Mailman put straight by wrestling star

Oct 16 2007 By Adam Smith, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM was the focal point for millions of wrestling fans across the world as the World Wrestling Entertainment circus came to town.

Last night's bone-crunching action from the NIA was beamed to 130 countries as Birmingham's fanatical wrestling fans got to see their heroes in all their muscly glory.

With all the razzmatazz that America can provide, the bouts were preceded with slanging matches and near-comedy routines involving both men and women wrestlers.

The show featured the likes of Triple H and Hacksaw Jim Duggan, but at the centre of it all was a wrestler who hails from Codsall, near Wolverhampton.

William Regal cut his teeth bouncing off the bellies of Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy in Blackpool during the 1980s and now plays the conniving manager of the multi-million-pound WWE RAW franchise.

The 39-year-old spoke exclusively to the Birmingham Mail before the action.

He said: "Every wrestler loves coming to Britain because the fans are so passionate and for me Birmingham is extra special because, touring across the world, this is the nearest that I get to home.

"I grew up in Codsall and my dad still lives there. My nan lives in Warley and I still have lots of friends in the area."

William, real name Darren Kenneth Matthews, left Codsall at 15 to find fame and fortune in Britain's capital of wrestling, Blackpool.

"Ever since I saw my first wrestling bout aged seven all I have ever wanted to do was wrestle," he said.

After years of doing the rounds William hit the big time in the early 1990s when he started plying his trade in the moneyspinning US professional wrestling circuit.

Taking the role of an underhand Englishman he excelled and became a firm favourite with fans.

"I'm a very good bad guy and it's great to get all the interaction with the fans," William said.

William, who is married with three sons and lives in Atlanta, does not take his alter ego home with him.

He said: "I might be Mr Nasty in the ring, but wrestling is not mentioned in my house. I certainly do not want my sons to become wrestlers because I know how hard it is."

Another 13,000 fans are expected for WWE's Smackdown at the NIA tonight.