Paul Heyman was live in the studio for the “IT’S TIME!” podcast with UFC announcer Bruce Buffer this week, promoting Brock Lesnar’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 31 this weekend.
Heyman had some interesting thoughts about CM Punk’s first mixed martial arts fight, how it compares to Brock Lesnar’s first fight in UFC and more. You can check out the complete interview below, and for all the latest MMA news and notes be sure to visit Sherdog.com:
“It all depends on his first fight. Brock’s first fight in UFC was against Frank Mir, and it ended in 90 seconds with Brock tapping out. But for 87 of those seconds Brock Lesnar was the beast that everyone knows him to be…”
“If CM Punk comes out of the gate swinging, and he shows the UFC audience exactly why he was such an idolized and revered personality in WWE – and if he gets his hands on a microphone – than I think whatever attraction he could be in that first fight will be doubled by his second fight, because he will then make more UFC fans, and not just cross-over WWE fans. If he walks out and gets his face kicked in, and he doesn’t get a chance to talk, and he doesn’t put on a memorable performance than it’s a one-time-only deal.”
The interview was recorded prior to Lesnar announcing his new multi-year contract with WWE, so some of the statement made immediately became obsolete.
“It’s a distinct possibility. It is no secret that he’s in the middle of a contract negotiation with WWE. If that goes well, would WWE want exclusivity or would Brock be able to do both?”
Jack Encarnacao of the Lapsed Fan Podcast joined the show and asked Heyman about the alleged backstage incident with Vince McMahon, where Brock Lesnar reportedly “stormed off Raw”.
“I don’t agree with the assessment that Brock stormed out of the building. The dust-up was in a private room between Vince and Brock alone” … “I’m used to plans changing at the last second, after the last second, while we’re in the ring and in the middle of doing something; plans can change right then and right there and if you’re not ready for it then you’re in the wrong industry.”
Bruce noted that his brother Michael Buffer, who was the ring announcer for WCW for years, is very interested in returning to the ring to announce a WWE event in the future.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
