Whoever thought it was a good idea to take Paul Heyman sneaker shopping should get the boot.
On Monday, the WWE Hall of Famer was a guest on Sneaker Shopping with Complex’s Joe La Puma.
For those who are unfamiliar with its premise, guests on Sneaker Shopping do as the title suggests. Along the way, they talk about their careers and upcoming projects, while sharing their knowledge and personal anecdotes on sneakers.
I’m not a sneakerhead, but I am a Paul Heyman guy, so I gave it a watch. From the jump,
Heyman questions why he’s on the show.
“I don’t even like fucking sneakers,” Heyman quipped within the first 30 seconds.
The gag continues throughout the show, which lasts just under 13 minutes. Besides some zingers and one-liners, Heyman remains in-character the entire time.
Even as host La Puma brings up an old photo of Heyman with Michael Jordan, Brock Lesnar’s advocate casually dismisses Jordan. He insists that Jordan was a backup to Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen during the trio’s NBA title run in the 1990s.
He even proclaims that Steph Curry, not Jordan, is basketball’s GOAT.
As Heyman thumbs his nose at sneaker culture, he finally seems receptive to a pair of black-and-red Nikes. But when he’s told that they’re Bloodline 12s, he tosses them to the side.
It appears a reconciliation with Roman Reigns and the Samoan dynasty isn’t in the works anytime soon.
While the show touched on Heyman’s famous client, Lesnar, and his upcoming match with Oba Femi, wrestling’s greatest pitchman did little to promote this Saturday’s Hell in a Cell match at SummerSlam, making this a colossal waste of time.
Wrestling fans who enjoy Heyman’s schtick might enjoy the episode. But this was a missed opportunity to appeal to non-wrestling fans who might have been curious as to who Heyman is, why he’s important, and why Lesnar vs. Femi is a big deal.
Instead, at a time when WWE needs help selling one of its biggest events of the year, one of wrestling’s greatest orators went flatter than an old pair of Reebok Pumps.
