WrestleMania 40: Paul Heyman Is Perfect Headliner For WWE's 2024 HOF Class

Paul Heyman rose to prominence by starting ECW, which was based in Philadelphia. That's why he's the perfect person to headline the 2024 class.

WWE recently announced that WrestleMania 40 will be taking place in Philadelphia, which makes Paul Heyman the perfect candidate to headline the 2024 Hall of Fame class. The headliner is typically someone who has contributed a great deal to the business of professional wrestling, and Paul E’s resume is as long as Chris Jericho’s list of 1,004 holds. He’s as deserving a Hall of Famer as there is, and the event taking place in the birthplace of ECW makes his inclusion seem like a no-brainer.

His career didn’t begin in Extreme Championship wrestling, but that’s where Heyman grew to prominence for modern fans. Few people in the history of the business have been able to build up matches and wrestlers as he can, and he’s got one of the best professional wrestling minds in the world. That might sound like hyperbole; if only Heyman were here to deliver the spoilers more eloquently. Currently operating in an on-screen role as special counsel to Roman Reigns, Heyman’s real legacy began as the owner of ECW, and if all roads lead to home, then WrestleMania 40 weekend should include his induction into the Hall of Fame.

It’d be fair to point out that Heyman, as recently as April of 2022, has said that he doesn’t have any interest in entering the hallowed hall while still working alongside Reigns. WrestleMania 40 is several hundred days away, however, and with the recent backstage shakeup following Vince McMahon’s retirement, who knows what the future holds for The Tribal Cheif and his special counsel. Maybe Roman is still Universal Champion come July of 2024 with a reign of over 1,000 days—give or take—but odds are good that storylines will look different by the time WWE puts down its stakes for the 40th WrestleMania.

Paul Heyman Deserves The Hall Of Fame Nod At WrestleMania 40

There might be some bigger names floating around who could headline the 2024 class, but it can be argued that none of them are more worthy. Heyman’s worked closely with not one, but two generations’ worth of top guys. The list of careers he’s heavily influenced is truly staggering. From working with a younger “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to being the missing ingredient in Roman Reigns’ presentation, there’s no denying that WWE would be a much different place had Paul flamed out of the business while snapping photographs as a teenager back in the late 80s.

He’s also the godfather of ECW, and that brand’s influence can still be felt to this day, even though it technically shut its doors years ago. While Vince McMahon was trotting out wrestlers with gimmicks based on jobs, Heyman was developing talents like Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, and Rob Van Dam; truly cutting-edge personalities who appealed to adult fans. It’s the same creative vein that AEW is trying to tap into now, 30 years after ECW debuted in Philadelphia. Heyman’s legacy began in The City Of Brotherly Love, and WWE would be wise to present him with a capstone achievement during WrestleMania 40 weekend.