Just a few days ago, we highlighted the incredible hardcore match that actor Paul Walter Hauser had at a recent Ring of Honor taping. The star of films and series like Richard Jewell and Black Bird went through a table in a wild brawl that had fans buzzing. It turns out, some of his famous friends were in the audience to witness the carnage firsthand and were left both terrified and thrilled by the experience.

Stephen Root and Wayne Duvall Give Their Ringside Review

Ring of Honor cameras caught up with acclaimed actors Stephen Root (Office Space, Barry, Dodgeball) and Wayne Duvall (Lincoln, The Righteous Gemstones) backstage after the event. The two were there to support their friend, Paul Walter Hauser, and they revealed this was the very first live professional wrestling event they had ever attended.

Here is what the two celebrated actors had to say about the experience:

Wayne Duvall: “What an amazing match.”

Stephen Root: “For Paul W. Hauser, come on!”

Wayne Duvall: “Oh my God.”

Stephen Root: “You scared me, come on!”

Wayne Duvall: “I was so worried about my man.”

Stephen Root: “Yeah.”

Wayne Duvall: “Oh my God.”

Stephen Root: “No, no, when we saw him go down on that table it was unbelievable. The whole show’s been incredibly fun to watch.”

Wayne Duvall: “Yes.”

Stephen Root: “It was our first wrestling match we’ve ever seen, and we’re really happy we came to this venue to see it.”

Wayne Duvall: “And it was so well done. I was so worried about Paul. I was so worried about him, and he’s okay. But it was fantastic. Great fun. Fantastic. Loved the venue, loved everything about it. Thanks so much.”

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It is clear that Hauser‘s performance left a lasting impression on his friends. Their genuine concern mixed with their excitement for the show highlights the incredible spectacle that professional wrestling can be, especially when it is your first time seeing it live.

A Look Back at the Carnage

The match that had Root and Duvall so concerned was a “Fight Without Honor” between Paul Walter Hauser and veteran wrestler QT Marshall at the ROH Death Before Dishonor event in Philadelphia. The rivalry had been brewing for months, with Marshall dismissing Hauser as a celebrity playing wrestler. Hauser, a lifelong fan who has been training and competing on the independent circuit, was determined to prove him wrong. The match was a brutal affair, with Hauser absorbing a tremendous amount of punishment.

He was powerbombed onto a pile of thumbtacks and, in the spot that had his friends so worried, was sent crashing through a table covered in broken glass. Despite his valiant and bloody effort, Hauser ultimately fell short, with Marshall picking up the victory. The Philadelphia crowd, known for their appreciation of hardcore wrestling, gave Hauser a “You’re a wrestler” chant for his incredible performance.

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