Tension between sports icons often plays out in public. This time, the focus turned to Randy Orton, a longtime WWE star. His name surfaced after remarks from a former NFL great Tom Brady drew attention online. The exchange quickly moved beyond a passing comment and into a wider argument about respect and performance.
Insider Reports Tom Brady Loving Life as a Single Dad at 48
Insider Reports Tom Brady Loving Life as a Single Dad at 48
(Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images)
The issue began when Tom Bradyspoke about professional wrestling during an appearance on the Impaulsive podcast. Brady said wrestling was “cute” and added that it is not the same as football competition. His remarks spread across social media and reached several wrestlers, including Orton.
Orton addressed Brady’s comments on social platform X. He wrote that he had “a ton of respect” for Brady’s career in football butadded, “I’d love to RKO him.” The RKO is Orton’s finishing move in WWE. His post mixed humor with criticism, though it made clear he took issue with the tone of Brady’s remark.
.@RandyOrton says he’d love to RKO Tom Brady after calling pro wrestling “cute” on Logan Paul’s podcast 👀 pic.twitter.com/OmLBReT3NF
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 23, 2026
Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, has often spoken about the physical demands of football. During the same podcast appearance, he said football involves real contact and risk, while wrestling is performance-based. “It’s entertaining, it’s fun, but it’s not real competition like football,” Brady said.
Wrestling has long faced claims that its outcomes are scripted. Still, performers endure intense training and injuries. Orton has spent more than two decades in WWE and is a 14-time world champion. He has returned from serious back issues in recent years and remains active on the roster.
Fans slam Randy Orton for calling out Tom Brady
Online reaction followed quickly. One fanwrote, “It’s weird that actors are so upset someone called them cute.”
A second fanadded, “You guys are def athletic but the ‘sport’ is FAKE!!!”
A third fanposted, “Why are we pretending wrestling is real?? Sure, these guys get hurt doing what they do, but it’s completely fake and scripted.”
A fourth fanwrote, “TB12 would mop flow with all actor ‘wrestlers’:).”
A fifth fanpointed out, “Awwwww. He gets his feelings hurt? Wrestling is fake. Why do you cover it?”
For now, the argument continues among fans of wrestling and football. Both men have solid legacies, but the debate over wrestling’s place in sports is unlikely to go away anytime soon.