Tag: paul heyman

WWE Raw video highlights: Cody Rhodes-Paul Heyman promo

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Though it’s still nearly two months away, the build to the WrestleMania 39 main event kicked into gear last night.

Cody Rhodes and Paul Heyman shared the ring together on Raw for a stellar promo segment. It touched on the history between Heyman and the Rhodes family ahead of Cody challenging Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania.

Heyman brought up that, while Dusty Rhodes trained and prepped Reigns and the other biggest stars of this generation at the WWE Performance Center — he didn’t train and prep Cody.

“God, Cody, I can’t convey in words how much I loved your father,” Heyman told Cody. “And I can tell you straight to your face — man, did your father love you. I’ll tell you this one personally. In my last conversation with your dad, he told me you, Cody, were his favorite son — but Roman Reigns was the son he always wanted.”

Cody responded by saying that Heyman has made things personal, but it won’t be Heyman who pays for it. Cody is going to make Reigns pay by taking his titles at WrestleMania.

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Edge & Beth Phoenix vs. Finn Balor & Rhea Ripley set for WWE Elimination Chamber

Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Angelo Dawkins vs. Damian Priest

Chelsea Green complains about how she’s been treated

Video package recaps Sami Zayn attacking Roman Reigns on SmackDown

Dexter Lumis vs. Baron Corbin

Brock Lesnar challenges Bobby Lashley for Elimination Chamber

Candice LeRae wants to know why Nikki Cross is following her

Fatal four-way Elimination Chamber qualifying match

JBL is done with Baron Corbin

Alpha Academy vs. Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin

The Miz gets a rematch with Rick Boogs next week

Asuka vs. Chelsea Green

Cody Rhodes-Paul Heyman promo

Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Montez Ford vs. Elias

Steel cage match: Becky Lynch vs. Bayley

Lita returns

Raw fallout: Carmella reacts to winning her return match

Raw fallout: When one Street Profit wins, they all win

Raw fallout: Bronson Reed confronts Mustafa Ali

Raw Talk: Judgment Day, Chelsea Green, Alexander & Benjamin interviews

WWE Raw video highlights: Brock Lesnar returns

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Brock Lesnar returned to Raw last night, appearing on the show for the first time since WrestleMania.

Lesnar was on Raw to continue the build to his Last Man Standing match against Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at SummerSlam. Lesnar compared Reigns to the hogs on his farm, saying that pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered. Lesnar promised that the “Tribal Hog” will get a “country sh*t-kicking” at SummerSlam.

Paul Heyman interrupted Lesnar and claimed that Reigns’ title reign is the one streak that Lesnar won’t be able to conquer. Heyman said he’ll have Reigns ready to put Lesnar down in their Last Man Standing match.

Money in the Bank briefcase holder Theory then also interrupted. Theory said he’s going to cash in after Reigns vs. Lesnar — and all he’ll have to do is put his foot on one of their chests to become the new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

Theory instructed Chad Gable and Otis to ambush Lesnar, but Lesnar was able to fight both of them off, including giving Otis an F5 through the announce table.

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Brock Lesnar returns to Raw

The Judgment Day invite Dominik Mysterio to join them

Rey Mysterio vs. Finn Balor

Becky Lynch demands a Raw Women’s title match at SummerSlam

Bianca Belair vs. Carmella for the Raw Women’s Championship

Mysterious video airs again

Miz TV with Ciampa

AJ Styles & Ezekiel vs. The Miz & Ciampa

Alexa Bliss & Asuka vs. Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H.

R-Truth and Omos get involved in The Usos’ war of words with The Street Profits

The Street Profits & R-Truth vs. The Usos & Omos

A new cryptic video is shown

Bobby Lashley & Riddle vs. Seth Rollins & Theory, Dolph Ziggler appears

Raw fallout: Carmella says she deserves to be Raw Women’s Champion

Raw Talk: Bianca Belair, The Miz & Ciampa, Omos & MVP interviews

WWE’s Paul Heyman talks Cody Rhodes leaving AEW, MJF’s free agency comments

Posted on by Ian Carey

Paul Heyman has commented on Cody Rhodes leaving AEW and MJF openly discussing his free agency in 2024. 

Heyman appeared on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani on Wednesday. He was asked about MJF, who recently appeared on the show last week as well. 

“He’s very good at what he does and he’s very young. He has a big future ahead of him,” Heyman said. 

