No one likes to have someone else's success thrown in their face. It is even less enjoyable when the braggart is as loud and grating as former Extreme Championship Wrestling owner Paul Heyman. One of the greatest promo men in wrestling history, the New Yorker is a brilliant performer who has the audience in the palm of one hand while running them down on a microphone held in the other one. An outstanding manager, he has led Superstars such as Brock Lesnar, Ryback, Curtis Axel, CM Punk and Cesaro to varying levels of success but in every case, helped add new relevancy to all of them. As the agent of "Next Big Thing" Brock Lesnar, he guided the rookie through the WWE minefield during his first year with the company. He managed him to victories over Hulk Hogan, The Rock and Undertaker and helped establish the Minnesotan as an elite performer in the world of professional wrestling. After a year as wrestling's most popular Superstar, CM Punk desperately needed Heyman to help him get over as a heel with an audience who still preferred him to the cookie cutter babyfaces. The introduction of the villainous loudmouth turned a large portion of the audience against him. Curtis Axel and Ryback were both elevated from irrelevancy to on-screen roles in high-profile feuds with Punk as a result of their relationships with Heyman. After the departure of Jerry Lawler in February 2001, Heyman became the color commentator for WWE and as such, he filled the role of heel broadcaster. He defended the villains' actions and openly rooted for them in the most important of matches. When the WCW/ECW Alliance invaded, he became the voice of that faction, oftentimes irritating play-by-play announcer Jim Ross in the process. In 2014, Heyman managed Lesnar to a victory over Undertaker at WrestleMania that ended the Dead Man's two decade-plus undefeated streak at the Showcase of the Immortals. It was the most shocking defeat in wrestling history and Heyman's constant reminders to the WWE Universe that his "client, Brock Lesnar, conquered the streak" have only resulted in more impassioned responses.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
