Ethan Carruthers has given up basketball to chase his dream of becoming a WWE wrestler in the United States.
The 24-year-old former Otago Nuggets basketballer has entered a competition in a bid to earn a spot on the WWE Tough Enough reality television show, where the winner is guaranteed a one-year contract, worth more than $250,000.
All going well, the winner could sign on for a further three years and earn more than $1 million.
Thirty people from around the world will be picked for the show by June 11, and thousands of entries have already been posted online.
Contestants must post a video no longer than a minute explaining why they should make the show.
Carruthers' video was viewed almost 10,000 times in the first three days, and has amassed almost 15,000 views since Friday.
The former Otago Boys' High School pupil said the idea to chase his WWE dream came about two years ago.
''I was actually in the United States at a basketball academy at the time,'' he said.
''During the season, I got injured and was out for about a month. I was quite frustrated and got a little bit down.
''I just so happened to flick on the TV. The first channel was on Monday Night Raw and the person that was on the screen just happened to be The Rock [Dwayne Johnson], and at that time he was making his comeback.
''Automatically, just being a fan of The Rock, I was hooked.''
Carruthers, who played for the Nuggets in 2012, returned to New Zealand to help the Southland Sharks win the 2013 NBL title.
Then it was time for a change.
''After we won the championship, I asked myself, `Do you want to be here any more?' The answer was `no'.
''I had done everything I had wanted to do. All I wanted to do was win a championship.''
The shooting guard moved to Wellington to start chasing his dream, but quickly realised not everyone was in favour of his change in direction.
''It's tough. A lot of people don't understand my decision,'' he said.
''I found out pretty quickly I had to keep my mouth closed. You tell people and they would just look at me and think I was crazy.''
Before posting his Tough Enough video, he told only his close friends he was pursing a wrestling career.
Carruthers is spending his fair share of time in the gym, but believes the mental aspect of being a wrestler is just as important.
''I really back myself in terms of the actual speaking and talking,'' he said.
''The mental aspect is huge - just the way you carry yourself. The persona is really important. I probably put a bit more work into that than the gym.''
Now that his video is out there for everyone to see, Carruthers is lapping up the support he has received.
''I've stepped out of the shadows and now people can see me. I've got a lot of support already for being a wrestler, even if I don't get into Tough Enough,'' he said.
Carruthers is moving to Melbourne later in the month, not that he will be there long if he is one of the 30 picked for the reality show.
If he does not make it, he will continue to chase his dream - one he is sure he will accomplish.
''I'm going to get in, whether it's with Tough Enough or not. I'm going to get into the WWE - it's just a matter of time.
''I believe I can do it really well and be one of the best in the world at it.''
