Wrestling venue finds new home due to huge demand

Pursuit Pro Wrestling was founded in 2021

A pro-wrestling training facility in Sheffield has moved to a larger venue following a rise in popularity in the entertainment sport.

Pursuit Pro Wrestling (PPW) offers local amateur wrestlers and international pro-wrestlers an opportunity to hone their skills with regular group and one-to-one training sessions.

The new venue on Fitzwalter Road features a wrestling ring, lighting rig, full PA equipment, crash mats and an in-house gym.

Founder Nathan Black said fans do not just want to watch the sport but to also take part in it.

Nathan Black, who established PPW in 2021 said they had outgrown their base at the South Bank Warehouse.

He said the new venue was about a mile (1.6 km) from the city centre and would enable them to continue growing and attract more people.

“Not a lot of people know there is pro wrestling here in Sheffield, we’re like a wrestling fight club," he said.

PPW offer diverse training opportunities for wrestlers across all ages and abilities.

Mr Black said they offer beginners courses and development training, as well as character work and showmanship, complete with full music and lighting facilities.

Sky Rose never imagined to be in a wrestling ring

Sky Rose has been training with the PPW team for six months.

“When I started in November I was too shy to walk through the door, now I’m welcomed in such a lovely way," they said.

Sky said inclusivity was a key message from the trainers.

"They always told me wrestling is for everyone," they said.

"I’m smaller than everyone else here but they’ve all been so supportive."

Lewis Hill is music teacher from Chesterfield

Lewis Hill works as a music teacher in a special school in Chesterfield.

When he is performing in the wrestling ring however, he is known as The Music Man Wrestler.

Mr Hill said wrestling helped relieve stress.

"I have a difficult job but this is better than a spa day, I pick people up and drop them down, I love it," he said.

The growth of PPW comes after a surge in popularity for the sport, Mr Black said.

Netflix announced in January that it would be the new home of Raw, the flagship programme of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).