WWE News: Paul Heyman’s Role In Goldberg’s Current Storylines And Promos
The best promo in the WWE will always generate a subjective response, but you’ll often find Paul Heyman and John Cena at the top of everyone’s list. Heyman has carved out quite the role for himself over the last five years, not only as Brock Lesnar’s advocate, but as, perhaps, the company’s best hype man as well. Adding Goldberg to the mix has only elevated the impact of Heyman’s words even more.
Two weeks ago, we reported that Vince McMahon was giving special treatment to the Goldberg-Brock Lesnar program that is expected to run up until WrestleMania 33. And apparently, part of that preferential treatment includes using the services of Paul Heyman.
According to a report from SportsKeeda, Heyman is largely responsible for the success of Goldberg’s segments since returning to the WWE last October. While Vince is producing the big-picture elements of the Goldberg-Lesnar story, Heyman is helping with the weekly promos, and the aspects of the storyline that help things progress from one show (or appearance) to the next.
As you recall, Goldberg was initially brought back to compete in one match with Brock Lesnar, penciled-in for this past November’s Survivor Series. However, the response to his return was far too positive to ignore and the company jumped on the opportunity to extend the reunion tour. That led, of course, to Goldberg’s shocking 86-second victory over Lesnar, prolonging their feud which will culminate in April at WrestleMania.
Vince determined that the program needed a jolt of gold and therefore, Goldberg is expected to defeat Kevin Owens for the WWE Universal Championship at Fastlane, and then defend it against Lesnar in what is, in all likelihood, the main event of WrestleMania. Paul Heyman is not only scripting the segments with Goldberg and Lesnar, but he’s also guiding Goldberg along in his current angle with Owens.
By in large, Goldberg has been magical on the microphone. His lone notable slip-up came on the January 23 episode of RAW where he had trouble spitting out the name of the championship he was about to pursue. Coincidentally, that was the same show where he was visibly bleeding from his forehead, which the WWE has since edited out any evidence of on their website, after his pre-game ritual got a little too intense. The segment ended memorably, however, after Lesnar, Heyman, and the Undertaker made surprise appearances.
It’s unclear whether Heyman was responsible for over-scripting Goldberg’s promo that evening, but the flub is understandable considering the title was just introduced in 2016 and Goldberg had been away from the business for 12 years.
Heyman’s “Yeah, but” promo from the January 30 RAW is an early candidate for promo of the year, matched only by Cena’s stick work during the build-up to his WWE Championship match at the Royal Rumble with AJ Styles. Heyman and Lesnar wrapped up the segment by challenging Goldberg to one final battle at WrestleMania 33. Goldberg accepted the challenge a week later, then quickly turned his attention to Owens, which resulted in their match being booked for Fastlane.
Since his return, Goldberg has had a decided upper-hand on Lesnar from a physical standpoint. As noted, he defeated The Beast in short order at Survivor Series and followed that up by eliminating Brock in the Royal Rumble match. But Heyman has few equals from a promo perspective, and his deliveries have kept the intrigue of this rivalry at an all-time high. We realize now that it’s due in large part to Goldberg using the words Heyman has written for him.
Heyman has even taken a bump during the course of this angle, feeling the wrath of a spear early on which resulted in him taking a trip to the hospital (kayfabe). It’s become clear that the Goldberg-Lesnar feud is of high priority and Vince is utilizing one of the best in the business to carry it.
[Featured Image by WWE]
