Add as a preferred source on Google Paul Heyman opened up with new details on the creation of The Tribal Chief character, the persona that completely changed Roman Reigns’ WWE career starting in 2020.
During a recent appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Heyman said Vince McMahon was not fully sold on changing Reigns’ presentation. According to Heyman, Vince’s initial idea was to keep Roman as “The Big Dog,” only with Heyman by his side.
“The Big Dog, Roman Reigns, with his advocate, Paul Heyman.”
Heyman, however, rejected that idea. The WWE Hall of Famer explained that he could not be introduced as Reigns’ “advocate,” since that role was directly tied to his historic partnership with Brock Lesnar.
“This is a whole new character.”
Paul Heyman says Vince McMahon wanted Roman Reigns to still be known as "The Big Dog" rather than the Tribal Chief following his WWE heel turn in 2020:
— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) June 23, 2026
"The first time I came up with Tribal Chief, [Vince said] ‘Really? You want to call him the Tribal Chief?’”
“[What did Vince… pic.twitter.com/NUKB4wErxn
According to Heyman, the change needed to be as significant as The Undertaker becoming the American Badass. In his view, Reigns could not simply return with a new attitude. He needed an entirely different persona, one built after years of rejection, pressure, and growth in front of the audience.
Heyman also revealed that his alliance with Reigns was originally supposed to be introduced at SummerSlam 2020. The initial plan was for both men to return together at the event, setting the stage for Payback, where Roman would regain the Universal Championship.
Instead, WWE revealed the partnership on the August 28, 2020 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, when Reigns appeared alongside Heyman during the contract signing for Payback. Two days later, he defeated “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman in a No Holds Barred Triple Threat Match, beginning the title reign that would carry the entire Tribal Chief era.