Ready to rumble?
WOS Wrestling is back in the TV ring. MARION McMULLEN checks out contenders British Bulldog Jr and ultimate underdog Grado
VIPER, Rampage, Lionheart and Crater are among those getting ready to rumble as wrestling returns to ITV. There is also British Bulldog Jr, the son of famous wrestler Davey Boy Smith, who wants to show that wrestling talent runs in the family.
He stands 6ft 5ins tall and weighs in at 260lbs and says he will use his mighty powerslam to finish the fight.
One of his opponents is Scotland’s Grado. The 5ft 11ins tall fighter blends his unique sense of humour with his solid wrestling skills.
The 235lbs wrestler is known as the ultimate underdog, but has a championship belt to defend and certainly has no plans to give it up any time soon.
What else can we expect from WOS Wrestling? British Bulldog Jr and Grado fill us in...
What made you want to sign up to ITV’s WOS Wrestling?
BULLDOG: “My father, the ‘British Bulldog’ Davey Boy Smith, and uncle, the ‘Dynamite Kid’ Tom Billington, were part of the original World of Sport TV show in the early 1980s.
“This was the start for their huge careers in Japan, Canada, USA and pretty much the world.
“Also I am an active wrestler with New Japan Pro Wrestling at the moment.
“I’ve been under training and tutelage of The Original Tiger Mask Satoru Sayama in Japan.
“Sayama got his first big break in the UK under the name ‘Sammy Lee’ and was a huge hit over for World of Sport.”
GRADO: “I have been wrestling since I was a teenager, up and down the UK each weekend performing in front of crowds that have gotten bigger each year.
“British Wrestling is going through a boom period, the whole world is watching. There is not a better platform to showcase British Wrestling than on ITV for WOS Wrestling.
“This is what we all dreamt of, through the years of performing in town halls and village fairs. The whole of the UK needs to see this.
“It’s got something for everybody… acrobats, big monsters, over the top hilarious characters. Entertainment at its finest!”
Did you watch wrestling when growing up?
GRADO: “I have been obsessed with wrestling since I was at primary school. At around 12 years old, my mates gave up but I ended up going full pelt and went to my first wrestling school aged 14.”
What’s your favourite piece of wrestling attire and why?
BULLDOG: “My mouthpiece! Trust me, it has saved me on some probably high dental bills and dentist trips.”
Do you have any good luck charms/ rituals before a match?
BULLDOG: “I used to rub some Egyptian Frankincense on my hands and neck, but I’ve since run out.
“Frankincense is a great oil to help the body relax and say a prayer. Other than that, I always try and stretch and warm up before going to the ring.”
Who is the best wrestler this year and why?
GRADO: “There are too many amazing wrestlers to name but one – Will Ospreay – flies around the ring like a magician. It needs to be seen to be believed. “Crater, for his size, about the equivalent of a small van, can also move around the ring at some pace and could throw the likes of myself – no lightweight at all – around the ring like a wet tracksuit. “Sha Samuels is your typical cockney hardman, turned up to 11. British Bulldog Jr is unique in that he comes from a wrestling legacy, being the son of Bulldog and the nephew of Bret Hart. “There are no weak links in this roster, everyone brings something different to the table.”
Which wrestler were you most nervous about facing and why?
BULLDOG: “There was never really a particular wrestler I was nervous about, but I have been nervous before big events or huge audiences.
“But once you go through the curtain, that all leaves the spirit.”
Is it a family show?
BULLDOG: “Yes, certainly, this a show the family can all watch together. I think it has something for everybody.”
Can you describe your wrestling style in one sentence?
BULLDOG: “Power fighter, with great technical training.” GRADO: “There is no one else like me. I dance my way to the ring, a tonne of fun and then the bell rings. “If you’re bigger than me I’ll try and poke your eyes, stamp on your toes or do everything I can to sneak a victory… I’ll use any body part of mine as a weapon, from my hands to my belly. “That’s more than a sentence, sorry.” WOS Wrestling starts tonight on ITV at 5pm.