Okay folks you are not going to believe this. "Wheel of Fortune" is usually known for spinning wheels solving puzzles and maybe some cheesy banter. But this week things got a little… physical. Like headlock physical! Yes you read that right a contestant on "Wheel of Fortune" decided to show new host Ryan Seacrest some wrestling moves and things got hilariously awkward.
'Big Bill' Page Turns 'Wheel of Fortune' into WWE: Ryan Seacrest Gets a Surprise Wrestling Lesson
The contestant in question is named Bill Page but they call him "Big Bill" and for good reason. Turns out Bill from Wilmington Delaware is a former professional wrestler. He stepped up to the wheel on a recent episode rocking a colorful Hawaiian shirt that featured photos of his six grandkids. Cute right? Well things took a turn from wholesome to wild pretty fast.
During the intro as Ryan Seacrest was chatting with Bill about his "past life" as an athlete Bill decided to demonstrate. Before anyone knew it "Big Bill" had Ryan Seacrest in a full-on headlock! He wrapped his arms around Ryan's neck one under the chin and one on top of the head. Ryan clearly wasn't expecting this.
At first Ryan played it cool smiling and laughing like "haha this is funny". But Bill wasn't letting go. He even started lowering Ryan towards the ground still in that tight headlock. That's when Ryan started tapping out. He banged his hand on the "Wheel of Fortune" table like "okay okay I surrender!" It was all in good fun of course but still a totally unexpected and funny moment on the usually tame game show .
From Wrestling Ring to Wheel of Fortune Stage: Why 'Big Bill' Decided to Headlock Ryan
So why the headlock? Turns out it was all playful. Maggie Sajak (daughter of former host Pat Sajak and "Wheel of Fortune"'s social media correspondent) interviewed Bill after the show. Bill explained that he had mentioned he did pro wrestling and someone on the crew joked "What kind of moves can you put on Ryan?". Bill's response? "Well I guess the easiest one would be a headlock".
And just like that a "Wheel of Fortune" moment was born. Bill wrestled in high school and then went on to start the East Coast Wrestling Association. He told Maggie he's been "getting slammed kicked in the head everything" in his wrestling days. So a little headlock on Ryan Seacrest was probably no big deal for him.
Despite the wrestling interlude Bill actually did pretty well on "Wheel of Fortune" itself. He walked away with a sweet $24600 cash prize and a trip to St. Maarten. Not bad for a night's work even if he did miss out on winning a brand new Ford Bronco in the bonus round. The bonus puzzle clue was "What Are You Wearing?" and the answer was "PAIR OF WHITE GLOVES". Tough puzzle even for a wrestling champ.
Like Father Like Daughter? Maggie Sajak Jokes About Headlock and Pat Sajak's Past Tackle
Maggie Sajak had some fun interviewing Bill about the headlock. She even joked that Bill's game "started with putting Ryan in a headlock and I thought that would be the peak but it was only uphill from there". She also quipped that Ryan "tapped out pretty quickly". It seems like Maggie and everyone else found the whole thing hilarious.
And here's a funny connection. Maggie's dad Pat Sajak also had a somewhat physical moment with a contestant back in March 2023! Pat playfully tackled a contestant who was also a wrestler. Is this a new "Wheel of Fortune" tradition? Hosts getting playfully wrestled by contestants? Maybe Ryan Seacrest should start practicing his wrestling defense moves.
Fans Go Wild for Wrestling Wheel of Fortune: Social Media Reacts to Hilarious Headlock Moment
Unsurprisingly the "Wheel of Fortune" headlock moment went viral online. Fans on social media loved it. Comments popped up everywhere praising "Big Bill" and Ryan Seacrest's good humor.
One Instagram comment said "The headlock was the highlight of the show". Another fan wrote "Get em’ Bill wrestle Ryan Seacrest". And someone else was just plain shocked "Someone put Ryan in a headlock and I MISSED IT???" People were clearly entertained and amused by this unexpected bit of wrestling action on their favorite game show.
'Wheel of Fortune' Headlock Highlights: Key Moments from the Episode
- Contestant Name: Bill "Big Bill" Page
- Wrestling Background: Former high school and professional wrestler East Coast Wrestling Association Hall of Famer
- The Move: Headlock on host Ryan Seacrest during introductions
- Ryan's Reaction: Initially smiles then taps out to signal surrender all in good fun
- Bill's Winnings: $24600 cash prize and a trip to St. Maarten
- Bonus Round: Missed the final puzzle "PAIR OF WHITE GLOVES" and the Ford Bronco
- Maggie Sajak Interview: Bill explained the headlock was a playful spur-of-the-moment thing
- Viral Moment: Clip of the headlock went viral on social media
Ryan Seacrest Takes it Like a Champ: Wheel of Fortune Proves to Be More Than Just Puzzles
So there you have it "Wheel of Fortune" just got a little bit more exciting thanks to "Big Bill" Page and his surprise headlock on Ryan Seacrest. It's all fun and games though and Ryan handled it like a pro laughing it off and keeping the show rolling. It just goes to show you never know what might happen on live TV and even a gentle game show can have its unexpected moments of physical comedy. Maybe we will see more wrestling moves on "Wheel of Fortune" in the future? Probably not but hey it was definitely memorable while it lasted!