He was then asked if he thought MJF’s comments about becoming a free agent in 2024 was “bad business.”

“From his perspective, no. In his position, no. Where he’s working right now, no. Where he wants to work in the future, no, it’s not bad business at all. For what he obviously views his trajectory to be, for what he obviously views his future to be, not bad business at all. Pretty smart, I might even say.”

“Right now, he’s in a very enviable spot in an upstart promotion that has tremendous financing and excellent distribution.”

Heyman was also asked if he was “shocked” that Cody Rhodes left AEW. 

“In some aspects, yes, and in some aspects, no,” Heyman responded. 

“He’s one of the founders of the company. A lot of it is his concept, a lot of the initial phase was on him. Cody always had a vision to fill the boots of his father not just in the ring but behind the scenes. The fact that he didn’t have the level of participation in decision-making that he initially probably thought, this is speculation on my end, I never heard this from Cody. But just seeing the manner in which the creative end of that company grew, it doesn’t surprise me that at some point he was going to say, ‘Not what I originally envisioned and I want to see what life is like elsewhere.'”

Paul Heyman reveals he signed long-term deal with WWE in 2021

Posted on by Ian Carey

Paul Heyman said he signed a long-term deal with WWE in 2021.

“It was public knowledge that my contract came up last year and I kept it very close to the vest because I’m not one of these people that A) want to negotiate in public and B) I’m reading an awful lot lately about who signed for how long and for how much and I just never want that to be me,” he said on the Sports Media podcast with Richard Deitsch.

“This much I will say: I re-signed with WWE last year. It was a long-term agreement and they created a situation where I would have been a fool not to take them up on their offer. So, I’m locked in for a while.”

Heyman also revealed that his deal with WWE allows him to work on outside projects as well. 

“I do have outside projects just because I like to multi-task and I’m very ADD and I just can’t concentrate on one thing at a time ever in my life. I have carve-outs to allow me to do other projects, which is also to WWE’s benefit because I’m locked in to WWE as well. So, I’m always going to be ‘Oh, that WWE guy is doing this outside project’ and I would never do anything that would betray my deal with WWE because they went out of their way to make sure that I was here.

“I’m happy, I’m locked in and we are mutually satisfied with each other’s contributions to the coffer,” he said.

Heyman’s first stint with WWE lasted from 2001 until the end of 2006. He returned to the company in 2012 and re-signed with them in 2016 and 2018 as well. 

WWE considering title vs. title stakes for Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns WrestleMania 38 match

Posted on by Josh Nason

With the idea that their WrestleMania 38 clash needs something new, WWE is considering making Brock Lesnar vs. Universal Champion Roman Reigns a title vs. title match.

Dave Meltzer reported the news in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Meltzer said the original plan didn’t have a title vs. title stipulation, but “plans change so frequently.” He said the feeling is that because the two have done the match before, this encounter would need something extra added to it.

That would increase the importance of this month’s Elimination Chamber as Lesnar would need to win the WWE title currently held by Bobby Lashley in the Chamber match both men are part of.

“At this point, the feeling on creative is that Vince (McMahon) will make the call to go with title vs. title, hence putting Lesnar over in the Chamber. There were those internally, including Heyman and Lesnar, pushing for it. The only thing we were told is that of press time, the course to WrestleMania is once again set regarding both titles and there are a number of twists and turns to come,” he wrote, later noting that any planned WWE title match would then be off as a result.

“The idea is also to book Reigns and Lesnar as strong as possible with the idea that the Mania match is the two top stars who are well above everyone else and that the Mania main event is a dream match,” he wrote.

Meltzer also said the original plan wasn’t to split Paul Heyman and Lesnar, but that with the Reigns/Heyman dynamic being so strong and Lesnar not back full-time, it was inevitable.

The original plans for their reunion changed due to Reigns getting COVID-19 and needing to pull off the Day One premium live event.

Paul Heyman to address Brock Lesnar betrayal on WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

On SmackDown this Friday night, Paul Heyman will address why he betrayed Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble.

Heyman posted a tweet today stating that he will “reveal all” about the Lesnar situation on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown. The tweet was in response to WWE questioning if Heyman betraying Lesnar is what Roman Reigns had planned all along.

