Paul Heyman Comments On If He thinks CM Punk Will Return To The WWE

"You know, there were only three people in the room that night, and that was CM Punk, Vince McMahon and Triple H, and none of the three have talked about it. So whether CM Punk will ever or won’t ever appear in WWE again is truly only known by the three people that were in the room on that given evening. Anything else that is stated about it is merely speculation."

Paul Heyman Talks Future Goals, Current Role With WWE, Zeb Colter’s Success

Slam Wrestling! spoke with Paul Heyman about a variety of topics, including his current role with WWE, his future goals with the company and Zeb Colter's success. Below are the highlights:

On his current role with the company:

"If I look at my schedule right now… I don't have one booking as a manager. I'm booked all over Europe, I'm booked all over this country, in two-on-one handicap matches. So I'm booked as a wrestler right now, not as a manager. At 48-year-old, I still have not had formal training as a wrestler. The role has changed. We're not just doing the typical old-school gimmick matches that Lou Albano used to participate in."

On Zeb Colter's recent success:

"I think Zeb fit a need at the moment. When things really click in this industry, it's when they service the needs of the moment, and it ends up playing into the long-term. You have all these hot-button issues in the country, with immigration and health care, etcetera, and here's somebody who, Dutch is very articulate… here's a person that can speak on these subjects from any position that you want him to.He fit the immediate need that the company had to play on these hot-button issues, which then ties into the long-term of, which of his guys can he get across to the public to become bigger stars, into the bigger, more personal issues and money-drawing programs."

On his future goals with WWE:

"I've never managed in the main event at WrestleMania and I would love [that]. There are things that I know Brock wants to accomplish for us in this industry, that I prefer that Brock goes public with those goals when it's time. I know that Brock and I have talked about things that we'd like to accomplish, that we haven't had a chance to do yet. Hey, I'd love to be the first guy to ever manage the WWE and the WWE World heavyweight champion at the same time as well."

Backstage News on Paul Heyman's Future

It was previously reported that WWE officials are not very happy with Ryback right now and there was some talk of taking Paul Heyman away from him. As of right now it looks like that may indeed be the case. The Heyman and Ryback vs. C.M. Punk feud was originally supposed to go on for a little while longer but now it looks like it might be finished.

Heyman might be kept off of television until Brock Lesnar returns. No word on how all of this affects Curtis Axel.

Rumor Mill - Reason For Wyatt Family Beatdowns

This week’s episode of Monday Night Raw just wasn’t rewritten but long-term booking plans were changed and/or cut. The Wyatt Family’s attack on CM Punk and Daniel Bryan was to push them away from their respective programs with Paul Heyman and Randy Orton. These programs were blown off at the pay-per-view and WWE is moving forward.

As for long-term booking plans that were changed, here’s how it involves Kane handing Stephanie McMahon his mask. This was done to explain why he won’t be going after The Wyatt Family at this point. Bray Wyatt’s line that “the devil” made him do it has Vince McMahon behind the beatings. The new direction is that Triple H can’t handle the dirty work so Vince is handling it through The Wyatt Family. He’s scripted to have “given” Kane to Stephanie to help because Hunter couldn’t “tie up loose ends.” This is a complete 180 from plans last week that had Vince returning as a babyface with Big Show, Hunter to work Daniel Bryan and Punk’s program undecided.

Paul Heyman credits WWE with a "true youth initiative"

Scott Fishman of The Miami Herald is featuring an interview with WWE's Paul Heyman discussing aspects of the new WWE 2K14 video game and giving credit to WWE for evolving and creating new younger stars on the roster.

Heyman added, "You have to credit WWE for it has a true youth initiative. It’s starts at the top. You can demonstrate all day how great you are, but if the guys at the top or the executives or the chairman of the board doesn’t sit there and say, ‘I acknowledge this.’ It ain’t happening."

To check out the full interview with Heyman, click here.

The WWE's Difficult Men

At SummerSlam, Daniel Bryan bested John Cena in an incredible, hard-fought match that saw Bryan — playing the scrappy, scraggly underdog — overcome immeasurable odds to defeat Cena, WWE's most unflappable and dominant hero since the heyday of Hulkamania. Bryan got the lion's share of the crowd's adulation, leaving Cena in the limbo of lukewarm applause that has become his standard. Let's call it "That awkward moment when your biggest hero is also your biggest villain." Cena still gets his cheers, but he also gets a lot of "heat" — the angry response a pro wrestling villain gets from crowds. Despite the abuse Cena suffered at the hands of unappreciative Angelenos in the Staples Center audience, he managed to get through SummerSlam without being the most hated guy on the roster. After Cena left the scene, WWE found a villain so pure at this pay-per-view that even the ironic boos of meta-fans couldn't dilute the audience reaction, and WWE got the best heat that it has seen in ages.

