Yes, that is me in the ring with a giant of wrestling (From Brentwood Weekly News)

Yes, that is me in the ring with a giant of wrestling

10:29pm Friday 1st February 2008 in Features By Claire Borley

I AM locked in a clinch with a blond haired, blue eyed 6ft 8in muscle bound American man-mountain called Brody. But this is no Mills and Boon moment.

Brody Steele is the current Mr USA, a title earned through a show of strength from lifting rocks to carrying iron bars.

He is also a full time professional wrestler known as American Disaster.

Weighing in at 300 pounds, he snakes his arm around my neck to demonstrate a head lock and I am well aware that one false move could more or less spell disaster.

Its not that he intends me any harm (I hope!) but even just holding me in headlock I can feel the pressure of his muscles against my windpipe.

One squeeze means I'd be history and its quite a disconcerting feeling.

I wouldn't class myself as a wimp, after all I am hardly a petite, wasp of a girl, but faced with an arm as thick as my thigh around my throat my laughter quickly goes from genuine to nervous.

Thankfully although he looks mean in the ring, outside Brody proves to be a softly spoken affable guy, who is marking his 10th year on the wrestling circuit Brody was one of a number of wrestlers to make up the All Star Wrestlers line up which wowed the audience at the Cliffs Pavilion this week, including WWE star Gangrel - complete with fake blood and false vampire teeth.

There is nothing like a bit of theatrics with your fighting after all as any wrestling fan worth their salt would agree.

The show marked the return after a 12 year absence of the sport from the Station Road, Westcliff venue, yet its popularity has never diminished.

Dancers from the Master School of Perfroming Arts in Rayleigh, were also drafted in to add further sparkle to the big ring action.

"We are more or less sold out," said Emma Harley from the theatre, " it has been a real draw and very popular." And the queues outside the theatre certainly proved its draw.

For Brody, 40, the Westcliff stop off has been part of a country wide tour which has seen a team of wrestlers from the states take on a team from Great Britain.

"The travel is what I love most about it," he said, "And the chance to meet up with other guys in the circuit. I have had the chance to visit so many cities and countries around the world which I would have otherwise had the chance to do with my skill set."

I hope my English accent doesn't confuse leading him to think I am part of team GB, which includes fighters such as Dean "Xtreme" Allmark, a former kick boxing champ and Micky Whiplash, a former Chippendale, as I part the ropes and step into a wrestling ring for the first time in my life.

What surprises me most is how springy the floor is.

"We have to have a bit of bounce," laughed Brody, " otherwise its really gonna hurt bad when you hit the deck."

I sincerely hope I don't get to find out just how much.

A seasoned body builder, Brody, who is originally from LA although now lives in Canada, got into wrestling through a friend - the father in fact of one of the youngsters on the circuit 24 year-old Rene Dupree.

When he steps into the ring to tussle with Brody and show me some of the more complicated moves, I go weak at the knees and not because of any wrestling.

Suddenly this assignment starts to look up as I watch the two muscle men strip to the waist and demonstrate their moves - all in the name of research you understand!

Brody reveals his favourite move is the power bomb - which sees the opponent lifted high and dumped rather unceremoniously on the canvas.

Thankfully I am also spared that particular slam down and manage soon after to make my escape from the ring and watch from the safety of the side lines as the wrestlers begin their warm up for the show later that evening.

"I love to put a show," Brody said, "getting the audience reaction is great"

However he got more than he bargained for at the last display when he dumped his opponent on the ground only to feel the force of a spectator who had leapt into the ring.

"I have this real mean persona on stage, " Brody explained, " and so I flipped round to see who was there and came face to face with a Down Syndrome kid who had taken it all a bit seriously and was whacking me.

" I wasn't sure how to react but thankfully the audience loved it and really laughed so I just dropped the tough guy stance and laughed too."

Feeling a little more confident as Brody revealed his softer side I cheekily asked who are the better wrestlers, the Brits or the Americans.

"Well the American's are bigger but the British wrestler tend to have more skill," he laughed. "But is not a case of brain over brawn - we have brain and brawn to fight their skill. It is dedication that makes a good wrestler"

He added: "Wrestling is the classic tale of good versus evil so that makes it so popular. Its a formula works in all areas of entertainment."

As I leave the guys to finish warming up I learn they are set to return to south Essex in June, which is surely just enough time to work on my half Nelson, pile driver and rope hold for a rematch?