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The world is once again talking about Logan Paul, though this time it is with praise heaped towards him. At the 2022 WWE Crown Jewel PPV event, Logan Paul stepped into the ring to main event the show against Roman Reigns in a match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. During this match, Paul showed his skillset to the point where he must be considered as the greatest celebrity to ever step foot in a WWE ring. This may be a huge statement to make given the fact that he has just had three matches, though at the same time, that same point can also be used to argue for how good he is.
Fans Were Initially Cold Towards Logan Paul In WWE
When Logan Paul first appeared on WWE television (and the numerous times after that), his arrival was met with a collective groan from those in the crowd and those sitting watching at home. Paul carries around a reputation for being an annoying social media personality with controversy attached to his name, though over the last few years he seems to have slowly bettered his image and standing with many of his followers.
If fans are looking at the wider picture of his involvement with WWE, the decision to bring him in should be looked at as a clever one. Paul is someone with a huge number of followers online, with his influence being felt across several platforms. He was bound to create some buzz and potentially even bring in new viewers, and that is exactly why he was continually brought back over time. When first appearing at WrestleMania 37, he looked a little lost, and his sell of Kevin Owens’ stunner wasn’t all that great, but in the time since, he has appeared to be more and more comfortable.
Logan Paul Exceeded Expectations At WrestleMania And SummerSlam
Paul returned to WWE in 2022 to partner up with The Miz at WrestleMania 38, in a big celebrity match. The likes of Bad Bunny and Shaquille O’Neil had made some big statements over years prior when it comes to the standard that celebrities must reach when wrestling, but Paul instantly looked a level above. He performed his moves with conviction, and despite a little confusion over what corner he was standing in at one point, he had one hell of a showing. What made him stand out wasn’t just his in-ring abilities, but it was the charisma he possessed too, responding to the crowd and soaking in the atmosphere.
WWE made the call to turn him babyface, which was met with some negativity, especially ahead of his match with The Miz at SummerSlam. However, by the time the match had ended, Paul was met with a big pop and a lot of applause, with there being a certain level of respect given for his performance. He had potentially one of The Miz’s best matches in WWE, so that alone must be appreciated. Ahead of the Crown Jewel 2022 PPV, Paul was announced as Roman Reigns challenger, and once again this was met with negativity, meaning Paul had to overcome a lot of obstacles again.
Roman Reigns Vs Logan Paul Was A Fantastic Match
Logan Paul’s widespread appeal was on show when he was given a big reaction from the Saudi Arabia fans, and it was clear that he was again comfortable under the spotlight. From there, he and Reigns put on a tremendous PPV main event. Despite being a “YouTuber” and “social media star”, Paul was made at times to look like Reigns’ equal, but not at the detriment of Reigns as a performer.
Paul played the plucky underdog babyface well, but also showcased his own personality during the match too. The match had strong psychology, big moments, a good pace, and a lot of fun and organized chaos towards the latter stages of the match as well. Paul surpassed expectations for a third time, and left the match with fans giving him approval - both in the arena and online.
There has been perhaps no celebrity in WWE history who has taken to in-ring action quite as quickly or successfully as Paul has. Sure, he may have had a head-start from a physical and athleticism standpoint, but being this good after just three matches is unheard of - even for those who pursue a full-time career in the sport. The likes of Lawrence Taylor, Floyd Mayweather, and Mr T all had strong showings, but they weren’t up to the level of Paul - not even close. He is already the best celebrity wrestler WWE has ever seen, and once he recovers from his injuries, WWE will likely be desperate to get him back between the ropes.