The Greatest Paul Heyman Promos!
From manager to special counsel, Paul Heyman is a rare gem in this industry.
Being able to cut solid promos is an essential quality in the wrestling industry. Many great talkers have made an impact with their mic skills, but none more so than Paul Heyman. For multiple decades, Paul Heyman has set himself apart from everyone with his extraordinary promo skills. Heyman is in a league of his own. Of the many great promos Paul Heyman has cut throughout his career, the top 10 personify his greatness.
10. Promo on Cena Monday Night Raw 2014
This Monday Night Raw episode was already historic, with several legends arriving to celebrate Hulk Hogan’s birthday. Before the celebration could begin, Paul Heyman had business to take care of regarding Brock Lesnar and John Cena’s big match at SummerSlam.
Brock Lesnar and John Cena’s first match occurred at Extreme Rules in 2012. With Cena winning that brutal battle, Lesnar was yearning for redemption. Brock Lesnar’s loyal advocate, Paul Heyman, perfectly sold this epic rivalry as he heightened the anticipation of this match. Convincing the crowd of Lesnar’s desire to destroy Cena amped everyone up for the match. Heyman’s confidence spoke volumes.
Not only did he throw shade at Cena, but at the legends who were there to celebrate Hogan as well by implying that none of them in their prime could amount to Brock Lesnar. Later that night, Lesnar’s shocking appearance at Hogan’s birthday celebration further illustrated Heyman’s point. Tensions rose when Lesnar confronted the legends and Hogan. Triggered by Heyman’s promo earlier in the show, Hogan backed away from Lesnar quickly, knowing Lesnar was not playing around.
Paul Heyman effectively sold the Lesnar/Cena feud. Though it was a one-sided match with Lesnar destroying Cena at SummerSlam, Heyman did his part to ensure everyone tuned in to the extravagant event.
9. Promo Battle with CM Punk Monday Night Raw 2013
After Paul Heyman betrayed his client and best friend CM Punk at Money in the Bank, everyone wanted an explanation. CM Punk called him out the following night on Monday Night Raw. Once Paul Heyman stepped on the scene, everyone knew an epic promo battle would occur.
Heyman was relentless on the mic against CM Punk. His explanation was that since CM Punk’s return at the Payback pay-per-view, Punk thought he was better than Heyman. Of course, Heyman reminded CM Punk that “without Paul Heyman, there is no CM Punk,” which was a slap in Punk’s face. The ultimate blow to CM Punk was when Heyman told him that the reason for his betrayal was that CM Punk could not beat Brock Lesnar. Considering the professional jealousy between Brock Lesnar and CM Punk in the weeks before, it was not surprising that Lesnar was mentioned in the promo.
Conveying the promo with such great passion made it believable. Many actually thought the two were feuding in real life and on-screen because of the promo battle. Some of Heyman’s best storytelling comes from this promo.
8. Sending a Message to The Undertaker Monday Night Raw 2015
The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar were set for a rematch at SummerSlam. Earlier in 2015, Brock Lesnar broke The Undertaker’s winning streak at WrestleMania 30. To make matters worse, Heyman’s constant boasting week after week rubbed salt in the wounds. Revenge was The Undertaker’s primary focus at SummerSlam. Heyman’s job was to sell the fans on the rematch between the two powerhouse superstars.
Paul Heyman’s final promo before SummerSlam was a work of art. In one of the most animated promos of his career, Heyman destroyed The Undertaker on the mic. Putting Lesnar on a pedestal, literally standing on the steel steps in the center of the ring, Heyman emphasized Lesnar’s victimization of The Undertaker at WrestleMania 30. Heyman also passionately warned The Undertaker that the same fate was awaiting him at SummerSlam. Feeding off that promo alone was a huge advantage for Lesnar. Heyman understood the assignment as he successfully promoted part two between Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker.
7. Promo on Vince McMahon Monday Night Raw 2001
Immediately following the promotion rivalry between WWE and the WCW/ECW Alliance battle at Survivor Series, Paul Heyman’s job was on the line after The Alliance lost at Survivor Series. Knowing he would likely be fired, Heyman laid it all out to McMahon on Monday Night Raw.
Already knowing the consequences ahead, Heyman had no problem airing his grievances against McMahon in this historic promo. In an extremely bold move, Heyman called out McMahon on numerous topics, including his affairs and family, and even accused him of stealing ideas from ECW. McMahon was absolutely stunned.
Heyman discussed the promo during his Inside the Ropes show in New Orleans in 2019. Apparently, Heyman warned McMahon before the promo saying “do you even know some of the things I want to say to you.” McMahon eagerly responded, “No, just draw me money.” As the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for.
McMahon couldn’t have been too surprised at Heyman’s promo, given Heyman’s outspokenness. In all fairness, McMahon was warned.
Everyone was amazed at Heyman’s audacity to stand up to McMahon. In the truest Paul Heyman fashion, he owned McMahon in this promo.
6. Backstage Interview Promo Monday Night Raw 2013
No one has made an impact in backstage interviews like Paul Heyman. On an episode of Monday Night Raw in 2013, Heyman gave a phenomenal performance in a backstage interview with Renee Young.
