During a recent interview with Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports to promote the upcoming release of WWE 2K25 for the Nintendo Switch 2, Paul Heyman offered a moving and insightful tribute to the creative genius of the late Bray Wyatt. Heyman praised Wyatt’s unique and fearless approach to his character work, stating that his full brilliance has yet to be truly appreciated.
“Far More Brilliant Than Any Of Us Ever Realized”
Heyman described Wyatt’s process as completely original and unburdened by creative norms. “He was uninhibited in his approach. He was fearless. He didn’t look at a place for the character to go with any apprehension at all,” Heyman said. He pointed to Wyatt’s ability to portray dual personalities and show vulnerability at moments when conventional wisdom would advise against it.
“Anyone that I know that has been in a creative capacity in this or any other industry would tell you, ‘don’t do that… Why would you allow the vulnerabilities of that character to be shown?'” Heyman explained. “And yet he did it with such authenticity that he made us all look bad.”
Heyman stated that Wyatt’s deep connection to his creations was the key to his success. “He was so embedded within the framework of that character that he could pull anything he wanted off, because he did it with such passion and love for the performance and understanding of the character,” he continued. “He got Bray Wyatt. He understood Bray Wyatt. He was Bray Wyatt… And years from now, when we look back and start to micro-dissect what he did, I think we’ll realize he’s even far more brilliant than any of us ever realized.”
Heyman on Seth Rollins’ Injury and WWE’s Modern Protocols
During the interview, Heyman also addressed the recent injury to his on-screen charge, Seth Rollins. He downplayed the creative urgency surrounding Rollins’ Money in the Bank contract, noting the extended timeline for a cash-in. “Seth Rollins has until next June to cash in the Money in the Bank contract,” Heyman stated. “If his leg fell off in the ring, they would reattach it and he’d heal by next June. So until we’re crashing into that deadline, I don’t really see the big deal.”
Heyman added that while the injury is an “enormous news story,” he was amused by the reaction. “I also kind of chuckle on the inside about how big of a deal was being made,” he admitted. He then spoke about WWE’s modernized approach to handling in-ring injuries, stating that the industry has evolved for the better. “Pro wrestling was behind the times for many years. And you know the whole thing was if you get hurt, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. So if you got hurt, you try to cover it up,” Heyman said.
He praised the current system for its focus on talent longevity. “I think it is a far more compassionate look for the for the longevity of the performer that we do have these protocols in place,” he explained. “And I think the protocol in place on Saturday… enabled Seth Rollins to get out of the ring with whatever injury he sustained, instead of further aggravating that injury and making it 10 times worse.”
On WWE’s “Evolutionary” Relationship With The Media
When asked about WWE’s modern approach to using external media reports and social media to weave misdirection into storylines, Heyman was candid about the symbiotic relationship. “You evolve with the times… 20 years ago was social media an influence? No. Is it today? Absolutely. So you have to utilize social media,” he stated.
Heyman described the dynamic as a two-way street. “The media wants 24/7, 365 access. With that access means we also have access to the media 24/7, 365,” he explained. “The media is going to exploit their access to us by having more in-depth reporting of behind the scenes. We’re going to exploit that access to the media by devising storylines that are enticing to the readers or the viewers or the people that consume that content, because it now becomes another platform for us to use. So it’s just the evolution of the relationship. The reporters get closer to the product. The product gets closer to the reporters.”
“The Most Underappreciated Monster”
Heyman framed Rollins’ absence as an opportunity for the other members of his group, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. “In the meantime, this allows even more spotlight to be put on Bron Breaker… and Bronson Reed is the most underappreciated and underutilized monster that we’ve had on the WWE roster in years,” he said. “And now finally, he gets the spotlight to enjoy.” While the current edition of WWE 2K25 features Roman Reigns and himself on the cover, Heyman predicted that his new faction would eventually get their turn, saying, “hopefully it’ll be quite soon.”
WWE 2K25 is scheduled to be released for the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23. Notably, the pre-order bonus for the game includes five “Wyatt Sicks” persona cards for the MyFaction mode, connecting the game to Bray Wyatt’s enduring legacy. Seth Rollins is currently off television recovering from a knee injury suffered at Saturday Night’s Main Event, while his stablemates Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed continue to be featured as top heels on Monday Night Raw.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit SHAK Wrestling (Shakiel Mahjouri) with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
