Appearing on TMZ Inside The Ring, actor and wrestling personality Paul Walter Hauser gave his candid assessment of the current wrestling landscape, offering a list of pros and cons for WWE, AEW, and his home promotion, MLW.
Hauser started with WWE, praising its presentation while criticizing its value and talent management. “What they’re doing really well is things look pretty. They look pristine,” he said. “The one-shot of leaving the SUV, walking through backstage, going out. I love it.” However, he added, “This five match, $40 pay-per-view thing is garbage. Add two or three more matches… The fact that they lost Killer Kross, it’s like, you’re stupid. You are just throwing away money.”
Regarding AEW, he praised the company’s roster but was critical of a specific in-ring style. “I think AEW is as well [diversified]. It skews a little New Japan for me… the no selling, the sort of PWG style of no selling 30 finishers, and then you have to basically kill someone to beat them. I do think that’s across the board problematic,” he stated.
He saved his highest praise for MLW, where he serves as an executive producer, highlighting the company’s blend of styles. “I think a company like MLW, we bring Lucha, we bring hardcore, borderline deathmatch stuff. We bring women’s wrestling. We have someone you’ve never heard of versus an all-star classic 45-year-old wrestler,” he said. “I think MLW is really good about diversification.”
Hauser, an Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor, has been involved with all three promotions in some capacity, competing for MLW, appearing as a guest commentator for AEW, and training with top WWE stars.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit TMZ Inside The Ring with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
