During a recent episode of his IMPAULSIVE podcast, Logan Paul addressed the backlash aimed at LA Knight following a slip during the WWE Elimination Chamber men’s match. Paul, a former United States Champion himself, argued that the mishap was not due to Knight’s mistake but rather the condition of the ring ropes by the time of the match.
Paul explained that the ropes had become extremely slippery after extensive use throughout the night, making it difficult for the wrestlers to perform safely and effectively. He insisted the slip was an unfortunate result of these conditions, rather than any lack of skill or effort on Knight’s part.
Detailed Explanation of the Slippery Ring Conditions
Paul shared his firsthand account from inside the ring while watching the slip occur live. He described feeling how slick and oily the ropes had become due to the accumulation of sweat and wear by the time the final match took place.
“Look, dude, what I’m about to say is the last thing I wanna do. I don’t wanna do this, because I despise L.A. Knight and everything he stands for, because let’s be honest, he doesn’t stand for anything. He stands for one affirmative word, ‘Yeah!’ We get it bro. Shut up. No!… He can’t even stand on the rope. I don’t wanna say this, but that particular botch that L.A. Knight had is not his fault, and I was in the ring. I was watching it go down live and I can feel the ropes before I do the jumps. They are so slippery and oily. You have no idea, especially when you’re the last match of the night, because it’s been used, right? And all these oily, sweaty wrestlers are just greasing these ropes up so by the time it’s 10 PM at night and you’re the last group to go, the ropes are soaking wet.”
— Logan Paul, WWE Performer
He emphasized that as the last match on the card, the wrestlers faced the most challenging ring conditions after many hours of intense physical activity and multiple performers using the ring.
Challenges Posed by Sponsorship Logos on the Ring Canvas
In addition to discussing the ropes, Paul highlighted difficulties linked to the painted sponsor logos on the wrestling ring’s canvas, which affect traction and footing. While Paul’s PRIME brand was among the first sponsors to place logos in the center of the ring, he noted that changes in the type of paint used have contributed to slipperiness.
“I also wanna say this though, while we’re on this topic, because again, I hate to defend L.A. Knight, but that botch wasn’t his fault, that rope was really slippery and guess what? I’m gonna say it: By the end of the night, the middle of that ring gets really slippery with them logos painted in there. I’ll just say it. I noticed. I can’t get running full speed. I gotta be really careful with my feet and my placement. Because the logos that they now paint in the middle of the ring — that I started! I started it with PRIME! We were the first in-ring, middle of the ring sponsor ever with the logo… It’s not us anymore! It’s not us anymore! And I know this was a thing because before we did that, we were going back and forth with WWE about whether or not it was even possible because the way they paint it, they wanted to actually stress test the mats and have people wrestle and see if it got oily and they determined that the type of paint they used was okay and that it wasn’t gonna be slippery. But then they started using color paint as well. I don’t know what they’re using now, but I’m telling you, it’s slippery.”
— Logan Paul, WWE Performer
Paul pointed out that the initial tests WWE conducted suggested that the paint would not create a hazardous surface. However, the subsequent use of different types of paint, particularly colored variants, seems to have worsened slipperiness, complicating in-ring performance further.
Implications for WWE Performers and Future Matches
Logan Paul’s comments shed light on the physical challenges wrestlers face beyond the spotlight, especially concerning equipment and ring maintenance. His defense of LA Knight’s slip focuses attention on how environmental and material factors can affect athlete safety and performance during critical moments.
As WWE continues to evolve its presentation and sponsorship integrations, addressing the slipperiness of ropes and ring canvases will be essential to avoid similar incidents in future events. These conditions have direct implications for wrestler safety, match fluidity, and overall audience experience.
Paul’s candid insights may prompt WWE officials to re-examine ring conditions, especially for marquee matches scheduled late in the event, ensuring that all performers compete under safer, more consistent circumstances. This focus could prevent unintended errors and allow wrestlers to execute their moves more confidently and securely.
