8 Times Paul Heyman Said What Everyone Was Thinking

Paul Heyman is one of the most revered promo men in wrestling history. His mic work is visceral, ear-splitting, and often obscene - but always has a point. Few men can tap into the general mood of a crowd more effectively than Paul E., and his impassioned speeches often resemble a cult leader or national dictator in full flow. His segments are usually both awe-inspiring and terrifying. Part of the reason fans sit up and pay attention when Heyman is talking regards his history of controversial comments. Although often in the form of 'worked' shoots, Paul's promos have occasionally aired legitimate grievances in astonishingly blunt fashion. Whether sharing the concerns of his backstage allies, personal grievances, or embodying the voice of wrestling fans as a whole, Heyman is never scared of landing himself in trouble with a close-to-the-bone remark. Here are eight of his best - times when he brazenly said what everyone was thinking.

8. 'Too Small To Headline WrestleMania. Too Many Tattoos'

Heyman has always been known for his staunch support of his 'Paul Heyman guys', wrestlers hand-picked by the man himself and nurtured through the WWE's tricky developmental system, or made into stars in ECW's heyday. Such talents include Brock Lesnar and Rob Van Dam, but the first superstar to openly refer to himself as one such 'guy' was CM Punk. The fourth-wall breaking rebel mentioned Heyman - who wasn't even contracted to the WWE at the time - during his infamous 2011 'pipebomb' promo, and Paul E. returned the favour in 2014, a time when Punk was offscreen shortly before his release. Heyman cut a promo on Raw explicitly outlining the reasons Punk had been held back for so long, including his size, his image and his outspoken nature. Punk's rabid following ate it up, knowing that their grievances over the years had been shared by at least one influential backstage figure.