Queenstown’s Hooligan may be hanging up his spandex.
The resort wrestler, otherwise known as Marc Perry, is gearing up for what could be his last time in the ring.
After losing to rival Kane Khan at the recent Fight for Gold event in Invercargill, Perry challenged him to a rematch at the upcoming Queenstown WrestleFest.
Khan accepted, on one condition – if Perry lost, he’d have to retire.
“He said my time has come and gone and he is the future now,” Perry tells Mountain Scene.
“Since starting a family with two kids he doesn’t think I have what it takes any more, so it’s time to hang up the boots.”
Perry, 31, hasn’t won in front of his home crowd for two years, and admits he hasn’t been able to “keep up” lately.
“If I can’t get it done in front of my hometown crowd against the best in the country, then I’m happy to step aside and focus on family. It will be an emotional night, whatever the result.”
It’ll also be the potential end of a long career, with Perry starting his pro-wrestling career back in his native England at age 16.
WrestleFest takes place on March 16 at Queenstown Memorial Centre, 6.30pm, $23.
The six-bout event, usually held around the same time as Winter Festival, has been brought forward to March after organisers struggled to book a venue during the busy season.
It’ll be the fifth time the popular event’s been held in the resort.
