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Leeds Live
Leeds Live
National
Samuel Port

Leeds man sick of people 'laughing' at him when he tells them he's a wrestler

A Leeds man has grown sick of people laughing at him when he tells them he’s a wrestler.

Adam Bowler, 36, began wrestling last year but he says people in the wrestling world have been “bullying” him. He says this is due to him being “short and skinny” rather than having the stereotypical “big and muscley and sportive” wrestler build.

The Gledhow man doesn’t have a wrestler pseudonym but likes to represent Leeds by wearing a Leeds United kit when he wrestles. Adam won his first fight in December and is looking forward to his second later this month.

Read more: Upset residents in 'worst area in Leeds' fume over 'nonsense' ranking

Adam, who receives Universal Credit, said: “Some people were surprised when I started wrestling because I don’t look like a typical wrestler. They’re normally big, muscular and sportive but I don’t look like that kind of wrestler. I look short and skinny.

“I do get bullied a lot, they say I don’t deserve to be there and the way I look. They just laugh. They say I’m just too short and not good enough to do wrestling and that I could get hurt.

Adam Bowler says wrestling helps control his anger issues (Leeds Live)

“There are people shorter than me who do it. Don’t judge a book by its cover, everyone can do what they want if they put their mind to it.”

Adam has added that wrestling helps control his anger issues, “I am a bit calmer now,” he admits. The 36-year-old has been a part of the wrestling world for over a decade, organising and promoting events, having founded Classic UK Pro Wrestling in 2011.

Adam said: “Years ago, it was all Adam’s crazy, he doesn’t deserve to be a fan or a promoter. All that kind of stuff because I was losing my temper all the time.”

But Adam doubled down on the fact he won’t let naysayers detract him from his passion. He strives to become the next Josh Warrington or ‘Blonde Bomber’ Ebonie Bridges type figure, boxers who hold a strong connection with Leeds United and have a large following in Leeds.

'Upsetting'

Adam aspires to become the next Josh Warrington or ‘Blonde Bomber’ Ebonie Bridges type figure (Leeds Live)

Adam said: “I am going to do it no matter what. I love to do it and it’s a challenge for me. I feel like over the years, I’ve been an underdog and I do get beat down quite a bit. I want to build my confidence up.

“It’s upsetting, it does knock me quite a bit mentally with my confidence. But every time I give it a go, it does help.”

Adam says he fights with “basic” wrestler moves, he calls himself a “highflyer” wrestler who does cross-body moves. This involves throwing himself off the ropes and jumping on his opponent.

Adam may have destroyed his opponent in his last clash but was careful not to let it destroy his friendship with him. He wrestled Josh Bradford and said it was “hard to wrestle a friend,” as he didn’t want to hurt him too badly and likes to see his friends win.

Speaking of his decisive victory, Adam said: “He was trying to flip me over but I flipped him over myself and rolled him up and held his legs and arms down.”

The match took place in an event Adam had set up to memorialise his late mum Linda, named the ‘CUKPW Linda memorial Championship’. He will be defending his belt in his next clash later this month.

Adam’s next fight will be taking place in another of his organised events, he’s put himself through boxing and kickboxing training to prepare himself for it. If you want to watch Adam fight, the event is called Rise of the Ashes and will be taking place in The Anglers Club, Nippet Lane, Burmantofts on May 14.

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