Paul Walter Hauser Exits MLW Over 'Creative Differences'

Golden Globe winner Paul Walter Hauser has announced his departure from Major League Wrestling due to "creative differences."

Hauser issued the following statement on Instagram:

"With a heavy heart, but a clear mind, I said goodbye to the MLW family late last week.

"Before speculation or conjecture try to rear their ugly, & needless, head - my decision was simply rooted in creative differences. The truest, & least sexy, answer.

"I enjoyed my time in Major League Wrestling. Sami Callihan introduced me to Court Bauer who gave me an opportunity at Battle Riot 6 & beyond. I learned a lot about bettering my in-ring work, producing & directing backstage segments, and picking up on some of the environmental & situational behaviors in the wrestling business, which can prove elusive or confusing to a newcomer, like myself.

"To be perfectly honest, I don’t think any of my best matches were in MLW, but I did the best I could with what I had at the time. Sometimes that was getting MLW writeups in the Wall Street Journal or having MLW clips featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Sometimes it was bringing in snacks for craft service, on-site empanadas to bolster catering, or having my videographer, Caleb Wall, run out to help a crew member buy a piece of missing equipment. I also pitched the product to anyone in Hollywood who would listen.

"But more than anything, I hope I was a value-add to their culture, & I hope I created moments for the fans - diving off the ladder at Battle Riot onto BRG, preparing a solid promo to irk the ears or make the audience laugh, turning on my former tag partner & mentor, Paul London.

"I am grateful for Court & his team of good-hearted crew & creative, & I am most grateful for the boys who taught me & embraced me. Suzuki didn’t hafta do a spot with me, Tom Lawlor didn’t have to be that generous, Trevor Lee didn’t need to smarten me up. But they did.

"I’ll miss camaraderie & convos with Ikuro Kwon, Beastman, Josh Bishop & many others. I’ll miss trying to make Dijak, Kross or Gallows laugh. I’ll miss the Coffeys & Wolfgang just being the kind workhorses that they are.

"Shoutout to the MLW product. So much more to come, I am sure of it, & so many ways to watch right now - @veeps / @primevideo / @tubi / @youtube

"If anyone cares to bad mouth me & or rewrite my contributions to MLW, I have receipts & I have friends in high places."

Paul Walter Hauser began working with MLW in May 2024 and he had 10 matches for the promotion, including defeating Tom Lawlor in an MMA Cage Match. Hauser began working behind the scenes after being appointed an executive producer of MLW in March 2025. His last match for the promotion took place at the MLW Fusion taping on September 12, 2026, where he picked up the win over Cody Fluffman.

The actor, who has been featured in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Resident Evil, Richard Jewell, and Inside Out 2, became involved in pro wrestling in early 2023 when he appeared on AEW TV and received a guitar shot to the head from Jeff Jarrett. Hauser then made his in-ring debut for Wrestling REVOLVER in November 2023 and, in addition to MLW, he has wrestled for the likes of Ring of Honor, ACTION Wrestling, 1FW, and Maple Leaf Pro. He was also the PROGRESS Proteus Champion for 556 days from April 2025 to October 2026.