In a revealing interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman opened up about his evolving backstage role, notably confirming that he is actively involved in planning WrestleMania storylines up to three years in advance. Known as “the old guy now” in WWE’s creative ecosystem, Heyman serves at the discretion of Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, focusing on long-term storytelling while mentoring the next generation of main event talent.

Heyman, who once helmed Extreme Championship Wrestling and has been a transformative wrestling visionary for decades, described his current day-to-day role as different from the weekly grind of show writing. “Not all of them. Not on a weekly basis. Long-term meetings I’m in. So when we start talking about next year’s WrestleMania or the year after WrestleMania or the year after that’s WrestleMania… When we start planning things out, I go to those meetings,” he said during the interview, as reported by WrestleTalk and WrestlingNews.co.[1][3]

This long-range creative involvement affirms WWE’s commitment to intricate, multi-year story arcs—a practice often revered by fans but rarely confirmed in such detail. Heyman’s input shapes pivotal pay-per-view narratives months and years before they reach the ring, providing strategic vision that helps future-proof WWE’s marquee events.

“The Wise Man” — a moniker given to Heyman by Roman Reigns on-screen — symbolizes his respected presence both on camera and behind the scenes. Heyman paid homage to the legendary “Three Wise Men of the East” (Lou Albano, Freddie Blassie, and The Grand Wizard), names that carry historical weight in wrestling management. He said, “It’s a name I took seriously, because a lot of people will come to me because I’m the old guy now, because I’ve survived so many regimes… this is now the third or fourth generation of a regime in this company that I’ve worked for.”[3]

Heyman’s work under numerous leadership eras—from Vince McMahon Sr. to today’s Paul Levesque—has equipped him with unmatched institutional knowledge, making him a vital mentor and creative advisor. While contemporary WWE writers handle the weekly content pressure, Heyman’s role centers on advising talent and shaping sustainable character development.

Sources close to WWE confirm that Heyman often workshops concepts directly with wrestlers. For instance, he discusses with rising stars like Bron Breakker how they should interpret their character and storytelling beats, emphasizing performance authenticity over rote script reading. “I don’t care how Bronson Rechsteiner would approach that concept. How would Bron Breakker approach it?” Heyman explained on the Sports Media with Richard Deitsch podcast.[2]

Despite not penning weekly scripts as extensively as before, Heyman remains deeply embedded in marquee narratives, especially the hugely successful Bloodline storyline featuring Roman Reigns. His occasional hands-on mentorship balances with his overarching creative advisory role, as also highlighted by Fightful and WWE.com reports.

Heyman detailed that his availability fluctuates, “I serve at the pleasure of the Chief Creative Officer, Paul Levesque, as much or as little as I’m needed… There are some days I’m not needed that much. And there are other days where a lot of talent need a lot of direction, or a lot of motivation or a lot of inspiration, or a lot of understanding about their performance.” This flexible yet influential role enables Heyman to nurture talent and keep long-term angles on course without being bogged down by weekly deadlines.[3]

In the larger wrestling landscape, Heyman’s multi-year planning insight is a remarkable glimpse into WWE’s backstage creative processes, underscoring their efforts to maintain continuity and emotional payoff over extended storytelling periods. It signals the company’s intention to build legacy moments that resonate beyond single events.

As WWE continues to evolve its creative approach under Triple H’s leadership, Heyman’s guidance as the acknowledged “Wise Man” ensures that institutional memory and visionary creativity intersect for the product’s benefit. His involvement in WrestleMania’s planning makes him a key architect of WWE’s future giant moments.

Sources:

• WrestleTalk, “Paul Heyman Reveals Status In WWE Creative,” August 6, 2025 [https://wrestletalk.com/news/paul-heyman-reveals-status-wwe-creative/]
• Sports Illustrated / Fannation, “Paul Heyman Discusses Backstage WWE Role And The Bloodline Storyline,” February 1, 2025 [https://www.si.com/fannation/wrestling/wwe/paul-heyman-discusses-backstage-wwe-role-and-the-bloodline-storyline]
• WrestlingNews.co, “Paul Heyman Reveals He Is Involved In Planning WrestleManias Three Years In Advance,” August 7, 2025 [https://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/paul-heyman-reveals-involved-planning-wrestlemanias-three-years-advance/]
• Sports Media with Richard Deitsch podcast, interview with Paul Heyman, 2025

This insider perspective confirms Paul Heyman’s unique role as both a creative strategist shaping WWE’s biggest shows years ahead and a mentor helping talents thrive in the spotlight.