Heyman wrote: “Is it really in anyone’s best interest to post conspiracy theories like this, instead of merely enjoying the anticipation until I reveal all on tomorrow night’s @WWE #Smackdown LIVE on @FOXTV? @WWE @WWERomanReigns @WWEUsos @BrockLesnar”

Involvement by Reigns and Heyman led to Lesnar losing the WWE Championship to Bobby Lashley at the Royal Rumble last Saturday. When there was a referee bump during the match, Reigns ran in and speared Lesnar. Heyman then betrayed Lesnar by giving Reigns the WWE Championship belt to use as a weapon. Heyman left with Reigns after Reigns hit Lesnar with the title belt.

After losing the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble, Lesnar won the men’s Royal Rumble match later in the night. It’s been made official that Lesnar will challenge Reigns for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 38 this April.

Lesnar will also be one of Lashley’s challengers in the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship at this month’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. The story is that Lesnar wants it to be title vs. title when he faces Reigns at WrestleMania.

Friday’s SmackDown is taking place at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. WWE has announced that women’s Royal Rumble winner Ronda Rousey will reveal which title she’s going to challenge for at WrestleMania 38 on the episode.

Bobby Lashley defeats Brock Lesnar for WWE title at Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Bobby Lashley is the new WWE Champion.

At the Royal Rumble tonight, Lashley pinned Brock Lesnar to win the WWE Championship. The finish of the match involved interference by Universal Champion Roman Reigns — with an assist from Paul Heyman.

There was a spot during the Lesnar vs. Lashley match where Lesnar went to give Lashley an F-5 but threw him into the referee. With the referee down, Reigns rushed into the ring and speared Lesnar. Reigns asked Heyman to give him the WWE Championship belt, and Heyman betrayed Lesnar by handing it over. Reigns then laid out Lesnar with a belt shot. Lashley capitalized on that by pinning Lesnar to get the win.

Heyman left with Reigns after Reigns hit Lesnar with the title belt.

Reigns and Heyman had been split up since an angle where Reigns fired Heyman as his special counsel in December.

Earlier tonight, Reigns put his Universal Championship on the line against Seth Rollins. The match ended with Rollins winning by disqualification but Reigns retaining the Universal title. Reigns refused to let go of a guillotine when Rollins reached the ropes. Reigns then attacked Rollins with a chair after the match.

A match between Reigns and Lesnar is in the plans for WrestleMania 38 this April.

Lashley is now a two-time WWE Champion. His previous reign with the title lasted from March to September of last year.

Roman Reigns medically cleared to return to WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After a positive COVID-19 test forced him to be pulled from Day 1, Roman Reigns is returning to WWE television.

WWE announced on Thursday that Reigns has been medically cleared to return and will be appearing on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown. Brock Lesnar is also appearing on the show and is set for a face-to-face confrontation with Reigns.

Reigns was scheduled to defend his Universal Championship against Lesnar at Day 1 last Saturday, but the match couldn’t happen due to Reigns testing positive for COVID-19. Lesnar was instead added to the WWE Championship match at the pay-per-view. He defeated Big E, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and Bobby Lashley in a fatal five-way match to win the title.

On Raw this Monday, a WWE Championship match between Lesnar and Lashley was made official for the Royal Rumble. Lashley earned the title shot by defeating Big E, Rollins, and Owens in a fatal four-way match.

Lesnar was interviewed backstage after Lashley’s win. But instead of acknowledging Lashley, Lesnar just said that he’ll see Reigns on SmackDown this Friday.

Lesnar and Paul Heyman also reunited on Monday’s Raw.

This week’s SmackDown is taking place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Paul Heyman reunites with Brock Lesnar on WWE Raw

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: WWE

Following Brock Lesnar’s WWE Championship win, he’s officially reunited with his advocate Paul Heyman.

Heyman introduced Lesnar to kick off Monday night’s Day 1 fallout episode of Raw. Lesnar credited Heyman for pulling the strings to get him added to the WWE Championship match at last Saturday’s pay-per-view. Lesnar also gave Heyman credit for his “free agent” status in WWE that allowed him to take part in the WWE title match.

The main event of Day 1 was originally supposed to be Reigns defending his Universal Championship against Lesnar, but Reigns was pulled from the show due to testing positive for COVID-19. Lesnar instead defeated Big E, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, and Bobby Lashley in a fatal five-way match to win the WWE Championship.

A fatal four-way match between Big E, Rollins, Owens, and Lashley on tonight’s Raw will determine Lesnar’s challenger for the Royal Rumble. 

Lesnar started his promo on tonight’s Raw by sarcastically giving a shout out to Reigns. Lesnar called himself the real champion in WWE. He also mocked Reigns by telling the crowd to “acknowledge me.”

