Let's start this off by making the controversial statement that since the era of Superstar Billy Graham, there hasn't been a more game-changing heavyweight pro wrestler than Brock Lesnar. Before Superstar Graham, heavyweights were big, bulky, modest, earnest and plodding. There were few exceptions, but when the steroid-aided, Muhammad Ali-quoting and technicolor bronzed Adonis entered the industry, everything changed. Literally every other mainstream big-ticket heavyweight grappler for the better part of 20 years in some way emulated him, and his legacy is timeless. That was of course, until the March 18, 2002 debut of Brock Lesnar. Built as if chiseled directly from albino obsidian, Heyman's association with Lesnar wasn't as simple as bestowing upon him the nickname of "The Next Big Thing." It was more intrinsic than that, and just like imbuing so many other talents (including those on this list) with the ability to believe themselves capable of amazing things in the ring (and in life itself) Heyman's assistance allowed Lesnar to become one of the quickest developing main event wrestlers in WWE history. Within five months of his WWE debut, Lesnar defeated The Rock at Summerslam to become the Undisputed Champion. It's still an unprecedented climb and in retrospect, the stuff of instant legend. Between 2004-2011, Lesnar left pro wrestling and attempted careers in both professional football and Mixed Martial Arts. Curiously enough, wherever Lesnar went in real life, Heyman was certain to follow. Insofar as Lesnar's rise in UFC, Heyman also dabbled in the UFC product on the business end, using his considerable real-life business acumen to work with EA Sports just as UFC kicked off a partnership with the video game maker. Of course, after a successful partnership with EA Sports, as Lesnar returned to WWE, Heyman's creative partnership in the video game field moved over to WWE's partner THQ. The unusual work/shoot relationship of Heyman and Lesnar is what makes Lesnar Heyman's best protegee, because it's a relationship that clearly extends beyond the ring. It's intriguing to see then at Wrestlemania 30 that The Undertaker and a now returned-to-WWE Brock Lesnar - two men who have such a hugely personal debt to owe to Paul Heyman - wrestled each other. Intriguingly, for as much as the victor of the match was " client, Brawwwwk Lezzznaaarr, who broke The Undertaker's undefeated streak at Wrestlemania," the real winner may be Heyman who, after four decades in and around the professional wrestling business may be in fact finally guiding the person who deserves to be his greatest protege of all. Himself.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
