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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| WWE: How a head teacher became a professional wrestler | WWE: How a head teacher became a professional wrestler |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Five years ago Eddie Dennis was teaching maths, now he's living his dream as a WWE superstar | Five years ago Eddie Dennis was teaching maths, now he's living his dream as a WWE superstar |
| Five years ago Eddie Dennis was teaching maths, now he's living his dream as a WWE superstar | Five years ago Eddie Dennis was teaching maths, now he's living his dream as a WWE superstar |
| A head teacher has swapped the school bell for the wrestling ring to become a WWE professional. | A head teacher has swapped the school bell for the wrestling ring to become a WWE professional. |
| Eddie Dennis, who taught maths at Berkshire's LVS Ascot private school, has loved the sport since he was five. | Eddie Dennis, who taught maths at Berkshire's LVS Ascot private school, has loved the sport since he was five. |
| The 36-year-old took a "risk" five years ago, trading his chalk board to follow his dream. | The 36-year-old took a "risk" five years ago, trading his chalk board to follow his dream. |
| Now the 6ft 6in (198cm) mathematician is getting ready to rumble at the WWE Clash at the Castle - actually at the Principality Stadium - on 3 September. | Now the 6ft 6in (198cm) mathematician is getting ready to rumble at the WWE Clash at the Castle - actually at the Principality Stadium - on 3 September. |
| According to the WWE, 230lb (104kg) Eddie has "a brutal dark side and a major chip on his shoulder" and anyone preparing to do battle should be aware "the towering Welshman is as dangerous as they come". | According to the WWE, 230lb (104kg) Eddie has "a brutal dark side and a major chip on his shoulder" and anyone preparing to do battle should be aware "the towering Welshman is as dangerous as they come". |
| Shark wrestler: Welsh tourist Paul Marshallsea to the rescue | Shark wrestler: Welsh tourist Paul Marshallsea to the rescue |
| Actor backs 'freak show' dwarf wrestling | Actor backs 'freak show' dwarf wrestling |
| WWE: Drew McIntyre vows to put Tyson Fury 'on his back like a turtle' | WWE: Drew McIntyre vows to put Tyson Fury 'on his back like a turtle' |
| From Gwaun Cae Gurwen, Neath Port Talbot, he said it would be an honour to return to his native Wales for the WWE's biggest UK stadium event in decades. | From Gwaun Cae Gurwen, Neath Port Talbot, he said it would be an honour to return to his native Wales for the WWE's biggest UK stadium event in decades. |
| "It was a risk giving up teaching altogether to pursue my dream," he said. | "It was a risk giving up teaching altogether to pursue my dream," he said. |
| "It was pretty terrifying... I had a very much established a life, my fiancée and I had a mortgage. I was leaving that to go and wrestle independently." | "It was pretty terrifying... I had a very much established a life, my fiancée and I had a mortgage. I was leaving that to go and wrestle independently." |
| Five years ago Eddie was a mathematics teacher at a private school | Five years ago Eddie was a mathematics teacher at a private school |
| Eddie, who went to Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera in Neath Port Talbot "loved the Ultimate Warrior and then later on Shawn Michaels came along and he captivated me". | Eddie, who went to Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera in Neath Port Talbot "loved the Ultimate Warrior and then later on Shawn Michaels came along and he captivated me". |
| "I would be trying to mimic their movements and characteristics and learning the way they speak. | "I would be trying to mimic their movements and characteristics and learning the way they speak. |
| "I watched [Shawn Michaels] in an Iron Man match in Wrestlemania 12 [in 1996], now [he] is giving me advice on my career and my profession. It's surreal." | "I watched [Shawn Michaels] in an Iron Man match in Wrestlemania 12 [in 1996], now [he] is giving me advice on my career and my profession. It's surreal." |
| But as a pupil in Wales, he said there was "no clear route" to a career in wrestling. | But as a pupil in Wales, he said there was "no clear route" to a career in wrestling. |
