Fresh off a Golden Globe win, Paul Walter Hauser was on the receiving end of a stunning guitar shot as he made his debut on AEW Rampage.
Just one night after taking home the prize for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for his chilling performance as serial killer Larry Hall on Apple TV+’s Black Bird, Hauser made his All Elite Wrestling debut with award in hand. He soon aligned with Orange Cassidy, Danhausen (gotta love that Danhausen), and the Best Friends and promised to show off his new prize on Rampage the following Friday.
Hauser’s love for pro wrestling is no secret. The actor has been very outspoken. In fact, on the night of his big Golden Globe win, he concluded his acceptance speech by dropping a catchphrase made famous by hardcore legends the Dudley Boyz. “Get the tables” alludes to the Dudley Boyz inclination to retrieve tables from beneath the ring and put their opponents, and really anyone, through said furniture. The phrase has now become part of the hymnal of live pro wrestling audiences.
The acceptance speech was brought up at the start of Hauser’s Rampage appearance, where he took a not-so-subtle jab at WWE before being joined in the ring by Danhausen. Ever the scamp, Danhausen suggested that he be awarded Hauser’s Golden Globe for being named No. 1 merch mover on ProWrestlingTees.com in 2022. No easy feat indeed. Hauser prompted the audience for a handing off of the Golden Globe to the very nice, very evil Danhausen, but the two were unfortunately interrupted by the faction made up of Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, and 7-foot-4 one-in-a-billion Satnam Singh.
Hauser cut a scathing promo on Jarrett and his crew and took out Dutt with a right hand before getting dropped by Lethal. Taking advantage of the numbers game, Jarrett’s men restrained Hauser, who was on the receiving end of a guitar shot from Jarrett.
For a moment it seemed as if Lethal would be using the Best Supporting Actor trophy as a weapon on Danhausen, perhaps the first time a major Hollywood prize had been used to assault a demonic comedy imp in a wrestling ring. Thankfully, Orange Cassidy’s music hit as he and the Best Friends made their way to the ring for the save.
Hauser was left unconscious in the ring. And adding insult to injury, Lethal made off with his Golden Globe.
This segment stands out among most crossovers between celebrities and professional wrestling. All too often the bigger name is put over in the ring, leaving the actual professional wrestler looking like an amateur. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule — like Bad Bunny, Logan Paul, and Stephen Amell — who put in the work and displayed surprising in-ring ability.
In Hauser’s case, he’s allowed himself (and his actual Golden Globe) to be used to set up an angle between Jarrett’s crew and the Best Friends that doesn’t require him in the lead role. It’s clear why he earned Best Supporting Actor. He understands how best to elevate. No matter what he’s a part of.
