Goole teenager Evan Knite is making a name for himself on the northern wrestling scene and has been tipped as a possible future star of the altogether glitzier and more theatrical American shows.

Eighteen-year-old Knite explained that:

I got into wrestling about three years ago when my dad found me a club because I’d always enjoyed watching it. My older brother and I dosed up on wrestling early morning before facing a day at school. I’d always been athletic enjoying sports as different as gymnastics and rugby and been involved in musical theatre music so wrestling appealed given how it allows you to combine many skills. You can also show what you’re made of in what looks like a proper scrap.

A former student of Carleton Academy, Knite has now appeared on about 150 local shows sometimes having four matches over a three-day weekend. ‘Last weekend I was on two shows in Barnsley. A wrestler can be part of a team, I work mostly with a Batley based promotion UKW, but you’re in effect your own manager and set your own rate. Then hopefully the promoters get in touch. The main thing is to build your reputation is to be a crowd pleaser.’

‘Wrestling contests often tell a story and it’s essential to get a reaction from the audience. It’s not staged but scripted and the audience must be involved for it to work. Wrestlers are cast as either heroes or villains and I enjoy being a villain and I’m good at throwing a temper tantrum when necessary. Before a show we’ll spend quite some time working out the moves with our opponent and planning how best to entertain.’

It’s as important to create a character as it is to be able to perform physically. I’ve been described as verbose and cocky. I love it when I enter the ring to a chorus of loud boos and the audience continues to shout insults. I enjoy shouting insults back and I’m better at it. It’s all good-natured fun and family entertainment.

‘Training consists of learning wrestling moves and developing the physical skills. I guess the showmanship element although you can develop it you either have it or you don’t. Training mainly concentrates on doing the moves safely and avoiding injuries especially to the neck. It’s vital because over a weekend I’ll lose count of how many times I land hard on the canvas.’

Liam Slater at Pursuit Pro Wrestling in Sheffield is Knite’s wrestling coach:

Evan is highly talented and has picked up pro-wrestling very well. He's got the potential to be a main stay in the UK and beyond if he wanted to. Evan is always totally engaged in what we're doing and takes all feedback onboard and puts suggestions into practice. I'm very much looking forward to seeing Evan grow as a wrestler over the coming years.

Jacob Padgett runs New British Promotions in South Yorkshire:

I’d loved wrestling since the age of ten and set up the promotion in 2019. We do six shows a year and are always keen to welcome Evan who is an exhilarating entertainer as he excels as an athlete and a storyteller.

Knite will star on Wrestlerbration, UKW’s major summer spectacular being held in Batley on 26th July. He’s also part of Baddies in Brayton at Brayton Community Centre on 12th April and May Madness at Howden’s Shire Hall on 24th May. Family tickets at both events are £ 34. Those interested in purchasing tickets or booking Knite for a show or even offering sponsorship to help him develop his professional wrestling should contact Evan Knite on Facebook or by e-mail evanknite@gmail.com .