OFF TO JAPAN FOR LIFE ON THE CANVAS
WHEN people finish their university studies they have to face the realities of stepping into the world of work. If they are lucky they will end up in a graduate scheme with a successful career mapped out ahead of them.
Others might put off the workplace for travelling, while some will take on internships or placements in a bid to follow their chosen occupation.
But none of those are quite the case for 21-year-old University of South Wales graduate Daniel Jones – because he is flying to Japan to become a professional wrestler.
On Thursday he graduated from the Atrium in Cardiff with a BA Honours in film studies.
In a fortnight he will board a flight to Japan to compete with All Japan Pro Wrestling for three months.
“I have been trying to get out to Japan for quite a few years and have contacted a lot of promoters” said Danny, from Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent.
“There was a tryout in October last year and then in January I found out I was one of just two people picked – it was me and guy called Massimo. “I will be flying out on July 25. “I have never been contracted anywhere so the longest I’ve done anywhere is a week and that was for training.”
Most people know wrestling through the WWE – formerly WWF or the World Wrestling Federation – but this is just a part of the global wrestling scene.
It was through watching WWE as a child that Dan fell in love with the art.
“I always wanted to be a wrestler when I was young.
“I didn’t think it existed in the UK, let alone Wales, but I kind of stumbled across it.
“I saw a sign while on the school bus that said ‘Celtic Wrestling’.
“I looked into it and my brother introduced me to someone who did ring announcing so I started in Newport.”
From early on the Jones family have encouraged Daniel’s passion for wrestling.
“They are really incredibly supportive – I am really lucky.
“Obviously they don’t like me getting hurt, or when I come home with red marks all over my chest, but they know that is part of it and that I love it.
“My dad is a lifelong wrestling fan and that is why I got into it when I was a kid. My eldest brother was into it as well.”
Daniel, who competes under the name Dragon Heart Danny Jones, is the latest British wrestler to start to get an international profile.
A string of Brits are making a splash in WWE, which is easily the largest promotion. WWE has boasted stars who have transcended the world of wrestling like Hulk Hogan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena.
Cardiff’s Mark Andrews has shot to prominence performing for WWE over the past 12 months and is riding a resurgence in British wrestling.
Andrews is actually a close friend of Daniel.
“I know Mark well,” he said. “We met when I started at Dragon Pro in Newport because he was an assistant trainer. “Now we are close friends. “When I was living in Cardiff I would always go to the gym with him.
“The UK wrestling scene is crazy and people like Mark are the main ones that are doing well at the moment – all this when they were originally ripped into for being smaller guys.”
For many years you had to be very big to make it as a professional wrestler but those like Mark Andrews have broken this mould, relying instead on technical ability.
Daniel, however, is built a bit more “old school”.
“I am 6ft 3in and will be a bit of a giant when I go to Japan,” he said.
It was also Andrews who helped Daniel to develop his Dragon Heart gimmick. “I came up with that with the help of Mark,” he said. “We would always talk about stuff I could do and I was struggling with stuff like character. “Back then my character was Raving Danny Jones who was a bit of a party boy. “It was working but people like Pete Dunne (current WWE UK champion) and Mark Andrews said it was holding me back because it was a comedy-type thing. “Pete gave me a kick up the arse and said I should take myself more seriously. “I debuted the new gimmick at Walkabout in Cardiff back in April.” Every country and promotion has its own style of wrestling, with certain wrestlers suiting a particular style. Japan is well known for its brutal and highly realistic style, with many of the strikes landing for real. Daniel said: “It is something I have always wanted to do and I have known Japan is hard-hitting and that has always intrigued me. “I have always been trained by coaches who taught me to hit hard and take it hard. “When I was nine I was doing mixed martial arts and kickboxing so I was used to taking hits.” Ultimately Daniel says he wants to make it to the big leagues and fight with his friends in WWE. “The ultimate is to be in WWE. That is the pinnacle of a career but there is so much in between I want to do. “I would love to wrestle in as many countries as I can and my favourite opponent would be The Undertaker.”