Halifax Courier

Wrestler shows Fury the ropes

- Ben McKenna ben.mckenna@jpress.co.uk @HxCourier

FORMER FAX player turned profession­al wrestler Luke Menzies has shown boxer Tyson Fury the ropes ahead of his WWE debut.

Menzies, who goes by the alias of Ridge Holland, said he taught Fury some “Yorkshire grit” ahead of the boxer’s WWE match with Braun Strowman tonight.

The 31-year-old who was born in Liversedge signed for the WWE in early 2018 and has spent the last number of months performing on the company’s NXT shows.

Menzies used to be a profession­al rugby league player, starting his career with BatMeanwhi­le, ley Bulldogs in 2007. As well as Halifax RLFC, he has also played for Dewsbury Rams and fellow Yorkshire clubs Hull KR and Hunslet.

He has also had spells at Oldham and Swinton Lions.

But he has left behind his rugby career and has ambitions of becoming a WWE superstar.

Fury has described himself as “a lifelong fan” of profession­al wrestling and is set to make a reported £9m from his clash with Strowman.

The organisati­on has millions of ardent American followers and allows Fury to further his profile in the United States ahead of an expected return bout against Deontay Wilder next year.

The Former unified world heavyweigh­t champion will face the WWE superstar at the company’s Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia on Halloween night tonight.

The event at the King Fahd Internatio­nal Stadium in Riyadh will be the organisati­on’s fourth PPV in the country.

MORE ONLINE: Go to www. halifaxcou­rier.co.uk

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 ?? PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES ?? FIGHT: Wrestler Braun Strowman and boxer Tyson Fury, right
PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES FIGHT: Wrestler Braun Strowman and boxer Tyson Fury, right
 ??  ?? ATHLETE: Profession­al wrestler Luke Menzies
ATHLETE: Profession­al wrestler Luke Menzies

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