Pro wrestling to visit Panthers Bathurst

Bathurst wrestler Jai Setright is set to feature in front of a home crowd on Sunday, which he described as a different experience.

“It’s unbelievable to wrestle in Bathurst. Normally I have to travel two to three hours to wrestle,” he said.

Setright, who wrestles under the name Jai Roswell, has an incredible weight loss story.

“About four years ago I weighed about 170 kilograms,” he said.

“Wrestling was always a dream of mine but I was overweight, so I never thought about it.

“But when I started to lose weight, I set myself a goal – if a lose 70 kilograms, I’d give it ago. It took about 18 months but I reached my target.

“I started looking around and I spoke to my mate Alex Doherty and I that’s how I got involved with APWG.”

Setright is fairly new to wrestling but has thoroughly enjoyed the sport.

“I only started training in July and had my first fight on April 1,” he said.

He travels down to Penrith every Saturday to train, leaving Bathurst at 7am to start training around 9.30am. 

He said Sunday’s wrestling should be a great, family occasion.

“Kids love it, so it’s family friendly,” he said.

“It was something I used to watch as a kid. I stopped watching for a few years as teenager but I was drawn back into it.

“I like prefer to call wrestling live action theatre. 

“There’s just something about. It’s kind of an art form.

“It’s a bit daunting when you get out there for the first time but in wrestling you’ve got to engage the crowd, the boss and yourself.” 

Doors will open at 3.30pm for Sunday’s wrestling, with the show expected to start at 4pm.

Tickets cost $15 each or four for $40 and can be purchased at the door.

“We haven’t had pro wrestling in Bathurst for four to five years,” Setright said.

“If it’s big, will bring it back. I’ve been going all out promoting it.

“We get 160 for wrestling in Bondi, so if we get over 100 I’ll be really happy.”