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StoriesYou are in: Birmingham > People > Stories > Cage fighting  Chris Cage and Dave 'Fit' Finlay Cage fightingBy Brett Birks Local school teacher Chris Cage - who dreams of making it big as a wrestler - goes face-to-face with WWE star Finlay. "This is quite surreal," says Chris Cage.  Chris Cage at the Birmingham NEC "I've been here dozens of times over the years to watch wrestling, but just as a fan. Now I'm here as a wrestler to talk to wrestlers. It's awesome." We are backstage at the Birmingham NEC on a rainy Monday night in April 2007. The stars of the American WWE Smackdown! are here as part of their latest UK tour. Over 10,000 fans have sold-out the NEC; millions watch the show on television every week around the world. As road agents and crew members race around making last minute preparations, we are introduced to one of WWE's top wrestlers – Dave 'Fit' Finlay. Chris braces himself.  Chris Cage in the gym "So you're trying to make it as a wrestler?" Finlay asks him. "Well I hope you're ready to work hard." Breaking inThere's little choice but to work hard for anyone with aspirations of making it to WWE. Twenty-seven year old Chris has been a wrestling fan since childhood. Real name Chris Barth, he is a full-time teacher but spends his weekends wrestling for small-time organisations up-and-down the country. "I was twelve when I saw WWE at Wembley Stadium," he had told me earlier. "I was one of the 80,000 there in 1992 when Davey Boy Smith beat Bret Hart for the Intercontinental title. "On that night I decided that I wanted to be like the British Bulldog. I've been a huge fan ever since and started training in 2002 with a local wrestling group, getting as many matches under my belt as possible."  Cage waves to fans before a match British wrestlingDespite British wrestling having enjoyed something of a comeback in recent years – albeit on a small scale – it remains practically impossible to earn a living from it. "I think I've been paid three times in five years and I've had over 100 matches," Chris had told me. "In that time, I've broken all my fingers, my nose, my ankle, my coccyx bone and slipped a disk in my neck. "It's the way of the business. Even your biggest names – like Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels – all began this way on the smallest of levels. It's like local bands who gig on the unsigned circuit for next-to-nothing. Some get signed and become megastars; many do not. "I'd read or watch interviews with the big American stars. They'd always advise kids who wanted to wrestle to first get an education so they'd have something to fall back on. The chances of success are minimal.  (c) 2007 World Wrestling Entertainment "I went uni and now teach for a living. I love my job and I'll always be able to do it. But wrestling is my true love." FinlayI stand back and watch as Chris and Finlay sit down. Many aspiring wrestlers would give anything for this moment. Originally from Belfast, Finlay is a 30 year veteran who spent decades competing in the minor leagues of Europe honing his craft before joining the now defunct American WCW in the mid 1990s ("I didn't like it," he later tells me. "It was a waste of my time. They didn’t have a clue what they were doing."). He returned to the UK briefly in 2001 before finally getting called up – originally as a trainer – to WWE a year later. By 2006, he was back in the ring again in a top position and incredibly looks better than ever, despite being a shade under 50.  Cage makes his entrance Giving advice"Anyone who wants to wrestle here has to pay their dues," he tells Chris. "Learn some amateur fighting, get some skill. You need to master the basics. Too many guys can do a moonsault but can't apply a headlock properly." Finlay is clearly not just talking to Chris but also the many trainee wrestlers who dream of hitting the big time. "You can go anywhere in the world and watch people who don't know how to wrestle," he says. "Unfortunately it happens: kids grow up as fans and copy what they see on TV in the backyard and think they can wrestle. "I see guys who've been in the business for 15 years and still don't know the basics. Keep getting as many matches as possible under your belt - you learn on the job. And train hard. There's no secret to it but you need to get noticed.  (c) 2007 World Wrestling Entertainment "This is all I've ever known. I'm a third generation wrestler. It's all I've ever done. It's not easy – it's taken me 30 years to get here. But now I'm here – I'll be with WWE until the day I die." To WWEThe three of us chat for a few more minutes, before Finlay is ushered away to get ready for his match. Leaving the NEC, Chris is impressed and appreciative that such a big name has taken the time to speak to him. "That was amazing," he says. "To meet someone like Finlay who I respect so much. I know it's not going to be easy but it's still my ultimate goal: to wrestle for WWE!" Chris Barth teaches Business Studies and IT at Wolverly High, as well as offering children wrestling lessons as part of the school's new extra-curricular schedule.last updated: 25/06/2008 at 12:51 Have Your Say
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