Paul Heyman Fires Back at Stephen A Smith Over Soft Comments

WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman responded on Monday, October 12, 2026, to recent comments made by ESPN host Stephen A. Smith, calling Smith a Paul Heyman wannabe during an episode of his YouTube channel show, the Heyman Hustle, as reported by Wrestling News and arab-wrestling.com. The exchange follows remarks Smith made on the October 8 edition of ESPN’s First Take, where Smith criticized Heyman for appearing too likable and losing his television edge.

Stephen A. Smith Criticizes Paul Heyman on First Take

On October 8, 2026, Stephen A. Smith delivered an on-air critique of Heyman during a segment of First Take, stating that the veteran wrestling manager had changed his public persona. Paul Heyman has not stood out over the last few months the way I expected him to, Smith said on the program. He’s actually become a likable figure. It’s one thing for me to like you, but everybody is supposed to hate you. I would dare say that I think Paul Heyman has lost a touch of his luster because he has been too fixated on being liked. I’m kinda disappointed, I must say. I think Paul Heyman has gotten a bit softer. The segment also included social media video clips shared by the official First Take X account.

Paul Heyman Answers With YouTube Video and Social Media Post

Heyman rejected the characterization in a video published to the Heyman Hustle YouTube channel, pointing to his long career in professional wrestling to defend his current approach. I guess the fact that I choose, after a 40-year Hall of Fame legendary goated career, not to be the second most obnoxious, abrasive loudmouth on television next to Shae Cornette, that makes me soft, Heyman stated in the video, according to Wrestling News. Heyman also highlighted an earlier First Take appearance featuring Roman Reigns where Smith asked how to enter his stewardship. Earlier on October 8, 2026, Heyman took to X to call the First Take commentary a comedy routine and objected to being called a manager rather than a WWE Hall of Famer, Advocate, Oracle, Wiseman, or GOAT.

Outlets Contrast the Exchange and Future WWE Involvement

Coverage from Wrestling News and arab-wrestling.com notes that the back-and-forth stems from earlier television appearances in May, when Smith expressed interest in serving as a top heel under Heyman’s guidance on WWE programming. While Smith previously claimed he would outheel the heel under Heyman’s instruction, WWE has not announced any official on-screen role or partnership for the ESPN host as of October 2026.