Norfolk wrestler Nick Aldis lands new role with WWE

Norfolk wrestler Nick Aldis says he is "over the moon" to have landed a role with wrestling promoters WWE.

Aldis is general manager on the Smackdown show in America and also works behind the scenes as a producer.

The 37-year-old has been a wrestler for 19 years and also performed as "Oblivion" on the Sky TV show Gladiators, in 2008.

On his move to WWE, Aldis said: "It's obviously the pinnacle, it's the Premier League."

Aldis is a former TNA world champion and had two reigns as NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion from 2017 to 2021.

He learned the art of wrestling in Norfolk under the guidance of "Rowdy" Ricky Knight.

Aldis said it was remarkable that, in 2015, he and Knight's daughter Saraya were both world champions for major American promotions at the same time.

"I still to this day get such a kick out of that," he said.

"Of all the wrestlers in Britain, when Saraya made her debut on WWE Raw and won the title, I was TNA Champion.

"Then flashing back to 2005 when I first walked through the doors at Ricky's camp and Saraya was 11 or 12 years old at the time and she was already doing 'flying head-scissors' and 'dropkicks'".

It was during his time on Gladiators that Aldis said he was spotted by American wrestling promoters, who gave him an opportunity.

"It was really a shot in the dark when you consider that I was 20 years old and there were hundreds of people going for those spots - with six of us chosen," he said.

"Wrestling is what got me that job because I could talk - and I had the confidence to talk - in front of a crowd."

Aldis is originally from Docking in Norfolk and in 2019 defended his NWA championship in Norwich against Brad Slayer, the first openly-gay wrestler to challenge for the title.

The match was held at World Association of Wrestling's "Fightmare 3" event, which took place at the home of Norwich City.

"I remember my dad taking me to Carrow Road to see Eric Cantona play because he was my hero and the idea of a wrestling show happening there is bonkers," he added.

"To think, not only am I there, but I'm there defending the NWA World Championship. The same belt that Ric Flair and Harley Race had, all-time greats. Opportunity comes in many forms."

Aldis now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and made his on-screen debut on the 13 October episode of WWE Smackdown.

He was introduced to fans by WWE legend and real-life Chief Content Officer - Triple H (real name Paul Levesque), which Aldis described as a "memorable moment" in his career.

"Triple H is really the person who made me study wrestling and think that I want to do this," he said.

"When he was wrestling The Rock and I was getting up at one in the morning to watch, he was the one who made me think - maybe I could be like that guy."

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