Paul Heyman’s work as The Wiseman has been one of the best in his WWE career, which says a lot. He’s made an impact in every company he’s been in – including ECW and WCW – and created milestones in WWE. Whether cutting some of the best promos in WWE history or defending future Hall of Famers like Brock Lesnar and CM Punk, Paul E. Dangerously has been consistent.
Most recently, he played a key role in The Bloodline, the longest running storyline in WWE and wrestling in general. His role in the stable is so important that his absence from television as the story continues speaks as much as he would if he were broadcasting his boisterous voice over the microphone. The most recent development saw Roman Reigns finally call his special counsel for help on the latest SmackDown, only to discover the number was disconnected.
Social media is abuzz with theories about what this could mean in the long term as WWE gets closer to Survivor Series, but more than anything, talk to like something unmissable involving Paul Heyman was since joining the bloodline.
10
Paul Heyman recruits Roman reigns
WWE Friday Night SmackDown August 28, 2020
SmackDown’s Homecoming episode before Payback took place shortly after Roman Reigns’ return to WWE television. General manager Adam Pearce presented the Big Dog with a contract to be included in the pay-per-view main event for the Universal Championship, but he was hesitant to sign it without his special counsel present. The camera pans to the side to reveal the lawyer is none other than Paul Heyman.
This is still the most shocking moment of WWE’s Thunderdome Era during the Pandemic. In retrospect, however, it is the most important for the history of the Lineage, because if Heyman never joins Roman, the building blocks cannot be created to form the bloodline. Additionally, it solidifies Roman’s heel turn that had been brewing since his return.
9
Paul Heyman Foreshadows the Future by Promoting Solo Sikoa
WWE Friday Night SmackDown April 14, 2023
Backstage, moments before Solo Sikoa – still entrenched in his silent street fighter character – fights Matt Riddle face-to-face, the Usos cheer his brother on with the help of Paul Heyman. As Heyman conjures up the names of other members of the legendary Anoi’a family and how they themselves and Tribal Chief Roman Reigns would be disappointed if they failed, it seems something clicked in Solo’s mind, responding simply with “I got this” before brutalizing Riddle.
The beauty of revisiting Bloodline moments from the past is how even the smallest moments seem to have greater meaning in the future. It’s like when Roman Reigns first named Solo Tribal Heir, no one thought it would actually lead to Solo becoming Tribal Chief. A small moment like this here can be contextualized as a breaking point for Solo’s character, leading Solo to first desire Roman’s position as Tribal Chief. Heyman’s words created a motivated Solo, and a motivated Solo, as shown in this Tribal Chief run, is scary.
8
Bloodline 2.0 strikes fear into the heart of Paul Heyman
WWE Friday Night SmackDown May 10, 2024
Some of the best early story segments in the new Bloodline 2.0 revolved around Paul Heyman trying – and failing – to keep Solo Sikoa under control. Any of these promos would be suitable to be placed here, whether it’s the one where Heyman warns that Solo is aligning himself with dangerous people in the Tongans or when Solo promises that Roman Reigns will never return. These segments were fundamental to the completion of the new Lineage as a unitand this may be the most important.
What makes this segment so special is that Paul Heyman Truly Surpasses the New Bloodline as a Force to Be reckoned with selling how terrifying they are. His fear makes it clear that this is not only a different bloodline than the previous iteration, but one that even he can no longer control. Bloodline is unpredictable, uncontrollable, and everyone – especially Heyman – should be afraid of what they are capable of doing without restraint.
7
Roman Reigns recognizes Paul Heyman’s love for him
WWE Friday Night SmackDown January 7, 2022
Weeks after Roman Reigns turned his back on Paul Heyman, The Advocate is back on the side of his client Brock Lesnar. This segment is best remembered for WWE Champion Brock Lesnar challenging Universal Champion Roman Reigns to a Winner Take All match, but the heart of the segment is Heyman still declaring love for his tribal chief. Most importantly, it is in Reigns strangely recognizing Heyman defending him from a nasty Lesnar.
Heyman has always loved Reigns. Seeing him still maintain that love even after the betrayal may not be surprising, but The surprise comes when the typically emotionless Reigns abandons his cold demeanor to defend Heyman. This is not something Reigns’ character does easily and it remains a rarity during his babyface career. It’s the first time it really feels like this is a mutual partnership with a genuine connection rather than legal and client advice.
6
Paul Heyman explains why he cheated on Brock Lesnar
WWE Friday Night SmackDown February 4, 2022
The end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022 were dominated by the “will he, won’t he” dynamic of Roman Reigns cheating on Paul Heyman. Then, Roman betrays Heyman, getting him to team up with Brock Lesnar… just so he can attack Brock Lesnar again. Especially to the casual fan who doesn’t follow the story week to week, Heyman’s turn in the Royal Rumble feels like a shark-jumping moment that makes no sense. This is where Paul Heyman’s natural speaking ability comes into play.as he masterfully finds a way to connect the dots for viewers at home.
