Show time for accountant

By day he wrestles numbers; by night Invercargill chartered accountant Troy Crosbie morphs into his alter ego - lycra-clad professional wrestler ''Powerhouse'' T-Rex.

It seems an unlikely combination of careers, but Crosbie (29) easily swaps calculators for chokeslams, macro accounting for moonsaults and spreadsheets for Scorpion deathlocks.

Accountancy came first. In 2005 he began a BCom degree at the Southern Institute of Technology in Invercargill, graduating in 2007 from the University of Otago.

But Crosbie had dreamed of becoming a professional wrestler since he was aged 5.

He took the plunge in 2011, moving to Canada to attend the school run by World Wrestling Entertainment champion Lance Storm.

After ''three months of solid training'' he returned to Invercargill to pursue his dual careers. Between work at Invercargill-based finance company Finance Now, he travels the country appearing at pro wrestling shows.

Now he is bringing pro wresting to Invercargill, putting on a show at the Invercargill Workingmen's Club on August 8 which his Finance Now bosses have sponsored.

He will feature in the main event against Englishman ''Hooligan'' Marcus Kool, now living in Queenstown. Also on the card for the six matches will be Dunedin-based pro wrestler ''King Wilbur'' - Wilbur Mcdougall - and wrestlers from Auckland.

The show is being organised by Southern Pro Wrestling NZ - a not-for-profit entity set up by Crosbie - with proceeds going towards a planned wrestling school in the city.

If the show attracts a good crowd, he hopes to hold shows regularly and feature local talent.

Crosbie likened professional wrestling to a stage drama.

''A lot of it is showmanship. As well as having the skills you have to have a lot of endurance and be able to put up with a bit of pain. You've got to know how to interact with the crowds.

''You definitely have to be an actor. It really is sports entertainment ...

a story of good versus bad and you have to draw the audience into that story.''

But injuries do happen.

Crosbie said he was fortunate his only major injury so far was a broken nose ''when my head got put into the mat a bit fast''.

''You've got to be so much in control of your body that you can get yourself out of danger, and you've got to look after the other person ... ''There is a danger element to it, but it is what it is.

You could get hit by a bus. You've just got to live life the way you want.''

allison.beckham@odt.co.nz