Hollywood actor filming in Winnipeg shows off wrestling prowess

It was a takedown Hollywood-style.

Award-winning movie and TV actor Paul Walter Hauser, who’s also a professional wrestler, grappled his way to victory in a match in Winnipeg Friday.

Hauser, who is in the city filming the curling-themed movie Sticks and Stones, took down former Winnipeg Professional Wrestling Champion “Bad Boy” Anderson Tyson Moore in what appeared to be an unplanned rumble during the “Stooged 2” bout at the West End Cultural Centre.

Devin Bray, co-owner of the WPW, said the bout had been in the works for about a month when he reached out to Hauser to invite him to watch the evening’s action.

Bray said Hauser, an Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner who has been wrestling on the side since 2023, wanted to do more than just sit in the audience.

“The offer was just for him to watch the show and it just went from there,” he said. “He said we could tell a story.”

That’s how, after taunts between Hauser, Moore, and James Korba, described in advertisements as “WPW’s tyrannical general manager,” the battle broke out.

A few minutes later, after a few body slams and other signature moves while fellow celebrities Johnny Pemberton (Fallout) and Christopher Charles Mintz-Plasse (Superbad and Kick-Ass) watched, Moore was on his back. Hauser had pinned him down, and the referee slammed his hand on the mat three times signalling Hauser was the victor.

“I think everyone liked it,” Bray said.

“He’ll be back for sure. We just hit it off together. He loved it here.” ‘

Hauser won both an Emmy and Golden Globe for his portrayal of convicted serial killer and rapist Larry Hall in the 2022 true crime drama miniseries Black Bird.

He also played the title role in the Clint Eastwood-directed film Richard Jewell, acted in the TV series Cobra Kai, and was the voice of Embarrassment in the Pixar film Inside Out 2.

WPW was founded in 2018 and in the last few years has found a home at the West End centre.

Jorge Requena Ramos, the cultural centre’s executive artistic director, said wrestling has been a good fit for the venue. The ring is set up on the main floor where musical act spectators sit or stand.

“Wrestling has been an amazing thing for the West End Cultural Centre,” Ramos said.

“They are always sold out and, during the event, their next one always sells out. I’m super glad to see the growth in the company.”

Ramos said it’s not uncommon for Hollywood stars who are in Winnipeg to attend music shows at the venue and he expects wrestling will become a draw.

“The actors get a package to all of the events when they come here and wrestling will probably be included now. It’s probably one of the most fun,” he said.

“Wrestling is just an amazing place for storytelling. It is dramatic and they have flair. It’s a really sophisticated show, it has all the makings of a great movie.”

To watch the video of Hauser’s Winnipeg wrestling experience, visit wfp.to/wrestling

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca