New York native Heyman brings his ‘guys’ to WrestleMania
The Trentonian
WrestleMania is on his turf this year, and the brash New Yorker is the genius behind two men in main event matches.
“It means everything,” Paul Heyman said, referring to the New York/New Jersey area as the center of the universe. “Who doesn’t want to perform in front of their hometown?”
The biggest show in professional wrestling is Sunday, April 7, at MetLife Stadium. At WrestleMania Axxess, Heyman is scheduled to be available in the morning session on April 6. Heyman will be ringside for Brock Lesnar’s No Holds Barred match against Triple H and for CM Punk’s match against the Undertaker. who is 20-0 at WrestleMania.
But he is not just a manager when it comes to these two guys.
“I work with my best friends,” he said. “I like to call them the best and the beast.”
Most people see Heyman as an evil mastermind. Others see him as the father of Extreme Championship Wrestling. In reality, his greatness and power comes from seeing the potential in those who become his “guys” and selflessly mentoring and supporting them to fulfilling that potential.
No one but Heyman wanted to give CM Punk an opportunity to when he was in developmental promotions.
In 2006, Heyman went so far as leaving the company over the use of CM Punk. Today, CM Punk — who coined the phrase “Paul Heyman guy” in 2011 — holds the distinction of having the longest WWE Championship reign in the modren era. (His 434-day title reign was ended by The Rock in January at the Royal Rumble.)
Punk has also held the World Heavyweight Championship, ECW Championship, World Tag Team Championship, Intercontinental Championship and is a two-time Money in the Bank winner.
He believes CM Punk will be victorious because he doesn’t have to win. No matter what, he will still have all his accomplishments and will still be at the top of his game. Taker, meanwhile, has a streak he’s been building for 20 years that can be lost in a simple three-count.
“The pressure is not on CM Punk to defeat the streak. It’s on Undertaker to keep the streak,” he said.
Lesnar, on the other hand, Heyman decribes as a “once in a lifetime athlete.” He is also a former WWE Champion, but he is also was an NCAA Division I wrestling champion and UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Both of his guys have been criticized for taking their conflicts to a personal level — CM Punk has disrepected the deceased Paul Bearer, long-time manager and friend of The Undertaker; while Lesnar has attacked Triple H’s family’s honor. The business side of Heyman sees this as a way to get the audience more involved in the fights.
“There’s nothing people can relate to more than personal issues,” Heyman said. “Who can’t relate to standing up and fighting for your family?”
While he is excited to be ringside for both matches, there’s one person he won’t be excited to see — Stephanie McMahon, Triple H’s wife who is also a former WWE Women’s Champion.
“I wish Stephanie would stay at home and watch the Pay-Per-View on TV,” Heyman said. But it’s not because she would be a distraction for either competitor. “When she hits me, it hurts,” he said.
Whether or not she is at ringside, Heyman is confident Lesnar will win in the No Holds Barred match, resulting in Triple H’s retirement from the ring, thanks to Heyman’s ECW background and Lesnar’s UFC background.
“Not only is the New York area my turf, but this type of match is OUR turf,” Heyman said.
Last fall, Hurricane Sandy attacked Heyman’s turf. Leading up to WrestleMania, Heyman is one of the stars donating time with him to help raise money for Sandy relief.
“I saw the fury of that storm,” Heyman said.
Leading up to WrestleMania, WWE is holding a Superstars for Sandy Relief fund raiser on charitybuzz.com. Money raised from the online auction of experiences with Superstars and other athletes and celebrities will benefit the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund and The Mayor’s Fund To Advance New York City.
Heyman has donated the chance to hang out backstage with him at Raw. He will tell the winner the story of ECW and what it takes to be a star. The winner will also get two tickets the show for himself and a guest. Bidding closes on April 9.
“For me to help out,” Heyman said, “it’s the least I can do.”
