Exclusive: Former WWE Ref Predicts Logan Paul and Jelly Roll Will Steal the Show at SummerSlam

Former WWE referee Jimmy Korderas shared his thoughts on the rivalry between Jelly Roll and Logan Paul, which is set to culminate at this year's SummerSlam. Korderas believes the celebrities will shine, crediting their work ethic and preparation for what could be a very entertaining match. 

Notably, this year marks the first time SummerSlam will be a two-night event, taking place on Saturday and Sunday at MetLife Stadium. 

Celebrity involvement at WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs) such as SummerSlam isn't unusual. From Mr. T and Floyd Mayweather to Johnny Knoxville and Bad Bunny, many high-profile stars have made their mark inside the squared circle.

Now, Grammy-nominated country singer and longtime WWE fan Jelly Roll will step into the ring for his in-ring debut. The 40-year-old will team up with WWE legend Randy Orton to take on Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre in a tag team match. 

In an exclusive conversation, produced in collaboration with The Game Plan, Korderas offered his insights on Jelly Roll's involvement with WWE and expectations for his in-ring debut. 

He believes that the country singer's involvement could bring more mainstream attention to the event, especially considering he's competing in a match.

"[Jelly Roll] transformed his body; he's lost a lot of weight. He doesn't want to embarrass himself. " Korderas told SportsBoom.com. 

On the other hand, Korderas sees Paul as an X-factor due to his rapid growth in the ring since joining WWE. 

"[Paul] has really no business being as good as he is as with the limited amount of matches he's had. This kid is phenomenal," he added.

VETERAN SUPERSTARS TO PROVIDE STABILITY

Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre bring decades of combined experience, offering stability to a match that features two celebrities. 

Their involvement ensures the match will be strategically laid out, allowing a less-experienced star like Jelly Roll to be put in a position to succeed by highlighting his strengths and not overexposing potential weaknesses.  

Korderas noted that the addition of Orton and McIntyre will allow both Jelly Roll and, to a certain extent, Paul, to shine at SummerSlam. 

"You're surrounding [Jelly Roll] with the players that could carry him through this. He doesn't have to do a whole lot," Korderas explained.

"I don't have as much of a problem with this situation. But, I'm hoping that he will surprise us—surprises a lot of the naysayers—because look at what happened to Bad Bunny. Nobody expected that."

"Nobody expected what we're getting from Logan Paul, so I'm not saying [Jelly Roll] is going to be on that level, but he doesn't have to be," he added. 

FINAL SUMMERSLAM FOR JOHN CENA

As with other WWE PLEs in 2025, this SummerSlam will be bittersweet, marking John Cena's final in-ring appearance at the event. The 17-time WWE champion is currently on a farewell tour, which concludes at the end of the year when he officially retires from in-ring competition. 

Earlier this year at Elimination Chamber, Cena shocked the wrestling world by turning heel and aligning himself with The Rock. 

Cena is set to headline SummerSlam against Cody Rhodes in a Street Fight, a rematch of their WrestleMania main event, which wasn't well-received from fans. 

The Street Fight stipulation has piqued Korderas' interest, as he believes they will have more creative freedom to tell a compelling story.

"I know a lot of people were disappointed with John Cena and Cody's match at WrestleMania," Korderas admitted. 

"I think this one being a Street Fight is going to allow them flexibility to add some bells and whistles to the picture, which I think will help tell the story," he concluded.