Paul Heyman Drops AEW Bombshell After Disappearing From WWE TV

WWE Hall of Famer, Paul Heyman presented his opinion on AEW amid his absence from TV.

Paul Heyman has been one of the greatest managers in the history of WWE and pro wrestling as a whole. He was also one of the top promoters back in the 1990s, as he ran the ECW promotion. During his tenure in the Stamford-based promotion, heyman achieved great heights as the manager for top names like Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, and Paul Heyman.

Since the last year, Paul Heyman has been the manager and oracle for The Vision faction. However, the WWE Hall of Famer has not been on TV since his last appearance on RAW a few weeks back. Amid his absence, Heyman shed light on the existence of AEW in pro wrestling.

Paul Heyman on the importance of AEW in pro wrestling

During his recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, Paul Heyman was asked whether wrestling is in a better state with AEW being the competition for WWE. Heyman said he hopes so while reflecting on how wrestlers are compensated more than before due to Tony Khan:

I certainly hope so. I mean, it shortchanged the compensation packages for a lot of talent, because there was a wolf across the river named Tony Khan that had a billion dollar checkbook that he could afford to pay a lot more money for talent than talent was making back in 2017, 2018, 2019. So it certainly changed the compensation for talent, and they’re on a viable network, they have a style that’s different than WWEs.”

Paul Heyman also deemed AEW an alternative or a competitive brand and addressed the influence ECW had on the promotion. Heyman also compared All Elite Wrestling’s style to Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn:

They present an alternative, if not a competitive brand. I look at AEW, and I realize the influence that ECW had on that project, on that product. For example, like Moxley is a total ECW Sandman, New Jack style performer.

But if you look at the AEW style, it’s Rob Van Dam versus Jerry Lynn from 1999. AEW is RVD, and if you were a fan of what RVD and Jerry Lynn were doing in 1999 a lot of what AEW presents today is derived and is influenced by what RVD and Jerry Lynn were doing back then.”              [H/T chrisvanvliet.com]

WWE's Paul Heyman's response when asked if wrestling is in a better place now because AEW exists:

“I certainly hope so. I mean, it shortchanged the compensation packages for a lot of talent, because there was a wolf across the river named Tony Khan that had a billion dollar… pic.twitter.com/liKfm7QDZy

— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) June 23, 2026

Only time will tell Paul Heyman will ever be seen on AEW TV.

Also read: Update On Ex-AEW Star’s Contract Expiry Amid WWE Interest