Professional rapper, Jelly Roll, enters the wrestling ring for the first time at WWE SummerSlam 2025, going head-to-head with YouTube sensation, Logan Paul.
Jelly Roll Makes Long-Awaited WWE Debut at SummerSlam 2025
American rapper and singer Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, made his WWE in-ring debut over the weekend at the MetLife Stadium during the first night of SummerSlam.
Training extensively at WWE’s Performance Center, Jelly Roll underwent a rigorous pro wrestling training programme, as reported by PWInsider, and underwent a dramatic 230-pound weight loss transformation as part of his physical preparation. Despite sustaining an injury to his pinky finger during training, Jelly Roll pushed through and participated in the tag team match.
Jelly Roll teamed up with WWE star Randy Orton for the match against Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul. The debut was highly anticipated due to Jelly Roll's lifelong wrestling fandom and crossover fame as a country music artist.
In the match, Jelly Roll made a strong start, landing some early offense, including a standout shoulder tackle. He retaliated with a chokeslam and a powerful bodyslam, rattling McIntyre and Paul with a series of slams and elbow drops. However, despite his impressive moves, Jelly Roll and Orton lost the match when Logan Paul secured the victory with a frog splash and a decisive three-count.
Despite the loss, Jelly Roll's debut performance was well-received and showcased his wrestling skills, which he publicly demonstrated shortly after beginning his training. The lifelong wrestling fan and country music artist is sure to make a lasting impact in the WWE ring.
[1] PWInsider, "WWE Performance Center News: Jelly Roll Begins Training", July 2025, https://www.pwinsider.com/article/180461/wwe-performance-center-news-jelly-roll-begins-training.html
[2] WWE, "Jelly Roll Makes WWE In-Ring Debut at SummerSlam 2025", August 2, 2025, https://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2025/jelly-roll-wwe-in-ring-debut-summerslam-2025
[3] WWE, "Jelly Roll and Randy Orton Fall to Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul at SummerSlam 2025", August 2, 2025, https://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2025/jelly-roll-randy-orton-fall-drew-mcintyre-logan-paul-summerslam-2025
[1] The whole world watched as Jelly Roll, who had been training at WWE’s Performance Center for months, made his long-awaited in-ring debut.
[2] In a world where sports stardom intertwines with various industries, it was no surprise to see the country music artist who goes by the name Jelly Roll step into the WWE ring.
[3] Who might have thought that PT (PWInsider's abbreviation for Pro Wrestling Torch) would trend alongside sports-analysis in the discussions of Jelly Roll's impressive wrestling moves at SummerSlam?
