The former NFL quarterback said in a Thursday, July 16 podcast interview that he’s hoping the WWE invites him to join a match
Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; WWE/X; Taylor Hill/WireImage
NEED TO KNOW
- Tom Brady slapped Logan Paul onstage at Fanatics Fest, sparking speculation about him joining WWE
- Brady expressed interest in a WWE match during a podcast interview
- Logan Paul is recovering from a torn tricep but claims he’s ready to return to WWE action
Is Tom Brady eying a professional wrestling career as his next act?
The NFL legend, 48, stirred up buzz at Fanatics Fest on Friday, July 17, when he slapped WWE superstar Logan Paul, 31, onstage in front of a live crowd.
As seen in a video posted by Fanatics on Instagram and X, the former NFL quarterback traded words with Paul face-to-face before slapping him, and was ultimately pulled away.
While it was difficult to make out what the two were saying in the video, WWE chimed in by posting their own clip of the slap, in which Paul could be heard saying afterward, “Yo, get your boy. Get your boy, bro. Get your boy. Take him that way; he’s going to get himself hurt. “
.@TomBrady just SLAPPED @LoganPaul at #FanaticsFest! 😱@Fanatics | @FanaticsFest pic.twitter.com/PdhHOInFPF
— WWE (@WWE) July 17, 2026
Brady and Paul went on to trade jabs on social media after the event.
Almost immediately after the clip went viral, Paul reposted a video of the incident on X, writing, “This happened bc I was roasting Tom for beating him in flag football. And he tries to smack me ?? Horrible example for the kids. Aura -100 + Blocked. With a torn tricep.”
The vlogger sustained an injury back in May at Saturday Night’s Main Event during a World Tag Team Championship match. Paul is part of the WWE faction The Vision, though he is currently not in the ring as he recovers from the tricep injury.
Brady responded to Paul’s post on X, writing, “I tried America… will try again next time I see this nerd.”
He also shared video of the slap on X, writing, “Dork.”
Credit: Bradlee Rutledge/WWE via Getty
In late May, Paul shared an update with his followers on YouTube and Instagram, noting that his injury has a six-month recovery window, potentially ruling him out of any physical action at upcoming live WWE events like SummerSlam, which begins on Aug. 1.
Earlier on Friday, Paul gave an update on his injury status during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take.
“The WWE medical team needs to tune in and medically clear me because I’m fine. I’m fine,” Paul said. “They said 6 months. It’s been two and I’m fine. Put me in. The Vision needs me. The company needs me. I’m ready to go.”
I tried America… will try again next time I see this nerd https://t.co/asiJrmYr3j
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) July 17, 2026
The back-and-forth began in February after Paul told Brady that his WWE career made him as athletic as NFL players — something Brady thought was “cute.”
The ongoing “feud” between Brady and Paul continued in March, when their respective teams faced off at the 2026 Fanatics Flag Football Classic, where Brady trolled Paul on the field by hitting him with a football.
Credit: John Nacion/Getty
As the video went viral, fans speculated that the bad blood between Brady and Paul could be a wrestling stunt, especially after Brady announced his interest in being involved in a WWE match during a live taping of What Do You Wanna Talk About? With Cody Rhodes on Thursday, July 16.
“I need to get an invite,” said Brady. “I’ve been waiting for [WWE president] Nick Khan to come up with some storyline for me to get in the mix. I feel like I’m retired from football, and I have an opportunity to go out there and still showcase that I’m a little bit of an athlete.”
Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE’s free sports newsletter — sign up now!
“My boy Gronk’s (Rob Gronkowski) done it,” he continued. “I’ve seen, obviously, Logan Paul do it. I think I can get in there for at least one match, right? Come on, Nick! Come on, make it happen.”
PEOPLE has reached out to reps for Brady and Paul, as well as TKO, WWE’s parent company, for comment.
Read the full article here
