Paul Heyman Recalls How He First Met Vince McMahon Sr as a Photographer and Yearned for a Press Pass of Madison Square Garden.

Paul Heyman has been one of the most polarising yet gifted minds in the wrestling business ever. Roman Reigns Special Counsel contributed greatly to pro wrestling as part of NWA and ECW prior to his alliance with WWE’s iconic Bloodline. But his relationship with the WWE dated back to 1984, when he used to work as an in-ring photographer at Madison Square Garden.

Despite having some disagreements, Heyman and McMahon were in a quite amicable relationship. In fact, Heyman admired McMahon’s work ethic and his dedication a lot. Last year, when McMahon had to vacate his chair in the company amid misconduct allegations against him, it was Heyman who had a few words to say about McMahon’s professionalism and talent as a head. But not only McMahon, Paul also got the luck to meet his father, McMahon Sr. at the start of his career.

Paul Heyman explained how he met McMahon’s father for the first time

There is a story behind him meeting Jess McMahon, that many people might not be aware of. A news piece about Vince McMahon Sr. pushed him to meet in person to collect a press pass for Madison Square Garden.

Paul started photography at a very early age and was a vivid reader of sports pieces in the newspaper. During the recent episode of The Moment with Brian Koppelman, he revealed that one of Sunday’s articles about Vince moved him greatly. Describing how he met him for the first time, the Wiseman noted, ‘Ben Benson Steakhouse, that Vince senior would keep Ben Benson Steakhouse open, because the garden lay at 11 is awesome.’

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He continued, ‘I ran home from school, one lunch period and I found out that the offices were at the Cape Cod Coliseum which was at the time owned by Vince and Kennedy McMahon I called him this happened over the course of several days and finally after multi people tried to screen me out my story held, I met Vince McMahon.

Heyman then made a request upon meeting McMahon Sr. He said, This being senior at Ben Benson Steakhouse, a real dude introduced myself to him, informed him that I was a photographer, and I had a publication of my own and I needed a press pass for Madison Square Garden,’

Shortly after managing the press pass, he was able to win over McMahon with some of his splendid photographs.

Vince senior McMahon and Paul Heyman had a brief yet pleasant encounter

During his initial days at the Garden, Heyman used to be over-cautious of his work and performances. Once he took some black and white 8 * 10 photos of Vince James McMahon and Andre the Giant. But later he came to know that the company had all the rights to the pictures and could do anything with them.

He then approached Vince McMahon Sr., who had treated him very nicely and helped him with some transportation money. Paul recalled that he told him to come to him in the Garden every month with a couple of photographs. He also wanted him to focus on his education as a young guy.

Vince McMahon Sr died shortly after, in the same year, due to pancreatic cancer. Although he never got as much spotlight as his son, he was widely known as a true gentleman throughout his life.

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What’s your take on Paul Heyman meeting Vince Sr McMahon for the first time? Let us know in the comments.