While speaking about Big E, Rollins, Owens, and Lashley ahead of their four-way match, Heyman also took a shot at Reigns by saying that — after only one week without Heyman as his special counsel — Reigns already has COVID.

In the main event angle on SmackDown three weeks ago, Reigns fired Heyman as his special counsel after questioning Heyman’s loyalty. Reigns then attacked Heyman and went to give him a con-chair-to, but Lesnar made the save and laid Reigns out.

WWE SmackDown video highlights: Paul Heyman speaks

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: WWE

On the Christmas Eve edition of SmackDown, Paul Heyman spoke for the first time since being fired and attacked by Roman Reigns.

A sit-down interview with Kayla Braxton and Heyman aired on last night’s show. A disheveled Heyman said he told Reigns the truth last week when he said he was protecting Reigns from Brock Lesnar. Heyman said his role as Reigns’ special counsel was to protect Reigns as a personality, an intellectual property, and as a champion. Heyman said Reigns is the greatest Universal Champion of all time — but he needs to be protected from Lesnar.

When asked what’s next for him, Heyman said he put every bit of his heart, soul, and spirit into serving as Reigns’ special counsel. Heyman said he did that because he believes in Reigns. And without that, it may be time for Heyman to acknowledge that his career is most likely over.

Reigns will defend his Universal Championship against Lesnar at WWE Day 1 on Saturday, January 1.

Also on last night’s show, Drew McIntyre & The New Day faced Madcap Moss & The Usos in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight, Charlotte Flair put her SmackDown Women’s Championship on the line against Toni Storm, and a 12 Days of Christmas gauntlet match decided the next challenger for Shinsuke Nakamura’s Intercontinental title.

More coverage from last night —

WWE SmackDown video highlights —

Paul Heyman addresses being fired and attacked by Roman Reigns

Charlotte Flair vs. Toni Storm for the SmackDown Women’s Championship

12 Days of Christmas gauntlet (part one)

12 Days of Christmas gauntlet (part two)

12 Days of Christmas gauntlet (part three)

12 Days of Christmas gauntlet (part four)

12 Days of Christmas gauntlet (part five)

12 Days of Christmas gauntlet (part six)

12 Days of Christmas gauntlet (part seven)

A video package looks at Paul Heyman’s career

Miracle on 34th Street Fight: Drew McIntyre & The New Day vs. Madcap Moss & The Usos

SmackDown fallout: Drew McIntyre & The New Day reflect on their win

SmackDown fallout: Ricochet is ready to be great

Paul Heyman promo segment added to WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

On this Friday’s Christmas Eve episode of SmackDown, Paul Heyman will speak for the first time since being fired and attacked by Roman Reigns.

“Last Friday, Universal Champion Roman Reigns absolutely floored the WWE Universe (and Paul Heyman) when he hugged his Special Council and thanked him for 40 years of service to his family before viciously firing him with a Superman Punch out of nowhere,” WWE wrote.

“Now, quite literally a man without an Island (of Relevancy), Heyman will speak for the first time since being let go with extreme prejudice. Find out what the former Special Council has to say this Friday at 8/7 C on FOX.”

The main event angle of last week’s SmackDown saw Reigns question whether Heyman was loyal to him or loyal to Brock Lesnar. When Reigns asked why Heyman was protecting Lesnar from him, Heyman told Reigns that he wasn’t protecting Lesnar from Reigns — he was protecting Reigns from Lesnar.

Reigns then fired Heyman and gave him a Superman punch. He was going to give Heyman a con-chair-to, but Lesnar came out to make the save. Lesnar laid out The Usos and gave Reigns two F-5s.

Reigns will defend his Universal Championship against Lesnar at WWE’s Day 1 pay-per-view on Saturday, January 1.

This Friday’s SmackDown was taped at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois last week. Heyman’s promo appears to be a backstage segment. Charlotte Flair will defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Toni Storm on the episode, and there will be a “12 Days of Christmas” gauntlet match to determine the next challenger for Shinsuke Nakamura’s Intercontinental title.

Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Sheamus, Ricochet, Angel, Humberto, Jinder Mahal, Shanky, Erik, Ivar, Mansoor, and Drew Gulak will be the participants in the gauntlet match.

WWE SmackDown video highlights: Roman Reigns fires Paul Heyman

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: WWE

Paul Heyman is no longer Roman Reigns’ special counsel after getting fired on last night’s SmackDown.

