of multiverses according to Paul Heyman, that include both sports and entertainment for the audience watching at home and at live events. This is a win. Roman Reigns rise to stardom, championship power, and the undeniable tribal chief as The Bloodline with his family since August of 2020 — in which has lifted the wrestling world above the pandemic — has now become a major runaway train of success presented by WWE despite any and all obstacles with loyalty and betrayals within the family.
Rich Eisen then gives the floor to TJ. TJ wonderfully gives Paul Heyman his flowers. TJ asks Paul: how did working with Roman Reigns come together?
Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman talked about working together for many years, but the timing wasn’t right. On August 2020 — Paul Heyman was no longer Brock Lensar’s advocate and no longer executive director of RAW — Roman Reigns agreed to come back to WWE if he’s allowed to play himself. This allowed Roman Reigns to pull Paul Heyman from the ocean of obscurity to the island of relevancy — thus Paul Heyman becoming The Wise Man to The Tribal Chief Roman Reigns.
Please watch the full interview below.