The US Airways Center spoke to Paul Heyman recently while he was promoting this Sunday’s Royal Rumble PPV. Here are some highlights.

The first time he saw CM Punk: “You know, it’s that intangible “it” factor that separates guys that are great talents from guys that are great talents who also become great attractions. It’s an indescribable charisma that takes over a room and jumps through your TV set.

“The first time I saw a video of CM Punk, he was wrestling in some non-descript town on a little Indy show, and he came off like a gigantic superstar that was appearing on this small show. It jumped out at me how much star power he had. In addition to how talented he was in the ring and on the microphone, he just exudes star power.”

Who Punk reminds him of: “CM Punk reminds me of a lot of people. He has Rick Rude’s ability to feel the crowd. He has Steve Austin’s ability to change direction mid-stream, if he doesn’t like the way something is going. He has Brock Lesnar’s drive and ambition to be the absolute very best at what he does. He brings to the table the best of a lot of A-List people that I’ve worked with, and, as you pointed out, he is perhaps the most intelligent man that I have ever been in a conversation with in my life.”

If we will see a Brock Lesnar – CM Punk team: “Only if WWE chooses to write some very heavy paychecks.”

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