Paul Heyman is one of the best promoters in the business for a reason. Not only can it help a good plot shine, but it can also make a poorly received and pointless story development make sense to the point of being great. Heyman switching clients every few weeks shouldn’t make sense, but Heyman’s sharp tongue makes it work.
5
Paul Heyman Proves His Loyalty to the Roman Reigns
WWE Friday Night SmackDown October 8, 2021
In the lead-up to their match at Crown Jewel, Brock Lesnar attempts to cause dissension within The Bloodline by suggesting that there is a spy in their ranks named Paul Heyman. Here, Heyman has to defend his life to convince his clients that Brock Lesnar is lying. Moments later, Heyman cuts a confident and exclusive promo on why the Beast will fall into the hands of the Head of the Table.
Heyman is absolutely in rare form here, as his performance requires him to act weak but confident almost simultaneously. It’s a multi-layered performance within a performance of a Wiseman trying to convince Roman of his loyalty. Even as he cuts a fiery promo about Brock, Roman doesn’t take his eyes off Paul, waiting for a moment to doubt his loyalty.
4
Paul Heyman Tries to Warn CM Punk to Leave Chicago Afraid of Bloodline
WWE Friday Night SmackDown June 21, 2024
For the first time since 2013, Paul Heyman and CM Punk shared a WWE ring. It wasn’t the most fruitful of reunions, as Punk’s former defender, with tears in his eyes, tries to warn Punk not to evoke the wrath of the new Head of Table, Solo Sikoa. This is also the first time that Heyman actually looks physically worn out by Bloodline 2.0, visibly pale and sleepless.
It’s hard to go wrong whenever CM Punk and Paul Heyman share the ring. Heyman was a big part of what made the Straight-Edge Superstar’s 434-day WWE Championship reign seem legitimate, and even their feud was memorable. This solitary moment brings closure to their time together, with the caveat that Punk forgives Heyman for betraying him over a decade ago. This promotion wrapped up the past while moving the stories forward to the present.
3
Paul Heyman is fired from the bloodline
WWE Friday Night SmackDown December 17, 2021
Paul Heyman’s character was between a rock and a hard place when his new client, Roman Reigns, was pitted against his former client of 20 years, Brock Lesnar. Knowing what Lesnar is capable of, he tries to warn his Tribal Chief, telling him openly that he is trying to protect him from Brock Lesnar. Insulted, Roman embraces Paul like a mob leader bidding farewell to his favorite henchman before putting him out of his misery – and his position in the Bloodline – with a Superman Punch.
It’s Paul Heyman’s emotional performance that really sells this. He seems really torn in his role as the wise man in saying what he thinks needs to be said, but also knowing that there will be consequences. It’s hard not to feel bad for the tearful Heyman as you look into his eyes and see how clearly he knows the inevitable is about to occur.
2
Paul Heyman declares that Solo Sikoa is not his tribal chief
WWE Friday Night SmackDown June 28, 2024
At this point, Paul Heyman was bullied and mentally tortured by the Solo Sikoa bloodline for months. Heyman looked sleepless, with an uncut beard and red eyes. It reaches its peak the night Solo Sikoa presents a stolen Ulla Fala to Paul Heyman, much to Wiseman’s surprise, demanding that Heyman recognize Solo as his tribal chief. Heyman refuses a massive pop and pays the consequences. As of this writing, this is the last time Heyman has been seen on WWE TV.
This is easily the biggest babyface backlash typical heel Heyman has ever received. It’s also an oddly sentimental moment to learn that Heyman’s education in the business was sneaking backstage at Madison Square Garden to take photos as a teenager. Decades later, he applauded unanimously before a crowd of more than 17,000 people in the same building.
1
Roman Reigns inducts Paul Heyman into the WWE Hall of Fame
WWE Hall of Fame 2024
This isn’t a plot moment, but it’s significant to the lineage in a different way. This is the moment Roman Reigns inducts Paul Heyman into the WWE Hall of Fame. When Reigns was announced as Heyman’s inductee, he received some criticism from fans who believed that Paul Heyman Guys like CM Punk, Brock Lesnar or even Tommy Dreamer were more appropriate than his kayfabe client. However, Reigns and Heyman have a closer relationship behind the scenes than some may understand.
When Heyman cuts promos about how close he is to Roman and his family, there is truth to his statements. Him giving Roman a hard time by becoming his on-screen manager was Heyman’s way of giving back to the Tribal Chief and his family. Paul Heyman has contributed to the legacy of Roman Reigns and his family in many ways. Reigns returns the favor by adding to Paul Heyman’s legacy by inducting him into the WWE Hall of Fame in a beautiful full circle moment.