They say in the world of motorsports, timing is everything. So when Kyle Larson was notably not racing this weekend and instead popped up at WrestleMania 41, fans were understandably confused, then thoroughly entertained. The twist? Larson wasn’t just there to spectate—he was likely invited by his big money boss, Logan Paul, WWE star and co-founder of Prime Hydration. The same Prime Hydration that Larson is signed to, and the collaboration saw the launch of a special limited edition version of the energy drink.
Larson’s surprise appearance at the “biggest night in wrestling” wasn’t part of a media blitz or a promotional appearance as a chief guest. No red carpet. No formal announcement. Just Larson hanging out in the crowd like a regular fan, except with access only a few can dream of. This unexpected crossover of NASCAR and WWE, aided by Logan Paul’s growing presence in both the influencer and sports worlds, sent fans spiraling down a rabbit hole of jokes, theories, and wild comparisons.
If there’s one thing the internet does well, it’s react in real time—and in hilarious fashion. NASCAR’s subreddit and Twitter threads lit up, with fans piecing together Larson’s choice to skip Rockingham’s iconic track return and attend WrestleMania instead. As always, the reactions were a mix of sarcasm, humor, and some seriously creative storytelling. Let’s take a look at how fans took this moment and ran with it.
Kyle Larson appearance at #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/nYmSmEybev
— Alan Cavanna (@AlanCavanna) April 20, 2025
Kyle Larson becomes the ragdoll of internet jokes
This weekend was the highly anticipated return of Rockingham after more than a decade. Drivers and veterans like Carson Hocevar and Kyle Petty chose to celebrate this historic moment by paying a visit despite having no Cup schedule for this weekend. But Larson had different priorities, to which a fan commented, “That explains why he didn’t want to race The Rock this weekend. He had tickets for WrestleMania. He passed up The Rock for The Rock.” It starts with a clever wordplay, connecting The Rock (NASCAR’s iconic Rockingham Speedway) with The Rock (Dwayne Johnson, the wrestling icon). The fan clearly understands the irony here: Kyle Larson choosing the glitz of WWE over gritty laps at a track dubbed “The Rock.” But it’s all in good fun, pointing to Larson’s growing mainstream visibility. And let’s be honest, if you’re going to skip a race, WrestleMania is one flashy excuse.
NASCAR has long held a tradition with crossovers with different sports, and with WWE’s core fanbase overlapping with NASCAR’s, it’s only natural to see the 2 sports crossing paths. Noting this, one fan wrote: “3 for 3 on Kyles and wrestling. Busch is 24/7 champ. Petty was a member of the NWO.” This comment takes a detour into the iconic moment, but it’s peak internet creativity. The comment blends wrestling lore of the past, joking that Kyle Busch somehow bagged WWE’s 24/7 Championship (he actually did for a brief moment in 2019) and even ropes in Kyle Petty, who was a member of the infamous NWO (New world order) faction in the 90s, so much so that he even had their paint schemes on his car. The comment in itself starts with a solid observation, veers into the absurd, and ends on a hilarious high. Fans clearly appreciate Larson joining the “wrestling Kyle club.”
The Sunday main event card of WrestleMania was brewing with atmosphere of The Rock’s entry in the fight against Cody Rhodes, he was being built up as “The final boss” for this stage, unfortunately he didn’t show up, although Larson might have wanted that, as one fan rightly pointed – “Larson gonna sell his soul to the Final Boss to win the Double.” There’s something poetic about this one. The “Final Boss” here refers to Rock, the crossover king, and “the Double” is the Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 challenge Larson is preparing for. The comment sarcastically implies that selling his soul to the devil i.e the final boss, might just be Larson’s secret weapon for pulling off the most ambitious motorsports feat of 2025. It’s tongue-in-cheek but also a subtle nod to how internet humor works.
Kyle Larson may not have been on the esteemed WrestleMania guest list, but still he showed up for his friend and partner Logan Paul, who made this all possible, as one fan rightly mentioned – “Probably a sponsor event /perk appearance. Like Gordon in the Pepsi halftime show says of the SB.” Every thread needs its realist. This fan drops the hype and gives a grounded explanation: Larson’s WrestleMania appearance was likely a sponsor-driven perk, similar to Jeff Gordon’s cameo during the Pepsi Halftime Show at the Super Bowl. It’s the meat in this comment sandwich—acknowledging the spectacle but grounding it in marketing logic. Still, even with that explanation, fans aren’t letting go of the comic potential.
Funnily enough, this whole Easter weekend was well utilized by Hendrick’s men, as to what Mr. H might be doing that always remains a mystery, but his 3 most talented drivers were definitely busy. One nerd fan caught this trend, saying: “Gordon at Coachella, Larson at WrestleMania. Where’s Jimmie Johnson showing up tonight?” Finally, the mic drop. This fan wraps it up with a cross-generational laugh, referencing Jeff Gordon’s Coachella sighting yesterday and poking fun at NASCAR’s trend of showing up in the most unexpected pop culture places. They also funnily asked what Jimmie might be doing, well, the most Jimmie’s answer to that is – he was preparing for the Boston marathon, of course, the terminator just needs a new challenge every day and refuses to even rest on Easter.
At the end of the day, Kyle Larson’s WrestleMania cameo might not have changed the sport, but it definitely gave fans something to talk about. Whether it was a casual visit or a strategic branding play with his new $65M partner, Larson has officially stepped into a different kind of ring—one where the spotlight never fades, and the crowd is just as loud. NASCAR might be his home, but WrestleMania proved that even outside the track, Larson is still hip, not as much as his arch-nemesis Denny Hamlin, but still – He tries.
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