Paul Heyman says he will answer Stephen A. Smith “sooner rather than later,” after Smith said on ESPN’s First Take that Heyman has become likable and “gotten a bit softer.”
Heyman responded on X and also took issue with the show calling him a manager:
“As I stated on another platform, I shall address this comedy routine by my dear friend @stephenasmith, and I shall do so sooner rather than later. And by the way, @FirstTake, you may refer to me as a @WWE Hall of Famer — an Advocate – an Oracle – the Wiseman – or the #GOAT, but calling me a ‘manager’ is like calling @ESPN ‘a TV station.’ Sheeeeesh!”
As I stated on another platform, I shall address this comedy routine by my dear friend @stephenasmith, and I shall do so sooner rather than later.
And by the way, @FirstTake, you may refer to me as a @WWE Hall of Famer — an Advocate – an Oracle – the Wiseman – or the #GOAT,… https://t.co/l5JRbds8uY
— Paul Heyman (@HeymanHustle) October 8, 2026
Smith made his comments on First Take, which posted the clip on X with a caption calling it a message for “WWE Manager Paul Heyman.”
“I wanna send this message to Paul Heyman. I love you, but I’m kinda disappointed in who you ended up being,” Smith said. “Paul Heyman has not stood out over the last few months the way I expected him to. He’s actually become a likable figure. It’s one thing for me to like you, but everybody is supposed to hate you. I would dare say that I think Paul Heyman has lost a touch of his luster because he has been too fixated on being liked. I’m kinda disappointed, I must say. I think Paul Heyman has gotten a bit softer.”
"I think Paul Heyman has gotten a bit softer!"@stephenasmith has a message for WWE Manager Paul Heyman 😂 pic.twitter.com/Bs050gKf7K
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 8, 2026
On First Take in May, Smith said he could be WWE’s top heel “through the guidance and the tutelage of the great Paul Heyman,” adding, “I would outheel the heel and I dress a lot better than Paul Heyman.”
Smith also offered to manage Roman Reigns, Heyman’s former longtime client, when Reigns appeared on First Take in April ahead of WrestleMania 42. Reigns joked that they would need to set up a meeting.
WrestleVotes reported on Fightful Select in April that ESPN sources were “pleased and enthusiastic” about Smith getting more involved with WWE as part of the ESPN partnership, and that an on-air payoff had been pitched for the summer. WWE has not announced an on-screen role for him.
