5 Reasons why Paul Heyman turned heel and helped Bobby Lashley win the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble 2022

#3. To push Bobby Lashley to the next-tier of superstars

2021 was the greatest year of Bobby Lashley's wrestling career. He had a lot of success in IMPACT Wrestling, but even his world championship-caliber run with the company didn't result in his star power shooting up the way his 2021 run did.

From early March to late September 2021, Lashley dominated RAW for a little over six months. He was presented as a credible and legitimate champion, and his first run is largely looked back on as a positive one. In comparison, Big E's title reign didn't get the same kind of reception due to how he was handled.

Bobby Lashley lost a bit of momentum between September and November, but he quickly gained it back by forcing his way into the WWE title bout at Day 1. He is turning 46 years old this year, but he doesn't look like someone who is remotely close to retirement.

Due to the evolution in diets and physical regiments, athletes and superstars can enjoy much longer careers, and some reach their prime at an even later age. WWE knows they have Lashley for a while to come, and this move was meant to establish him as a top-tier star, perhaps on the level of Seth Rollins.