Baylough native, James McManus, will be a focal attraction as he performs on the bill during the Stars of American Wrestling show in Drum Community Centre on Friday, Saturday 29, at 7.30pm.
The powerhouses of Grand Slam Wrestling are certain to host an evening of unforgettable WWE style action in the squared circle, to include the body slamming heavyweights and the top rope flying cruiserweight dare-devils.
Athlone man James McManus has been performing as a professional wrestler for a number of years and now his hard work has finally paid off, the Baylough native amongst the muscle packed superstars and over the top characters who will appear on the bill in Drum Community Centre.
As a teenager James was in awe of wrestling superstars such as The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and John Cena. Watching these superhero-like characters inspired the Athlone man to seek out where he could train to perform as a professional wrestler.
Striking lucky, James found a professional wrestling training school in the Midlands. Although the physicality of the training was a shock to the system, James quickly decided he wanted to pursue this career. He dedicated countless hours and endured rigorous training camps to be physically ready for the high impact nature of this unique art form.
Having performed on shows the length and breadth of the island of Ireland, in addition to recently completing tours of the UK, James is motivated now more than ever to put on the performance of a lifetime in front of his hometown Athlone supporters.
The Grand Slam Wrestling Show has a family friendly theme with action, drama and comedy for young and old to enjoy. After a jam packed card of exciting matches, fans in attendance who have opted to pick up a backstage pass at the merchandise stand will have the opportunity to meet all the wrestlers & collect autographs/pictures.
Prior to the Stars of American Wrestling performance in Drum Community Centre, James afforded his thoughts to the Athlone Advertiser.
Where did your interest in Wrestling begin and how did you get started in wrestling yourself?
When I was around 8 years old, I was visiting my cousins on a Saturday morning. Like most kids we were crowded around the television looking for cartoons to watch when I stumbled across WWE on Sky TV.
I had never seen anything like this before, it was like seeing your favourite super hero’s come to life on your TV screen. I was instantly hooked by the athleticism, the over the top characters and the drama of it all.
My interest in Pro Wrestling only grew stronger as I went into my teen years – I watched the shows religiously on TV with my favourite performers being The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels. Along with a group of school friends, I attended many WWE live events in Dublin.
I then watched WWE superstar Sheamus and I couldn’t believe that an Irish man had made it to the top of this industry. This inspired me to start researching Pro Wrestling Schools in Ireland. I really hit the jackpot when I found a training school in the Midlands. I signed up for an induction session and never looked back.
How do you feel about performing in front of your hometown audience in Athlone?
Over the past five years, I have been lucky enough to perform on American Wrestling events all over the country and the UK. I have had many opportunities to learn from the best when getting in the ring with top talent from around the world.
All of this experience has led me to one of the most exciting moments of my career – getting to perform in front of my hometown crowd. I cannot wait to step through the curtain and hear the roar of the people of Athlone. I hope to put in my best performance to date and leave it all in the ring.
In my teenage years, I played many GAA games for my local club Clann na nGael and loved playing in front of our own supporters. I know the community of Athlone are fantastic to rally behind their own and I have no doubt that on September 29 in Drum Community Centre I will have young and old cheering me on.
