Paul Heyman spoke with Talk Sport about WWE and more. Here are some of the highlights.
On who he thinks should be called up to the main roster: I think Balor is ready to be a main event superstar. I think Samoa Joe has always been a main event superstar. You know, that NXT roster is filled with A-listers who are ready to move up and make a significant impact on both Raw and SmackDown. Uh, I–even though I’m naming two right off the top, and it’s an easy two because they’ve just been featured, uh, in the main event, but, um, you seriously take a look at the NXT roster, and you realize how well positioned WWE is for this draft on July 19th because there’s so much talent in NXT.
And to even go further in that, um, I think NXT demonstrates its own strength by the fact that NXT is practically guaranteed to lose if not only its top tier, but perhaps even its top 1A tier as well in this draft or six months after the draft. And yet, nobody in NXT is sweating this because the depth of the roster in NXT is so deep with A-level talent right now that it’s just going to give a lot of people opportunity to move up to the top of the NXT roster as well. So, it’s not just, to me, who makes an impact on Raw or SmackDown, but the fact that the face of NXT will change and even for the better because, now, you’re going to have new people in the main event mix in NXT as well.
On making SmackDown different from RAW: Oh, I think it’s paramount. SmackDown has to come across as a brand that is truly competing with WWE Monday Night Raw. If the brand is not competitive with WWE in terms of talent, in terms of production, in terms of look, in terms of presentation, just in terms of the manner in which the announcers get to describe the product and the prestige of appearing on the show, then it’s doomed. But, I don’t see it going down that way. Um, Vince McMahon is not known for doing things half-assed. And I am sure that the directive within WWE is that, as of July 19th, when this brand split or brand extension or the expansion of the two brands happens, that there will be an equal and distinctive roster on each side and that the rosters are going to compete.
Uh, and Vince thrives–much like Brock Lesnar thrives on competition, Vince thrives on competition. And just like he did in 2002, when there’s no one out there competing with Vince McMahon, he’ll create his own competition.
On possibly being the General Manager of SmackDown: Oh, I certainly hope not. Uh, I am the most fortunate person in this industry today. My job is to speak about an athlete for whom superlatives come real easy to me. Um, I am a fan both personally and professionally of Brock Lesnar. It’s–uh, I’m very flattered by the publicity that I get as, you know, oh, Heyman’s promos are this, or Heyman’s promos are that. Heyman’s promos are built on a respect and an admiration that I have for Brock Lesnar. Everything I say about this man I truly, truly believe. Um, general manager is a role that I had a blast with. But, I would prefer to stay in the role that I have had for the past four years, which is to serve as the advocate for Brock Lesnar.
Heyman also talked about Brock Lesnar fighting at UFC 200, the WWE Brand Extension and more. You can read the entire interview here.
