Paul Wight just ripped wrestling’s old-school “pay your dues” mentality as bullying. Now a former WWE NXT UK wrestler is accusing Wight of behaving exactly like the kind of veteran he was criticizing.
Sam Gradwell took to Twitter after Wight’s comments started circulating and unloaded on the former Big Show over an alleged encounter at a WWE tryout. According to Gradwell, Wight confronted a group of extras and tryout talent over a U.S. paperwork issue that Gradwell claims was WWE’s mistake, not theirs. Gradwell remembers Wight being anything but supportive.
“Does Paul remember what a nasty intimidating piece of s*** he was to my group of extra/tryout talent? Shouting over us that we didn’t deserve to be paid and that we’d never be in the wrestling business because of a U.S paperwork misunderstanding on WWE’s part, not ours. F*** off”
Gradwell wasn’t talking about a group of wrestlers who disappeared from the business either. He said Joe Hendry, Nathan Cruz, Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey and Zack Gibson were among the talent there, along with several others. Then he went directly after Wight.
“A group that included @joehendry @Nathan_Cruz90 @Joe_Coffey @m_coffey90 and @ZackGibsonGYV amongst many others. All significantly more professional, talented and deserving of being paid than him.”
The timing is what makes Gradwell’s accusation stand out. Wight had just blasted veterans who intimidate and bully younger wrestlers under the excuse of making them “pay their dues,” even arguing that established talent should be helping younger wrestlers instead of deliberately making things harder for them.
“Paying your dues to me is an old-timer’s way of intimidating and bullying and f***** with the younger talent for no goddamn reason.”
Gradwell apparently remembers a very different Paul Wight. Years after that alleged WWE tryout encounter, Wight is publicly condemning veterans for intimidating younger talent. One tweet later, and Gradwell is accusing him of having done exactly that to a group of wrestlers trying to get their own break.
What do you think of Sam Gradwell calling out Paul Wight following his comments about bullying younger wrestlers? Let us know in the comments below.
