3 superstars who can become the ‘female Paul Heyman’
Whenever we talk about the greatest wrestling managers of all time, Paul Heyman's name is bound to come up. What Bobby Heenan accomplished during WWE's Golden era, Heyman has arguably surpassed that with his invaluable contributions to the modern era.
From Brock Lesnar to Roman Reigns, many world-class performers owe their careers to The Wiseman, who helped them immensely in getting over with the audience. Many managers across the wrestling industry have tried emulating Paul Heyman's success. While the likes of Don Callis, MVP, and Prince Nana are unique in their own way, none of them stands near the level of The Advocate.
However, there are certain female talents who have expressed their desire to recreate Heyman's legacy as a manager. In this article, let's look at three superstars who could emerge as the 'female Paul Heyman.'
#3. Saraya could become an iconic manager following her eventual retirement
Following her unexpected retirement from in-ring competition in 2018, Saraya (fka Paige in WWE) successfully transitioned to a non-wrestling role. The British Superstar served as the General Manager of WWE SmackDown before she eventually became the mouthpiece for Asuka and Kairi Sane, collectively known as the Kabuki Warriors.
During an old interview, Saraya discussed the formation of The Kabuki Warriors, and how Paul Heyman touted her as the female version of himself. Here's what the Anti-Diva revealed about her conversation with the legendary advocate:
“So I pitched the idea to Asuka, but then Paul Heyman called me and said that pretty much I was going to be the female version of him, but with these two instead, and I was super-excited about it. Slowly but surely we’re creating a really cool bond between the three of us. I know it looks kind of weird at first, you know, the dynamic of having this pale goth chick and then these beautiful Japanese wrestlers who are very colorful and vibrant like unicorns."
With her prior experience of managing world-class talents, Saraya could very well establish herself as the second coming of Paul Heyman, once she decides to hang up her boots.
Before her debut in All Elite Wrestling, the former AEW Women's Champion also offered to manage Ronda Rousey on WWE television, which sadly did not transpire. However, Saraya could prove her worth as the perfect mouthpiece once she decides to draw curtains on her in-ring career.
#2. CJ Perry could very well be the successor to Paul Heyman
CJ Perry (fka Lana) has emerged as one of the most popular female managers in the history of the business. While the likes of Miss Elizabeth, Marlena, and Sherri caught the audience's attention in the 90s, Perry has continued their legacy with his impressive performances since 2014.
Following her recent AEW exit, CJ Perry revealed her plans regarding her managerial role. The Ravishing Russian is focused on elevating potential superstars to the next level, with her sights set on becoming the next Paul Heyman.
Here's what Perry had to say about her ambitions:
"I'm really focused on finding talent and cultivating them and helping them become the best wrestler, champion possible, I guess you could say I want to be the Paul Heyman."
Bobby Lashley, Dolph Ziggler (aka Nic Nemeth), and Andrade El Idolo are some of the major clients Perry has managed over the years. However, Miro(fka Rusev) is undoubtedly the most prominent superstar to have acquired the services of the Ravishing Russian.
The stars were part of many memorable segments together, as the female manager helped Miro appear as a menacing force on television.
As someone who plays every onscreen character with determination, CJ Perry has a good shot at succeeding Paul Heyman in the wrestling industry. Now that she is no longer a part of AEW, the 39-year-old star could return to WWE to fulfill her ambitions of becoming the greatest female manager of all time.
#1. Zelina Vega's charisma could help her become the next Paul Heyman
Before transitioning into a full-time wrestler on the main roster, Zelina Vega served as Andrade's accomplice in NXT. Known for her charismatic personality, Vega had grown into an integral part of El Idolo's character. The LWO member tore through Andrade's opponents on the mic, while her client ran through his competition in the ring.
During a 2021 interview, Vega opened up about her thought process while trying to craft her manager persona in NXT. The former Queen of the Ring talked about her admiration for renowned managers like Sherri, Melina, and Paul Heyman, and how she wanted to blend their personas into one solid character.
However, Vega was well aware that her role was to elevate Andrade, and not put the spotlight on herself. Here's what the former WWE Women's Tag Team Champion had to say:
"It was more about Andrade than it was about me. I remember thinking at one point before coming to NXT, I had never been a manager. I hadn't even thought about it. But I loved Paul Heyman, Sherri, and Melina. I was, like, how can I blend these words into this new character of mine? It's just something that I fell in love with eventually because I had no idea what I was doing at first. It was just like lightning struck when I met him. We just started to read each other's minds and I know that it sounds crazy, but I could literally just look at him and know what he was thinking."
Although she is currently thriving as an in-ring performer, Zelina Vega would not mind going back to her managerial roots in the future. Her strength lies in her incredible mic skills, which give the 33-year-old performer an edge over many other talents in the women's division.
If the former Queen of the Ring ever picks up the managerial role again, she would certainly aspire to leave the same impact in the industry as Paul Heyman.