WWE: Paul Heyman on His Induction Into WWE Hall of Fame, Vince McMahon Sells More TKO Group Stock, A&E WWE Ratings

Mar 5, 2024

Paul Heyman Comments on His Induction Into WWE’s Hall of Fame

The New York Post held a recent interview with Paul Heyman. One of the topics discussed included Heyman thoughts about turning down WWE’s Hall of Fame offers “several times” throughout the years before accepting it for this year due to him feeling he is not done achieving stuff in his career.

“It’s taken me all these decades to figure this business out and the art of presentation to an audience, so while I hate to use the old cliche of, ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet, and I’m just getting started,’ … You ain’t seen nothing yet, and I’m just getting started.
I don’t want a lifetime achievement award when I’m not done achieving things. I still have a lot of other work I want to do in this industry. I want to be involved in the first main event of WrestleMania in Havana, or on the moon, or on Mars when Elon Musk colonizes it. These are things that are going to happen in the future and I desperately want to be a part of it.”

Heyman also gave his thoughts about how he had felt he was finished with the wrestling industry after his exit from WWE in 2006 but received an offer he could not refuse for a return years later.

“I thought I was done (in wrestling). When Brock Lesnar first came back in 2012, I didn’t come with him. I couldn’t imagine coming back to the industry. I thought I was finished for good and it was time to do something else with my life. They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, and the funny thing is both Brock and I only agreed to come back for a year, till the WrestleMania at MetLife in 2013. But by that time, I was already working with CM Punk on camera and behind the scenes, and was having so much fun that we decided to stick around. The next year was the match with The Undertaker in which Lesnar conquered the undefeated streak. Once that happened, I figured I was pretty much here for life.”

Heyman also gave his thoughts about how much input he has with the presentation of The Bloodline’s story in WWE.

“I carry a significant voice in how we are portrayed and presented — that includes everything from camera angles to music to storylines. It’s why Roman Reigns bestowed upon me the blessing name of The Wiseman, which is both acknowledgment from the Tribal Chief to his Special Counsel, and also a historical reference to the Grand Wizard, Freddie Blassie and Captain Lou Albano, who are the only managers during the Vincent James McMahon era. I don’t know if I could only be a performer. I wouldn’t be satisfied. I wouldn’t be happy with just going out there and doing our shtick. I have to have a voice. I have to have some level of input, and so far, as luck would have it, that input has been not only welcomed but encouraged and very well received.”

Vince McMahon Sells Around 25% of His TKO Stock

In a recent filing to the SEC, TKO Group stated that former TKO Executive Chairman Vince McMahon will be selling 5,350,000 shares of his Class A stock in the company for an amount valued at $411,950,000. This stock amount is around 25% of the shares McMahon currently owns in TKO.

Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston reported that McMahon will still own around 15 million shares in TKO, which would be around 9% of all TKO stock.

NEW FILING: Vince McMahon sells 5,350,000 TKO shares, a value of $412 million.

After the transaction, he has about 15 million shares, or about 9% of all TKO stock. pic.twitter.com/SropbXk5Dg
— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) March 5, 2024

A&E WWE Programming Ratings – March 3, 2024

This past Sunday’s Biography: WWE Legends episode drew 276,000 viewers on A&E. This episode also drew a 0.07 rating in the 18-49 demographic. The key demographic ranking for the show is currently not known. This was down compared to last week’s episode of 377,000 viewers and a 0.11 key demographic rating. This episode focused on WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter.

This past Sunday’s WWE Rivals episode drew 316,000 viewers on A&E. This episode also drew a 0.06 rating in the 18-49 demographic. The key demographic ranking for the show is currently not known. This was down compared to last week’s episode of 351,000 viewers and 0.07 key demographic rating. This episode focused on the famous Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage feud.

Source: Jed I. Goodman