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Lord of the rings?
SLAM DUNK: Wade Barrett has been named WWEs next breakout star
Eat your heart out Hulk Hogan – this Penwortham Powerhouse is battling to the top of the world wrestling stage.
Stuart Bennett, 29, who grew up in Penwortham, near Preston, but is now based in the US, has emerged victorious in a television contest to become World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE’s) next breakout star.
Wrestling under the name Wade Barrett, he won the first series of TV show NXT in which he was paired with pro Chris Jericho, and is now preparing for a championship fight.
Wade, who went to Whitefield Primary School on Oaklands Drive, said: “They took eight new wrestlers who they named rookies and they paired us up with seasoned pros.
“We had to do challenges like run around carrying beer kegs, entertaining the crowd and competing in the ring.
“It was a great feeling to win it. Chris Jericho is one of the top stars of WWE, I had a lot of help from him.”
Wade, 6ft 5in tall and weighing just under 19 stone, has wrestled in the States for two years as part of WWE’s developmental system programme and made his WWE debut in February.
His NXT prize means he has now won the ultimate prize of a WWE contract and can choose a champion to fight against.
Wade said: “I have a title shot which I can cash in at some point on pay-per-view. When the time is right, I will.
“I’m just having discussions with my pro.
“We do have a couple of ideas, but we are trying to keep it all hush hush.”
Wade said he started watching wrestling when he was 10 and his favourites included Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart, Shawn Michaels and the British Bulldog.
He said: “I loved all the characters and the showmanship.
“When I was 20, I decided to give it a shot and started hitting the gym hard and making sure I was eating right.
“When I was 23, I finally took the plunge and started wrestling in the UK.
“I want to make myself lots of money and hopefully have a nice long title reign.”
Wade, who still has family living in Preston, says he is proud of his roots and to be flying the flag over the ‘Pond’.
He said: “My accent is still very strong and I’m completely a Brit out here.”
With England and America in the same World Cup group, Wade was hoping for some football banter with his Yank pals when the nations met on Saturday. But he said: “They are showing no interest in it whatsoever.
“I’m very excited about the World Cup, hopefully this year we can win it. Fingers crossed, we can.”
A WWE spokesman said: “Confident and eloquent, Barrett isn’t afraid to speak whatever’s on his mind.
“He’s notably obsessed with the almighty dollar, and will do anything it takes to load his bank account with more and more money.”
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Friday 25 May 2012
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