Paul Heyman has spent his career committing himself completely to professional wrestling, but don’t expect him to make that same kind of commitment through marriage. As far as Heyman is concerned, getting married is basically walking straight into a trap.
Speaking to Graham Bensinger, Heyman was asked whether he could ever see himself getting married. The answer was an immediate “no,” and when Bensinger pushed him on why, Heyman explained that he doesn’t like the idea of a piece of paper becoming part of the reason two people stay together.
“Because it’s a trap. No, really. Because at some point in it, your decision to stay is obligatory because of a piece of paper. If I wake up next to somebody, I want to know that they’re there because they chose to be there, because they have the absolute freedom to walk out the door and they chose not to.”
Bensinger brought up the obvious counterargument — a prenuptial agreement. That didn’t change Heyman’s mind either, because he believes a prenup just turns the whole thing into a financial arrangement with terms attached to how long the relationship lasts.
“But a prenup is — so then you’re in an arrangement. A prenup says, ‘All right, if you’re here for five years, you get this much percentage of the money. You get this car, and you get this condo, and custody of the dog.’ A prenup makes it a financial arrangement.”
Marriage isn’t the only place where Heyman’s priorities are pretty clear. He admitted that romantic relationships simply aren’t near the top of his list, with his children coming before everything and his professional pursuits also taking priority over his personal needs. Heyman knows that doesn’t leave much room for a partner, but he isn’t pretending otherwise. In his mind, spending time with someone already means giving them the limited personal time he could have spent on himself, and that’s a sacrifice he’s willing to accept.
“When it comes to being in a relationship, I don’t care because I don’t put myself first or second. I put myself either third or fourth. I’ll put somebody ahead of me, but I’m always going to put the pursuits ahead of them, and I’m going to put my children ahead of everything else.
“So it’s like someone will say, ‘Well, you don’t have time for us.’ I don’t have time for me. Us time is me time. I give you my me time, and I don’t have any me time. So I don’t have time for us because I don’t have time for me. And I don’t mind that. That’s the sacrifice that I’m willing to make.”
And Heyman doesn’t sound particularly interested in slowing down so he can make more room for a relationship either. When Bensinger suggested he could work less and enjoy the fruits of everything he’s accomplished, Heyman gave a pretty wild explanation for why that idea doesn’t appeal to him. For Heyman, the work itself is what gives him the rush he’s chasing. He described his professional pursuits as “spiritually orgasmic” and said the feeling he gets from them goes beyond what companionship, sex or an emotional relationship can give him.
“Because I find what I do to be spiritually orgasmic, and that’s the thrill I chase more than the need for companionship or company or sexual gratification or emotional connection. I’m emotionally connected to the pursuit. It brings me a pleasure that is over and above what a relationship can achieve.”
Bensinger even asked whether Heyman believes that approach is healthy, but that wasn’t something Heyman seemed particularly worried about. He compared it to enjoying pizza despite knowing it isn’t exactly the healthiest option.
“Don’t care if it is or not. I don’t think pizza is that healthy, but I like pizza. There’s a lot of things that I do that are unhealthy, and I don’t mind it.”
Heyman clearly knows exactly where his priorities are, even if they wouldn’t work for everybody else. His kids come first, the pursuit comes next, and marriage definitely doesn’t sound like it’s getting anywhere near that list.
Do you understand Paul Heyman’s outlook on marriage and relationships, or do you think he takes his commitment to work too far? Let us know what you think in the comments.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
