Skip Bayless’ First Take return vs. Stephen A. Smith gets Paul Heyman boost

Many are excited for Skip Bayless’ First Take return with Stephen A. Smith, and the latter may become a “Paul Heyman Guy” just in time for the fight of his life.

Heyman appeared on First Take on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, and hyped the return of Bayless, which is slated for Friday, May 8. This is the first time in nearly 10 years that Smith and Bayless will debate each other.

He quipped that the upcoming match between Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker is the “second-most heavily-anticipated fight of the entire Mother’s Day weekend” after Bayless vs. Smith.

“Stephen A. Smith will declare why, for the last 10 years, he has remained on ESPN; why First Take has become the Stephen A. Smith Show, and why Skip is no longer around while he comes in for a cameo to go up against the ‘Great One’ himself, the second greatest orator in the history of television — next to me — Stephen A. Smith!”

Heyman also doubled down on this on X, formerly Twitter, writing, “Ladies and Gentlemen, My Name is Paul Heyman and I am the Advocate for [Stephen A. Smith] vs. [Skip Bayless] this Friday on [ESPN First Take]!”

Smith later asked what was required to become a pupil of Heyman’s. He responded, “The willingness to be subservient to the cause of pure greatness.”

Skip Bayless’ return to First Take after 10 years to take on Stephen A. Smith