While he’s always been a masterful promo cutter and valuable mouthpiece and advocate for various wrestlers (not to mention that renowned Philadelphia-based promotion he used to run), Paul Heyman is doing the most high profile work of his career right this second. As the Wise Man and special counsel to Roman Reigns, he’s arguably the most indispensable member of the Tribal Chief’s shrinking inner circle.
But while there’s little doubt that he’s the top manager in pro wrestling at the moment, where does Heyman rank all time? He was asked that question while appearing alongside Reigns on ESPN’s “First Take” on Tuesday, and he didn’t hesitate to put himself right up at the top.
“I’m the GOAT,” Heyman said. “The greatest of all time.”
When co-host Stephen A. Smith suggested that Bobby “The Brain” Heenan might be in the conversation, Heyman fired back, “Screw him, he’s dead.”
(Technically correct, as Heenan died in 2017.)
Heyman backed up his assertion by pointing out the many achievements that Reigns has racked up, and asking, perhaps rhetorically, why Roman would have anyone but the very best hanging around him given all he’s done.
“I don’t like to talk about it, I’m humble,” Reigns said. “I don’t like to say all that stuff.”
You can watch the whole exchange below, courtesy of Wrestle Ops.
Paul Heyman: “I’m the greatest of all time.”
Stephen A. Smith: “I mean it was Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan back then.”
Paul Heyman: “Screw him he’s dead.”
Heyman casually going off, omfg. pic.twitter.com/SNPkfYbjHg
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) August 1, 2023
Heyman is, of course, in character while doing appearances like these, and he hits them out of the park more times than not. That actually might be another argument in his favor when considering his place among the best of all time, but even if you think Heenan or someone else deserves the top spot, it’s hard to deny that Heyman has added another layer of quality to the fulfilling layer cake that has been the Bloodline saga.