The WWE Hall of Fame has named its first inductee for the Class of 2024. This year’s inductee is none other than wrestling veteran, Paul Heyman. WWE announced the news earlier today. Appropriately, Heyman’s inductee will be a major homecoming for him. He will be inducted during the week of WrestleMania XL in April in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is best known as the birthplace of ECW, the revolutionary, groundbreaking, and now-defunct wrestling organization that Heyman co-founded.
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WWE Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque also commented on the news via his X account (formerly Twitter) earlier. He wrote, “He’s been a promoter, a manager, an executive, a ‘Wiseman,’ and now, a @WWE Hall of Famer. There’s more to say about @HeymanHustle, but as always, it’s best to let him say it himself… with a live microphone in Philadelphia. #WWEHOF”
PAUL HEYMAN SET FOR WWE HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
Paul Heyman started as an on-air personality in WCW under the nickname of Paul E. Dangerously, managing a stable known as the Dangerous Alliance, which constituted of the likes of Ravishing Rick Rude, Stunning Steve Austin (aka Stone Cold Steve Austin), Arn Anderson, and more. Heyman was well known for his big New York Attitude and carrying around an oversized cell phone.
After being released from WCW in 1993, he transformed the Philadelphia-based indie wrestling promotion Eastern Championship Wrestling into the infamous, underground, punk-rock wrestling organization known as Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). Eventually, ECW went from public access to being a nationally televised promotion with its own pay-per-view events, featuring a brutal, hardcore style and wrestlers you couldn’t see anywhere else. In ECW, you could also see a style that became the model for what was the WWF Attitude Era of the late 90s and early 2000s.
Unfortunately, the controversial wrestling company constantly struggled over the years, and ECW eventually went bankrupt and closed its doors in 2001. Heyman would then join WWE becoming a new on-air broadcaster opposite Jim Ross. He would also join the WCW Invasion, representing ECW when it joined WCW as part of an Alliance against Vince McMahon and WWE.
Paul Heyman has served many roles in WWE over the years. He’s been a broadcaster, creative writer, the Executive Director of Raw, and the manager of many talents. Some of those have included the likes of CM Punk, Brock Lesnar, Big Show Paul Wight, and Kurt Angle. Currently, Heyman serves as “The Wiseman” and special counsel to WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns and The Bloodline. Heyman has represented Reigns on air since he returned to television several years ago, and he’s managed Reigns throughout his epic title run, which has lasted 1,280 days.
Heyman has left an indelible mark on the wrestling business in many ways, and he’s undeniably deserving of a Hall of Fame induction. It couldn’t happen in a more appropriate setting and venue than Philadephia, Pennsylvania, which is still a wrestling hotbed. While ECW is gone, the memories of the organization endure, and they are strongest in Philly.
The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Induction Ceremony will take place on Friday, April 5 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The ceremony will begin following the live broadcast of Friday Night SmackDown on the FOX Network. The Hall of Fame Ceremony will stream live immediately after SmackDown on Peacock.
That same weekend, Paul Heyman will be managing Reigns for his long-awaited rematch with title challenger Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania XL. The title rematch will take place on Sunday, April 7 at Lincoln Financial Field. Also scheduled for WrestleMania XL, cousins Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Roman Reigns have issued a challenge to World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes for a tag team bout. That will likely take place on Night 1 on Saturday, April 6. In short, Heyman will have his hands full that weekend.
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It’s not yet clear who will induct Paul Heyman, so it should be interesting to see who he picks for the moment. With WrestleMania season well underway, WWE should also be announcing more Hall of Fame inductees very soon as well.
About WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Induction Ceremony
When: April 5, 2024
Where: Wells Fargo Center (3601 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19148)
Pricing: Tickets available now at Ticketmaster
Broadcast Distribution: Peacock
About: The WWE Hall of Fame will honor Superstars and veterans of the past. Traditionally held during WrestleMania Weekend, this year’s induction ceremony will be held in Philadelphia the night before WrestleMania XL. This year’s Hall of Fame Class has already named Bull Nakano and Paul Heyman.
What do you think of the news? Do you think Paul Heyman is a good choice for the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024 inductees? Who else do you want to see get inducted this year? What are your thoughts about the WWE Hall of Fame? Let us know your thoughts about the news on The Illuminerdi’s social media.
SOURCE: WWE
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