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For years, WWE has grappled with a self-imposed problem; a reliance on part-timers, stars of yesteryear, and celebrities to sell their big-ticket shows. This approach has been met with justified criticism.
However, the recent departure of Vince McMahon has provided a sense of hope for the future. New wrestlers are being pushed, and other fan favorites have returned to the company. Simple but logical booking has been a breath of fresh air for the product.
However, on Friday the Wrestling Observer reported WWE's potential main event for Crown Jewel, a main event that would leave many fans scratching their heads, if not shaking them. Logan Paul, the YouTube star and novice professional wrestler, is targeting Roman Reigns and the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
Logan Paul Challenging Roman Reigns Makes No Sense In A Storyline
There's no arguing how impressive Logan Paul has been in his first (and only) two wrestling matches. On WWE's grandest stages, WrestleMania and SummerSlam, Paul surprised fans with his arsenal of in-ring tricks and his innate charisma.
As spectacular as Logan Paul has been, two matches should not qualify anyone for a match with WWE's top star - and certainly not for the company's top prize. The locker room is stacked with talented, seasoned wrestlers who have paid their dues and earned their place on the big stage. Logan Paul has essentially skipped the line in front of all those worthy contenders.
While the match does make sense from a business perspective (Logan Paul has millions of social media followers and podcast subscribers), the idea that any newcomer could step into the ring and challenge Roman Reigns diminishes what WWE has worked so hard to create. For over two years, WWE has built a mystique around The Tribal Chief; he's the super boss you work your way towards in the video game. He's the end-all-be-all of opponents. For Logan Paul to compete against him will not make Roman or the WWE Championship look good, especially if the match is competitive.
RELATED: Logan Paul Set To Challenge Roman Reigns At WWE Crown Jewel [Report]
Logan Paul Vs. Roman Reigns Is A Step Back For WWE's Stride Towards Legitimacy
Fans showered WWE with adoration on the August 15th installment of Raw. After a heated verbal exchange, Drew McIntyre shouted at Kevin Owens, "We're wrestlers in a wrestling ring. Let's just freakin' wrestle!" On the surface, that may seem like the most arbitrary, obvious statement for a wrestler to make. Nobody would praise a chef for stating, "I'm a cook in a kitchen! Time to make some food!"
Of course, the reason fans were so ecstatic was that under Vince McMahon's reign - the word "wrestling" was a big no-no. Two of WWE's top stars begging for a fight to climb the ranks and earn their shot at gold is Wrestling Booking 101, but Wrestling Booking 101 is far better than what fans had been privy to for the last several years.
Wrestling Booking 101 would not advise your multi-year reigning champion to defend against a celebrity. The match is a reminder that WWE is very much a sports-entertainment company first, and no matter what they tweet or say in a promo - rational wrestling booking will always take a back seat to the almighty dollar.
Logan Paul Vs. Roman Reigns Is A Dynamic That Doesn't Work
Logan Paul opened the September 16th installment of SmackDown. He walked through the curtain to a muted response. As soon as the internet star opened his mouth and began his promo, he was berated with an overwhelmingly negative response. Folks do not like this cat, and they've been given no reason to.
This wouldn't be an issue if WWE was playing Logan Paul as the heel, but inexplicably - they are booking him as a baby face. Given the many real-life reasons why Paul should always receive the jeering of a lifetime, there's little hope that WWE can turn this dynamic around before November.
More importantly, the confusing program will do little for Roman Reigns as a heel and even less for his championship reign. Adding an unseasoned novice to his long list of title defenses doesn't add clout to a championship that is starting to taste like a stale Saltine cracker.
RELATED: 10 Celebrities You Forgot Appeared On WWE PPVIt's not like this is the first time WWE (or any wrestling promotion) has inserted celebrities into the main event picture. However, that doesn't mean that it's good for the trajectory of their storytelling. While it's very clear that this booking was a business decision, it seems ultimately unnecessary. WWE is and has been doing great from a business perspective. Where the company needs to make good is in their creative, an element that, up until recently, had been on the ropes for years.
The in-ring work between Roman Reigns and Logan Paul will likely be entertaining, but we have a long way to go before we get to that. WWE fans (and a plethora of capable, worthy talent in the WWE locker room) will be watching with a cautious eye.
