Award-winning actor and wrestling fanatic Paul Walter Hauser has received a notable behind-the-scenes role in the industry.
Hauser has accepted an executive producer position for Major League Wrestling (MLW), giving him a new position in the New York-based wrestling promotion he has already wrestled for a few times. News of the deal was first reported by Deadline on Wednesday.
Hauser, who many may remember shouted out Matt Cardona and Kota Ibushi when he accepted an award for Best Supporting Actor at the 2024 Emmy Awards, has been closely involved with the world of pro wrestling in recent years.
Despite his busy acting career, Hauser has also taken up a second life as a pro wrestler in recent years. He made his in-ring debut at a REVOLVER Wrestling show in late 2023 against Matthew Palmer. He has wrestled over a dozen times since then, including numerous appearances at MLW shows in recent months.
Hauser explained his interest in wrestling during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last year.
“I love wrestling. I grew up watching it and I never graduated from that,” he said. “People were like, ‘You know it’s fake?’ I’m like, ‘You know what’s also fake? Me being a serial killer in Black Bird.’ That’s also not a real thing. But I decided I wanted to do this. Bruce Willis famously plays the harmonica, and that was like another talent of his, a thing he did when he wasn’t acting. I was like, maybe wrestling can be my harmonica.”
The new position moves Hauser from performer to creative in MLW, although it’s probably likely that he’s not done hitting the ring either.
Along with Hauser’s deal to work as a producer, MLW has also inked an agreement with Artists First. The partnership with Hauser’s management company comes as they aim to secure future broadcasting opportunities, as well as other brand deals.
