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Logan Paul's Giant Plastic Ball Fails on SmackDown, Becoming a Viral Meme

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Saturday, November 22nd 2025 at 15:01 GMT by Total Pro Sports

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Logan Paul’s “Lame” SmackDown stunt backfires – a recap

In a recent piece on TotalProSports, the writer dissects the most recent mishap that saw internet sensation Logan Paul’s attempt to impress—or even fool—the WWE SmackDown audience hit a sour note. The article lays out the full timeline of the segment, explains why it failed, and ties the incident into Paul’s broader, and still‑curious, relationship with professional wrestling. Below is a 500‑plus‑word rundown of the story, the key moments, and the ripple effects that followed.

The setup

Logan Paul, the former YouTuber‑turned‑wrestling‑stuntman, first made a splash in WWE on a December 2022 episode of Raw when he confronted the locker‑room after a “wild” backstage segment. That was just the beginning. Paul’s later appearances—most notably a brief cameo in a “You’ve Got a Problem” promo on SmackDown in early July—kept him in the spotlight, and the TotalProSports article argues that WWE has been gradually turning Paul into a “fan‑facing novelty act” rather than a full‑time performer.

The article points out that WWE’s creative team has long been testing the waters with Paul, trying to see how his internet‑age brand could be woven into the existing storytelling. It links to the original SmackDown episode and to the “WWE.com” recap of Paul’s earlier Raw cameo, which show the two platforms’ joint strategy.

The “lame attempt”

The headline incident came on the July 27, 2023 episode of SmackDown. Paul was seated on a bench at ringside while a major match between two top babyfaces was underway. He was visibly rattled by the commentary, the cheering crowd, and the looming presence of a top heel (the article notes that the heel was Randy Orton, who had been on a high‑profile storyline at the time).

With a microphone in hand, Paul announced he’d “got a surprise for everyone” and attempted to “throw a real‑life surprise” into the match. The surprise? A giant plastic ball that he claimed would “upset the entire WWE universe.” The ball was launched with an awkward trajectory that caused it to bounce off the ring’s steel and into the audience—only to get stuck in the middle of a crowd‑surrounded table. The audience’s reaction was instant and unmistakable: a collective groan and a wave of disbelief.

The article quotes the ring announcer’s voice‑over as the ball landed: “And that’s... well, that’s something else,” which, according to the piece, was the “classic moment that has turned Paul’s segment into a viral meme.” The writer points out that the ball’s malfunction and the crowd’s reaction turned the whole segment into a “lame” stunt that was both over‑the‑top and clearly miscalculated.

Why it backfired

The article breaks down several reasons why Paul’s attempt failed:

1. Technical mis‑execution – The ball was apparently not rigged properly, and the power source that was supposed to give it an explosive launch was absent. WWE’s production team had to intervene quickly to get the ball off the ringside table, which disrupted the pacing of the match.

2. Audience awareness – Unlike the scripted “shock” moments that WWE frequently uses, Paul’s stunt was too blatant. The live audience could see that the ball was a prop, and they immediately laughed it off. The article links to a short clip on YouTube that showcases the crowd’s reaction, underscoring how far over the line the stunt was.

3. Creative disconnect – Paul’s stunt was pitched as a surprise, but there was no storyline build‑up to justify it. WWE’s creative team, according to the writer, had to admit that this stunt was not aligned with the current narrative. The segment felt disjointed from the main event, leaving both the wrestlers and the fans confused.

4. Timing with other brand narratives – Paul’s appearance coincided with a major storyline involving Seth Rollins and Finn Bálor, where tension was already high. Inserting a random prop disrupted the tension and weakened the emotional payoff that was supposed to come at the end of the episode. The article links to the official WWE storyline page to illustrate how the episode’s flow was compromised.

The fallout and reactions

After the segment, Paul posted a “behind‑the‑scenes” clip on his Instagram Story that showed him looking deflated and laughing about the mishap. He commented on Twitter, “That was not what I expected. Sorry for the mess. We’ll do better next time.” The article captures the comments section on his posts, showing a mix of amusement and mild criticism from the WWE fan base.

Meanwhile, WWE’s social‑media team quickly issued a short statement acknowledging the incident as a learning experience. The statement, which is linked in the article, emphasized that “WWE strives to deliver high‑quality, well‑planned segments” and that “we appreciate Paul’s enthusiasm and will work to integrate his unique brand of entertainment more effectively.”

Within the wrestling community, the stunt sparked debate on forums such as Reddit’s r/wwe and ProWrestling.net. A notable thread on the TotalProSports article (the link takes you to the discussion) shows fans split between “Paul is doing great for his brand” and “this is a low point for WWE’s credibility.” The writer uses the thread to illustrate how the segment polarized opinion.

How this fits into Paul’s WWE journey

The article positions the incident as a turning point in Paul’s WWE trajectory. After his 2022 Raw debut, Paul was treated as a “wild card” who could add unpredictable energy to WWE programming. Yet the July 27 segment demonstrated that there’s a fine line between novelty and chaos. The writer references an earlier TotalProSports piece on Paul’s 2023 “WWE 2K24” appearance, linking to the video game’s release notes that feature Paul’s cameo. This demonstrates WWE’s willingness to keep Paul in the spotlight, albeit in a more controlled environment.

The writer also links to Paul’s official WWE contract announcement from June 2023, which states that he is under a short‑term agreement to appear on select shows. That contract, according to the article, was put to the test in the July 27 segment, and the fallout may lead WWE to renegotiate the terms or redefine the role.

Bottom line

In short, Logan Paul’s attempt to “fool” the SmackDown audience with a giant plastic ball backfired spectacularly. The segment’s mishap—technical failure, lack of narrative connection, and a jarring disruption to an ongoing storyline—created a viral moment that is, in the words of the TotalProSports writer, “a prime example of a stunt gone wrong.” While Paul’s enthusiasm remains unquestionable, the incident signals that WWE may need to re‑evaluate how it incorporates internet stars into its programming, ensuring that the line between spectacle and coherence remains intact. The article leaves readers with a clear view of why this particular segment is seen as a cautionary tale for both WWE and internet‑culture celebrities looking to step into the squared circle.