Devon wrestlers putting iconic sport back on the map

For readers of a certain age, wrestling on a Saturday afternoon was part of the weekly sporting diet.

The legends of Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks storming around the ring was just great TV, and no question our British wrestlers would have taken down the Fancy Dans of Hulk Hogan, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and even the Ultimate Warrior (what was he on btw?)

Now, a wrestling school in Plymouth is on a mission to restore the unbridled entertainment of their sport. Toby St John from the Lion’s Den takes up the story:

"Professional wrestling is a British invention. It was adapted from historical grecko Roman wrestling and used in touring carnivals, where trained professionals would put on exhibitions for the carnivals goers, as well as allowing crowd members to challenge a trained wrestler, often offering them a reward if they were able to last for three minutes in the ring without being pinned or submitted.

“Over time, British professional wrestling evolved and left the carnivals. Promoters instead would put on wrestling shows around the country and draw massive crowds to town halls and arenas showcasing the very best wrestlers of the generation. Eventually, the popularity of these shows would lead to wrestling being featured on television as part of the World of Sport programme in the mid-60s.

“Names like Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Mick McManus, Adrian Street and Kendo Nagasaki are still remembered today whenever a conversation about wrestling is brought up. World of Sport was a part of so many people's lives with entire families gathering around the television on Saturday afternoons to enjoy the larger-than-life wrestling action.

“World of Sport would end in 1985 and British wrestling would take a downturn in popularity that lasted for many years. With smaller crowds and the adoption of a more showy American style, the amount of independent wrestling shows decreased dramatically over time and remain that way only until recent years.

“Thankfully, with the rise of WWE's popularity worldwide and most recently with their debut on the streaming platform Netflix, independent professional wrestling in the UK has seen a resurrection. Promotions around the country are once again putting on well attended shows in large venues and British professional wrestling are being showcased on the biggest stages in the world.

“The South West has seen a great resurgence of interest in wrestling with promotion like South West Wrestling and Lions Den Pro putting on incredible shows that showcase the very best talent who are from and trained locally.

“Personally, I have been fortunate enough to travel across the whole of the UK, wrestling in some of the most famous venues in the country in front of large, excited crowds. I've also been able to travel abroad, most prominently to America where I have wrestled in multiple states, winning championships with my tag team partner Jordan Sparkes as the tag team, The Blockbusters.

“As well as wrestling, I've taken the opportunity to promote my own shows in Holsworthy in Devon and Bude in Cornwall, where talented wrestlers from the South West have entertained local crowds.

“There are currently efforts to bring World of Sport back to television in a new and improved way. I sincerely hope that this renewed excitement for British professional wrestling continues and keeps growing so that more people can experience our amazing and historic sport. If you ever see a wrestling show advertised in your area, I would strongly encourage you to attend because you may be surprised just how quickly you will become a fan."

As we have seen from the blockbuster American shows, female wrestling is also growing in popularity, as described by Ruby Manitoba.

"Women's wrestling has undergone significant transformation over the years. In the past, female participation in wrestling was uncommon, this later evolved into the "diva" era of wrestling. In recent times, the landscape has shifted considerably, with women's matches now featured in nearly every event.

“This evolution has not only expanded the wrestling fanbase but has also altered the perception of the sport, which is no longer exclusively associated with men. It is encouraging to see a growing number of young girls engaging with wrestling shows, which in turn has inspired more females to pursue wrestling, thereby increasing their representation in the UK wrestling scene.

“This transformation is also evident in the South West region. South West Wrestling, one of the leading promotions in the area, has an ever-growing women's division known as the "SWW Warriors Division," of which I have had the privilege to be a part of. In recent years, SWW has made significant strides by hosting several women-only events, which have proven to be highly successful and provided an opportunity for female wrestlers in the South West to unite.

“Additionally, my home promotion, "Lions Den Pro," exemplifies the advancements in women's wrestling in recent times. Located in Plymouth, The Lions Den serves as a professional wrestling training facility where currently eight women are training, including four young girls participating in the Lions Den Kids classes. This highlights the positive influence that women's wrestling has had on the younger audience.

“I have been lucky enough to experience many opportunities in the world of wrestling. I have been wrestling on shows in the UK for the past four years and in this time, I have seen the number of women involved in wrestling grow. I have also had the chance to wrestle in some prominent wrestling promotions in the United States under the guidance of wrestling legend Dr Tom Prichard.

“I have been fortunate to encounter numerous opportunities within the world of wrestling. Over the past four years, I have participated in wrestling events across the UK, during which I have witnessed a significant increase in the number of women engaging in the sport.

“Additionally, I have had the honour of competing in several esteemed wrestling promotions in the United States. Notably, one promotion launched its women's championship belt during my time working there, which I secured after winning a women's tournament that lasted over three months."