Wakatipu wrestling graduate will line up against his trainer this weekend in Tauranga, but a good coach never reveals his entire repertoire, according to KPW Queenstown Pro Wrestling Academy's founder, Marc Perry.
Perry set up the academy in July to help develop the sport in the resort as he believed there was a market for it. The academy has since taken six members through the programme and Troy Crosbie, or "T-Rex", of Invercargill, is the first to graduate with Perry's approval.
"He's very quick. Some pick it up a lot quicker than others and some don't pick it up at all.
"I can usually tell from the first lesson if they are going to be good." Crosbie is in the "good" category and the pair will face off this weekend at the Bays Wrestlefest in Tauranga.
Although at 120kg T-Rex is a massive 40kg heavier than Marc "Marcus Kool" Perry, the coach said he would be able to combat his student's moves.
"I have taught him everything he knows, but I haven't taught him everything I know.
"When he thinks he's got me, he hasn't. I'll get him in the end."
Considering the short time the academy had been running, he was fairly happy with the interest shown, although he would love to see more people join, Perry said.
"There is definitely a market for it in Queenstown as there is nothing in Invercargill or even Dunedin.
"There are four wrestling shows on the Box channel. New Zealanders are watching it."
Whether Queenstown residents were watching the sport remained to be seen, but the academy had more than 300 "likes" on Facebook, which he said was a good indication people were interested.
Perry had given professional wrestling a go, but was resigned to the fact he was probably a "little bit too small" to make it in the big time.
"When I was younger, that's what I wanted to do. You've got to be a lot bigger to make it further in the US."
There are plans for the KPW Queenstown Pro Wrestling Academy to host a public show in the resort this year, for which Perry will bring some of the big guns from the North Island down to "put on a show".
"It needs to be good, so I want to put on a good performance for the people paying for a good show. It's a work in progress, probably later in the year." Perry's classes cost $10 per session and are held every Saturday from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
Anyone with inquiries can call him on 021-254-8537.
