The recent verbal exchange between NFL icon Tom Brady and WWE personality Logan Paul has quickly escalated beyond what should’ve been nothing more than just playful banter.
What started as lighthearted commentary during an appearance on Paul’s Impaulsive podcast has evolved into a pointed response from several of WWE’s most prominent figures, including CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, and Mark Henry.
During the conversation, Brady appeared to downplay the athletic comparison between professional football and professional wrestling. At one point, he said, “It’s cute. I love WWE. It’s very cute. But honestly, this is like real football, real competition.”
That single word, “cute”, became the focal point of the backlash.
WWE Stars Push Back
Never one to stay silent, Punk delivered one of the most memorable responses. Asked about Brady’s remark, he responded bluntly: “What’s wrong with cute? I’m cute, Tom.”
The line carried Punk’s trademark sarcasm, but it also reflected a deeper frustration with the persistent perception that professional wrestling is somehow less demanding than mainstream sports.
Veteran advocate and on-screen figure Paul Heyman followed with sharper commentary.
Heyman, known for his unapologetic defenses of WWE talent, questioned Brady’s authority to minimize the craft. “What’s Tom Brady done? He’s thrown a football, across a field, that was caught by Gronkowski… but Tom Brady? Eh, eh,” he said, deliberately undercutting the quarterback’s gridiron résumé in a wrestling context.
The current WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre, approached the matter from a slightly different angle.
Rather than attacking Brady, McIntyre framed the situation as a misunderstanding. “I don’t get annoyed; it just comes from a place of ignorance,” he stated before adding, “I would love to see Tom Brady step in and see what it actually is and see how cute he thinks it is.”
That challenge highlights a central point: WWE performers routinely absorb physical punishment in matches that combine choreographed storytelling with very real impact. Torn ligaments, concussions, and long-term wear are not part of a script.
Meanwhile, Hall of Famer Mark Henry delivered perhaps the most visceral rebuttal:
“For those who think it’s cute and it’s fluffy and it’s all sweet and stuff, you can come and try. You can lace up some boots and then let’s watch you puke,” Henry said, emphasizing the conditioning required to perform at a high level inside the ring.
Comparing and contrasting impressive NFL and WWE résumés
None of this diminishes Brady’s athletic legacy.
Over a 23-season career split between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady captured seven Super Bowl titles, three NFL MVP awards, and retired as the league’s all-time leader in passing yards (89,214) and passing touchdowns (649). His résumé is virtually unmatched in NFL history.
However, WWE performers argue that elite football credentials do not automatically grant authority to judge the physicality of professional wrestling.
Having competed in high-profile boxing matches and transitioned into WWE full-time appearances, Paul has repeatedly sought validation as a legitimate athlete. Brady’s comments, whether intended as humor or critique, landed at the intersection of that ongoing quest for recognition.
Ultimately, the situation highlights a longstanding tension between sports entertainment and traditional athletics.
WWE superstars are accustomed to skepticism. Yet as Punk, McIntyre, Heyman, and Henry made clear, they will not quietly accept dismissive characterizations of their profession.
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