And only now, he admits, has he started to see a shift in focus away from a belief that wrestling “isn’t a real sport.”

Wrestling returns to Port Macquarie at The Ark on Friday night from 6.30pm in the form of National Championship Pro Wrestling.

Briggs said WrestleSlam II is sure to be a fun night for the whole family – it’s why he’s been involved with the sport for so long.

“Being in front of a live crowd is amazing because you get great reactions,” he said.

“Wrestling is a bit like acting in a movie – there are things that can go wrong.”

Briggs has suffered many serious injuries ranging from a dislocated kneecap to fractured ankles and all sorts of broken bones.

So why did he take it up?

“I watched it with my dad and brother from a young age and it just went from there,” he said.

“You’ve got the theatrics of it all – the music, the lighting, the spectacular part of it, the crowd reactions.”

Briggs said wrestling was beginning to be more accepted as a sport as evidenced by the 400 flyers they have handed out in the Port Macquarie-Hastings area.

But it’s more than that.

“There’s been a lot more interest in this show,” he said.

“Previously we used to put things in the letter box and walk away, but now if we see someone is home we’ll go up and talk to them and explain what it is.

“There’s not a kid out there that doesn’t like wrestling.”

Wrestlers including Chad Waugh, JD Wilson, Curtis James, Barry King, Tristian Lewis, Delicious, Jackson Spade and The Misfit will all entertain the crowd.

Doc Foss will provide the commentary and banter from the safety of the microphone.

“The biggest thing for me is that my daughters and two step children come and they love it,” Briggs said.

“The excitement on their faces alone makes me want to keep doing it.”