Following his one-week sabbatical from the show, Reigns returned last night and was looking for answers from Heyman. Reigns wanted to know if he could trust Heyman. He asked if Heyman knew Brock Lesnar was going to return at SummerSlam, if he knew Lesnar was going to be at Madison Square Garden, and if he knew Lesnar’s suspension was going to be lifted.

The most important question Reigns had was whether Heyman is a special counsel or an advocate.

Reigns wanted to know why Heyman was protecting Lesnar from him. Heyman responded that he wasn’t protecting Lesnar from Reigns — he was protecting Reigns from Lesnar.

After Heyman’s answer, Reigns fired Heyman and laid him out with a Superman punch. Reigns got two steel chairs and was going to give Heyman a con-chair-to, but Lesnar’s music hit and he came out to make the save. Lesnar took out The Usos before making his way to Reigns.

Reigns hit Lesnar with a chair, but Lesnar grabbed Reigns and dropped him with an F5. Lesnar then gave Reigns another F5 before the show went off the air.

Reigns will defend his Universal Championship against Lesnar at WWE’s Day 1 pay-per-view on Saturday, January 1.

More coverage from last night —

WWE SmackDown video highlights —

A video package recaps Brock Lesnar’s appearance on last week’s SmackDown

Toni Storm & Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair & Shotzi

The New Day issue a challenge to The Usos

The Viking Raiders vs. Jinder Mahal & Shanky

Drew McIntyre recovers his stolen sword from Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss

Cesaro vs. Ridge Holland

Naomi vs. Shayna Baszler

The Usos vs. The New Day

Roman Reigns fires Paul Heyman

Brock Lesnar lays out Roman Reigns and The Usos

SmackDown fallout: Cesaro reacts to his loss

SmackDown fallout: The raid is here

Roman Reigns fires, attacks Paul Heyman on WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The Wise Man has once again become The Advocate following a show-closing angle on WWE SmackDown.

Roman Reigns fired Paul Heyman as his special counsel on tonight’s WWE SmackDown, then attacked Heyman with a Superman punch after Heyman stated that he was protecting Reigns from Brock Lesnar. 

As Reigns, Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso prepared to attack Heyman with a steel chair, Brock Lesnar entered to make the save. He hit F-5’s to both Usos on the floor, then left Reigns laying after an F-5 in the ring. Lesnar will challenge Reigns for the Universal Championship at the WWE Day 1 pay-per-view on January 1. 

Reigns’s arrival was teased throughout the evening on SmackDown. Heyman greeted who he thought was Reigns stepping out of a vehicle early in the show, but it turned out to be Lesnar. Reigns finally arrived and ordered Heyman and the Usos to the ring. 

Reigns asked Heyman if he could trust him, then instructed Heyman to answer with honesty as he asked him why he was protecting Lesnar from Reigns. Heyman stated that he was not protecting Lesnar from Reigns, but protecting Reigns from Lesnar. 

Reigns hugged Heyman, told him that he loved him, thanked him for 40 years of service to his family, then told Heyman “You’re fired.”

The SmackDown angle continues a months-long storyline involving Reigns, Lesnar and Heyman. Since returning to WWE programming at SummerSlam in August, Lesnar has been claiming that Heyman was still working as his advocate. Lesnar challenged Reigns for the Universal Championship at Crown Jewel in October. Heyman slid the title belt into the ring during that match, but it was not clear whether he intended to slide the belt to Reigns or Lesnar. 

Roman Reigns set to return on next week’s WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Roman Reigns is set to return to SmackDown next week.

Reigns will be at next week’s SmackDown, which will take place at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. Reigns was not on tonight’s show, and instead the show focused on Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman.

Sami Zayn opened tonight’s show in a wheelchair as a result of an attack last week by Lesnar and wanted a rematch against Reigns for the Universal title. Heyman came out, but was interrupted by Brock Lesnar, who tried to make friends with Zayn. Heyman interrupted and riled Lesnar up enough that he ended up laying out Zayn and two male nurses that helped him to the ring.

Lesnar was then interviewed and mentioned that Heyman was still his advocate. Later in the show, Kayla Braxton asked Heyman if it was true and what would Reigns think. An exasperated Heyman did not give an answer and walked away.

Reigns will defend the Universal title against Brock Lesnar at Day 1, which takes place January 1st in Atlanta, Georgia.