On Monday's episode of Raw, Triple H stood atop the entrance ramp with the entire roster in cowed silence as Bryan was callously thumped in the ring by the Shield. If any wrestler objected, they would be fired. Some might call this a delicious storytelling device. Some might say Triple H is once again acting out his power-trip fantasies in story lines. The message boards fumed with indignation: Triple H is back to burying the roster. He loves to hear himself talk; he loves to be in the spotlight; he loves to boss everybody around. When Orton strolled to the ring and coolly hit Bryan with the finishing blow, fans said, "Get that guy off my TV screen." And that's exactly what they're supposed to be saying. WWE figured out how to turn the meta-fans into old-school marks.

When I said good-bye to Triple H after our interview, he said everybody always asks him what's next for WWE, now that Vince has transformed it from a territorial wrestling operation to a global enterprise. "One word," he said. "Disney." If his heel turn is any indication, WWE might have found the formula. It's expanded beyond childish things — the simplistic storytelling archetypes of good and evil. And in doing so, it's finally figured out how to make good heroes and villains...More?

source: grantland.com

Rumor Mill - Triple H, Dolph Ziggler, Paul Heyman & Rob Van Dam

Dolph Ziggler is in the WWE doghouse. He was put under to Antonio Cesaro in a match taped for WWE Superstars and it’s rumored that he recently got into it with Randy Orton.

Paul Heyman got “major props” backstage for what was described as one of the best in ring action promo angles ever on this week’s Monday Night Raw. When he got to the back, Triple H put him over and called his work “magic.”

The plan as of this week is for a new Paul Heyman guy to “save him” at Night of Champions next month. This is the current course of storyline progression.

Do not be surprised if WWE straps Rob Van Dam at the pay-per-view next month. He’s expected to get a huge pop in Detroit and if WWE wants a title change for a few weeks or even a transition to Damien Sandow, this could be the opportunity.

source: wnw premium

Controversial 2K WWE Legends Panel Featuring Ric Flair, Jim Ross, Steve Austin, Ziggler, Foley & More

Twitch.TV has posted a 75 minute video of the WWE 2K14 30 Years of WrestleMania Symposium that needs to be seen to be believed. Jim Ross hosted the event and, let's just say that he was in a condition where he was very acerbic and quite honest. Perhaps it was due to the "Snapple" he was drinking.

The panel consisted of Dolph Ziggler, Daniel Bryan, Rey Mysterio, Mick Foley, Paul Heyman, Steve Austin and Ric Flair.

Flair was also in, uh, rare form, going down some roads that WWE probably wish would have stayed unpaved, so to speak. Things really get wild around the 38 minute mark.

You can watch the video, which is really unreal, at this link.

WrestleZone has learned that Ric Flair was pulled from last night's 2K Sports Legends panel, and it appears as though WWE sent Jerry Lawler to the event to replace Flair in talking to the media. According to a backstage source in WWE, WWE Executives Jane Geddes and Mark Carrano were summoned by TV exec Lisa Lee to the event to remove Ric Flair from the stage while the event was still ongoing. Lisa Lee apparently was shooting the event on her cell phone and notifying WWE management of the fact Flair appeared to be intoxicated. WWE is said to be furious about the public display by Flair, who has been negotiating to be the good will ambassador for the company.

Flair was said to be “out of control, profane and a total wreck.”

We can also exclusively confirm Stephanie McMahon LeVesque personally came to the event, and was whisked in by her own personal security staff to apologize to 2K Sports on behalf of WWE.

WrestleZone has been told WWE is furious with Flair, and also at host Jim Ross for losing control of the situation.

source: wrestlezone.com & pwinsider.com

Things Get Heated Backstage At Raw With Triple H & Top WWE Stars Over Blown Spot Involving Ryback, More

Brad Maddox’s lines in the opening segment of this week’s show were once again a worked shoot play on Vince McMahon’s former mindset on Daniel Bryan.

Triple H called the CM Punk/Paul Heyman segment some of the best promo work in many years. The program is being built with the “big fight feel,” something both Vince McMahon and Heyman love. Hunter is really high up on the realism and feels it shows a side of Punk’s character that hasn’t been seen WWE television. One observer pointed you would have to go back to Punk’s program with Raven in Ring of Honor to know that he really had it in him. While both Vince and Hunter feel Punk plays a better heel in the ring, they are “very happy” with this current direction and feel it’s a completely different kind of babyface.

Daniel Bryan’s match against Antonio Cesaro was being called a second “Match of the Year” candidate in just as many weeks. Triple H greeted Antonio Cesaro as soon as he got backstage and CM Punk and others gave him an ovation. Many workers were spotted watching the bout on the monitor backstage.

Their was criticism from Daniel Bryan beating Ryback by count out. As “poor as poor booking can get,” is how one key observer described it. After the show Vince McMahon went to Bryan and told him that sometimes it’s “good to be wrong.”

