Paul Heyman an talks significance of The Bloodline in WWE 2K25 and pop culture

[Chris]

Paul Heyman on The Bloodline’s Huge Presence in ‘WWE 2k25’: ‘Roman Reigns Is Hereby Acknowledged’

Paul Heyman spoke with Variety about the impact that Roman Reigns and The Bloodline have had on "WWE 2k25"

variety.com

Roman Reigns and The Bloodline are a massive part of “WWE 2k25″ and The Wise Man Paul Heyman wouldn’t have it any other way.

As revealed today, the standard edition cover of “WWE 2k25” features Roman Reigns with Heyman looking on from ringside. Meanwhile, The Bloodline Edition cover features members of both Reigns’ and Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline factions, including Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Heyman, Sami Zayn, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa, all connected through the roots of the Bloodline family tree.

“It’s truly a reaffirming moment for The Bloodline and the members within The Bloodline that Roman Reigns and I are on the cover of this video game,” Heyman said in an interview with Variety. “It’s a mainstream acknowledgement of the contributions to the entire sports entertainment industry by the Tribal Chief and his Wiseman. It’s a huge step into the mainstream. It’s an encapsulation of this moment in time in which the disruption of the entire industry by Roman Reigns is hereby acknowledged.”

But The Bloodline’s impact goes beyond just the covers. The PS5 and Xbox Series X|S version of the game also features what has been dubbed The Island. In this interactive mode, players can explore and challenge others, complete quests and challenges, compete in live events, and more, in an effort to secure a WWE contract by impressing “The Original Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns and maybe earning a spot in The Bloodline.

Furthermore, this edition’s 2k Showcase is officially The Bloodline Dynasty. Hosted by Heyman himself, the Showcase celebrates both The Bloodline and the extended Anoa’i family. It features Reigns, Jacob Fatu, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Yokozuna, and more. It will allow players to relive the family’s incredible influence on modern professional wrestling by recreating iconic matches, or change things up and flip the outcome of certain match ups.

Heyman admits that he would be the last person one would expect to host a video game, given that he is, in his own words, “a fat bald Jewish kid from the Bronx.” But the fact that he is the host of The Bloodline Dynasty “speaks to the relationship that WWE has with this audience, that the audience will embrace the wisdom as bestowed upon them by ‘The Wiseman.'”

So could this be the start of Heyman’s video gamer era?

“I would hope it’s even bigger than that, sir,” Heyman said. “I hope that you are dramatically understating my impact on the video game world, the disruption within, and the billions of dollars in stock options that I hope to be offered by both TKO and TTWO, which is the parent company of 2k Sports.”

And one cannot let a chance to speak with Heyman go by without getting his thoughts on “Monday Night Raw’s” recent move to Netflix. Needless to say, he had an answer locked and loaded.

“We’re no longer a boutique industry,” he said. “We’re not on the fringe. We’re driving pop culture now, and with the fact that Roman Reigns is the undisputed top box office attraction, the number one star in the entire industry, and his Wiseman, are driving these cultural phenomenon, I would suggest the youth of this world is in very good hands right now.”