James Graham, the former rugby league star with deep roots in Cumbria, is making a surprising career shift into professional wrestling. After retiring from rugby league and helping St Helens win the Grand Final in 2020, Graham is set to debut in the wrestling ring.
Graham, who previously played over 200 games for St Helens from 2003 to 2011 and then returned for a final stint in 2020, is transitioning to professional wrestling following a notable rugby career.
During an interview with the Saints Podcast, Graham reflected on his career choices, stating that he had always considered St Helens or Workington Town as his only potential teams if he returned to the UK. His Cumbrian heritage, influenced by his father John from Maryport, played a significant role in his career path. Graham noted that his father’s passion for rugby league, sparked by a flyer he saw in 1993, led him to the sport.
Graham, who initially was a football fan, became a dedicated rugby league follower after attending his first Wembley final in 1996, where St Helens triumphed over Bradford Bulls.
Graham is scheduled to make his professional wrestling debut on October 13 in Sydney. He will compete in a tag team match for Pro Wrestling Australia (PWA), partnering with Jack J Bonza against Ricky ‘The Example’ South and Blackman Lex.
This move is not unprecedented, as former rugby league player Luke Menzies also transitioned to professional wrestling, now known as Ridge Holland in WWE.
The announcement of Graham’s wrestling debut was confirmed by both PWA and Graham himself on his podcast, The Bye Round. In his rugby career, Graham made 225 appearances for St Helens during his first spell, 135 for Canterbury Bulldogs in Australia, and 51 for St George Illawarra. His final game, a Grand Final win with St Helens in 2020, marked the end of his rugby league career.
