Throughout their long and volatile association in WWE, Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman have shared a bond of alliance—but that doesn’t mean it’s been free of tension. On at least two high‑profile occasions, that tension boiled over, and Reigns turned on his so‑called “Wise Man.”
The first major instance occurred on the December 17, 2021 episode of SmackDown. In that episode, Roman Reigns publicly severed his alliance with Heyman, accusing him of playing both sides between Reigns and Brock Lesnar. After telling Heyman that he “loved him” and thanking him for his service, Reigns delivered a devastating Superman punch to Heyman, effectively “firing” him as his Special Counsel. He then looked poised to continue punishing Heyman—only for Brock Lesnar to intervene, attacking Reigns and giving Heyman a reprieve. This moment was especially dramatic given the long history between them, and it was built on the storyline that Heyman had quietly been protecting Reigns from Lesnar rather than serving Reigns against Lesnar.
The second recent instance happened in 2025 at Clash in Paris. After Roman Reigns defeated Bronson Reed in a heated match, he didn’t stop there—he turned his ire on Paul Heyman. This time, Reigns choked out Heyman with a guillotine hold, a much more physical and brutal move compared to the earlier punch. It was made all the more meaningful by the backstory: Heyman’s betrayal of Reigns at WrestleMania 41 (where he sided with Seth Rollins over Reigns) had long loomed as a key angle. By attacking Heyman in Paris, Reigns was avenging that betrayal and making it clear that even their shared history would not stop him from punishing perceived disloyalty.
In both of these attacks, we see a common pattern: Reigns uses violence to express a sense of betrayal or to cut ties with Heyman when he believes Heyman has failed or strayed. The 2021 attack was more abrupt and symbolic — a stunning turn of events — whereas the 2025 attack was more prolonged, visceral, and steeped in long‑term storyline payoffs.
These moments help underscore the complexity of their on-screen relationship: mentor and protege, manager and client, but also fragile trust and shifting loyalties. If you like, I can extend this to discuss all the times Heyman has been attacked by Reigns (or others) and how each fits into the larger narrative. Do you want me to expand?
