Paul Heyman was announced as the first inductee of the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame on Monday, as the “Wiseman” will finally be honored ahead of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
This year's Hall of Fame class is one of the most intriguing in recent memory. It's the first that Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE's chief content officer, will handle without input from Vince McMahon. The professional wrestling executive left WWE and TKO Group Holdings after being accused of sexual misconduct, allegations that McMahon has denied.
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Paul Heyman watches Cody Rhodes battle Roman Reigns for the WWE Undisputed Universal Title during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on April 2, 2023. (Ronald Martínez/Getty Images)
Most of Heyman's illustrious professional wrestling career has its roots in the rivalry he had with McMahon's WWE when he helped start Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). Heyman later worked for WWE after the company purchased ECW and has since been a managerial figure for some of the promotion's top stars.
“It's a terribly difficult situation for me to process,” Heyman told Fox News Digital about the allegations against McMahon. “And I'm not done trying to understand it all yet. And so I'm not completely qualified to give anyone a proper perspective because I'm trying to grasp the enormity of the situation up to this point.”
The WWE began its Hall of Fame induction in 1993, beginning with Andre the Giant, and then stopped after 1996. The company restarted its classes in 2004 to coincide with WrestleMania XX. Since then it has become a major event.
WrestleMania comes to Philadelphia, birthplace of ECW. Heyman joined ECW in 1993 and helped build the company into the hardcore promotion for which she is famous.
Heyman told Fox News Digital that he doesn't view his induction into the Hall of Fame as a “vindication” of what he helped build at ECW and the impact the brand had on professional wrestling.
Paul Heyman watches the match between WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Big E during the WWE Survivor Series at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on November 21, 2021. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)
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“I always thought that what we started in Philadelphia and then what we accomplished globally with ECW was exactly what we intended to accomplish, which was a complete disruption of the status quo in the industry,” Heyman said.
“I think this is just a recognition of a career that is far from over and just giving someone flowers while they're still around rather than having my kids accept it posthumously for me.”
Heyman revealed that he turned down offers to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame “several times.”
“I agreed to this because, number one, and very important to me, this is Paul Levesque's first year completely in charge of the induction process,” Heyman said. “And there will be many, many, many years that Paul Levesque will bestow this honor on people, but there will only be one first. And I have great respect for that man and the work he's been doing. I would be remiss if I hadn't turned him down “.
Paul Heyman (Rob Tringali/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/File)
“No. 2, it's in Philadelphia. No. 3, it's WrestleMania 40. No. 4, my kids have been bugging me to take it, and it means a lot to them, so this is really the perfect storm for me. Although I've always been hesitant because I feel like I have many more years or decades to contribute to this industry, and accepting what is, in essence, a lifetime achievement award while achieving it always has been, at least. At least for me. , it's something like a humiliating conflict.”
Heyman is so far the first member of this year's class. The ceremony will take place on April 5 at the Wells Fargo Center.
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“Heyman's influence on sports entertainment has become immeasurable, as his brash, in-your-face attitude has paved the way for multiple generations of managers and superstars,” WWE said in a statement. “With an unmatched resume, Heyman now takes his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame.”
