Is Britain ready to rumble?

by Brady Haran BBC News Online, East Midlands

Does British wrestling have its own style?

In the glory days of pro wrestling in the UK, people like Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy were household names and seen on TV every week.

While the "sport" continues to flourish in the United States, it has become little more than a fond memory in Britain.

However a small band of men and women remain dedicated to the cause and dream of wrestling's return to the limelight.

They hope to do so by injecting the sport with much-needed dose of professionalism and "British style".

BBC News Online visited three men endeavouring to rekindle interest in the sport.

DOUBLE LIFE Mark Comerie the accounts clerk becomes Marc Mignot the violent Frenchman

They all fight with the Elite Pro Wrestling promotion in Sheffield.

Despite their colourful personas in the ring, all three are employed in relatively unexciting desk jobs in Nottingham.

Among them is Mark Comerie, 25, a softly spoken accounts clerk.

However when he gears up for wrestling, he becomes an obnoxious Frenchman named Marc Mignot - a villain the crowd loves to hate.

Comerie, who only speaks English when he is "out of character", says the key to success is professionalism and developing the wrestlers' personalities.

He says: "The ultimate thing for professional wrestling in Britain now is to take it back on TV.

"It's on TV in America, Mexico and Japan because they have all got their own styles.

IS IT SPORT? People who do wrestling are stuntmen, they're acrobats, they're incredible physical performers James Allen More pictures from the wrestling

"Here we have got to get it back to the British style.

"There's a lot of little promotions in Britain and they just try to be like (American wrestlers) Hulk Hogan or The Rock.

"The British style is a very technical style and is more story-based with good guys and bad guys."

James Allen, 28, is a computer programmer who assumes the character of talent agent "Jimmy J King".

He bubbles with enthusiasm for wrestling and, although there is often more emphasis on showmanship than competition, he insists wrestlers are athletes.

Allen says: "It's very physical and very skilful.

"People who do wrestling are stuntmen, they're acrobats, they're incredible physical performers and they are athletes.

I've injured both elbows and come out with a couple of black eyes and cuts and bruises Matthew Wand

"The crowd like to see physically fit people getting into the ring and battling each other, but also they like to see different characters."

Matthew Wand, 26, is an account executive at a stationery firm, admitting his work life bears a striking resemblance to The Office TV show (complete with an impending closure of his branch).

However he dreams of leaving the stationery business for a wrestling career in the US.

"I'd like to go all the way, I'd like to go to America in the next 12 to 18 months.

WANT TO SEE MORE? Matthew Wand (right) wants to fight in the US

"If I can stay fit and healthy and have the money, I will definitely go out there."

Wand says his body has been holding up well since he started wrestling in February.

"I've taken a couple of bad bumps, I've injured both elbows and come out with a couple of black eyes and cuts and bruises... but nothing major that's put me on the shelf."

In its bid to be taken more seriously, and make the sport safer, Elite Pro Wrestling is seeking to become aligned with official martial arts organisations.

Such an arrangement will involve more formalised training for wrestlers and a grading system similar to belt gradings used in sports such as karate.

But for the time being, the wrestlers will continue taking their show to various halls, gymnasiums and other venues around central England, playing to average crowds of about 100 people.

And dreaming of their triumphant return to UK TV screens.