Paul Heyman’s “Smart Man” persona has turn into a fixture of WWE television lately, however the moniker carries deeper roots than most fans realize. Speaking on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” the longtime wrestling mind revealed that the nickname is an intentional homage to a previous generation of iconic wrestling managers.
“It’s a reputation I took seriously, because a variety of people will come to me. Because I’m the old guy now, because I’ve survived so many regimes. I worked for Vince McMahon Sr. as a photographer,” Heyman recalled. “That is now the third or fourth generation of a regime on this company that I’ve worked for.”
Heyman explained that “The Wiseman” nods to a legendary trio who were known backstage as “The Three Smart Men” under McMahon Sr.: The Grand Wizard, Lou Albano, and Freddie Blassie. Each man was a towering personality within the wrestling world of the Seventies and early ’80s, helping shape the spectacle and storytelling style that might later define WWE. For Heyman, adopting the name was as much about paying respect to that lineage because it was embracing his own role as a behind-the-scenes architect.
“The Oracle” also gave a glimpse into just how far his influence extends.
“Long run meetings I’m in,” Heyman confirmed. “So once we start talking about next yr’s WrestleMania, or the yr after WrestleMania, or the yr after that WrestleMania, we start planning things out, I am going to those meetings.”
By consciously connecting his modern-day role to the traditions of wrestling’s past, Heyman positions himself not only as a performer, but as a living link between eras — a title “The Wiseman” greater than earns.
Heyman discussed a spread of topics with Helwani, including Brock Lesnar’s recent take care of WWE and the absence of The Rock and Travis Scott from WWE programming.
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