| He did a teaching qualification at Cardiff Metropolitan University, then got a degree in maths before starting his teaching career, all while training in his free time. | He did a teaching qualification at Cardiff Metropolitan University, then got a degree in maths before starting his teaching career, all while training in his free time. |
| He juggled his full-time career while performing in the wrestling circuit on weekends. | He juggled his full-time career while performing in the wrestling circuit on weekends. |
| Before become a star, Eddie was a head teacher during the week a wrestler on weekends | Before become a star, Eddie was a head teacher during the week a wrestler on weekends |
| In his day job, he worked his way up to head teacher. | In his day job, he worked his way up to head teacher. |
| But in the ring, he had started to make a name for himself in NXT UK where wrestlers are coached by WWE's RAW and Smackdown superstars to become the sport's next big thing. | |
| By 2017 he said the UK wrestling industry was "having a resurgence". | By 2017 he said the UK wrestling industry was "having a resurgence". |
| "They ran the first WWE UK championship tournament, loads of people I knew were on that," he said. | "They ran the first WWE UK championship tournament, loads of people I knew were on that," he said. |
| "I was sat on my sofa with my fiancée and cat watching my best friends perform on the stage we've all dreamt of and I wasn't with them because of the path that I had chosen. | "I was sat on my sofa with my fiancée and cat watching my best friends perform on the stage we've all dreamt of and I wasn't with them because of the path that I had chosen. |
| "A month later I handed in my notice to focus on wrestling." | "A month later I handed in my notice to focus on wrestling." |
| Eddie's background as a teacher is part of his wrestling persona | Eddie's background as a teacher is part of his wrestling persona |
| Delyth Spurway is the deputy head teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera and started her career as a teacher at the same time Eddie started as a pupil. | Delyth Spurway is the deputy head teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera and started her career as a teacher at the same time Eddie started as a pupil. |
| "It's really amazing that he's gone and chased his dreams and made it in that industry," she said. | "It's really amazing that he's gone and chased his dreams and made it in that industry," she said. |
| "The children think it's really cool, the ones that watch WWE are saying 'wow, look miss, he came to this school'. | "The children think it's really cool, the ones that watch WWE are saying 'wow, look miss, he came to this school'. |
| "He was quite a quiet and conscientious pupil. He's changed so much, looking at him now, I barely recognise him, but it's the eyes that look the same." | "He was quite a quiet and conscientious pupil. He's changed so much, looking at him now, I barely recognise him, but it's the eyes that look the same." |
| Eddie can rely on plenty of support from his former school when he wrestles in Cardiff | Eddie can rely on plenty of support from his former school when he wrestles in Cardiff |
| Pupils at the school are also big fans. | Pupils at the school are also big fans. |
| Year 7 pupil Olifer said: "It shows that even if you come from somewhere small like this area you can do anything you want to in life. You don't have to come from America. | Year 7 pupil Olifer said: "It shows that even if you come from somewhere small like this area you can do anything you want to in life. You don't have to come from America. |
| Owen, a Year 3 pupil, said Eddie was an "inspiration", adding: "The WWE don't come to Wales often, the big shows are normally in America so this is really exciting." | Owen, a Year 3 pupil, said Eddie was an "inspiration", adding: "The WWE don't come to Wales often, the big shows are normally in America so this is really exciting." |
| And Eddie will be getting support from Year 7 pupil Ryan, who said: "He went to this school so he's my favourite wrestler. It's cool." | And Eddie will be getting support from Year 7 pupil Ryan, who said: "He went to this school so he's my favourite wrestler. It's cool." |
| Eddie will be up against some of the sport's current superstars at the WWE's event in Cardiff, including Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair, Finn Balor and Drew Mcintyre. | Eddie will be up against some of the sport's current superstars at the WWE's event in Cardiff, including Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair, Finn Balor and Drew Mcintyre. |