Rugby League legend James Graham took to the ring for his first professional wrestling match.
The former St Helens, Bulldogs and St George Illawarra Dragons prop is considered one of the toughest men in the sport and showed his power in the ring on Sunday.
The 42-year-old took to the mat at the Pro Wrestling Australia (PWA) Colosseum event at Sydney’s Metro Theater and took on multiple opponents, including WWE legend Grayson Waller, who was making his homecoming.
The Great Britain star was set to team up with Jack J. Bonza in a tag team match against The Regime, consisting of Ricky ‘The Example’ South and Lex Backman, and the NRL star won his match.
PWA posted several videos on Instagram showing the NRL star entering the ring. Waller, who had been watching from the stands, was also seen heading to the ropes to confront the former Great Britain star who was standing in the ring.
Waller also appeared to be wearing a throwback Sydney Roosters jersey and confronted Graham before another opponent hit the former NRL star with a chair to the head.
Rugby League legend James Graham made his wrestling debut on Sunday night.
Graham also jumped from the top rope into a crowd of other wrestlers during the match.
Waller was seen climbing into the ring before unleashing a flurry of punches on Graham, who was lying face down on the floor.
But that wasn’t the end for Graham, who stood up before attacking the WWE star.
He later sent a tongue-in-cheek message to Waller on Instagram writing, “Hey @GraysonWallerWWE, I told you not to fuck with redheads.”
Footage also showed Graham, who was known for his physical presence on the field, delivering a bone-shaking spear tackle to the referee, before jumping off the top rope and clearing a group of other wrestlers beneath him. .
Graham, who announced his retirement from professional rugby league, was introduced to PWA bosses at The Beer Footy & Food Festival at Henson Park in July this year, when they urged him to step into the ring.
The former mainstay half-agreed, but admitted that he “wouldn’t last two minutes in the ring.”
“I can’t imagine what it’s like to train for anything,” Graham said on his podcast, tongue-in-cheek.
“I’m so out of my depth.”
He was later recalled by South.
Graham never took a step back in his playing career and didn’t take any during his wrestling debut.
Graham also delivered a devastating tackle to the referee inside the ring.
He was confronted by WWE star Grason Waller, before Graham also attacked the professional wrestler and knocked him to the ground.
‘They have called my attention for this. “They told me to get in the ring, anytime, anywhere,” Graham added.
South launched the challenge on Instagram.
“I received word from Triple M Sunday Scrum that a certain James Graham decided to talk a little trash about the PWA and The Example Ricky South,” he said.
‘Well, listen, brother, James Graham, you may be one of the GOAT prop strikers of all time, but I’m the best professional wrestler in the world.
“Graham, if you ever want to get in the ring with The Example and delve into the world of PWA, you have an open invitation from The Example.”
Graham subsequently accepted the challenge and showed he could have a bright future in the sport on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Waller defeated Jimmy Townsend during their match during the event before telling fans to support Australian wrestling.
