A PROFESSIONAL wrestler from Taunton has been forced to retire through injury.
James Baker, 41, is performing in one last show after picking up a series of niggling injuries in the ring over the past 25 years.
His farewell bout is at Wellsprings Leisure Centre on Friday, October 28, for MegaSlam Wrestling.
He said: "It will be necessary to strap-up my arthritic knees and toes, but I feel that I have one more match left inside of me.
James Baker as a 16-year-old wrestler.
"On this particular evening I will be taking on Bristol-based brawler Nathan Bane. I had a hand in his wrestling training over a decade ago."
The show also features top talents such as Alexander Dean, Colt Miles, Chris Bronson, Chris Adams and Taunton’s very own Big Frank.
James's final opponent, Nagthan Bane.
James added: "I’ve been inactive for a little over a year since suffering a bad case of tendonitis in my right arm.
"Sadly, it was necessary to close my short-lived wrestling school and I sold my brand new 16ft wrestling ring at the beginning of this year.
"It was heart-breaking at the time but these things happen."
James's first professional bout was in July 1997, when he was he was Year 10 student at Bishop Fox’s School.
"It's been a quarter century of fantastic experiences ever since," he said.
"I have been in the ring with over 100 different wrestlers, many of whom I’ve wrestled dozens of times.
"I’ve wrestled legends from the British World of Sport era as well as WWE Hall of Famers. It has been incredible."
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