Paul Wight is not ready to call it a career just yet. During a recent guest appearance on Notsam Wrestling Live!, the wrestling legend provided an update on his physical condition and his future with AEW. Wight revealed that he underwent a “small back surgery” a couple of months ago, which has been the latest hurdle in a series of medical procedures. Despite this, he remains committed to returning to the ring and competing regularly.
Surgery And Recovery
Wight was open about the toll his decades-long career has taken on his body. “I had a small back surgery done a couple months ago… You play long enough, the bill comes due,” Wight explained. He noted that he has undergone a major surgery almost every year for the past five years, including procedures on his knees and hips. He compared his body to an “old pickup truck,” stating, “I work so hard so long that when I finally stopped, the springs fell off, the tires fell off.”
However, he remains optimistic about his recovery, citing the strong medical team he has in South Florida. “We’re still moving forward, there’s progress being made,” he said. Wight emphasized that his current issues are mostly related to soft tissue and getting his body to function correctly again. “We’ll get that back and we’ll be in the ring.”
AEW Future And Tony Khan’s Support
Wight also took the opportunity to praise AEW President Tony Khan for his continued support during these injury setbacks. “Tony Khan’s been extremely supportive, so we’re just plugging away. I don’t plan on going anywhere. I like being in AEW,” Wight stated. He made it clear that he sees significant opportunities within the company, not just to mentor talent, but to entertain fans and compete on a more “full-time schedule.”
Conditions For Retirement
While he is eager to return, Wight set a strict standard for his performance. He admitted that he has no interest in being a nostalgia act that fans pity. “The last thing I’m gonna do is go out in that ring and have people go, aww, poor Paul. They should just kill him, like Old Yeller or something,” he joked.
He noted that if he cannot perform with his signature presence and intensity—”slapping people’s souls out of their chest”—then he would walk away. But for now, that time hasn’t come. “I’m not ready to hang up the boots yet… believe me, I’m salivating over here, 100 percent.”
Wight was most recently seen on AEW programming during the Full Gear Tailgate Brawl. He served on commentary and got physically involved in the match, helping Big Boom A.J. and Q.T. Marshall secure a victory over RPG Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta).
H/T to Fightful for the transcription
