Logan Paul’s ambitions to step back into the boxing ring have hit a significant corporate roadblock. The former WWE United States Champion recently made headlines by issuing a high-stakes $1 million challenge to any active NFL player willing to face him in a boxing match. While the pitch garnered immediate interest from several professional athletes, WWE management has officially stepped in to shut down the potential crossover event.
WWE Cites “Unnecessary Risk” and Injury Concerns
The directive from WWE came during a recent livestream, where Paul was contacted by a company official and ordered to cease his pursuit of the matchup. During the recorded call, the executive was blunt about the company’s stance, emphasizing that Paul’s primary commitment is to the wrestling brand. “One, we don’t want you to get injured,” the official stated. “It’s just unnecessary risk, like you don’t know if you slip, you fall. We don’t want to risk any injury… we just would prefer for you not to be boxing.”
Despite Paul’s insistence that there was “no risk” and his derogatory claim that “these guys cannot box,” the WWE executive remained firm. The company asserted that it would not grant approval for “extracurricular activities” that are unrelated to WWE, especially those that pose a physical threat to one of their top attractions. This intervention highlights the strict control WWE maintains over its talent’s outside ventures, particularly concerning combat sports that could result in legitimate injuries.
The challenge had originally seen positive responses from active NFL players such as Dion Dawkins, Brock Hoffman, and Kingsley Suamataia. However, Paul ultimately agreed to abide by the company’s wishes. “At the end of the day, I’m a WWE superstar and my loyalty is with the WWE,” Paul said at the conclusion of the call. “If I do not have their blessing to do some extracurricular activities that are unrelated to the WWE like boxing, as much as I would love to do it, I gotta honor my job and my commitment to my profession.”
