Why Tom Brady and WWE Make More Sense Than You Think

WWE is in talks with Tom Brady for a pro wrestling debut, TMZ reported Monday, and the idea of his involvement with the company makes more sense than you might think.

Brady and former United States and world tag team champion Logan Paul have had altercations before, including this weekend at Fanatics Fest where the seven-time Super Bowl winner slapped The Maverick in a moment that went viral.

A Brady vs. Paul match may not appeal to the pro wrestling purists who believe in star ratings verifying the value of a contest, but a potential debut for the NFL icon in WWE is the next logical step.

TMZ reported: "Brady is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders … as is Ari Emanuel, CEO and Chair of TKO, the company that owns and operates WWE."

If that alone isn't enough for Brady to appear, all one has to do is look back at WWE's long history and see that it has been home to countless sports icons trying their hand at professional wrestling in one capacity or another.

A Rich History

NFL stars competed in the massive Battle Royal at WrestleMania 2. Lawrence Taylor, the greatest linebacker in pro football history, squared off with Bam Bam Bigelow in the main event of WrestleMania 11. Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson helped turn the tide in the Monday Night Wars in 1998.

Walter Payton, widely regarded as one of the NFL's great ambassadors, seconded Razor Ramon at SummerSlam 1994, while Muhammad Ali battled Gorilla Monsoon in 1976.

Pro sports stars have been a staple of WWE programming forever and, as we saw on Saturday Night's Main Event, that is unlikely to change. The New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, fresh off an NBA title, both appeared in high-profile angles that got serious social media play.

The partnership gives athletes the chance to live out childhood dreams and offers WWE the mainstream media exposure it always craves.

In Brady's case, there is reason to believe he will take it even more seriously than others.

A Career of Preparedness

Over the course of his Hall of Fame career in the NFL, the former quarterback was more prepared than anyone else on the field on Sunday. He was the epitome of the "student of the game" moniker and helped ride his ability to study opponents and situations all the way to seven Lombardi trophies.

If Brady steps into a WWE ring, there is no reason to believe he will be any less prepared, focused and serious than he would be on a third-and-goal from the eight-yard line.

Anytime an outsider enters the world of pro wrestling, fans and wrestlers alike can instantly tell if they are approaching it with a level of respect, which ultimately shapes whether their time in WWE is labeled as a success or failure.

Brady has never approached anything half-assed. An in-ring debut, with his reputation on the line and millions paying close attention, is unlikely to be any different.

Controversy Creates Cash

Speaking of liking Brady or not, there are few bigger sports villains over the last two decades than the guy who carried the New England Patriots to two separate dynasties over the course of his playing career.

Whether deserved or not, he became the lead bad guy in the NFL; the superstar everyone wanted to see lose. That translates incredibly well to WWE, where he would almost certainly start as a conquering hero but could easily become a hated heel if the situation called for it.

This is a media-savvy quarterback who has evolved into a personality as much as he has into an analyst. He plays to crowds, knows where the cameras are and basks in the reaction of the audience, regardless of how he is being greeted.

He is already a larger-than-life star, a celebrity who transcends the sports world. That makes him a perfect fit for professional wrestling.

People who love Brady will tune in to see how the former New England and Tampa Bay star performs in his first match, while those who hate him will look forward to Paul or another WWE Superstar paying him back for his NFL dominance over two decades.

Either way, people will pay to watch Brady set foot inside the squared circle. Combine that box-office appeal with increased media exposure and the chance to tout another mainstream sports icon partnering with WWE for a marquee appearance, and the company has more than enough motivation to get a deal done with TB12.

While some wrestling fans may be growing tired of celebrity and athlete cameos in pro wrestling, if there is one outsider they should welcome, it is Brady. He would do everything in his power to etch his name alongside Paul, Taylor and Bad Bunny as one of the standout celebrity performers in the industry's long and illustrious history.