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BRITISH wrestling said an emotional goodbye to one of its elite this week.
Paul Robinson announced he’d be stepping away from the limelight after a glittering 15-year career.
A true servant and master of the art, the Canvey Islander departs the top level having done as much as any single performer to propel our industry to the heights we all enjoy today.
Now, the eagle-eyed among you will note that FT has stopped short of using the “R” word, so we’ll hand over to the man himself to explain why.
Paul tells us: “One thing I must say – I never said I was retiring! My words were ‘I can’t compete at that level!’ I have a hereditary blood condition called a protein S deficiency.
“It’s a form of gene mutation – my blood isn’t thick or thin, it just wants to clot, basically.”
Hospital
The decorated ring hero continues: “I was diagnosed aged 12 and told it was always likely to happen, but it’s not physically treatable unless you actually have a clot.
“It happened two nights before the Thunderbastard match in January and I unfortunately had to pull out of that. I ended up in hospital.
“I had to avoid certain moves – big hard chops, because of the sudden blood rush to my chest. It would deprive my body in other areas, which could cause problems.
“I think a lot of people thought I was working them!”
Paul has consistently contributed to the British wrestling canon at an exceptional level in many guises.
A British kickboxing champ for three consecutive years, he placed third and fourth in the world at one point as a young man.
And his array of high flying and acrobatic skills marked him out as a pioneer – with a nod to Jody Fleisch and Jonny Storm. His run beneath the mask of Leon Britannico at Lucha Britannia was terrific to behold, but it might be his latest and as it turned out final run with Progress, IPW and others as a seething, raging heel which reinvented what fans will remember of his work.
“I was committed to being hated – I purposely didn’t sell shirts or 8x10 photos. I’d committed to being an a***hole,” says Paul, honest enough to admit early matches with MK McKinnan and Noam Dar at Progress were the shot in the arm his career needed.
He goes on: “I wasn’t expecting all the love and appreciation I’ve been getting from fans, but the amount of respect I’ve had from my peers and colleagues has been overwhelming.
Anger
“They know what they are looking at. I didn’t realise how highly regarded I was.
“I’m quite an emotional person – you see all this anger and hate in my character, but in real life I’ve got a poker face. But I’m not afraid to shed a tear.
“Reading the tweets that I’ve been getting has brought tears to my eyes on numerous occasions – I had to stop reading them on the night. I’m lost for words, I didn’t expect it. Words can’t describe how much I appreciate it.”
Paul, 28, says he will keep his hand in at RCWA, back home in Rainham, east London, helping the next generation to live the dream.
If they are a 10th of the wrestler he is, they’ll go a long way.
Hearty congratulations to Paul, one of our very best.
His six-year-old son Taylor, three-year-old daughter Lexi and partner Charlotte, as well as the rest of his family, should be very, very proud.
British wrestling certainly is.