At the second day of his assault trial, 7 foot tall, 420 pound, WWF grappler Paul Wight told a Long Island court room that the actions of a rowdy fan frightened him into defending himself. Wight took the stand yesterday saying Robert Sawyer’s actions last summer in the lobby of Uniondale’s Marriott Hotel “scared the ever-living s–t” out of him, reports Newsday.
Wight contends that Sawyer – who admitted drinking that night and following Wight and other wrestlers from the nearby Nassau Coliseum to the Marriott Hotel – started insulting him at the front desk. According to the Newsday story, Wight claims Sawyer went into the crowd of fans and began making “loud, lewd comments and gestures.”
![](https://slamwrestling.net/wp-content/uploads/1999/03/bigshow_shane.jpg)
Shane McMahon and ‘Big Show’ Paul Wight in a publicity photo.
Wight says that when he tried to calm the 6-foot-6, 224-pound fan down, Sawyer shoved and threatened him. Wight responded by punching Sawyer breaking his jaw.
In his testimony on Monday, Sawyer said he never laid a hand on the superstar.
Brian Davis, Wight’s attorney, presented witnesses to the confrontation. David Wexler – a fan who was in the lobby that night and saw the incident – said Sawyer, 30, was trying to bully Wight into a fight.
In their closing statements, Assistant District Attorney Mike Garron countered by telling the court that at no time did Wight ever try to back away from a fight or locate hotel security. Davis said Wight defended himself and that his actions were reasonable.
Judge Thomas Feinman is expected to rule on the case Wednesday.
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