Paul Heyman emerges as key figure for Sunday Night’s Main Event

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BUFFALO, NEW YORK - AUGUST 17: Bron Breakker and Paul Heyman shake hands while Oba Femi looks on during Raw. | (Photo by Cooper Neill/WWE via Getty Images) Paul Heyman is quickly emerging as the centerpiece of Sunday Night’s Main Event. On Raw last Monday, he convinced Oba Femi and Bron Breakker to settle their differences in Atlanta at WWE’s next big special on Peacock. Though he had to threaten to remove Breakker from his client list to get “The Badass” to agree, the two appeared more amicable than they had in weeks by the end of the segment. However, Heyman continued to show respect for Femi, the man who retired Brock Lesnar — and whom Lesnar himself called the future. That fondness caught Breakker’s eye as Heyman passed him with a smile. This duplicitous behavior might suggest Heyman will show his true loyalties at Sunday Night’s Main Event, turning the battle over WWE’s future into a pivotal turning point. But Breakker or Femi might not be the only one leaving Atlanta with Heyman by their side. On SmackDown, Randy Orton all but laughed off the idea that Rhodes, a perennial good guy, would be the one to kill “The Legend Killer.” That prompted a curious response from Rhodes: “The one who kills the Legend Killer is QB1. And Randy, that is not a prediction — it’s a spoiler!” Not a prediction, but a spoiler. Words made famous by Heyman. In May, with Rhodes’ grip on the WWE Championship slipping, Heyman told him, “Sooner or later, they all need The Wise Man,” hinting that Rhodes may need his services. Now, Rhodes is out of title contention while Orton mocks him as a “Daydream” instead of a “Nightmare.” With Rhodes drifting from relevancy, Sunday Night’s Main Event could turn into a different show: Better Call Paul. A Cold Sunday for Corbin? It wouldn’t be a modern WWE production under the TKO banner without celebrity involvement, which brings us to Lil Yachty. On SmackDown, Baron Corbin agreed to rematch Trick Williams for the United States Championship if Williams’ hype man could last five minutes in the ring with Corbin. Rumors had swirled for months that Yachty was training for his WWE in-ring debut. Now, fans are finally getting it, even if it wasn’t something they wanted. It’s easy to understand why some would be hesitant about Yachty getting this involved with a storyline. Past celebrity involvement from Travis Scott and Pat McAfee left a bad taste. While this could turn into a disaster, there’s reason to approach the “bout” with optimism. According to sports and pop culture site False Finish, “Lil Yachty has earned the respect of many within the company and industry due to his dedication to the business and taking it as serious as possible.” The match itself also lends itself well to Yachty’s experience level, as it’s a classic wrestling trope introduced by a cocky heel that leads to their comeuppance. At the start, the babyface stalls before landing some surprise offense. The heel eventually takes over, but their need to humiliate the underdog often leads to their undoing. A mad scramble quickly ensues before the clock ultimately expires. Presumably, Williams will play a role in the match, ensuring his guy goes the distance. Unless Yachty turns in an all-time stinker, the match could provide the show with some levity at the expense of one of the few wrestlers fans despise. How to Watch Sunday Night’s Main Event heads to Atlanta’s State Farm Arena and streams live on Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Peacock in the United States and on YouTube internationally.