Wrestler Johnny Midnight back in the ring for one last bout

A FORMER pro-wrestler came out of retirement to take to the ring for one last bout.

More than 400 fans packed out Macclesfield Leisure Centre as Jon Hall, 34, took part in the first live wrestling show to be held in Macclesfield for more than eight years.

Throughout his career he has taken part in more than 350 wrestling matches, and even tried out for the high-profile WWE league in the USA, but slowed down his career as the sport took its toll and he picked up injuries, got married and had two sons.

But after the temptation to step back onto the canvas became too great, Jon, of Gullane Close, Tytherington, reprised his ‘Johnny Midnight’ persona for the last time.

One of his signature moves was the Midnight Express where he ran and jumped at an opponent and slammed him across the chest before landing outside the ring and jumping off the top rope.

And using it to great effect, he came out on top in his singles match against ‘TJ Punkster’, and in the evening’s Royal Rumble main event, before bidding the crowd an emotional farewell with his children, nephew and niece with him in the ring.

Jon said: “I must have wrestled in every town and city in the country, but after more than 350 pro matches and two try outs with WWE I felt it was time for me to move on.

“With a busy business, family and other commitments along with damaged vertebrae in my back and neck, I’d been thinking about when to stop for a while.

“With the show in Macclesfield coming up, it was a great opportunity to go out on a high and I was thrilled that more than 175 of my friends and family came out to see me off.”

Jon worked as a personal trainer in Macclesfield where he met Matthew Nicholson. He and Matthew set up The Academy Group Transformation Centre on Waterside four years ago and Jon moved to Tytherington last year.

The dad, who lives with partner Alex Jordan, added: “The business has already helped hundreds of people in the town transform their lives and bodies and I’m looking forward to taking it to the next level now.”