Emmy Winner and Hollywood Star Paul Walter Hauser Embraces His Passion for Wrestling

Actor Paul Walter Hauser, known for his acclaimed roles in "Black Bird" and "Cobra Kai," has made a surprising foray into the world of professional wrestling, balancing his acting career with his love for the squared circle.

As an Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor, Paul Walter Hauser has enjoyed critical acclaim for his performances on screen. But away from the cameras, Hauser harbors a burning passion for another form of entertainment: professional wrestling.

In a bold move, Hauser declared his entry into the 40-man Battle Riot match on June 1 for the Major League Wrestling promotion card in Atlanta. This announcement signaled his intention to elevate his wrestling career while maintaining his successful acting trajectory.

"Paul is building something special with a two-track career driven by his passion and an unrelenting quality that separates the pretenders from the contenders," said Court Bauer, founder and CEO of Major League Wrestling.

Hauser's love for wrestling extends beyond the ring. He counts legendary wrestlers Dean Malenko, Arn Anderson, Sami Zayn, and Kyle O'Reilly among his favorites and has trained with former WWE star Paul London to prepare for his side hustle in acting.

"I believe I'm somewhere between wanting to do the reckless, heavier-set guy stuff that a Mick Foley does, entertain people while hurting my body, but also I study the technicians," Hauser said. "I want to be able to get somebody in a Texas Cloverleaf as much as I'm going to go through a table or a chair."

Hauser has already made appearances in various wrestling promotions, including WWE and its rival All Elite Wrestling. A notable incident occurred during an AEW appearance, where AEW heel Jeff Jarrett took a guitar shot to Hauser's head and his bad guy cronies stole his Golden Globe award from the ring.

Despite his packed acting schedule, Hauser remains committed to wrestling. However, he acknowledges that his wife and agent are less enthusiastic about his athletic endeavors. "My beautiful, patient, understanding wife and my agent are very much against it and wish that I would just buy some sidewalk chalk and go hopscotch in the driveway," he said. "The reality is, this is always something I was going to do."

Hauser's passion for wrestling shines through in his words. "The dream is to go win an Oscar for writing or acting in a film and the next night, I'm in front of 2,000 people in an independent show," he said. "That's what I want to be doing. I want to be accessible to all people and show them the real me, which is, I am a fan just like the rest of you."

While Hauser anticipates a long and fulfilling acting career, he plans to continue wrestling for the next decade. "I really feel like the future is bright for me between the acting and wrestling, and it's really about scheduling and finding great opponents and finding a great story to tell," he said.

Hauser's unique blend of acting talent and wrestling prowess has garnered him a growing fanbase. As he continues to navigate both worlds, he embodies the spirit of a true performer, embracing his passions while captivating audiences on both the big screen and the wrestling ring.