Paul Wight has opened up about his efforts to return to the ring after undergoing 11 surgeries in seven years, while also explaining why he believes competition between wrestling companies benefits the entire industry.

Speaking to Scott Johnson on News4JAX’s Going Ringside, the AEW star corrected the suggestion that he had stepped away from wrestling. Wight said his absence has been about getting himself physically ready following extensive surgery, including procedures on both knees and both hips.

“Yeah, I haven’t stepped away. I’ve just, I mean, dude, I’ve had 11 surgeries in the past seven years. Like both knees, both hips. I’m not in any pain or nothing like that. I’m working on losing weight and just getting my stuff together. It’s a little bit harder at 54,” Wight said.

Although he remains interested in wrestling, Wight does not want to rush back before he feels ready. He explained that years in the ring have left him with several issues to address.

“The biggest thing for me is I don’t want to go out there and be like Old Yeller like, ‘Oh god, that’s really bad. Please shoot it,'” he said. “You know, so we’re working on, I am diligently working on a lot of stuff. Fixing a lot of little things, just years of wear and tear and getting everything tight and right just to have some fun.”

Wight joined AEW in February 2021 and has also worked behind the commentary desk on Collision. While he did not announce a return date, his comments made clear that he still hopes to enjoy more time in the ring.

The conversation also turned to AEW’s place in wrestling, with Wight arguing that fans should recognise the benefits of having multiple major companies. He was particularly critical of those who dismiss the importance of a strong alternative.

“It’s funny because I know I see some of the quote-unquote smart fans on TV and, you know, what usually comes out of their mouth is complete nonsense. They don’t understand, number one, you want viable competition,” Wight said.

For Wight, the biggest benefit is giving wrestlers somewhere else to succeed if their circumstances change or an opportunity does not work out.

“You want competition. If there’s only one brand in town, it’s not good for the talent because if you’re not successful in one company, picked the wrong gimmick, didn’t work out well, didn’t get along with management, whatever things happen, you have nowhere else to go. You have nowhere else to go in the U.S.”

He added that competition strengthens wrestlers’ negotiating positions and gives both talent and companies fresh opportunities.

“Now you have a viable alternative. It’s better for the talent negotiating. It’s better for the companies because, you know, talent go back and forth and just like any business, you want good competition in wrestling. You want AEW to do well,” he said. “You want everyone to do well for the talent, for us. It gives us more opportunity and a chance to entertain more fans.”

Asked about a possible shift towards AEW, Wight reflected on WWE’s years as the industry’s dominant company and Vince McMahon’s approach to rival promotions.

“I have seen a shift in momentum. For so many years, there was only one dominant brand, and that was created by design. You know, the guy that, you know, Vince McMahon, that used to run WWE, was intent on crushing any competition and not letting anything sprout,” Wight said. “That was his mantra, and he was able to do that cuz he had the bucks, the money, to support that endeavor.”

Wight credited the Khan family with backing an alternative and praised Tony Khan’s work in developing AEW.

“Along comes the Khan family, who are passionate about pro wrestling and weren’t intimidated at all by that. And we started really slow with a concept and an idea, and Tony has built this thing from the ground up,” he said. “It’s been an amazing start to see where it’s growing, and the potential is only going there. They’re bringing in new talent. The product is really [improving] all the way around.”

He also spoke positively about AEW’s relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery and its international expansion, pointing to television, streaming and overseas activity as reasons for his optimism.

“You can see Collision’s doing really good on ratings. Dynamite’s doing really good. The app is doing really well. It’s continually growing. Our international presence is growing as well, in the UK, in Australia,” Wight said. “So there’s a lot of places that a few years ago AEW wasn’t and now AEW is.”

Wight mentioned a recent media tour in Poland and AEW shows in France, England and Germany as further examples of that international reach.

Would you like to see Paul Wight wrestle again, and do you agree with his views on competition? Share your thoughts in the comments.