Behind the glitz and glamour

THE life of a professional wrestler isn't always as glamorous as it may seem. Sure, there are the flashy lights at the shows, red carpet events to grace, television cameras following their every move and fans screaming for a selfie or autograph wherever these larger-than-life stars go.

But ask any of the wrestlers who work at the WWE, and they will say that while they are fuelled by passion, the gruelling nature of the job also means countless hours of training and having to live away from their loved ones most of the time, among other sacrifices.

The WWE - the American wrestling organisation formerly known as the World Wrestling Entertainment - is a juggernaut in the multi-billion dollar global wrestling industry.

It runs more than 200 live events every year. Most of the shows are held in different cities across the United States but there are also many overseas tours to places such as Australia, Abu Dhabi, Germany and Malaysia.

Earlier this month, the WWE assembled 18 of its superstars and took them on a 26-hour flight all the way from Washington DC to Singapore.

In front of a noisy 8,828-strong crowd at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, they performed seven explosive matches over nearly three hours that left the audience hungry for more at the end.

That was the WWE's first visit to the Lion City since 2007, and the fans wasted no time in forking out as much as S$492 each for the rare chance to see their heroes such as United States champion John Cena, Dolph Ziggler and Kane in the flesh.

Nikki Bella, the real-life girlfriend of Cena, was in action in Singapore as well, successfully defending her Divas championship against Tamina Snuka.

The 31-year-old Nikki, whose real name is Nicole Garcia-Colace, has spent the last nine years of her life as a wrestler but she also remembers how tough her early days were.

Before her big breakthrough to the WWE's main roster, she was paying her dues by wrestling inside a makeshift ring in the middle of a church parking lot.

Not many people would turn up at those shows too - just 10 or so on a good day, she recalls during an interview with BT Weekend at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.

Things are quite different these days. Nikki and her twin sister, Brie, are known as the Bella Twins and one of the most popular teams in the WWE today.

Nikki is currently the second-longest reigning Divas champion of all time, having held the title for 238 days and counting. If she can hold on to the belt for two more months, she will overtake AJ Lee's record of 295 days.

"There is that pressure of being the top (female wrestler) because everyone wants to take your spot. I have to be on my toes all the time," said Nikki.

"If I'm not out there in the ring, then there's always another photoshoot or media appearance to go to. But I'm enjoying every single minute of being the champion, and it will be tough to take this baby away from me," she adds, pointing to the shiny championship belt next to her.

As for Neville, the Briton admits he is still adjusting to life in the United States as he fulfils his dream of being a WWE superstar.

The 28-year-old, whose real name is Benjamin Satterley, is known for his high-flying wrestling style. He is often billed as "the man that gravity forgot".

His signature move is called the Red Arrow, a spectacular jump off the top rope where he contorts his body in the air before crashing on top of his opponent with a loud thud.

While he admits it's fun to travel the world and meet new people, there are times when he simply misses his family back home in Newcastle, in the north-east of England.

"My wife is with me in the US but the rest of the family is not. That's been one of the hardest parts about living in the US, because I can't get to see them any time I want," he said.

Most of the other WWE superstars enjoy making full use of social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter to reach out to their legions of fans, but Neville is quite the opposite.

"I'm not as active on social media as I should be. That's just how I am. I'm quite a private person, so when I get some time to myself I don't want to be in front of a computer or using a mobile phone too much," he said.

On his rest days, he likes to unwind by playing football - he's a fan of English Premier League club Newcastle United - and going to a concert or catching the latest blockbuster movie.

As for the wrestler named King Barrett, he entered the industry at a fairly late stage compared to his peers.

He was 23 years old when he started wrestling full-time, and the Preston-born star slowly worked his way up the ladder and finally got his big break in 2010 when the WWE made him the leader of the evil Nexus group.

Now a month shy of his 35th birthday, Barrett, whose real name is Stuart Bennett, went on to be one of the top villains. He has won the Intercontinental Championship five times, and became the King of the Ring in April this year.

Unlike some of his peers who have wrestled well into their 50s, Barrett plans to call time on his in-ring career by the time he turns 40 in five years' time.

"I think, physically, I'll start slowing down at that age. It's hard to predict the future. Injuries can happen any time, or I could lose favour with management, it's hard to tell," he says. "Wrestling is a very tough lifestyle, and it's definitely not suited for everyone."

For now, it looks like he is just enjoying the ride while he can. Barrett and his opponent in Singapore, the charismatic Finn Balor, tore the house down in what was a gripping match. Predictably, Barrett ended up where he usually does these days - on the losing side.

"I may lose 90 per cent of my matches, but at least I win the important ones such as the King of the Ring," he says with a laugh. "As long as we're putting on an entertaining show, it doesn't really matter if we win or lose. We just like to see all the fans have a good time."