During a recent interview with Uproxx, Paul Heyman discussed being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
Heyman revealed that he had previously turned down offers to join the WWE Hall of Fame.
You can check out some highlights from the interview below:
On being inducted this year: “My goal now is to make everyone regret putting me into the Hall of Fame this year. Because the run from ’65 when I was born to 2024 pales in comparison to what I do from 2024 on. Otherwise, what am I doing? I’m accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award and I’m doing a run that people go, ‘Hey, he should have gotten out while the getting was good.’ And that’s not me.”
On deciding to accept the induction: “Roman Reigns is headlining both nights of WrestleMania. So to accept this Hall of Fame award while still ruling from the Island of Relevancy is such a unique opportunity, I’d be a fool not to accept it.”
On being Triple H’s first selection for the Hall of Fame: “Perhaps most profoundly to me, at least, I’m the first person that was named to the Hall of Fame and headlining the Hall of Fame when the Hall of Fame class is the responsibility of Paul. I have the greatest amount of respect imaginable for the job Paul Levesque has done as the Chief Content Officer. The shoes he has to fill, the expectations he has to surpass, the accomplishments that he has to follow and now top is a weight that he carries with class, style, and dignity. And I admire not only the job that he does, but the manner in which he does it.
“So for me to have turned down this enormous honor that Paul Levesque bestowed upon me, of being the very first person he named to be inducted into his class, let alone headline, to turn that down would, would dishonor Paul Levesque and the job that he’s done and the man that he is. It would discredit him. It would disrespect him, and I will never do that. I will forever be appreciative that I’ve witnessed this era, that I’ve been a part of it, that I’ve been allowed to contribute to it. And let alone be a driving force behind the biggest star, Roman Reigns. And I will forever be appreciative of the fact that I have a chance, by accepting, to demonstrate my level of respect and admiration for Paul Levesque himself.”
During a recent appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Heyman discussed working with Roman Reigns following the latter’s return to WWE programming post-WrestleMania 35.
He said, “Well, Roman and I had been talking about working together for many years and the timing was never right in that WWE was presenting him as the big dog, as the big hero, this WrestleMania main eventer to follow in the steps of John Cena and I was the advocate for Brock Lesnar and leaving that position would’ve been insane. I also then became executive director of Monday Night Raw. The pandemic hits and Brock Lesnar wraps up his time in WWE and goes off to Saskatchewan to hunt and kill what he puts on the family’s dinner plate. The entire landscape of sports and entertainment is changing and Roman Reigns had taken time off because his wife had given birth to another set of twin boys and also because of the pandemic and his health concerns regarding staying safe for his family during this unfathomable health crisis that was gripping the entire world.”
“In August 2020, when I’m Brock Lesnar free, I’m no longer the executive director of RAW, so I’m in the Ocean of obscurity at that point and Roman Reigns agrees to come back to WWE if he’s allowed to portray himself and we get a chance to work together. He rescued me from the ocean of obscurity, pulled me onto the island of relevancy with him, and we have been together ever since.”
Paul Heyman, the legendary professional wrestling manager and promoter, recently discussed his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024. In an interview with Uproxx, Heyman revealed that he had previously turned down offers to join the prestigious Hall of Fame. However, this year, he decided to accept the honor and shared his thoughts on the matter.
Heyman expressed his goal to make everyone regret putting him into the Hall of Fame this year. He believes that his accomplishments from 2024 onwards will far surpass his achievements from his birth in 1965 until now. Heyman is determined to continue making significant contributions to the wrestling industry and prove that he still has much more to offer.
One of the factors that influenced Heyman’s decision to accept the induction was Roman Reigns headlining both nights of WrestleMania. Heyman recognized this as a unique opportunity and felt that it would be foolish not to accept the Hall of Fame award while still being relevant in the wrestling world. He acknowledged Reigns’ status as a top star and wanted to be a part of this momentous occasion.
Another significant aspect for Heyman was being Triple H’s first selection for the Hall of Fame. He expressed deep respect for Triple H’s role as the Chief Content Officer and admired the way he handled the responsibilities and expectations that came with the position. Heyman believed that turning down the honor would dishonor Triple H, discredit him, and show disrespect. Accepting the induction was a chance for Heyman to demonstrate his level of respect and admiration for Triple H.
In a separate appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Heyman discussed working with Roman Reigns after his return to WWE programming post-WrestleMania 35. Heyman revealed that he had wanted to work with Reigns for many years but timing had never been right due to their respective roles and circumstances. However, in August 2020, when Heyman was no longer the executive director of RAW and Brock Lesnar had left WWE, the opportunity arose for Heyman and Reigns to collaborate. Heyman expressed gratitude to Reigns for rescuing him from obscurity and bringing him back into the spotlight.
Paul Heyman’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is a significant recognition of his contributions to the wrestling industry. Heyman’s decision to accept the honor reflects his determination to continue making an impact and his respect for Triple H and Roman Reigns. Fans can look forward to witnessing Heyman’s future endeavors and the mark he will continue to leave on professional wrestling.