Paul Heyman Says WWE Hall of Fame Speech Sparked Major Storyline Shifts

Paul Heyman’s WWE Hall of Fame induction wasn’t just a career milestone—it was the beginning of a massive shift in WWE’s top storylines.

Heyman, who headlined the Class of 2024 in Philadelphia, was inducted by Roman Reigns, who briefly stepped away from his Tribal Chief persona to honor his Wise Man. Looking back, Heyman now sees that moment as the catalyst for everything that followed in 2024.

Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Undisputed, Heyman reflected on how the night set the stage for a year of unexpected turns. “My Hall of Fame speech became the catalyst for multiple avenues. In hindsight, it’s the trigger for everything we’ve done this year,” he said.

Reigns’ rare emotional moment honoring Heyman was, in Heyman’s words, “the very first step toward the babyface Roman Reigns while he was still the heel champion and Cody Rhodes was his challenger.”

Heyman also revealed how opening up about his family in his speech played into his ongoing Bloodline struggles. “That became the first step toward the vulnerable Paul Heyman you saw when Solo really started leaning on me,” he explained. “Roman was vulnerable showing love for his Wise Man. Then the Wise Man revealed his vulnerability, and everyone was ready to embrace us.”

One major detail from that night also came full circle—CM Punk sitting beside Heyman’s children. “That came into play this summer when I told Solo that Roman Reigns said for CM Punk to be left alone,” Heyman noted. That favor became critical when The Bloodline needed one more member for WarGames. “It made sense that I’d bring in CM Punk. And it made even more sense that I’d owe him a favor for it.”

With Roman Reigns and CM Punk both set to compete in the Men’s Royal Rumble, fans are waiting to see if that favor will finally come into play. Will Heyman’s past decision come back to haunt him?