Tom Brady slapped Logan Paul during an onstage confrontation at Fanatics Fest in New York on July 17, 2026. Footage of the exchange traveled beyond wrestling circles, but the two had already spent months trading remarks about football and WWE. Brady had even entertained the idea of stepping into a wrestling ring.
Wrestling fans had a reason to wonder whether Brady would turn up in WWE, even though the confrontation hadn’t aired on Raw or SmackDown. It happened at an event where wrestling shared the schedule with athletes from other sports.
WWE Had More Than One Stage In New York
Fanatics Fest ran from July 16 to 19 at the Javits Center. Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley and other WWE names joined athletes from the NFL and NBA for panels, autographs and photo opportunities.
At the Convention → The festival hosted WWE’s SummerSlam kickoff on July 19, bringing wrestling storylines to an audience that also came for sports collectibles and appearances by athletes from other leagues.
At Madison Square Garden → On July 18, WWE held Saturday Night’s Main Event at Madison Square Garden. CM Punk and Cody Rhodes teamed against Gunther and Sami Zayn, while NBA players Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton became involved in a separate segment featuring Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.
Why Fanatics Puts Wrestling Alongside Other Sports
Fanatics sells sports merchandise and collectibles, operates live events and runs a sportsbook. Its FanCash rewards currency connects several parts of the business, including purchases at participating Fanatics Fest vendors.
FanCash also features in betting offers, including a Fanatics Sportsbook promo. Those offers carry their own wagering terms and have no connection to WWE matches or appearances. During the festival, fans could earn or use FanCash with participating dealers, retailers and concessions.
For WWE, the attraction was access to fans who had come to see other sports stars. NFL panels and WWE appearances appeared on the same festival schedule, bringing the performers before people who hadn’t bought tickets to a wrestling show.
Brady And Paul Already Had History
The July confrontation wasn’t their first encounter. Brady’s description of professional wrestling as “cute” had annoyed WWE talent, and he and Paul had crossed paths at a Fanatics flag football event in March.
As our report on Logan Paul’s response to Brady’s slap detailed, Paul addressed the incident while recovering from a torn triceps injury. The injury had kept him out of the ring, although he’d returned to television in a non-wrestling role.
Brady’s NFL profile pushed the confrontation beyond wrestling media. Football fans didn’t need to know Paul’s on-screen character to follow an argument with the retired quarterback. WWE viewers, meanwhile, could speculate about Brady eventually getting into the ring.
A Viral Moment Doesn’t Confirm A Match
Brady discussed a possible WWE appearance with Cody Rhodes on July 16. As per this report, he suggested he could manage at least one match and called on WWE president Nick Khan to get him involved.
The slap came the following day. Fans speculated about a match, although WWE announced no booking involving the pair during the festival.
A public appearance lets WWE see how fans respond before deciding whether to develop an angle on television. A few minutes onstage also require far less preparation than an actual wrestling match.
The Problem With Stories Outside WWE Television
A moment at a convention can reach people who never watch the weekly shows. Regular WWE viewers, though, may miss the context when earlier exchanges happen on podcasts, social media and at flag football events.
An eventual match would need a story worth following. Paul’s triceps injury also limited what he could do physically during the July event.
Fanatics Fest put the exchange in front of sports fans who might never watch Raw or SmackDown. If WWE decides to continue the Brady-Paul rivalry, it’ll need to give those fans something to follow beyond another convention appearance.
