2015 Explorer SPORT - how to replace the rear hatch actuator???

I'm hoping there's some geniuses here who know a trick to replacing the rear hatch actuator --
Our rear hatch will not close completely -- it closes almost 98%, binds, and reopens fully.
I think I must have stripped the actuator and it fina;lly turned on me so I bought a new one (which arrived today)

and it looks like a simple "unplug / replug and play" but the plug and wires do not come out of the small hole,
so it appears the interior lining has to be removed.

There's on video on U Tube about 32 minutes long, and if this guy is right, this is a most painful torturous
replacement that should really only take 20 minutes.

Please help me out here.

Thank you.