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May 2021
Harrogate man's dream of making it as a professional wrestler
High-flying Harrogate professional wrestler Joe Wade will go to extreme lengths to defeat his opponents in the ring.
The 20-year-old former Rossett School pupil has been wrestling for five years, mostly for Leeds-based promotions RISE and Tidal. Growing up, WWE wrestling stars such as Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio "were like superheroes" to him.
Joe was 13 when he decided he wanted to wrestle only to find out he had to be at least 15 before he could sign up for wrestling training in Leeds. He then spent two years learning gymnastics, karate, and boxing to help prepare him.
He is still honing his skills in the ring but hopes to one day wrestle in one of the big promotions in America or Japan.
Is wrestling 'fake'?
For as long as wrestling has existed, it's been criticised for being a "fake" sport.
The jibes are nothing new to Joe as wrestling runs in his family. His great-grandad George Wade was a referee who worked alongside British wrestling legend Big Daddy.
Even though matches and storylines are scripted, Joe said many people don't respect the skill involved with being a wrestler which he said is frustrating.
He added:
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'Wrestling is everything'
2020 was shaping up to be a busy year for Joe until covid took away the thing he loves doing the most.
He's used the time away from wrestling to develop and tweak his ring character on social media app Tik Tok. When shows resume in the summer, he'll return with a darker, edgier persona.
Life goals
By day Joe works at an office in Leeds and he's also going to university in York in September to study psychology.
But he hopes wrestling can one day be his full-time job. His dream is to perform in Japan, where the sport is especially popular.
When shows do return, he is most looking forward to hearing the roar of the crowd as he performs his high-flying moves on a villainous character.
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