Fifteen years ago, Kyle Fletcher traded in the rugby league boots for a career in the squared ring.
Now, the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) TNT Champion is preparing for one of the biggest nights of his life – competing in his hometown of Sydney, Australia.
A talented sportsman growing up in the Northern Beaches of New South Wales, Fletcher was always focused on his dream of being a professional wrestler and has gone on to become one of the most recognisable names in the sport.
“Being able to come back to Brisbane last year was one of the best nights of my entire life,” Fletcher told foxsports.com.au ahead of AEW Grand Slam on Saturday evening.
“Travelling the world and pursuing a dream and being able to come back with AEW, a company that I love, is the most awesome feeling in the world.
“Being able to do it this year in literally the arena that I saw pro wrestling in for the first time and the city that I grew up in, I have no doubt it is going to blast last year out of the water.
“It’s going to be the best day of my life by far.”
Trained by the Pro Wrestling Australia (PWA) Academy and Australian wrestling icons Madison and Robbie Eagles, Fletcher is one of the many Australians making a name for themselves overseas alongside WWE stars Grayson Waller, Bronson Reed and Rhea Ripley.
Now, he hopes to encourage and influence more Australians to make a name for themselves in the sport outside of their home country in the coming years.
“Absolutely, it is one of those things that is so important to me coming from Australia,” Fletcher said when questioned about whether he could see more Australian wrestlers going over to the United States or Japan.
“When I started, there was just nobody who had made it to that top level before. So for any kid in Australia who had a dream of being a professional wrestler ,it just seemed so far out of reach.
“I hope that now having myself, Grayson, Rhea, Bronson and all these guys at the top level, I really just hope we can open that pathway for more people to do the same.
“I know from training here, I know from everyone I’ve met here, how passionate and how talented everyone is.
“Coming from Australia, everyone kind of has that chip on their shoulder because we are at a detriment already. We’re so far away from the rest of the world and it feels like we’re on our own little island, literally.
“One of my biggest goals is to not only be the greatest professional wrestler of all time but to make sure other Australians know that the potential is there for them to follow their dreams as well.”
Tickets for AEW Grand Slam are still available through Ticketek.
While Fletcher will defend the TNT Championships in a ladder match against Mark Briscoe at AEW Grand Slam, the Aussie wrestler is focused on winning another championship in the coming years – the AEW World Championship.
This belt is currently held by Maxwell Jacob Friedman (commonly referred to as MJF), but could change hands on Saturday night in Sydney as he defends it against Brody King.
“It would mean, no pun intended, the world because I’ve literally pictured that moment holding up that first world title ever since I fell in love with pro wrestling,” Fletcher said.
“AEW is a company that I love with my whole heart and to be at the top of the mountain would mean the world.
“It is the prettiest belt in the world and I think it would look great around my waist. I have no doubts that it’ll happen sooner or later.”