With Logan Paul’s reign as WWE United States Champion over after SummerSlam, thoughts immediately turn to what’s next for The Maverick.
The cocksure 29-year-old lost his title to LA Knight in Cleveland this past weekend, ending a lengthy run with what was his first wrestling championship.
It effectively closed a chapter in the career of the upstart rookie, who has impressed colleagues and fans alike with the ease with which he appears to have picked up the art of being a professional wrestler.
Whether he now moves up the card in WWE to be involved in weightier storylines and to battle for even more prestigious championships remains to be seen, but there will undoubtedly be interest in his next feud.
As such, talkSPORT.com is turning back the clock to examine how well the YouTube sensation would measure up against some of the biggest names of wrestling’s past.
We’ve switched out the likes Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins and other notable stars of the 2024 vintage with some top names of the Attitude Era. But how would he fare?
Logan Paul v The Undertaker
Paul is undoubtedly an incredible, natural athlete, but, aside from his irksome antics as an on-screen bad guy in WWE, fans haven’t seen much development in terms of his actual character.
How, then, might he get on against arguably the finest character in the history of professional wrestling? Logan Paul v The Undertaker back in, say, 1998, has the potential to be wild.
The Deadman of 2024 has admitted to being impressed at what Paul has achieved in the here and now but had previously accepted the star wouldn’t have succeeded back in the Attitude Era. Pitting the two together is, in that sense, quite the prospect.
We can’t help but feel WWE fans back in the late 1990s would get a huge kick out of seeing Logan Paul planted with a Tombstone or two – it seems the obvious way this one would end.
Winner: The Undertaker
Few figures struck fear into the heart of opponents like The UndertakerCredit: WWE
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson arguably hit his wrestling peak during the Attitude Era
Steve Blackman was a man of few words, but heavy hits in WWE
Logan Paul v The Rock
It seems highly unlikely that wrestling veteran Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson would, in 2024, wrestle Logan Paul, so that leaves us free to throw The People’s Champ of, say, 1998-2001 into the mix here.
While Logan Paul can certainly match many top wrestling stars when it comes to the action bell to bell, it’s more mouth-watering to think about how he and Rock would measure up on the mic.
The Maverick can be cutting enough himself when jousting with opponents, but he’d be up against one of the very finest and most charismatic in the business in the form of Attitude Era rock.
It would be a verbal battle to bring the house down, and The Rock would likely check Paul into the SmackDown hotel.
Winner: The Rock
Logan Paul v Steve Blackman
Blackman is one of our under-the-radar picks to battle Logan Paul in this Attitude Era v 2024 series, largely because he spent most of the late 1990s battering people.
In terms of a promo battle, Paul would comfortably wipe the floor with the six-time WWE Hardcore Champion, but the Pennsylvania native is hardly remembered for his flair on the mic, so that’s not a fair fight.
Paul would have the upper hand going into any such match but would likely come unstuck when Blackman starts throwing his nunchucks and heavy hits around.
Again, fans love it when Paul gets served his comeuppance, so having the two face off in a Hardcore match would make for delightful viewing.
Owen Hart was a former Intercontinental, European and Tag Team Champion
Even so, the high-flyer is wise and wily beyond his years, and we reckon he’d have enough to outsmart Blackman and cheat his way to victory.
Winner: Logan Paul
Logan Paul v Owen Hart
Owen Hart enjoyed a WWE career for the ages, racking up iconic moments and championships aplenty all before his untimely and tragic death in 1999 at the age of just 34.
Logan Paul would still be five years Hart’s junior had they battled before his passing at a WWE event in Kansas City, and it’s easy to see how Owen would have used his knowledge, experience and technical ability to work with Paul to create a visual masterpiece.
Unlike the rest of the opposition in this series, Hart would be able to match Paul in the athleticism stakes, so we’d be on the lookout for some eye-catching moments.
To avoid a heel versus heel battle, we’ll have Owen as the babyface ‘good guy’ in this match, which will ultimately lead to his undoing. After a 30-minute highlight real of a match, Paul would likely prevail with the help of his trusty brass knuckles, leaving The King of Harts Furious.
Winner: Logan Paul
Logan Paul v Mankind
How can we cast our mind back and pit Logan Paul against stars from the Attitude Era without including the biggest daredevil of them all?
Paul has thrived in his formative years as a wrestler by pulling off daring physical feats, such as his stunning top-rope moonsault at SummerSlam last weekend.
Against Mick ‘Mankind’ Foley, he’s getting a true contrast of styles, as you’re not seeing 1998 Foley pulling that off any time soon. He would, however, do as Paul has done and throw himself through the odd commentary table or off the top of Hell in a Cell.
We’re picking Foley to take whatever Logan Paul and his pals can throw at him and come back swinging – with a flaming barbed wire bat!
Winner: Mick Foley
There are, of course, some notable exceptions – Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kane, Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels would all be other names to give Logan Paul a run for his money and then some but, no matter who he faces, it’s fair to say that the now former US Champion would hold his own, and make plenty of money by taking a beating or few.
