The stage has been set for one of the biggest three-man matches ever atWrestleMania 41. As the stars ofWWEgather together in Las Vegas, perhaps the most intriguing bout on the entire card will feature Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk in the Night 1 main event. And standing in the middle of it all will bethe irrefutable Paul Heyman.
Heyman, the top cornerman in the industry today and easily one of the best talkers ever, finds himself in a tough situation. He is finding his loyalty to Reigns being tested by his longtime friendship with Punk. Now, he’s found himself also owing a favor to Rollins. As the plot thickens,the 59-year-old manager is caught in a Bermuda Trianglebetween each side in this contest.
With a long history between all three combatants, there’s a lot of bad blood in the air. And while Heyman has stood by Reigns' side for years now, he’ll be forced to make a decision. As a master strategist, there’s no doubt that the former owner of ECW will already have some cards up his sleeve when it all comes to a climax in Sin City. However, there are also other interesting options on the table, such as Heyman siding with none of the contestants in the match, and perhaps ushering in a returning former client.
WrestleMania’s Night 1 Main Event Is All About Paul Heyman
The Storyline Surrounding Him Is Both Complex and Intriguing
Since August 2020, Heyman has served asthe Wiseman for Reigns and his Bloodline faction. But the cracks in their relationship are showing as the former Paul E. Dangerously has been hanging around with his buddy - and Roman’s rival - CM Punk. This all went down after Paul promised The Second City Saint a favor in return for Punk tagging with The Bloodline in their War Games match atSurvivor Series 2024.
That led to the recent contract signing onRAW,wherePunk finally got theWrestleManiamain event match that has eluded him throughout his career. The self-proclaimed Best in the World later revealed that the true favor wasthat Heyman had to be in his corner for the match. That seemed to set up Saturday’s scenario just fine, causing the ire of the Tribal Chief, who now feels betrayed by his closest advisor.
That’s where the original mystery developed in this story. However, there was a change in the formula on this week’s edition ofRAW on Netflix.Adding an adjustment to the angle, Seth Rollins has now put Heyman in a position where he also owes The Architect a solid, as well, as Rollins spared Heyman from a devastating Stomp, only to add more fuel to the fire and play mindgames with Reigns and Heyman both.
So, needless to say, the Wise Man is at the center of the most scintillating storyline happening out in the desert this weekend. Whoever he ultimately sides with will likely walk out the winner of this match. And the course of WWE history will change forever based on one decision by one man, as WWE is implying thatthe future of the company hinges on the result of this match.
Fans Still Have No Idea Who Paul Heyman Will Align With in the End
The Wise Man Seemingly Owes Everyone a Favor in This Match
For weeks now, fans have been speculating if this could be the end of Reigns' affiliation with Paul Heyman. With the members ofThe Bloodline seemingly going their separate waysnow, Roman could be moving more towards a run on his own. At the same time, the pendulum seemed to be swinging more in favor ofPunk - who was the wrestler that originally coined the term, “I’m a Paul Heyman Guy”,especially after the manager refused to back off his promise to Punk when The Tribal Chief ordered him to.
Based on his past actions, there’s a distinct possibility that this has all been a smoke and mirrors act and thatit’s really Seth Rollins whom Heyman gives the nod. It’s late in the game for that to have been the plan all along, but WWE weaved it into the programming nicely this week. And there will likely be a follow-up onSmackdownthis week.
Paul Heyman Should Side With Someone Else at WrestleMania
The Final Outcome Could Be a Major Shocker
Throughout his career, Heyman has always been a bit of a rebel, whether it was his days as Dangerously or later asthe innovator of Extreme Championship Wrestling. But it’s his time with WWE that has established him as an icon in the industry. However, his onscreen persona has always been one of a sneaky, conniving mastermind. He’s as quick to turn on a wrestler as he is to align with them.
This brings up another X-factor that has been batted around online:Heyman’s former charge, Brock Lesnar. The former WWE and UFC Champion hasn’t been seen on television for months (due to being named in the McMahon/Grant scandal), but there are several fans who believe that he could make his return this weekend in Vegas. That would make him the ultimate wild card if he decides to interfere in this contest.
At this point, it might not be all that shocking. Heyman’s greatest success in World Wrestling Entertainment was ushering in The Beast Incarnate in two different eras. The pair were linked in the early 2000s, then reunited years later in the modern WWE. While some might scoff at the idea, thinking about it, it makes perfect sense. Lesnar is the thread that ties all the participants in the triple threat together: he had a long feud with Reigns, many bangers with Rollins, and one unforgettable spectacular match with Punk atSummerslam 2013.
More importantly,Lesnar’s appearance would make for the perfect WrestleMania Momentand add excitement to a card that’s being criticized as underwhelming and predictable. Truth be told, playing the “Lesnar card” in a moment of creative crisis was a classic McMahon move, but it’s also true that many fans are excited to see what The Beast could do under Triple H’s creative management. It’s surely something that, legal issues notwithstanding, should happen sooner than later, and what better moment to pull the trigger than WrestleMania?
At the end of the day, it’s a credit to Heyman that among all these superstars, incredible athletes, and “needle-movers”,he is the ultimate chess piece. His next move will not only determine who wins the match, it will also change the course of WWE for the rest of 2025 and beyond. This is truly a testament to Heyman’s value as a performer and creative, and it confirms what everyone should already know: that he has been the true MVP in WWE for the past few years. When Saturday night rolls around,it will be interesting to see what cards Heyman lays on the table in Las Vegas.