Taking place during the rivalry with CM Punk, Paul Heyman further elevated the tension between the two of them. During the interview with Ryback and Curtis Axel by his side, Heyman compared CM Punk’s desire to get his hands on him like lava coming from a volcano. The animation in which the promo was presented made it a masterpiece. Even Renee Young was in awe at Heyman’s presentation.
5. Post SummerSlam Promo on John Cena Monday Night Raw 2014
Brock Lesnar absolutely destroyed John Cena at SummerSlam, and it wasn’t even close. Of course, Paul Heyman could not contain his excitement afterward. Many expected another amazing promo from Heyman on Monday Night Raw which is exactly what they got.
Already being in a celebratory mood, Heyman wanted to remind the crowd of Lesnar’s greatness following the decimation of Cena. He took great pleasure in giving the ‘I told you so’ promo to the crowd. Presenting Brock Lesnar the way he did after that match was as if Lesnar was the king of the world. His enthusiasm for Lesnar was evident. Even Brock Lesnar was feeling his energy and showed appreciation for it by telling Heyman to repeat his name again.
Some of Heyman’s best work comes from being Lesnar’s advocate. This promo clearly proves that point.
4. Promo on TNN ECW Hardcore TV 2000
Legitimately fed up with TNN for replacing ECW with WWE, Paul Heyman was relentless in this backstage promo on ECW Hardcore TV in 2000.
Heyman showed great disdain for TNN by saying, “We hate this stinking network,” followed by daring them to throw him off the air. Burying the network was a wild moment for Heyman. With ECW already having financial troubles, Heyman knew he had nothing to lose, so why not tell the network his true feelings after they did ECW dirty? What a gutsy move by Paul Heyman to put TNN on blast.
3. ECW One Night Stand 2005 Promo
One Night Stand was designed to relive the hardcore promotion ECW. In the weeks leading up to the pay-per-view, Eric Bischoff and other Raw and SmackDown superstars expressed their disdain for ECW, recreating the WWE/ECW feud. Bischoff was determined to disrupt One Night Stand by putting together a band of crusaders from Raw and SmackDown to invade the event. Paul Heyman’s retaliation was gold as he went off on Bischoff, Edge, and JBL.
After constant trolling by Bischoff and the crusaders, it was beyond time for Heyman’s retaliation. When the mastermind of ECW, Paul Heyman, arrived to acknowledge the ECW faithful, things were about to get real for Bischoff and the crusaders. Calling out Bischoff was something everyone had been anticipating for a long time. Heyman reminding Bischoff whose house he was in generated a massive pop from the crowd. Clearly, Heyman was the superior man.
Heyman didn’t stop with Bischoff. Nobody can forget the epic moment when Heyman threw Edge’s ‘Rated R’ persona against him. Triggered by Heyman mentioning Matt Hardy, Edge was speechless.
Last but not least, it was JBL’s turn to take the heat as Heyman savagely proclaimed that “the only reason JBL was World Heavyweight Champion is because Triple H didn’t want to work Tuesdays.” The crowd went berserk after that. Their appreciation was loud and clear for Heyman as he proudly defended one of his greatest career accomplishments, ECW.
2. Pipebomb on CM Punk Monday Night Raw 2014
After the news of CM Punk quitting WWE surfaced, Paul Heyman decided to pull one of the biggest heel moves in WWE history. Everyone was hoping that the CM Punk rumors were false and he would show up on Monday Night Raw in his hometown of Chicago. Instead, Paul Heyman showed up.
Disappointment and anger filled the atmosphere quickly. Heyman’s presence alone instantly drew heat as ‘boos’ echoed throughout the arena. To further insult the Chicago faithful, Heyman sat criss-cross in the center of the ring just as CM Punk did when cutting the infamous pipebomb.
Heyman successfully devised his own pipebomb by burying CM Punk, blaming the fans for his departure. Chicago fans were appalled by his promo. Then, the subject of the matter quickly changed when Heyman called for Brock Lesnar.
Heyman’s remarkable ability to change direction from one topic to another in promos makes this some of his best work.
1. Post-WrestleMania 30 Promo on Monday Night Raw 2013
WrestleMania 30 was one of the most monumental events in WWE history. Paul Heyman’s client Brock Lesnar is the main reason for that, as Lesnar conquered The Undertaker’s historic WrestleMania streak. Paul Heyman was not going to miss an opportunity to boast about Lesnar’s victory on Monday Night Raw.
Drawing major heat as they walked down the ramp, Lesnar and Heyman were in a celebratory mood. Many fans were unhappy with The Undertaker’s streak being broken by Lesnar, and Heyman was looking to provoke them even more. Throwing shade at The Undertaker and the fans was gold. Heyman’s enthusiasm could not be contained. Brock Lesnar was feeling it, too, with a giant smirk on his face.
Today, this is one of Paul Heyman’s most cherished promos. Paul Heyman reveled in the moment with a fantastic performance, giving the best promo of his career.
