A Wheel of Fortune star got a little more than he bargained for when a recent contestant used him to prove his strength. The classic game show has been on the air since 1975, but, of course, it’s gone through many changes in those years as it attempted to remain relevant in a changing culture, including changes to the Wheel of Fortune host as Ryan Seacrest took over for Pat Sajak in 2024.
One of the stars of Wheel of Fortune was bench pressed by a contestant in a recent episode.
TV Insider reported that in a recent episode, which originally aired in December 2024, Ryan let contestant Will McHugh bench press him after finding out that Will benched 315 pounds. “Wait, 315? That’s three of me, 315 pounds,” Ryan said, to which Will replied, “If I laid down, I could probably bench ya.”
Will put his money where his mouth was by laying down and bench pressing Ryan, who flailed above him. As Ryan toppled over Will, Will asked, “Are you okay?“ to which the affable Ryan replied, “I’m great, Will. Thank you very much.” Will shared a clip of the encounter on his TikTok page.
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As a radio and TV veteran, Ryan has been in the industry long enough to know what will play to audiences. He’s also not above making himself the butt of a joke, as he did in this bench pressing situation.
Ryan didn’t pretend to know anything about working out, but when he found out that this particular player could bench press three times his body weight, Ryan didn’t hesitate to turn it into a bit.
Ryan is a true professional, but he plays with his image by partaking in gags like this one. Ryan’s often the “straight man,” meaning he’s the professional, polished one, so letting a contestant on Wheel of Fortune bench press him as he gets out of his comfort zone is something that is appealing to viewers.
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Ryan was game to let the Wheel of Fortune player prove his strength by using Ryan as a weight. It was a silly bit, but seeing Ryan out of his element made it memorable. As his arms and legs flailed, Ryan kept his cool, making the bit even funnier. It was a light moment that allowed the Wheel of Fortune contestant to play around before getting down to the serious business of winning serious money.
Ryan has the ability to play around with the contestants on Wheel of Fortune or with his other hosting gig on American Idol while still keeping the show moving forward, and that’s what makes him a great host. He’s always game for fun, but he can keep it moving, which is why his career has lasted as long as it has.
Wheel of Fortune streams weeknights. Please check your local listings for time and channel.
Sources: TV Insider, Will McHugh/TikTok