“I Hate His Guts” – Roman Reigns Honestly Discusses Relationship With Paul Heyman
Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman first joined forces in August 2020, shortly after Reigns returned from a hiatus at SummerSlam and turned heel by adopting his “Tribal Chief” persona.
Heyman, branded as Reigns’ “Wiseman” and special counsel, played a critical role in Reigns’ record-breaking Undisputed Universal Championship reign and helped solidify the Bloodline as WWE’s most powerful faction. Their partnership fueled high-profile feuds against Brock Lesnar, Cody Rhodes, Edge, and John Cena.
Tensions mounted in late 2021 when Heyman’s loyalty was questioned during The Beast Incarnate’s return, resulting in a brief split before The Oracle realigned with The OTC at Royal Rumble 2022.
The relationship fractured again in 2025 amid WrestleMania 41’s triple-threat storyline, with Seth Rollins, CM Punk, and Reigns. Heyman turned on both Reigns and Punk at the Grandest Stage of Them All, helping The Visionary win and forming a new faction with Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed, leaving behind years of mentorship and trust with Reigns.
Roman Reigns Deeply Respects Paul Heyman
Even though Reigns and Heyman’s on-screen partnership ended on bad terms, The Tribal Chief still appreciates his former Wiseman in real life. Reigns described his relationship with Paul Heyman as uniquely valuable during his interview on Stephanie McMahon’s What’s Your Story podcast.
He appreciates deep conversations, travel memories, and insightful family moments observed during their long flights or dinners. Reigns noted that his ex-Wiseman regularly offers wisdom, even without realizing it, and the knowledge Reigns absorbed over time shaped his career.
Although Roman Reigns humorously admitted his dislike for Heyman’s stubbornness, he also highlighted the positive, inspirational aspects Heyman brought to his personal and professional life as his Wiseman.
Outside the ring, just the conversations, the long flights, going to Saudi, breaking bread, and just talking, being around him and his kids, too, is really cool. I really enjoy just being a fly on the wall and hearing him talk to his children, how they talk to him, how their dialogue sounds and goes.
We named him the Wiseman for a reason, and if you have him around long enough, it’s hard not to pick up a lot of diamonds and gems. He drops them left and right, and a lot of times there are intentions behind them, but I think it’s just who is he doesn’t realize he’s doing it, but I hate his guts. (From 18:40 to 19:29)
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Also read: Roman Reigns Breaks Silence On His WWE Future Amid Hollywood Ambitions