Sam Gradwell Claims Paul Wight Mistreated Indies Talent at WWE Tryout In Response To Wight’s Comments About “Paying Dues” Just Being “Old-Timers” Way of Bullying Younger Talent

As noted before, WWE Hall of Famer AJ Styles and indies wrestler Arik Cannon were involved in an online incident on social media earlier this month over an argument revolving around Cannon’s claims that Styles’ son Avery did not help out with the ring setup at an event for Game Changer Wrestling this past July and Styles stating that his son was only paid to wrestle and not do other work. Among those who responded to the situation included former WWE wrestler and current AEW commentator Paul Wight who claimed that “paying your dues” was just a way for “old-timers” to bully and intimate younger talent.

Former WWE NXT UK talent Sam Gradwell recently responded on Twitter claiming that Wight mistreated indies talents at a WWE tryout during his time in the company.

Gradwell claimed that Wight was a “nasty intimidating piece of s**” to him and his group of tryout talent.

“Does Paul [Wight] remember what a nasty intimidating piece of s**t he was to my group of extra/tryout talent?

Shouting over us that we didn’t deserve to be paid and that we’d never be in the wrestling business because of a U.S paperwork misunderstanding on WWE’s part, not ours. F**k off.”

Does Paul remember what a nasty intimidating piece of shit he was to my group of extra/tryout talent?
Shouting over us that we didn’t deserve to be paid and that we’d never be in the wrestling business because of a U.S paperwork misunderstanding on WWE’s part, not ours. Fuck off https://t.co/ojbkQMGZjW

— Sam Gradwell (@sam_gradwell) August 18, 2026

In a follow-up tweet, Gradwell also stated that his group of wrestlers included Joe Hendry, Nathan Cruz, Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, and Zack Gibson.

A group that included @joehendry @Nathan_Cruz90 @Joe_Coffey @m_coffey90 and @ZackGibsonGYV amongst many others.
All significantly more professional, talented and deserving of being paid than him.

— Sam Gradwell (@sam_gradwell) August 18, 2026

Gradwell worked for WWE’s NXT UK brand from 2017 to 2022.