KADE Morgan grew up watching his uncle Rip Morgan and great uncle Butch Miller Bushwhacker wrestle live on TV. Now the only national third generation wrestler is keeping it in the family.
From an early age Morgan watched WWF Wrestling weekly on television until he got hooked and started wrestling. When he was 13, Morgan’s uncle, former NZ Pro Wrestling Champion Rip Morgan, who founded Kiwi Pro Wrestling in 2006, got him into the sport.
“When I was 16 I had my first match against Doctor Diablo. I didn’t win,” says Morgan.
This time he’s in with a good chance. Morgan, along with partner and current KPW Champion, The Technician, is already one half of the KPW Tag Team Champions. Weighing in at 102 kg, Kade is keen to show Mister Samoa what he’s made of. Last year, 130kg heavy Mister Samoa made his debut when he made short work of KPW veteran, the sneaky King of Bling Charlie Roberts, and caught Morgan’s eye.
“Mister Samoa is the biggest and strongest so I will see how I do. I’ll have to use my brains instead of my brawn to beat him,’ he says laughing.
Morgan trains around six times a week – a mix of cardio and weights. Wrestling school teaches him the ‘tricks’ and in homage to his Uncle Rip Morgan his ‘finisher’ is the gourdbuster or front suplex.
“My uncle Rip used the frontface suplex [when a wrestler picks the opponent off the ground then drives him down on the mat] so it’s a tribute to him,” he says.
At 19, Morgan knows he will take wrestling as far as he can.“Just when your body tells you to stop, you have to stop, or if you become less interested,” says the day-time mechanic.
Despite a “few injuries” including a split lip, black eye, dislocated thumb and a few black eyes it’s all “just normal”.
“It can take a toll on your body,” he says in reference to Darren Aronofsky’s movie The Wrestler. “And your personal life,” he adds.
“The movie portrays the other side of wrestling though – how touring can put a strain on relationships but my girlfriend’s a fan,” he says.
Kiwi Pro Wrestling Fan Appreciation Night, Wellington High School, 7.30pm, March 11.