FORMER Mount Gambier resident Nick Cleves has wrestled his way to the top.
Cleves – who is known as Nick Armstrong to his peers and fans – was recently awarded the Riot City Wrestling wrestler-of-the-year and match-of-the-year.
The aspiring World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) athlete had a solid year in the ring against some of the nation’s best and as a result cleaned up both awards.
Being voted as the wrestler-of-the-year by his peers and fans was certainly one of Cleves’ goals.
“I was pretty stoked to get the award, it was definitely a goal of mine,” he said.
“I had shoulder surgery back in May of 2016 because I had frequent shoulder dislocations and decided to go under the knife.
“From there I went to rehab and basically my full-time job was to rehab my shoulder so I could get back into the ring because that is what I love to do.
“I said 2017 was my year and I worked really hard, had some great matches against some of the best around Australia and then to win was just awesome.
“I was really stoked to get my name called out and again to get both awards was pretty beaut.
“I do not know whether anyone has ever been awarded both, but I do not think they have.”
Cleves won match-of-the-year when going head-to-head with Australian wrestler Chris Basso.
“He is one of the best in Australia and has been wrestling for a long time, about 13 years,” he said.
“I have been wrestling for just over nine, but managed to get the win.
“The match was hard-hitting with athletic manoeuvres and there was a massive crowd who voted for it.”
Cleves also owns a personal training studio in Glenelg and trains weights five to six times a week, before wrestling training which takes place between four and five times a week.
“The Riot City Wrestling Academy in Adelaide is a world class facility,” he said.
“It is probably the best facility in Australia, it has weights, wrestling rings, mats.
“We have got up to 40 rookies training there, so there are a lot of people training and improving.”
Riot City Wrestling hosts shows each month in Adelaide, while athletes also take up interstate bookings.
“There is some kind of show almost every weekend,” Cleves said.
“The Australian wrestling scene is starting to grow, we are getting a lot of international exposure, which is awesome.”
Both Nick and his brother Jett originally took up the sport together, fighting as the Armstrong’s.
However, Jett’s partner Demi Bennett – known as Rhea Ripley in the ring – was signed by WWE and as a result the couple have moved to Florida.
“I am hoping to get a similar contract,” Nick said.
“I am going to continue to push for that.”
Nick said both he, his brother and friends formed a “little club” in Mount Gambier, before the Armstrong duo making trips to Adelaide to train.
The brother’s interest in the sport developed through watching WWE tapes, while living in Mount Gambier.
“I could not get it out of my head, I was just obsessed with it,” Nick said.
“But I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder, it was like you are from Mount Gambier, which is basically football and cricket.
“However, I was not going to let that stop me.
“I wanted to prove that people can do what they want to do, you do not have to be limited by where you come from.
“If you want to do something, just go out and do it.”
Nick praised the support from his mother and father, who still reside in Mount Gambier.
“My parents are awesome and have always been so supportive,” he said.
“They told us to chase our dreams and they have always encouraged us.
“It was pretty big leaving home, but it was the best decision I have ever made.”
While Nick’s long-term goal will move to Florida and sign with the WWE he said he has plenty of ambitions for 2018.
“Short term goals here are – I would love to wrestle in Japan and England,” he said.
“I have wrestled in Canada once before and I would love to go back there as well.
“But a big goal of mine will raise the awareness of Australian wrestling.”
