Paul Wight’s recent comments about veteran wrestlers have now drawn a very different response from someone who claims to have experienced the opposite from him.
The former Big Show criticized the old-school idea of making younger wrestlers “pay their dues,” arguing that veterans have used that mentality as an excuse to intimidate and bully talent trying to establish themselves.
But on August 18, former WWE NXT UK wrestler Sam Gradwell took to X with an allegation involving Wight from years earlier.
Gradwell claimed that Wight confronted a group of extras and tryout wrestlers over a U.S. paperwork issue. According to Gradwell, the problem was caused by WWE rather than the talent, but he remembers Wight allegedly responding by telling them they didn’t deserve to be paid and would never make it in wrestling.
Gradwell also identified several of the wrestlers who were allegedly part of that group, including Joe Hendry, Nathan Cruz, Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey and Zack Gibson.
The accusation is particularly notable because of what Wight had just said about veteran behavior during his appearance on Inside The Ring
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’s account, if accurate, presents a very different picture of Wight’s approach during that alleged encounter.
Now, the question is whether Wight will respond to the accusation. What do you make of Sam Gradwell calling out Paul Wight? Sound off in the comments below
