Paul Heyman defiant on Brock Lesnar’s WWE return in wide-ranging interview

August 7, 2025 Neal Flanagan NEWS
Image Courtesy: The Ariel Helwani Show

Paul Heyman made a 90-minute appearance on ‘The Ariel Helwani Show’ on Wednesday and discussed a number of WWE’s most prominent current topics.

Heyman, who is currently aligned with the World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, was in a defiant mood when discussing the return of his former client, Brock Lesnar, at SummerSlam.

He also offered insights on the disappearance of The Rock and Travis Scott from WWE storylines, his long-term association with Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins’ faked injury, and which performers he sees as future WrestleMania main-eventers.

On Brock Lesnar’s Return

Heyman made a staunch defense of Brock Lesnar’s return at SummerSlam.

Heyman was dismissive of any criticism surrounding Lesnar’s return, telling Helwani, “If there are critics of it, get over it. He’s going to be here, and you ain’t going to be able to cancel him. I’m happy to have him back because the audience is happy.”

He pointed to the reaction of the live crowd at MetLife Stadium as justification for WWE’s decision.

People were just going f—ing nuts. That’s our paying audience. They’re happy to see him. I’m happy to be a part of a team that presents him. Everyone has criticism in life.

He revealed the return came together very quickly, within just a “couple of weeks.” Heyman noted he was brought into the loop only after the deal was finalized, suggesting the decision was made at the highest levels of TKO. He also shared that Lesnar had been “very accepting” of his life in retirement before the call was made.

Although not a defendant, Brock Lesnar is named dozens of times in Janel Grant’s amended lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE. Brandon Thurston collated the details for POST Wrestling.

The Rock and Travis Scott

Heyman also addressed the abrupt end to the storyline involving The Rock and Travis Scott, which was a major part of the build-up to WrestleMania 41. Scott’s involvement, in particular, seemed to end after he helped John Cena win the Undisputed WWE Championship.

“It fell apart, and we moved on without him,” Heyman said of the Travis Scott situation. “I don’t know if he’s done. At every meeting I’ve had with Travis Scott, I’ve gotten along well with him. Have I heard things? Yes. Do I know if they are accurate? I haven’t heard Travis’ version.”

Regarding The Rock’s absence since WrestleMania, Heyman said:

I don’t know what happened with Dwayne. That’s something you should ask Dwayne himself in these magnificent Yahoo studios. I don’t know. Or ask Brian Gewirtz to come in, I’m sure he can tell you their side of the story, I don’t know. Especially at WrestleMania, I had enough on my plate, I didn’t really care what was going on between Cody Rhodes and John Cena.

Roman Reigns

The conversation also turned to Heyman’s association with Roman Reigns. Heyman revealed that the pairing had been discussed for years, even going back to the days of The Shield. He stated that the “Tribal Chief” persona was heavily influenced by Colonel Kurtz from the film Apocalypse Now, a character burdened by leadership and expectation. He added that Reigns’ performance as the Tribal Chief deserved an Emmy.

Future WrestleMania Main Eventers

When asked to name future WrestleMania main eventers, Heyman identified three current roster members:

  • Bron Breakker: Heyman sees immense potential in his fellow member of “The Vision,” comparing his trajectory to that of a young Batista in Evolution.
  • Jacob Fatu: Heyman praised the “brutality” and agility of Fatu, who has already held the United States Championship.
  • Rhea Ripley: Heyman called Ripley a “standard-setter” in the women’s division and a cornerstone of WWE programming.

Other Notes

  • Heyman compared the organic fan support for Karrion Kross to the movements that propelled stars like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Daniel Bryan, and CM Punk to the top. This comes amid speculation about Kross’s future, with reports that he has been offered a new contract.
  • Heyman confirmed his involvement in planning major WWE storylines, including WrestleMania main events, up to three years in advance.
  • He said he was revisiting some old movie scripts he had written during his time away from wrestling.

About Neal Flanagan 1627 Articles
Based in Northern Ireland, Neal Flanagan is a former newspaper journalist and copy editor. In addition to reporting for POST Wrestling, he co-hosts The Wellness Policy and Book Club podcasts.
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