Paul Heyman was born on September 11, 1965, in Scarsdale, New York.[4] He began his professional wrestling career as a teenager in the 1970s, working as a ringside photographer at Madison Square Garden with a press pass, eventually building a relationship with Vince McMahon Sr.[5] Heyman's most transformative contribution to professional wrestling came in the 1990s when he took control of Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW) and revolutionized it into Extreme Championship Wrestling.[1] Under his creative direction, ECW became an underground phenomenon known for its brutal, innovative matches and charismatic performers. The promotion grew into the third-largest wrestling company in the world before financial difficulties led to its closure in 2001.[3] Following ECW's demise, Heyman joined WWE as a commentator and writer.[1] He played a pivotal role in developing SmackDown's creative direction, helping establish the "SmackDown Six" featuring wrestlers like Edge, Rey Mysterio, and Eddie Guerrero.[1] Heyman became renowned for his management skills, notably representing Brock Lesnar during his rise to become the youngest WWE Undisputed Champion at the time.[1] He later managed other top stars including CM Punk and Kurt Angle, becoming the only manager in wrestling history to represent three consecutive WWE Champions.[4] In 2014, Heyman managed Lesnar when he famously ended The Undertaker's 21-0 undefeated streak at WrestleMania XXX, an outcome considered one of wrestling's most shocking moments.[2] Since 2020, Heyman has served as Special Counsel to Roman Reigns, playing a central role in the Bloodline stable and helping orchestrate one of WWE's most dominant championship reigns.[3] Heyman was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2024, recognized as the first inductee of that year's class.[2] His influence on professional wrestling's creative direction and storytelling remains significant throughout his ongoing career with WWE.