Jimmy Hart on Paul Heyman: “He’s a genius”
The “Mouth of The South” reveals why Heyman is the best manager in wrestling
The Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath the surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.
Contents for The Week in Wrestling:
Jimmy Hart on Paul Heyman
An inside look at the past week in wrestling
Comparing Cena/Orton to Hogan/Piper
Tweet of the Week
Jimmy Hart on Paul Heyman: “He makes every part of what he’s doing so meaningful”
Jimmy Hart loves all things pro wrestling.
But there is a part of the profession that means more to him than any other.
“I love to watch the managers,” said Hart. “All these years later, that’s still my favorite.”
Hart, 81, has been involved in pro wrestling for six decades. His portfolio is unmatched, having managed the likes of Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart (as well as The Honky Tonk Man, Ted DiBiase, Jerry Lawler, Earthquake, and Terry Funk, just to name a few), while also working behind the scenes with his contributions to entrance music.
Throughout the years, many talented managers have graced the industry. Hart has seen enough to separate the good from the great, and he believes that one man in particular is the greatest of all time.
“It’s Paul Heyman,” said Hart. “He’s my favorite, and he’s been doing this at such a high level for so long. What he’s doing now is the best stuff in wrestling. He’s putting food on the table for a lot of people in WWE.”
After his acclaimed run beside Roman Reigns–which superseded his legendary performance alongside Brock Lesnar–Heyman kept everyone guessing his next move for the past few months. That reveal came at WrestleMania, when he turned on both Reigns and CM Punk to align himself with Seth Rollins. The addition of Bron Breakker has added further momentum to the angle, one that is poised to be the top story in WWE.
“Paul Heyman, he’s magic,” said Hart. “He makes every part of what he’s doing so meaningful. That’s what I tried to do, too–if they were going to paint me yellow, then I brought the paint. Paul is the same way–you have to watch to see what he’s going to do next. He’s a genius.”
Hart earned his place as one of the greatest managers ever, which gives him extra credence when he discusses those who hold a spot on the Mt. Rushmore of wrestling managers.
“I love Jimmy Cornette and Bobby Heenan, too,” said Hart–who kept that elusive fourth spot open. “Jimmy started with us in Memphis–I gave him his first knee pads and shin guards. And Bobby Heenan, what more can you say.
“And Paul is still doing so much. Look what he did in ECW. He put a company together, he helped turn guys into stars. Look at what he’s done since–he doesn’t stop. I love him to death.”
After celebrating birthday number 81 earlier this year, Hart doesn’t travel as often as he once did. But he is still an active presence within the wrestling world, and he continues to make occasional appearances for WWE. For that, he is eternally grateful.
“I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, so maybe that’s the key for me,” said Hart. “I told CM Punk–we’re alike in that regard. I’m blessed. Everything is beautiful.
“I’m so grateful to still be doing something with the company whenever they call me. And the reason all this is possible is because of the wrestling fans–I never, ever forget that.”
This past week…
As Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker become the top heels on Raw, there is no better option for a crowd-favorite underdog to oppose them than Sami Zayn.
The first challenger for a new champion is pivotal. Maybe I’ll be wrong, but I don’t see Logan Paul–who is coming off a subpar WrestleMania match with AJ Styles–being someone to help elevate Jey Uso.
I’m ready for Corey Graves to come back, which means it’s time for Gunther to pummel Pat McAfee.
If you’re looking for an old-school, NWO-inspired video, look no further than this from Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Jamie Hayter defeat Kris Statlander last week on Dynamite. That puts Hayter in the Owen Hart Cup finals against Mercedes Moné, which is a match–and storyline–that should be tremendous.
There were a couple options for match of the week, and as much as I’d like to give it to Zelina Vega, her US women’s title victory against Chelsea Green was far too quick. So the best choice is the tag team TLC match from SmackDown, which absolutely belonged on the card at WrestleMania 41.
Comparing Cena/Orton to… Hogan/Piper
One of the lasting memories of World Championship Wrestling at its peak was its reliance on older wrestlers.
Part of that is because of a successful marketing campaign by Vince McMahon, whose programming constantly reminded viewers that WWE was part of the new generation… and WCW was all about the stars of yesteryear.
McMahon wasn’t entirely wrong. WCW’s top attractions were in their 40s, and they were older than the top stars in WWE. But it actually forecast what was to be, as wrestlers now have far longer careers.
Take John Cena and Randy Orton. They’ll headline Backlash in a match for the WWE Championship. Once the faces of WWE, they’re now two of the most established stars in wrestling. Oh, and yes, they’re old.
It is common to think of Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper as two of the older talents from the WCW roster in the mid-90’s. When Hogan and Piper wrestled at Starrcade ’96–their first televised singles bout since The Wrestling Classic over a decade prior in ’85–they were both over 40. That December, Piper was 42–while Hogan was 43.
Yet they would be youngsters compared to Cena and Orton.
Orton is 45. Cena just turned 48.
It’s a sign of how there are healthier, prolonged careers in wrestling, but it also shows how time warps our perspective. By today’s standards, there would be nothing odd about a show headlined by two stars in their early 40’s. That was different in the 90’s, especially with McMahon publicly campaigning against it.
For what it’s worth, that Hogan-Piper match could be better than Cena-Orton. Hogan and Piper had mastered the art of making every move mean a lot. Cena and Orton are both spectacular, but both could use a reminder that they are now operating in a drastically different part of their careers.
They’re not young men any more. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at their ages.
Tweet of the Week
Strong words from Ricky Morton, who emphasized the importance of protecting your fellow wrestler.