Paul Heyman Makes Surprise WWE Hall Of Fame Revelation
Paul Heyman is heading to the WWE Hall of Fame but he’s not going to be reading from a script on the night as he vows to wing it.
Paul Heyman was the first name announced for the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024. Heyman has built a career in the business as a manager, promoter, advocate and is currently The Wiseman to the all-conquering Roman Reigns.
Heyman will be inducted ahead of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia alongside Bull Nakano, Thunderbolt Patterson, The U.S. Express, and boxing legend Muhammad Ali. But there might be something different about Heyman’s speech from the rest of his inductees.
Paul Heyman Listening To Fans At WWE Hall Of Fame
Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, Paul Heyman was asked if he’s written out his speech for the Hall of Fame and he might have WWE higher-ups sweating with his admission that he’s going to improvise on the night:
No, I’m gonna figure this out as we go along. I’m gonna take the pulse of the room that night. I’m gonna wing this because I don’t know really what the crowd itself is expecting from me.
Is this a crowd that wants me to talk about the modern-day WWE and Roman Reigns and The Bloodline and the WrestleMania main event of Roman Reigns versus Cody Rhodes? Is this a crowd that’s, you know, in Philadelphia, wants to talk about ECW? Is this a crowd that’s looking for some inspiration and a speech about pursuing one’s own dreams? Etcetera, etcetera.
I really won’t know until I take the temperature of the room that night and as you (Rich Eisen) know better than I, you always have to know your audience. So once I feel the crowd, I’ll pretty much know what I have to do to deliver for them.
Heyman’s plan shows just how much WWE has changed under its new management. In 2019, a WWE writer resigned after the Hall of Fame when Bret Hart went against orders to thank Vince McMahon by name in his speech.