Pro wrestling is one of those strange hybrids of sports and entertainment. WWE pretty much coined the phrase sports entertainment. So it shouldn’t be a big surprise that over the past few years WWE has spent just as much time recruiting and training high-profile names from Hollywood instead of their old method of watching for rookies wrestling at little independent wrestling leagues at bingo halls and high school gyms.
The news broke this week that controversial YouTube star Logan Paul signed a WWE contract. Paul has done well in a series of exhibition boxing matches. But those are real hits to the head so a career in World Wrestling Entertainment where those punches are pulled probably was a lot more attractive.
Logan Paul won’t wait long to make his TV debut on WWE’s flagship show Monday Night Raw. Amalie Arena tweeted yesterday that Paul will appear when Raw is beamed around the world from Tampa on July 18. It’s not specified if he’ll actually be wrestling or just making an appearance.
Logan Paul has already competed in a WWE ring. He was a part of a tag team match at this year’s WrestleMania… and surprised man. He was actually quite good at fake fighting! Sure it’s fake, but the gymnastics, timing and athleticism required to do well in WWE – Logan had it. And it’s painful to give props to the guy. He has had pretty shady moments during his rise to fame. Back in 2018, Paul shot an episode of his vlog in a forest known to be a frequent site of suicides. Paul took the video down and apologized – after it already had millions of YouTube views.
Other WWE performers set to visit Tampa include former UFC fighter Matt Riddle, Seth Rollins, Austin Theory, AJ Styles, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, and it’s possible Tampa Bay’s own John Cena could drop by. Cena recently returned to WWE to celebrate 20 years in the organization.
You also have to wonder if ousted WWE CEO Vince McMahon will make an appearance. He’s been on several episodes of WWE programming recently, even though he’s stepped down from his position of running the company. McMahon is under investigation after the news went public that he paid a former female employee $3 million to keep hush about their relationship. It’s been reported that the employee was a paralegal whose salary doubled as she had an affair with the boss. Vince McMahon’s daughter Stephanie has assumed her father’s role during the investigation.
Logan Paul’s Career in the Ring… as a Boxer