History of Paul Heyman in Timeline

Paul Heyman is a highly influential American professional wrestling manager, promoter, commentator, and former executive, currently signed with WWE. He is celebrated for his innovative contributions to the wrestling industry, shaping modern professional wrestling with his creative vision and managerial acumen. He is renowned for his work managing prominent figures like Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest minds in the business.

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Full Timeline

1926: Birth of Paul Heyman's Father

In 1926, Richard S. Heyman, the father of Paul Heyman, was born.

1928: Birth of Paul Heyman's Mother

In 1928, Sulamita (née Szarf), the mother of Paul Heyman, was born.

1938: Release of 'Angels with Dirty Faces'

In 1938, the movie "Angels with Dirty Faces" was released, later becoming one of Paul Heyman's favorite films.

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1940: Start of the Mid 20th Century

The beginning of the Mid 20th Century happened in 1940.

September 11, 1965: Paul Heyman's Birth

On September 11, 1965, Paul Heyman, an American professional wrestling manager, former executive, promoter, and commentator, was born.

1974: End of the Mid 20th Century

The end of the Mid 20th Century happened in 1974.

1975: Start of the Late 20th Century

The beginning of the Late 20th Century happened in 1975.

1980: Secures Press Pass for WWWF Event

In 1980, at age 14, Paul Heyman contacted Capitol Wrestling Corporation and secured a press pass for a WWWF event at Madison Square Garden.

1985: Works at Studio 54 and Organizes "Wrestle Party '85"

In 1985, Paul Heyman worked at Studio 54 as a photographer and was later promoted to producer. He organized "Wrestle Party '85", a wrestling-themed event featuring the debut of Bam Bam Bigelow and appearances by Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, and Magnum T.A..

1985: Works at Studio 54

In 1985, at the age of 19, Paul Heyman began working as a photographer and subsequently as a producer and promoter at the New York City nightclub Studio 54.

January 2, 1987: Managerial Debut

On January 2, 1987, Paul Heyman made his managerial debut, working on the independent circuit and eventually joining Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF).

1988: Joins Jim Crockett Promotions/WCW

In 1988, Paul Heyman joined Jim Crockett Promotions, later WCW, reprising his Paul E. Dangerously persona and managing the Original Midnight Express.

1991: Reintroduced to WCW and Forms Dangerous Alliance

In 1991, WCW reintroduced Paul Heyman as the leader of the Dangerous Alliance, with Rick Rude as its focal point.

1992: Dangerous Alliance Prominence

In 1992, The Dangerous Alliance was prominently featured and widely regarded as one of WCW’s top villainous factions.

September 1993: Takes Over as Head Booker of ECW

In September 1993, Paul Heyman took over as head booker and assumed creative control of Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW) after Eddie Gilbert’s departure.

1993: Explores Starting a Promotion in Texas

After leaving WCW in early 1993, Paul Heyman explored starting a new wrestling promotion in Texas with Jim Crockett Jr., but the partnership ended due to creative differences.

1993: Joins ECW and Becomes Creative Force

In 1993, Paul Heyman became the creative force behind Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), where he implemented a more aggressive style.

1993: Leaves WCW and Files Lawsuit

In early 1993, Paul Heyman left WCW following conflicts with Bill Watts and filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and ethnic discrimination; the matter was resolved privately.

August 1994: ECW Severs Ties with NWA

In August 1994, at an ECW event, Shane Douglas rejected the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and declared the ECW World Heavyweight Championship as the only belt he recognized, effectively severing ECW’s ties with the NWA; Heyman, Gordon, and Douglas orchestrated the angle.

1994: Release of Léon: The Professional

In 1994, the film "Léon: The Professional" was released, later becoming one of Paul Heyman's favorite films.

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May 1995: Heyman becomes sole owner of ECW

In May 1995, Paul Heyman acquired the remaining interest in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) from Tod Gordon, thereby becoming the sole owner of the promotion.

1995: Purchases ECW

In 1995, Paul Heyman purchased Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and continued to lead the company.

1999: End of the Late 20th Century

The end of the Late 20th Century happened in 1999.

April 4, 2001: ECW's final event

On April 4, 2001, Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) held its last event, marking a significant moment before formally filing for bankruptcy later that year.

2001: Joins WWE

In 2001, after ECW closed, Paul Heyman joined WWE as a commentator, writer, and on-screen manager.

July 2002: Heyman appointed head writer of SmackDown

In July 2002, Paul Heyman was appointed as the head writer of SmackDown, overseeing a creative direction focused on athletic competition and elevating rising talents.

2002: Paul Heyman acts in Rollerball

In 2002, Paul Heyman portrayed a sports announcer in the film "Rollerball".

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January 28, 2003: WWE acquires ECW assets

On January 28, 2003, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) acquired the remaining assets of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) from HHG Corporation through a bankruptcy court settlement. These assets included the ECW video library, brand trademarks, and intellectual property.

February 2003: Heyman's Tenure as Head Writer of Smackdown Concludes

In February 2003, Paul Heyman concluded his tenure as the head writer of SmackDown, during which the show reportedly outperformed Raw in key metrics.

