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Logan Paul blasted by axed WWE star for ‘special treatment’ as backstage unease emerges
Logan Paul has been accused of getting ‘special treatment’ in WWE by a star axed by the company. Influencer turned boxer and grappler Paul, 30 next week, is established as one of WWE‘s most eye-catching performers. Few have doubted Logan Paul’s ability in the ring since his WWE debutGetty He made his wrestling debut in 2022 and, since then, has wrestled in just 18 matches as the company continues to manage his exposure. With a limited schedule of matches, the YouTuber has managed to wow fans with his natural athletic ability and talent for being unlikable as a heel – a ‘bad guy’ in wrestling terms. He’s battled at WrestleManias, captured viral moments with celebrity pals including ISHOWSPEED, and enjoyed a long run as the United States Champion – one of WWE’s most prestigious championships. But is all of this coming at a cost? Rumours have his earnings in WWE at a cool $5 million alone but, according to at least one ex-employee, that’s not all. Tom Pestock wrestled in WWE as the versatile and arguably underrated Baron Corbin, a former US Champion and King of the Ring in his own right. He was a surprise departure when the company opted not to renew his contract in late 2024, just days after filming footage for Netflix ahead of what would be WWE’s mammoth debut on the streaming platform. In an interview with Ariel Helwani, the grappler was quizzed on Paul’s backstage standing within the organisation, giving a grimacing response. Asked whether the reality star was popular among his peers, the former King Corbin shrugged: “I mean, sure. I don’t know.” Prompted to follow up on that answer, the 40-year-old acknowledged Paul ‘works hard’, but added he was ‘irritated’ by the way he speaks about the wrestling industry. He went on to add: “I just don’t like those guys that get that super special treatment. It’s not like he earned it from working his way up through NXT and getting on TV. GettyPaul was United States Champion up to summer 2024[/caption] “He gets that treatment because of his stardom on social media and YouTube, so I think he’s handed a lot of things that I think there are more deserving talent.” “I can’t stand people who run around with an entourage. He’s always got an entourage. They’re nice people, but it just irritates me, [seeing] that backstage.” In a candid outpouring, the former footballer and boxer detailed his unease at the rapid rise he feels stars in Paul’s position get to enjoy at the expense of those ‘grinding it out’ in the middle of the card. He continued: “I’m protective of this industry, and when outsiders come in like that with a gold spoon or platinum spoon, or whatever spoon he’s eating off of, I struggle to really buy into it.” “I worked some segments with him, it was fun, he’s a nice guy…[but] I want everyone to be successful and make money. “When you bring someone in from a different world and put them in front of those guys, it’s hard for me to give you all my respect. Tom Pestock wrestled as Baron Corbin in WWE having previously boxed and played football in the USWWE Paul is getting ahead at the expense of others, according to the former champGetty “ I’ll appreciate what you do, but we’re not gonna be buddies.” Paul is next set to feature on WWE programming on Monday night as Raw airs from London’s O2 Arena. He’s in the midst of a storyline with veteran AJ Styles which looks likely to lead to a WrestleMania match between the two next month.
Logan Paul has been accused of getting ‘special treatment’ in WWE by a star axed by the company.
Influencer turned boxer and grappler Paul, 30 next week, is established as one of WWE‘s most eye-catching performers.
He made his wrestling debut in 2022 and, since then, has wrestled in just 18 matches as the company continues to manage his exposure.
With a limited schedule of matches, the YouTuber has managed to wow fans with his natural athletic ability and talent for being unlikable as a heel – a ‘bad guy’ in wrestling terms.
He’s battled at WrestleManias, captured viral moments with celebrity pals including ISHOWSPEED, and enjoyed a long run as the United States Champion – one of WWE’s most prestigious championships.
But is all of this coming at a cost? Rumours have his earnings in WWE at a cool $5 million alone but, according to at least one ex-employee, that’s not all.
Tom Pestock wrestled in WWE as the versatile and arguably underrated Baron Corbin, a former US Champion and King of the Ring in his own right.
He was a surprise departure when the company opted not to renew his contract in late 2024, just days after filming footage for Netflix ahead of what would be WWE’s mammoth debut on the streaming platform.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani, the grappler was quizzed on Paul’s backstage standing within the organisation, giving a grimacing response.
Asked whether the reality star was popular among his peers, the former King Corbin shrugged: “I mean, sure. I don’t know.”
Prompted to follow up on that answer, the 40-year-old acknowledged Paul ‘works hard’, but added he was ‘irritated’ by the way he speaks about the wrestling industry.
He went on to add: “I just don’t like those guys that get that super special treatment. It’s not like he earned it from working his way up through NXT and getting on TV.
“He gets that treatment because of his stardom on social media and YouTube, so I think he’s handed a lot of things that I think there are more deserving talent.”
“I can’t stand people who run around with an entourage. He’s always got an entourage. They’re nice people, but it just irritates me, [seeing] that backstage.”
In a candid outpouring, the former footballer and boxer detailed his unease at the rapid rise he feels stars in Paul’s position get to enjoy at the expense of those ‘grinding it out’ in the middle of the card.
He continued: “I’m protective of this industry, and when outsiders come in like that with a gold spoon or platinum spoon, or whatever spoon he’s eating off of, I struggle to really buy into it.”
“I worked some segments with him, it was fun, he’s a nice guy…[but] I want everyone to be successful and make money.
“When you bring someone in from a different world and put them in front of those guys, it’s hard for me to give you all my respect.
“ I’ll appreciate what you do, but we’re not gonna be buddies.”
Paul is next set to feature on WWE programming on Monday night as Raw airs from London’s O2 Arena.
He’s in the midst of a storyline with veteran AJ Styles which looks likely to lead to a WrestleMania match between the two next month.
