Paul Heyman Was Reluctant To Return To WWE TV Without Brock Lesnar

Following Brock Lesnar's departure from WWE, Paul Heyman remained busy behind the scenes as Raw executive director until he was axed from the role in June 2020. Brock Lesnar's former advocate then returned to WWE TV a couple of months later, though, as Roman Reigns' special counsel following SummerSlam. 

Heyman noted during a recent interview with Sports Illustrated that he was reluctant to return to TV without The Beast Incarnate, but Roman Reigns was the one person he would come back for.

"I cannot begin to convey how reluctant I was to ever do anything in this industry after the eight years, let alone the 18 years, that I put together with Brock Lesnar," Heyman said. "Look at our accomplishments: a 500-day run as champion, multiple world championships, the single biggest, most historic victory in sports-entertainment history in the conquering of 'The Streak.' There was very little chance of me ever returning on-screen.

"For me to pursue, in front of the camera, life after Brock Lesnar, the only lure that could seduce me to even attempting such an impossible goal was to do it with someone that would live their life in the pursuit of achieving that impossibility, and that's Roman Reigns," he continued.

"And that's why someone, that's why anyone and that's why everyone should watch Roman Reigns. Every micro-moment he's in the frame, you are witnessing the pursuit of the all-time greatest career in the annals of sport, in the annals of entertainment and in the annals of sports entertainment."

Since partnering with Paul Heyman, Roman Reigns has captured the Universal Championship and his current reign stands at 249 days and counting.