Paul Heyman appeared on this week’s episode of WWE’s The Bump while Hey Uso was still on the show. Heyman immediately praised Uso, who will challenge Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship at WWE Clash of Champions. Here are some highlights:
Heyman: “Jey’s passion for this industry, which he has had since I met him when he was four years old, with his twin brother jumping off the top rope at the Omni in Atlanta the night that this father, part of the Samoan Swat Team, beat the Road Warriors in Atlanta, when I was managing his father back in the days of managers, not advocates, not special councils. Jey’s passion for this industry is so riveting, so compelling to me that I had to pull over on the side of the road and phone in to tell him, as close to face-to-face as I could be on this day, sir, you are a credit to WWE.”
“You are a credit to Friday Night SmackDown on Fox, you are a credit to your family, you are a credit to the tribe, I am honored, honored, sir, to have the privilege of serving as part of a match in which you are involved, for your first singles championship this Sunday. And I look forward to seeing you and your cousin, our tribal chief, the reigning, defending undisputed Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman Reigns, defend his title against you. And may the better man win, sir.”
When Uso promised to bring his best at WWE Clash of Champions, Heyman said that’s what he and Reigns want to see:
Heyman: “[Reigns] would expect nothing less, and it was nothing less when you and your brothers and Roman were children and as the stories that I used to hear back then and I still hear to this day. He expects nothing less from you, he wants nothing less from you, I want nothing less from you, the WWE Universe wants nothing less from you. You are a number one contender. Look who you went though to earn this position, nothing was handed to you sir. Your tribal chief and I expect nothing less from you, we are both so looking forward to your challenge this Sunday.”
Heyman also discussed how Reigns “rescued” him from obscurity and described their partnership:
Heyman: “I was cast out I was thrown away, I was sent out to drift into the ocean and just go away, don’t even bother us anymore. And Roman Reigns realized just how, in order for him to protect his status as the superstar in WWE, that someone who has experienced the same disrespect, someone who has experienced the same lack of appreciation, someone who has experienced everything that he is going through this year, that would be Paul Heyman, would need to protect him from these evil deeds that were being cast upon him and to course correct what was happening here in World Wrestling entertainment.”
The special council to the Tribal Chief then said Reigns has remained true to himself:
Heyman: “I don’t find that Roman has a new attitude. I think this is the real Roman Reigns that you’re seeing, and this is how he feels at this time and place in history. I would submit to you that Roman Reigns has always been authentically Roman Reigns, and this is the manner in which he is going to deal with the cards that have been dealt him. You know, heavy hangs the head that wears the crown. It’s a tremendous responsibility to be the top star in WWE, and again, as I’ve already said on Friday Night SmackDown on Fox, take a look at what’s happened to the championship that Roman Reigns established as the preeminent title in WWE.”
Heyman then reflected on his role as Reigns’ special council:
Heyman: “I’ve always felt myself to be an advocate because I advocate the position of my client. We’re done with the days of distracting the referee and tripping the opponent. I don’t get physically involved in matches, nor should I. I’m not a physical threat to anybody. I’m a strategist, I’m an advocate, I’m a spokesman. For Roman Reigns, I do something different. Though my role is that of an advocate, I serve, serve as special council to the Tribal Chief because a Tribal Chief does not need a spokesman, nor does he need to have someone advocate his position. A Tribal Chief needs a special council, one who advises, one who can bestow upon Roman Reigns the benefit of 30-something years of experience in this industry, one who can then advocate the position, if needed, in front of audience or at the same time, simply serve to advise him, council him on the position he should take when he uses his own oratory skills.”
The full episode is available here:
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