By Elizabeth Hunter via SWNS
Photos show inside the unique WWE-themed wrestling club for kids – producing the next generation of Rocks and Undertakers.
Community Pro Wrestling sees children learning the art of wrestling – including piledrivers and smackdowns in the ring.
They are seen diving and crashing from the ropes at the school – which has helped many with their physical and mental health.
The club began in 2022, after professional wrestler David McCallum, 30, was approached by parents after his shows.
They were confused about the lack of kids’ wrestling opportunities in his hometown of Glasgow.
David, known as Ravie-Davie, hosted shows across Scotland to raise money to buy his own ring, and opened his venue in Govan in October of that year, with his first class having just three students.
Now his school has over 200 students, aged 5 and up, who attend monthly or weekly classes, with the classes serving as many of the children’s first experience with wrestling.
“I’ve been a professional wrestler for the past ten years – I’ve wrestled all up and down the country and all over Europe,” said David.
“Eight years into my career, after lockdown, I started wanting to open up my own wrestling company.
“We sold out our first show and thought it was a good idea to do more.
”A lot of people that came to the shows had kids, and they were asking us if there were any wrestling schools for kids.
“There wasn’t anything like that in Scotland at the time, so once we got the ring, I started putting plans in place to start a wrestling school.
“I’ve had experience in youth work, and I’m a stepdad myself, so I’m good with kids.
“In October, we ran our first classes – we had three kids in the very first class. At first, we were just making enough to cover our bills, but then the school blew up on TikTok.
“Now we have 19 classes per week, we’re open six days a week, and we have over 200 pupils coming to classes every month.”
David is passionate about providing children with the chance to get involved in wrestling, as he says that many kids aren’t provided with opportunities to learn the sport until they reach 16.
He says that his classes have helped children of all ages to learn self-confidence, make friends, and come out of their shells.
“I was born in Govan, and when I was growing up, I always wanted to go to a wrestling school myself, but there was no such thing about,” he said.
“When you’re 5 years old and you’re interested in wrestling, before my wrestling school, there was nowhere you could go. If you want to be a football player, a dancer, a gymnast, or a basketball player, you can find places anywhere in the UK, but for wrestling, you can’t.
“Our classes for the 5-11-year-olds are about building confidence, playing games involving wrestling, meeting new friends and developing skills.
“It’s really special to see a kid come in who might be hiding behind their parents and is too shy to take part – and then you see them start to get involved and making friends and being their full selves.
“One of the best things ever is seeing a kid you’ve been working with actually being able to show off their confidence.”
One parent says the club has changed her family’s life, after 7-year-old Arran Jacob started the classes nearly two years ago.
“Arran has completely come out of his shell,” said mum Marianne.
“When he was younger, he tried football, rugby, dancing – he tried lots of things, but nothing has stuck apart from wrestling.
“He was interested in WWE and playing with the figurines since the age of three.
“About a year and a half ago, I saw a post by Ravie-Davie on TikTok, sent him a message, and Arran started a few weeks later.
“When he first started, he didn’t know much about wrestling other than what he had seen on TV. He would copy that, and I didn’t know how to help him because I don’t know how to wrestle.
“Now he can jump up and off the top rope of the ring with no problem. He used to never speak to people outwith his family and close friends, and now he goes into the class, says hi to Davie, and then goes around and speaks to everybody. It’s his happy place now.
“His fitness has come on as well – he’s interested in staying healthy and eating well because he wants to be big and strong for wrestling.
“It’s not just Arran’s life that’s been changed – it’s mine and his brother’s as well.
“Arran has an older brother, Kyle, who has autism, and he doesn’t join in, but he goes to all the shows and will stay for the classes, and it’s helped him come out of his shell too.
“It’s had a massive impact on the whole family.”
David hopes to eventually open wrestling schools across Scotland, in the hopes of giving opportunities for kids across the country to get involved with the sport.
“Our goal would be to have one of these schools in every major city and town in the UK,” he said.
“A lot of kids that like wrestling aren’t into other sports, and they’re being left out and not getting a chance to be active.
“If kids have to wait until they’re 16, they might lose their love for it, and they might never try it out.
“I think wrestling is one of the greatest things in the world. It’s not just about the athletics and fitness, it’s about drama and theatre and creativity as well.”
