In cahoots with Bloodline 2.0's actual mastermind; team up with former champion? 3 reasons why Paul Heyman didn't return at WWE SummerSlam

WWE legend Paul Heyman found himself on the wrong side of The Bloodline 2.0 during the June 28 episode of SmackDown. Fans were anticipating his return during the Undisputed WWE Title match at SummerSlam 2024, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa had an intense match under Bloodline Rules, ending with a shocking return from Roman Reigns. The Head of the Table attacked Sikoa, causing him to lose the title in a thrilling conclusion.

To everyone's surprise, The Wiseman was not by his side, even after what he went through at the hands of Sikoa's Bloodline. What were the reasons behind his absence? Here are three potential reasons why the veteran manager chose not to appear:

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#3. Paul Heyman could be collaborating with the mastermind behind Bloodline 2.0, who is none other than The Rock

WWE appears inclined to postpone Paul Heyman's return, reserving it for the future. One conceivable storyline could involve Heyman reuniting with Roman Reigns, only to subsequently betray him. This scenario might culminate in Heyman aligning himself with none other than The Rock.

The Final Boss has been missing since WrestleMania 40, but what if he’s been the mastermind behind everything going down with Roman Reigns? During The Bloodline acknowledgment ceremony, Heyman pointed out that Sikoa isn’t his Tribal Chief. Maybe he was talking about The Rock, and they’ve been scheming together this whole time.

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#2. He and Roman Reigns haven't been getting along since WrestleMania

During the recent Bloodline Acknowledgement Ceremony, Paul Heyman refused to acknowledge Solo Sikoa as his Tribal Chief. As a result, The Enforcer got into a physical altercation with The Wiseman, causing The Bloodline to brutally attack him, which resulted in him being taken away in an ambulance. During the beatdown, he received no assistance from anyone. Not even his most trusted companion came to his aid.

A few months ago, he informed Sikoa that he had not communicated with his Tribal Chief since WrestleMania 40. The absence of the original Bloodline leader may have unsettled him and caused strain in his relationship with his friend. In his absence, he could be contemplating turning against his client. It remains to be seen if Paul Heyman will reconcile with Reigns without any issues or if he will switch sides and join forces with someone else.

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#1. Paul Heyman could be looking to make up with Brock Lesnar

Heyman recently dropped a hint about Brock Lesnar's potential return. He shared photos of action figures of him with his former client on his official Instagram account. The story led to speculation regarding the potential return of Brock Lesnar.

Brock Lesnar was said to be gearing up for a comeback earlier this year, but that did not happen. The Beast Incarnate last wrestled against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2023 in a match he lost that night. Ever since then, he hasn't set foot inside the squared circle. Heyman might be looking to distance himself from The Bloodline and could go back to his old ways when he eventually comes back to WWE.