Professional wrestler and head trainer Marc Perry (23), of Queenstown, known in the ring as Marcus Kool, is calling for expressions of interest for the KPW Queenstown Pro Wrestling Academy.
All-comers, both men and women, aged 18 and over, are invited to test their mettle and train to become professional wrestlers. They will have the chance to feature in the second series of the Prime television show Off the Ropes, to be filmed in Wellington, this winter.
Mr Perry said yesterday, once interest had been assessed, he would start an intake to teach people the basic breakfalls.
"We're going to see who is tough enough to take those bumps and who actually picks it up. There's back breakfalls, side breakfalls, flip breakfalls, and that's just the basics we need to get people doing first.
"From there, we can move on to people who are confident in doing that, and teach them the actual structure of pro wrestling and how it's done in an artform.
"If they are good enough, we can put them on to our live shows and TV series. It's not just a hobby. You get paid for this, which is great."
Originally from Birmingham, England, Mr Perry blended his schoolboy interests in contact sports and theatre and started wrestling at the age of 14. He became a registered professional and started his live show career aged 18.
He taught wrestling in schools and competed in tournaments around the world.
"It's performing art, that's the great thing about wrestling. Anybody can get involved in it," Mr Perry said.
"You get all shapes and sizes. It's all about presence in the ring and how they interact with crowds.
"I love it because it's very theatrical, it's in your face and it's great entertainment, especially for families."
