WWE legend Vince Russo has openly expressed his concerns about the recent Logan Paul WWE SummerSlam segment involving Jelly Roll. The exchange, which took place on the Jimmy Kimmel show, featured Logan Paul and Jelly Roll confronting each other, culminating in a dramatic moment where Jelly Roll chokeslammed Paul through a table.
This sequence set the stage for a tag team match at SummerSlam, pairing Jelly Roll alongside Randy Orton against Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre. Despite the segment’s high-profile platform, Russo argued that the performance delivered an inappropriate message to WWE fans.
Vince Russo Questions the Effectiveness of the Jimmy Kimmel Platform
During an episode of Writing with Russo, Vince Russo voiced skepticism about the choice to use the Jimmy Kimmel show for this storyline, pointing out the small viewership of late-night television compared to its heyday. Russo remarked on the limited impact of such appearances in promoting wrestling matches:
“My take’s gonna p*ss people off but that’s okay. I do that for a living. I understand it, I get it. Huge publicity, even though, let’s be clear. Nobody watches late night television anymore. This is not Leno. This is not Carson, this is not Letterman. Nobody watches late night television.” —Vince Russo, Wrestling Commentator
Wrong Message: Comparing to Historic Wrestling Moments
Russo further criticized the segment for suggesting that anyone could physically dominate professional wrestlers, which conflicts with the portrayal of wrestling’s competitive nature. In conversation on BroDown, he compared the scene to an iconic moment between Jerry Lawler and Andy Kaufman, emphasizing who should hold the upper hand:
“This is the problem that I have with it because what what what message are you putting out there? The message you’re putting out is anybody can be a professional wrestler. This would have been the equivalent of when Letterman had Jerry Lawler and Andy Kaufman on. This would have been the equivalent of Andy Kaufman slapping the s** t out of Jerry Lawler. No, that’s not what happened. Jerry Lawler slapped the s**t out of Andy Kaufman. And that’s what should have happened here. Jelly Roll should have went through the table,” Russo said. —Vince Russo, Wrestling Commentator
According to Russo, Jelly Roll overpowering Logan Paul on television contradicts the expected depiction of professional wrestling, where wrestlers typically maintain dominance to uphold their credibility and the sport’s dramatic tension.
Setting the Stage for SummerSlam
The upcoming match at WWE SummerSlam will feature Jelly Roll and Randy Orton facing off against Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre. Fans and critics alike await to see how the match storytelling will unfold after this controversial buildup.
Russo’s critique highlights the sensitivity around portraying wrestlers’ strength and the importance of messaging in professional wrestling segments, especially when involving celebrities like Logan Paul.
