Wrestling: Stix no easy beat as he works his passion in wrestling ring

Stix plays the drums before entering the ring as part of his pre-match introduction. Photo / Jay Drew

Inventing a trademark finishing move came easy for Stix.

The Reporoa pro wrestler has become well known for his trademark move, the faceplant, and his drum solos before each match in the Kiwi Pro Wrestling circuit.

He spent five years drumming in local band FacePlant before shifting his attention to professional wrestling.

Stix, also known as Stix the Rumbling Rocker, won his first belt recently with tag team partner Bull Addams from Tauranga.

"I got the hell beaten out of me for a while and got saved by the big islander, Bull, at the end," he admitted to the Rotorua Daily Post.

"It was good to win my first belt. It was a bit of payback."

He said Kiwi Pro Wrestling owner Rip Morgan gave him the opportunity to get revenge on his rival The Natural Steve Jordan during the match, who injured Stix last year.

"Rip said 'You can have payback if you like' and so we did, and we won."

The tag team champion has built a ring at his home in Reporoa where he trains most days.

He said he really enjoys the high he gets while wrestling in the ring. "I enjoy the adrenaline you get on stage, just that energy. And I love the training."

He said it took two years of training before he was given the nod to wrestle on the Kiwi Pro Wrestling circuit, based out of Wellington.

Stix said being in a band had helped a lot in terms of entertaining the crowds, which generally range between 200 to 500 people.

"I have had a few matches with judo but it is completely different when there is a crowd there," he said.

"Being in the band has helped I guess, getting up in front of a crowd."

He said his goal was to one day wrestle in America, where he could train full time.

"It would be really good to go overseas and make a career out of it.

"It is everyone's dream to go out and work their passion."

The athletic entertainer said his biggest strength was perhaps his ability to jump around the ring and take a good pounding.

"I'm a bit of a high flyer ... but always take the poundings and keep going," he said.

Stix encouraged anyone who would like to give the sport a go to email him on stix.rumblingrocker@gmail.com.

He is currently looking for training partners.