Paul Heyman recently disclosed the severity of an injury caused by Roman Reigns, shedding light on events at WWE Clash In Paris. The veteran WWE Hall of Famer explained that Reigns’ intense guillotine choke not only disrupted a major storyline but also inflicted real physical damage, highlighting the tense dynamic between Heyman and his former client.
The Fallout from the Clash In Paris Match
At WWE Clash In Paris, Roman Reigns faced Bronson Reed in their inaugural singles match, emerging victorious. However, immediately following the bout, Reigns applied a guillotine choke to Heyman, rendering him unconscious. This led to a brutal assault by Reed and Bron Breakker on Reigns, resulting in a storyline injury of broken ribs for Reigns, which coincided with his filming of the movie Street Fighter in Australia. Meanwhile, WWE’s kayfabe explanation for Heyman’s absence was a larynx contusion, concealing the full extent of his injury.
Despite this, Heyman has remained active behind the scenes, continuing to manage The Vision faction and engaging on social media. His absence from in-ring appearances sparked speculation, which he addressed during a recent appearance on ESPN’s First Take.
Heyman’s Role in The Vision’s Evolution and Becky Lynch’s Involvement
During the interview, Heyman took full responsibility for orchestrating the alliance between Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins within The Vision, a significant plot development. He explained that this tactical move was necessary after Reigns incapacitated him, preventing his usual ringside presence during a critical main event featuring Rollins defending his title against CM Punk.
“I had everything to do with it. I’ll reveal it to you right now. It came together because of me. Would you like to know why? Because Roman Reigns choked my a*s out. That’s why. We had to go to Plan B, which was Plan Becky. You can’t leave the champ out there all by himself,” Paul Heyman said.
This admission underscored how Reigns’ aggressive actions forced a shift in WWE storylines, positioning Lynch once again at the forefront alongside Rollins.
The Extent of Heyman’s Injuries from Roman Reigns’ Chokehold
On ESPN’s First Take, Heyman revealed that the damage from Reigns’ guillotine choke was more serious than previously disclosed. Contrary to reports of a mere larynx injury, Heyman showed visible damage, explaining how blood vessels in his eye burst due to the intense chokehold.
“Well, they went public saying that I had a scratched larynx, or something like that, but here’s the thing, Roman Reigns choked me out so hard, if you take a look right here, I busted all these blood vessels in my eye,” Paul Heyman said.
Heyman expressed uncertainty about whether the eye injury was permanent, adding a metaphor about WWE’s presentation and how the damage affected his vision in a literal and figurative sense.
“Just take a look at my eye. I don’t know if it’s permanent damage or not, and you can think anything you want about what WWE is… we all have razz, and it’s like, there’s no real coffee in the coffee cup here, but it’s there for optics, and my optics are affected,” Paul Heyman said.
Outlook and Upcoming Appearances
Although sidelined after Clash In Paris, Heyman has indicated he may return for WWE Wrestlepalooza, scheduled for Saturday. The Vision faction remains active, with Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed set to face The Usos, while the main event will feature Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch battling CM Punk and AJ Lee. Heyman’s potential appearance could influence the direction of The Vision and WWE storylines going forward.
Heyman’s revelations about the real physical toll from Roman Reigns’ choke highlight the blurred lines between fiction and reality in WWE, suggesting heightened tension behind the scenes that could affect future narratives and performances.
