Let's get ready to rumble

We've come a long way from the days of grannies cheering on Big Daddy in his Union Jack singlet, when names like Giant Haystacks and Mick McManus were Saturday afternoon legends.

We've come a long way from the days of grannies cheering on Big Daddy in his Union Jack singlet, when names like Giant Haystacks and Mick McManus were Saturday afternoon legends.

But then came satellite TV, and with it the Americans. Overnight wrestling fans had new heroes. Names like Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, among others.

The Americans still dominate through lucrative franchises like WWE and TNA but now Scotland is producing its own grappling stars.

They may lack the high production values of the US, but this Saturday at the Kelvin Hall they're out to make a big hit in the wrestling world.

Stars of the SWA (Scottish Wrestling Alliance) will don their lycra body suits to do battle with the English in The Gathering II: A Call To Arms.

But while the big shiny muscle-bound Americans are well-paid professionals, these guys are amateurs.

It's part of a resurgence in wrestling in Scotland. And the epicentre of the movement is a nondescript unit in an industrial estate in Linwood. Behind the anonymous red shutters, 15-stone muscle-bound men dive and slap each other into submission in a homemade ring.

This is the home of the SWA and it's run by former wrestler Peter Murphy. Known to Scottish fans as Conscience, Peter is chief trainer and mentor to a young generation of fighters. He's also a former national heavyweight wrestling champion.

"There were too many reports of kids hurting each other wrestling in the back garden," says Peter, who has wrestled all over the world. "We thought, kids being kids, they're going to do it so maybe it would be a good idea to let them do it in a controlled environment.

"A lot of the guys who are in the show started here."

And three of them are currently in the ring, going through their paces before Saturday's main event.

To their families, they're simply Barry, Adam and Barry but within wrestling circles, they are Raging Bull, The Paisley Wrecking Machine and Wolfgang.

According to his biography on the SWA website, Adam Shame (get it?) "has a passion for causing pain and suffering." In reality, he is a quietly-spoken 28-year-old forklift driver who has dreamed of becoming a pro wrestler since he watched World of Sport with his granny.

"I've always been a fan," says Adam, who refuses to give his real surname.

It was the glamour of stars like Hulk Hogan which convinced the young Adam to give it a bash. "I always thought I wouldn't mind giving that a go," he says between practise bouts. "I grew up with the toys and figures and just never fell out of love with it."

It's a similar story for fellow wrestler, Barry Raging Bull' Miller.

Away from the ring Barry is a 23-year-old B&Q worker from Clydebank. And contrary to his bad boy image, you couldn't wish to meet a nicer chap. The Raging Bull moniker hardly seems appropriate, but as he stands at 6 foot 1 and 249lbs, I'm not about to set him straight.

"The wrestlers come from all walks of life", says Peter. Among the trainees at the Linwood gym are carers, office workers and even someone who works for the Church of Scotland.

Barry Young, also known as Wolfgang, helps run a pub, La Cala, in the East End of Glasgow with his dad.

"I grew up watching people like Ultimate Warrior, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels," says Barry, 21, the Scottish heavyweight champion.

Come Saturday, Barry will be pitted against the best England has to offer - Martin The Governor' Stone.

But Peter maintains it's all good family entertainment. He says: "Mums and dads can feel safe taking the kids along.

"Yes there will be some thrills and spills and scares but nothing worse than you'll see on the Disney channel.

"We don't have the millions of pounds but the production values are better than anything else you'll find in the UK."

After all the huffing and puffing, there remains one thorny question. Is it all staged and the wrestlers play acting?

Wolfgang looks me square in the eye. "Oh, it hurts alright. Do you want to try?"

Perhaps not.