Joey Janela vs. Paul Walter Hauser in a Seattle Street Fight.
In one of the most low-key debuts in professional wrestling, The Emmy Award winner has been one of the more surprising names throughout the independent circuit in 2023/2024. The 38-year-old has been in Street Fights, Tornado Tag matches, and even a War Chamber, and his match against Joey Janela shouldn’t be any different.
Known for his hardcore style, Joey Janela has been tearing it up since his release from AEW in 2021. The 35-year-old has been wrestling for nearly two decades at this point, so the former AEW star comes into their match with more experience than Hauser.
Though The Cobra Kai alumni is out there living his dream, that doesn’t mean Hauser isn’t taking his wrestling career seriously. Hauser has been through brutal wars against Sami Callihan, Matt Cardona, and Tom Lawlor; and the actor-turned-wrestler has emerged victorious each time. Can he do it again on February 7th?
This should still be a wild and exciting match. What’s great about watching a high caliber actor come into the world of wrestling is that you can tell that Hauser enjoys every minute of it. He recently sat down with Sam Roberts on Notsam Wrestling and described his experience this far.
“I’ve enjoyed wrestling. I don’t know how often I’m gonna do it or how long. Right now, I’m trying to get better, I’m trying to tell some stories. I’m undefeated in pro wrestling right now, but that’s going to change in the new year, and I really am on board to just try to entertain people and have fun.
I think I said it on Colbert, I said Bruce Willis, everybody knows he plays the harmonica, Kevin Bacon has the Bacon Brothers Band. This is my harmonica, this is my Bacon Brothers Band, and we’ll see how far it can go. I got a lot of love from fans at these autograph signings where they’ll be like, ‘Dude, I was on Triller the other night, watched your match with [Matt Cardona]. It’s like, that’s really cool because they’re not just saying it to make me feel good.
They’re pointing out things they liked from the match. That stuff means a lot, and I know it’s working. I just got to drink to drink a lot of hater-ade along the way.”
Hauser is no longer undefeated as he recently lost to The Andersons at MLW Reloaded, but that doesn't mean his match with Janela won’t be any good. Check out the updated line-up for DEFY’S next show, which including several notable names including Ricky Starks, Shane “Swerve” Strickland, Nick Wayne, and KENTA.
- DEFY World Championship: KENTA (c) vs. Ricky Starks
- Nick Wayne vs. Marcus Mathers
- Shane "Swerve" Strickland vs. Matt Sydal
- Seattle Street Fight: Joey Janela vs. Paul Walter Hauser