Steering wheel removal problems

[FlameOut]

I know this has been asked a million times, and I found some threads concerning the removal of the steering wheel, but nothing is pulling this thing off. I know some said theirs came off easily just by pulling with their hands, other used a puller.

I have the nut backed off, and I've been pulling, beating with rubber mallet, used a wheel puller, but this thing won't budge. I even cut the steering wheel to see if I could see something I'm missing. It's just a matter of removing the large center nut, and sliding the wheel off, right? I thought about applying some heat, but I know there are some plastic parts in there. I almost to the point of looking for another column because I'm also having shifting problems