Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
It’s incredible to think that even after his recent loss to Tommy Fury, Jake Paul continues to be one of the biggest names in the professional fighting industry in 2023. You could say that his courageous defeat to Fury in the desert unquestionably did more for his credibility as a legitimate boxer than anything else has in his career up until this date.
Essentially, it has been nothing short of a meteoric rise for the man who used to present on the Disney channel and, tellingly, even on the back of his first career loss, this skyrocketing journey doesn’t look like it's coming to an end anytime soon with his fighting brand now stronger than ever after losing on a respectable split decision. All things considered, this is why Paul will continue to get the big-name boxing fights going forward and they don't come much bigger than Conor McGregor.
Indeed, Paul audaciously called out McGregor while in Saudi Arabia and the feeling is that the Irishman would be interested in a match with the American. This was an extraordinary demonstration of how high Paul's stock still is when you consider McGregor enjoys global stardom. You only need to study this infographic on US sports streaming to get a better understanding of McGregor’s popularity. The numbers don't lie, the Irishman is the most sought-after fighter in the US according to the search data for UFC streams.
The wider point here is that to be able to call out a man who is one of the most in-demand athletes on the planet and have a realistic shot of fighting him even after surrendering an undefeated record is telling of how Paul's star quality remains.
Ultimately, it is for these reasons that the powers that be at the WWE might be tempted to make Paul an offer he can’t refuse to join the company now that he is the talk of the fighting world. The reality is that it may not be as straightforward as that.
At least, irrespective of events in the Middle East, Paul is still determined to become a world champion in the boxing arena and has said that nothing will stop him in his quest to reach the summit of an industry in which very few have ever set foot in.
It is this tunnel vision and renewed dedication after tasting defeat that will undoubtedly make Paul's desire to succeed in the boxing ring even stronger which will ensure his commitment to boxing stays undiminished. There is another complication though and that is Paul's fear of severe injury while wrestling and what it could do to his long-term world title boxing hopes.
At least, it was only recently while speaking with Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour that Paul was quick to praise his brother Logan’s efforts in the WWE but also stressed that he couldn’t risk getting injured during such a critical time in his career as he begins the comeback after losing to Fury.
It should be pointed out that many listening to Paul’s comments may be surprised at hearing that the 26-year-old feared an injury would occur in the WWE ring and not the boxing one. Typically, the casual observer would normally assume that the brutal punches thrown in the ring would pose the most danger of getting hurt.
However, after Paul witnessed his brother tear his MCL during a heart-stopping match against Roman Reigns at the Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia - his eyes were opened to the dangers.
THROUGH THE TABLE @WWE pic.twitter.com/hmVslclxgs
— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) November 5, 2022
His exact words to Helwani when asked if there was a chance Paul could join the WWE in 2023 were: “We’ll see. I’m down. I just don’t want to get injured. My brother tore his MCL; it’s crazy out there. So, I just don’t want it to derail my boxing and all that, but I’m down. I love WWE. I love working with my brother. So that would definitely be something that could be on the horizon, for sure.”
Judging from these remarks, the good news for WWE fans is that Paul hasn’t ruled out a spell in the wrestling ring altogether. The downside is that if Paul is to be successful in doing the impossible by becoming a champion in professional boxing then the truth is that after losing to Fury it would take a few years as he would now have to work through a string of opponents before he can become a mandatory challenger. All of this means that there may be an indefinite wait for WWE fans who want to see the Paul brothers become tag team champions.
But given Paul’s current worldwide reach and the respect he earned in Saudi Arabia, even if it looks impossible, can the WWE afford to wait?
Should the WWE try and bring Paul in during 2023 then the company’s pay-per-view sales will surely hit an all-time high at the next big event, especially if they can create a narrative where the two brothers compete together. Admittedly, it would take a lot to ask Paul to deviate from salvaging his dream of sitting on boxing’s throne but everyone has a price.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