WWE officials were furious over the Brie Bella nipple slip on last night's RAW. The apology that she tweeted out was ordered by management. While not shown on television, Nikki Bella came out to the ring on crutches for the Miz TV segment on this week’s Monday Night Raw.

Triple H “blew a gasket” on Ryback for his botched spot at the end of the match with Daniel Bryan where he was supposed to protect Bryan and catch him then put him through a table. It was seen as “careless and reckless” that Ryback just let Bryan bump to the outside and didn’t know how to improvise after completely botching it. According to a source backstage, Hunter got in Ryback’s face and was screaming “carelessness” at him. Bryan is expected to get x-rays on his collar bone on Tuesday but isn’t believed to be hurt as he worked the dark match main event following the taping. However, it’s worth noting this continues to hurt the stock of Ryback. Not only was Hunter upset with the spot but CM Punk and John Cena were vocal about it as well. Cena is someone that rarely calls out others, so when he does, people listen.

source: wnw premium news

One Year Ago Today: Raw 1000

WWE's Paul Heyman: 'TNA Crossover Makes No Sense'

Paul Heyman has laughed off the suggestion that WWE and TNA should have a crossover event.

TNA boss Dixie Carter told Digital Spy last month that she "absolutely would" be up for a joint promotion, but Heyman - who represents CM Punk and Brock Lesnar - rejected the proposal.

"I'm sure that Dixie Carter would love to do a WWE versus TNA pay-per-view," Heyman told DS, speaking ahead of this weekend's WWE Payback pay-per-view.

"Why wouldn't she? A friend of mine who has way too much time on his hands just started a new beverage company here in the United States.

"It's called Shmuley's Soda Company and he's now distributed in three stores in the Bronx and two in Brooklyn."

He continued: "He would like to do a global promotion with Coca-Cola. I don't suggest that Coca-Cola would be profitable having to do a global co-promotion with Shmuley's Soda Company.

"In the same way it would make no sense for WWE with 95% global share to do an event with TNA with its 5% global market share!"

source: digitalspy.com

Video: Triple H vs. Curtis Axel: Raw, June 10, 2013

Paul Heyman on Why He Thinks Vince McMahon Keeps Him Around

In the latest issue of the WWE Magazine, Paul Heyman talked about why he believes Vince McMahon has kept him around despite their tumultuous relationship.

"I would suggest that Mr. McMahon is, at the core, a businessman, through and through," Heyman said. "And my assessment of his feelings toward me is simply this: That The Chairman holds me in less contempt than he does others who can't generate the kind of revenue that Paul Heyman can deliver."

Heyman was the manager in two of three WrestleMania 29 Main Events. Heyman said he never envisioned this occurring one year ago.

"If you had asked Mr. McMahon a year ago if Paul Heyman would be associated with WrestleMania 29, he wouldn't have said, 'I don't even want him watching WrestleMania. If he buys the pay-per-view, send him his money back and block his cable!' Heyman said. "Brock Lesnar was never supposed to come back. And no one wanted C.M. Punk from the moment he arrived here."

Video: Triple H vs. Curtis Axel

Paul Heyman's New Client Revealed on Raw

It was revealed on Raw tonight that Michael McGillicutty is Paul Heyman's newest client. McGillicutty's new ring name will be Curtis Axel, which is an homage to Larry "The Ax" Henning and McGillicutty's real life father Curt Hennig.

Video: Triple H and Brock Lesnar go face-to-face

Video: Triple H invites Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman to meet him next week on Raw

Brock Lesnar involved in incident at WWE HQ; stunned employees comment

WWE.com sources have confirmed an incident involving Brock Lesnar occurred at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Monday.

WWE employees who witnessed Lesnar and his adviser, Paul Heyman, inside WWE’s headquarters this morning described the former WWE Champion’s unexpected presence in the building as “intimidating” and "disruptive."

Although details surrounding the incident are still sketchy, Heyman posted several cryptic tweets throughout Monday afternoon that appeared to show serious damage inflicted at the headquarters. Heyman’s most recent tweet stated that this damage occurred in Triple H’s office and that he will share footage of the incident on Raw, which airs live on USA Network at 8/7 CT tonight.

Video: Triple H accepts Brock Lesnar's Steel Cage Match challenge then Pedigrees Paul Heyman

Jim Ross Comments on Triple H, Brock Lesnar, and Paul Heyman

"Paul Heyman took almost an inhumane, physical beating from HHH before The Game signed his name to a contract that says The Game is done as an active wrestler if he doesn't beat Brock Lesnar on April 7. I know that HHH would rather wrestle than sit in business meetings even though his long term future as WWE COO is well established. Men like HHH want to end their run on their terms and not the terms of people like Heyman and Lesnar. However, HHH could be facing the same fate as his friends Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels who both ended their in ring careers in WWE at WrestleMania events."