What’s the best professional wrestling storyline of all time? If you ask the “Wise Man,” he’d say we’re currently living through it.
Paul Heyman recently made the case for The Bloodline being wrestling’s greatest storyline of all time, mentioning how the group’s longevity, drawing power and significance play into why it has been such a successful run.
Heyman outlined his argument during an interview with Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports.
“The money-drawing years of The Horsemen weren’t this long, the money-drawing years of the NWO wasn’t the long, the money-drawing years of Austin vs. McMahon wasn’t this long,” Heyman said, comparing The Bloodline to past eras in wrestling. “Hogan vs. Savage, Hogan vs. Piper, which put Wrestlemania 1 on the map. So, just in terms of overall storytelling and constant web and flow of affecting other people’s environment on the roster and how they tell their stories, I suggest it’s the most significant. It’s the biggest money-drawing, it has the most longevity, it has held the most interest, and overall it has done so by being the most intriguing and compelling because at every turn you see the characters not just turn towards what the story calls for, but the long-term effects of the development of these characters and the evolution of these characters is never lost on us. So if something happens that changes Roman Reigns in 2022, we don’t disavow knowledge of it in 2024. It plays into what’s happening in 2024. Because of that, and because we keep it consistent, I would have to rank it #1. All false humility aside.”
The false humility comment is, of course, a nod to his both backstage and on-screen involvement in the story. Heyman made a return to his role as a figure in the story just last week, unveiling CM Punk as the fifth member of Roman Reigns’ Survivor Series WarGames team.
Heyman doesn’t shy away from the fact that he is deeply involved in WWE’s creative process. He mentioned earlier in the interview that it’s “no secret” he currently offers a fair amount of insight for WWE’s current product.
“There are so few veterans that are available, at their disposal, right there during the show, for instant feedback for that last moment before they go through the curtains of observation of what could make the segment better,” he said.”I’ve survived in this industry long enough that now I’m the old guy. So, I’m the old guy that they come to.”
