Lack of Paul Heyman Involvement Partially Blamed for Tony Hinchcliffe SummerSlam Cancelation

WWE’s planned SummerSlam weekend comedy show featuring Tony Hinchcliffe has officially been scrapped—and internal sources are now pointing to one major reason fans just didn’t care: Paul Heyman wasn’t involved.

The event, originally set for Saturday, August 2 at 11 PM ET in Englewood, New Jersey, was supposed to be a lighthearted comedy night with WWE Superstars, special appearances, and Hinchcliffe leading the charge. Cody Rhodes was the only talent advertised before WWE pulled the plug.

While poor ticket sales were the immediate red flag, a new report from PWInsider reveals the decision to cancel also stemmed from the lack of star power compared to WWE’s previous comedy event in Las Vegas. That show, a roast during WrestleMania weekend, featured Paul Heyman—and his presence was credited with stealing the show and driving real interest.

Sources within WWE admitted there wasn’t the same kind of hype for this SummerSlam weekend version. Without Heyman, the momentum just wasn’t there. The company felt the event didn’t carry the same weight, and with the added difficulty of drawing fans to a New Jersey venue late at night, it became clear the show was going to fall flat.

Internally, the response to Hinchcliffe’s involvement was lukewarm at best. WWE officials were reportedly relieved that the roast format wasn’t being repeated—especially after the mixed reactions from talent during WrestleMania weekend.

In the end, the combination of light ticket sales, weak energy backstage, and no Paul Heyman to elevate the show led WWE to cancel the event entirely rather than roll the dice on a low-energy comedy night.

Was WWE right to scrap the show without Heyman, or could they have made it work with a different approach? Sound off in the comments and tell us what you think.