Report: Why WWE Opened Raw With Brawl Between Logan Paul & The Miz Revealed

WWE had a hot start to the first episode of Raw since Vince McMahon's retirement and the show opened with Logan Paul and The Miz already brawling inside the squared circle. Logan Paul had the upper hand before the two competitors were separated by WWE officials and referees, with commentator Jimmy Smith noting Miz and Paul came to blows after the YouTube star called out his SummerSlam opponent before Raw went on the air.

The decision to start Raw with the brawl was seemingly an attempt to protect Logan Paul's image as a babyface. Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE assumed Logan Paul was going to be booed heavily by the fans inside Madison Square Garden. The company, therefore, decided to have him come to the ring before the show began so the boos wouldn't be broadcast. As expected, the arena filled with boos when Paul appeared.

"The reason they did was because they [WWE] figured that people were gonna boo Logan Paul when they first saw him. So they would have him come to the ring and do all this with no cameras on so you don't see it. His coming to the ring to the music and everything like that happened off-screen before Raw started. And in fact, he was booed very heavily," Meltzer said.

It was noted following WrestleMania 38 that part of Logan Paul's deal for the show was that he would be a babyface at the end of the night. Fans have only continued to boo Paul since he signed a long-term deal with WWE, though.