Illawarra resident Luke Potter knew he wanted to be a pro-wrestler when as a child he saw a tape of Hulk Hogan locking horns with The Ultimate Warrior. He talks to Brendan Crabb about realising his goals.
“You know it’s fake, right?”
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Every professional wrestling fan has heard that sentiment expressed on multiple occasions, and Illawarra-based grappler Luke Potter is no exception.
Although a predetermined, choreographed form of entertainment, performers often don't receive recognition for their athleticism, endurance and the physical toll it can take on them.
''‘I have even bigger aspirations too - I want to get it on TV. I know we currently have the product to be able to put it on TV.''
“There's all sorts of stigmas attached to it,” Potter said.
“That’s why we've got the tryouts - I challenge anyone to come in and give it a try that thinks it is fake.
“In movies and TV shows, at any time they can say, ‘cut’, and they re-shoot the scene.
“We only get one chance. It’s a live performance and if you mess it up, there's no way of covering that up.
“That’s why you need to be a supreme athlete as well as being able to think, act and improvise on the fly.”
Port Kembla resident Potter is head trainer at the Illawarra’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Wrestling Academy, teaching aspiring wrestlers the intricacies of the craft.
The 32-year-old started wrestling more than a decade ago, and the school has been running for about four years.
Potter, who wrestles under the moniker Hunter P.S Hayes was trained by former World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars the Dudley Boyz in Florida.
He regularly wrestles on the independent circuit throughout Australia and the US.
“Everybody thinks that the mat’s soft and the ring's a trampoline, so there's a misunderstanding with that side of things.
“You have to be physically and mentally fit to be able to trust someone else's life and body in your hands when you're in there."
Potter has a background in rugby league, but said he became hooked on pro-wrestling at a young age after watching a tape featuring mega-stars Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior doing battle.
“From that day I told my Mum that was what I was going to do, and that's what I've done," Potter said.
“At school from Kindergarten through to Year 12, I was the wrestling kid.
“I still got along well with everyone, and I see people from school now.
“They see the success that I'm having and they're like, ‘wow’, because they realise I've followed through with it.
“There's not a day that I get out of bed that I don't want to do it any more - it's ingrained in me I guess."
Potter said he had undergone a shoulder reconstruction and two ankle surgeries due to wrestling.
“But that was purely from inexperience," he quickly added.
“The people in my academy won't get hurt because I am so huge on safety, and they won't get to move on to the next step unless I'm completely confident in their ability, physically and mentally, to be able to execute the moves or whatever they're up to.
“Knock on wood, but I haven't had one injury at the academy. And the only reason I suffered those injuries was because I was inexperienced and not taught correctly in the first place."
Rock ‘n’ Roll Wrestling is on the lookout for future home-grown male and female stars, and will be hosting tryouts for aspiring wrestlers on Saturday (September 23).
Tryouts will consist of a number of basic fitness drills to gauge athletic ability, fitness level and co-ordination.
The tryouts will include, but not be limited to running, jumping, squats, push-ups, sit-ups and burpees.
“We don’t just take anyone either,” Potter said of potential trainees.
“You’ve got to be really committed to the cause and really have a love and passion for wrestling.
“These are the first tryouts we've done... I’ve been doing it for over 10 years, and I'm at a stage now where I feel I really have something to offer and pass on in the training and knowledge.
“And I get a lot out of seeing local product succeed and start their own dream where I once upon a time started mine. And I'm still living it too."
Potter said a positive attitude and commitment were crucial.
“With the 15 adults I currently have in the class, I've made them into athletes,” he said.
“They didn't all come to me as athletes, but through my training, resources and history of what it takes to become a wrestler with the muscular endurance side, I’ve given them the tools of what to do, and then it’s entirely up to them.
“There's guys that have come in that have been athletes from the start, and they become even better athletes.
“Then I’ve got guys in there who couldn't do a push-up when they first started, but now they can do all that and they're wrestling full-on matches.”
Potter also runs the Rock ‘n’ Roll Wrestling promotion, who regularly host pro-wrestling shows throughout the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Sydney.
He enlisted former WWE Superstar, American heavy-hitter Ryback to appear at a couple of shows in August, including an event at Wollongong Snakepit that drew 650 fans.
However, Potter has further expansion plans, such as taking the company's shows to areas such as Albury-Wodonga and Goulburn.
“I want to tour Australia with it,” Potter said.
‘I have even bigger aspirations too - I want to get it on TV. I know we currently have the product to be able to put it on TV.
“(Australian) wrestling used to be big on TV in the 60s, 70s and 80s, and there's no reason it can't relive that, if not get even bigger.”
The tryouts will take place at 39 Bethlehem Street, Cringila from 12pm.
Participants must be over 16 years of age (under-18s will need a guardian's signature).
The cost is $25 (cash only), and those trying out are instructed to wear comfortable gym style clothes including joggers.
Successful applicants will need to be available to train Mondays and Wednesdays from 6pm.
You can email info@rockandrollwrestling.com for more details.
