ANDY 'The Rage' Baker is hoping to start his own Runcorn wrestling academy.
Andy, 24, is awaiting delivery of a full-sized wrestling ring at the beginning of next month and is searching for suitable premises to hold schools in Runcorn and Widnes.
The Rage is back home in Runcorn following his latest stint learning the trade at Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in the United States, and he was also seen on the WWE Raw show in Birmingham at the end of April.
On that occasion the Runcornian was knocked out in front of a global TV audience, taking on the 6ft 4in, 275lb superstar Chris Masters in the Masterlock Challenge, having being handpicked from the audience by 'The Masterpiece'.
But Andy is hoping for a big hit himself as he tries to pass on his knowledge to the people of Halton.
The Rage told the Weekly News: 'I have had a few people asking about whether I would open a school and it is an idea which I have always wanted to play with.
'I will be holding the training sessions myself, with hopefully a special trainer now and again.
'I am not saying I know everything but what I have learnt in the USA at OVW and what I have learnt from talking and training with WWE wrestlers over the past two years has given me a lot of knowledge and experience about the business and I want to pass on what I have learnt so far.
'I am going to do what no other wrestling school in Britain does. I am going to train the OVW and WWE way and also mix it in with British-style training so it will be unique.'
If he can find premises for his school, Andy hopes it will eventually be possible to hold regular shows, with the venue receiving a cut of the 'gate'.
But, first of all, he needs to find a venue that can accommodate and store the 15ft ring.
The school is set to be an ongoing scheme, initially running three-hour sessions two days a week with an additional two hours a day needed to construct and take down the ring.
The extra training will help keep The Rage in peak condition and will provide yet more footage to send to the WWE.
He added: 'I am only 24 now and still feel I have a long time to go yet in wrestling. I am still hopeful someday I will get a chance to wrestle for WWE on a permanent basis but we will see.
'Maybe it isn't my time just yet, but if it's meant to be it will happen. When? I don't know.' nIf you have premises that could suit Andy, e-mail rage@rageandybaker.com or andybaker_99@yahoo.co.uk, or telephone 0795 664 3534.
