Paul Heyman’s relationship with The Bloodline didn’t just start when he aligned with Roman Reigns in 2020. Heyman has been a friend and associate of the Anoa’i family for three decades. So to get in The Bloodline’s good graces, Sami Zayn felt that the person he really needed to convince was Paul Heyman.
Sami spoke with Ariel Helwani of BT Sport about what it took to get Heyman on board with his inclusion with wrestling’s royalty. Heyman has been largely opposed to Sami being part of The Bloodline, serving as prosecutor and wishing death upon Sami during the tribal court segment on RAW XXX.
Zayn said, “If I’m being brutally honest. Heyman is the one I felt like I had to convince. He’s old school. Roman is his guy, Brock was his guy, and he is very familiar with the top of the card. So for him to be able to buy into me being a part of the act that is at the top of the card, I don’t want him to be one of those guys that’s grabbing Roman and going, ‘Look, you can’t work with him. he just did this stuff with [Johnny] Knoxville.’
“I know Roman knows I’m pretty good. I know The Usos think I’m pretty good. I think all these guys are great. There is mutual respect. We’re peers. With Heyman, he’s more strategic about things, things I wouldn’t think of. He looks at the business in different ways, and ways that sometimes, I wouldn’t look at. So if there was anyone I thought wouldn’t be on board, I would have to get convinced; I thought maybe it would be Heyman.”
Sami’s time with The Bloodline came to an end at the Royal Rumble. Zayn chose to lay out Roman Reigns with a steel chair before being beaten down by Solo Sikoa, Jimmy Uso, and Reigns. Jey Uso didn’t take part in the decimation of Sami and left the ring, clearly conflicted about his emotions.