Logan Paul is set to defend the WWE United States Championship at the Royal Rumble later this month, in what will be his first match for the title since capturing it at WWE Crown Jewel almost two months ago. While Paul has not competed inside a WWE ring since November, he has acted as somewhat of an ambassador for the company in his outside endeavors. Most notably, Paul brought the title to a promotional Prime event in Mexico last month which ended with him being hit with an Attitude Adjustment through a table and mockingly pinned afterward.
However, Logan’s latest foray took a bizarre turn as it appears he has technically relinquished the belt to Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes in exchange for a rare piece of NFL memorabilia. In a Reel posted to his secondary Instagram account earlier today, Paul takes an interest in Mahomes’ Super Bowl ring and offers him a trade in exchange for the WWE United States Championship. After some deliberation, Mahomes agrees after getting Paul to throw in a bottle of Lemonade Prime as well.
This isn’t the first time someone has tried to make a WWE title change hands through such a transaction. Most famously, ‘The Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase purchased the WWF Championship from Andre The Giant back in 1987 and was even minorly successful in his endeavor, being billed as the champ at three separate house shows. However, then-on-screen WWF President Jack Tunney declared DiBiase was not the champion, leading to a tournament for the vacant belt at WrestleMania IV.
Despite the apparent trade, WWE has not recognized the deal and Paul remains listed as being the current champion at the time of writing. As such, he will still defend the belt at the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event against either Santos Escobar or Kevin Owens, depending on who emerges victorious in the Final of the United States Championship No. 1 Contender Tournament this Friday on the New Year’s Revolution special of SmackDown.