October 2003: Heyman becomes General Manager of SmackDown!

In October 2003, Paul Heyman returned to television as the General Manager of SmackDown! following Stephanie McMahon's departure.

March 2004: Heyman drafted to Raw, Removed from TV

In March 2004, Paul Heyman was drafted to the Raw brand during the WWE Draft Lottery, but he declined the assignment and was removed from television.

May 23, 2005: Heyman returns to promote ECW One Night Stand

On May 23, 2005, Paul Heyman returned to WWE programming to promote ECW One Night Stand, alongside Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff.

June 12, 2005: ECW One Night Stand

On June 12, 2005, ECW One Night Stand, a pay-per-view event produced as a tribute to the original Extreme Championship Wrestling, took place at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Heyman appeared on-screen as the face of the ECW brand and contributed to the event’s creative direction.

June 11, 2006: Van Dam wins WWE Championship at ECW One Night Stand

On June 11, 2006, at ECW One Night Stand, Rob Van Dam defeated John Cena to win the WWE Championship in a match billed under "ECW rules". Heyman counted the winning pinfall after the referee was knocked out.

December 4, 2006: Heyman sent home after December to Dismember

On December 4, 2006, Paul Heyman was sent home by Vince McMahon following the December to Dismember pay-per-view due to creative disagreements.

December 17, 2006: Heyman officially parts ways with WWE

On December 17, 2006, Paul Heyman officially parted ways with WWE after several weeks of being under contract but not actively involved.

2009: Death of Paul Heyman's Mother

In 2009, Sulamita (née Szarf), the mother of Paul Heyman, passed away.

May 2012: Heyman returns as Lesnar's legal representative

In May 2012, Paul Heyman returned to WWE television as the on-screen legal representative of Brock Lesnar, who had re-signed with the company.

2013: Death of Paul Heyman's Father

In 2013, Richard S. Heyman, the father of Paul Heyman, passed away.

2019: Executive Director of Raw

In 2019, Paul Heyman became the executive director of Raw.

2019: Heyman Appointed Executive Director of Raw

In 2019, WWE appointed Paul Heyman as the Executive Director of Raw, giving him backstage responsibility for the brand’s creative direction.

June 2020: Heyman Removed as Executive Director of Raw

In June 2020, Paul Heyman was removed from his position as Executive Director of Raw and replaced by Bruce Prichard, ending his backstage responsibility for the brand’s creative direction.

August 2020: Paul Heyman aligns with Roman Reigns

In August 2020, Paul Heyman returned to WWE, aligning himself with Roman Reigns, who had just returned from a medical hiatus. Heyman became Reigns's special counsel, contributing to Reigns's character reinvention and the development of The Bloodline faction.

2020: Leaves Executive Director Role at Raw

In 2020, Paul Heyman's tenure as the executive director of Raw came to an end.

2021: Heyman's Allegiance Becomes Storyline Focus

In late 2021, Paul Heyman's allegiance became a central point of tension in WWE storylines, particularly during Roman Reigns's feud with Brock Lesnar. This storyline kept audiences guessing about whose side Heyman was really on.

January 2022: Heyman rejoins Lesnar and then betrays him

In January 2022, at Day 1, Paul Heyman reunited with Brock Lesnar, only to betray him weeks later at the Royal Rumble, rejoining Roman Reigns and allowing Bobby Lashley to win the WWE Championship. This was a significant storyline twist.

2022: Dominant Title Reign with Roman Reigns

Throughout 2022, Paul Heyman remained alongside Roman Reigns during Reigns's dominant title reign. This partnership was a key aspect of WWE programming during that year.

2023: Continued Title Reign with Roman Reigns

Throughout 2023, Paul Heyman continued to support Roman Reigns during his dominant title reign, including a successful title defense against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39. The Heyman-Reigns alliance remained strong throughout the year.

April 2024: WWE Hall of Fame Induction and WrestleMania Loss

In April 2024, Paul Heyman was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during WrestleMania weekend. Roman Reigns lost his championship to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania XL, ending his 1,316-day reign.

June 28, 2024: Paul Heyman forcibly removed from The Bloodline

On June 28, 2024, Paul Heyman was forcibly removed from The Bloodline faction on SmackDown after Solo Sikoa took control of the group and Heyman refused to acknowledge Sikoa as the new Tribal Chief.

November 2024: Heyman reveals CM Punk as Reigns's Team Addition

In November 2024, Paul Heyman returned to television and revealed CM Punk as a surprise addition to Roman Reigns's team for Survivor Series: WarGames. Heyman then resumed managing Reigns independently of The Bloodline faction.

2024: Inducted into WWE Hall of Fame

In 2024, Paul Heyman was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for his contributions to the wrestling industry.

April 2025: Heyman aligns with Rollins, betrays Reigns and Punk

In April 2025, at WrestleMania 41, Paul Heyman betrayed Roman Reigns and CM Punk, aligning himself with Seth Rollins by allowing Rollins to pin Reigns. This was revealed on SmackDown, honoring an agreement Heyman had made with Punk following their alliance at Survivor Series.