WWE performers pushed back on Tom Brady calling their business "cute."
The viral moment emerged during a tense back-and-forth with Logan Paul in his "Impaulsive" podcast. Paul cited his in-ring feats when comparing his athleticism to star NFL running back Saquon Barkley, sparking a dismissive reply from the seven-time Super Bowl champion.
"I love WWE," Brady said. "It's very cute. But honestly, this is like real football. This is real competition."
Sports Illustrated asked multiple WWE competitors and personalities about Brady's remarks at an event to promote the new WWE 2K26 video game. Undisputed WWE champion Drew McIntyre dismissed the iconic quarterback.
"I don't get annoyed," McIntyre said. "It just comes from a place of ignorance."
On-screen manager Paul Heyman seemed to stay in character when provoking Brady and giving more love to a former New England Patriots teammate who's appeared on WWE programming and won a title.
"What's Tom Brady done? He's thrown a football across a field that was caught by (Rob) Gronkowski," Heyman said. "Gronkowski deserves the credit. (Bill) Belichick and his girlfriend deserve the credit."
WWE stars want to see Tom Brady in the ring after calling professional wrestling “cute” 😬 pic.twitter.com/BQLDtHhOnL
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 20, 2026
CM Punk, the current World Heavyweight Champion, took a more tongue-in-cheek response to Brady's comments.
"What's wrong with cute?" Punk asked. "I'm cute, Tom."
Former NXT star Tyler Breeze and recent call-up Oba Femi, a 310-pounder and former SEC track star who wouldn't look out of place among NFL linemen, invited Brady to enter the squared circle.
"I would love to see Tom Brady step in and see what it actually is and see how cute he thinks it is," Breeze said. "As you know, it is tough."
"For those who think it's cute and it's fluffy and it's all sweet and stuff, you can come and try," Femi suggested. "You can come and lace up some boots, and let's watch you puke."
Brady may have merely been embracing a wrestling mentality and working the public to promote a feud with Paul before they compete in a flag football event in Saudi Arabia next month. It seems far less likely that the 48-year-old will accept that offer to step into a WWE ring.
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