Move over Hogan handlebar, Tommy Tanner has arrived on the wrestling circuit. Sporting facial hair to rival Becks and the sunglasses to match, the 27-year-old WWE hopeful reckons he dominates enough to become the first WWE champ by the age of 30.
Trained by Will Ospreay’s former trainer, Greg Burridge, the rugby lad is currently raking in 20 quid a head performing on a sweaty nightclub mat at 2am, but that looks to change pretty quickly. “Rugby is a pure war,” he says leaning forward. “It’s 80 minutes of smashing people and finding a way to outthink them. Wrestling is the same. It’s just you against your opponent, figuring out how to break them before they break you.” Tanner used to work in sales and finance for Alan Day Motor Group, and says he uses his mental strength in the ring to help him dominate the competition. “Closing sales in the showroom is no different from closing moves in the ring for me,” he says.
Tammer’s goal is to burst into the top ranks of wrestlers worldwide and become the first British WWE Champion by the age of 30. “There’s no one from here who’s done it yet and I plan to change that,” he says. “It’s not only about the title; it’s about showing the world what British wrestling is all about.”
Tanner’s career change is being shaped by his trainer, Greg Burridge, who has coached dozens of wrestlers to WWE and AEW success.
Burridge, who runs Fight Design pro wrestling training school in East London, spotted Tanner’s talent and charisma early. “Tommy has this unique energy that the audience feeds off,” he says. “He gives them what they want and they can’t get enough."
When it comes to training, Tanner is dedicated and disciplined.
“The sport is dangerous, and many wrestlers have ended up with serious neck issues and even paralysis,” he says. “There are no guarantees. I hit the gym four times a week and three times a week I’m in the ring working on my technique and building my stamina. It’s about perfecting my moves and building a level of endurance that allows me to outlast anyone in the ring. But Saturday nights are for blowing off steam and letting loose. The balance keeps me sharp.”
Tanner spends fifteen hundred quid a month on his food shop. “My diet is strict,” he says. “I start the day with eggs - lots of them. It’s mostly lean meats, veggies, and carbs to get me through the grind.”
At the moment, he’s going for £100 a pop, doing up to three shows every weekend in nightclubs or sports centres and entertaining everyone from kids to pro fans and your granny. Top wrestlers can rake in 100 grand a show, and the ultimate prize would be to win the world title and command earnings of around £1 million for TV shows, tours and endorsements.
In the meantime, Tanner takes what he can get, appearing before boozed up nightclub crowds and regulars in community halls.
“It’s full on, but it’s all about talking everybody’s language,” he says.
Tammer has only just opened a TikTok and Instagram, but it’s clear his fan base is growing rapidly. “Tommy’s not just a wrestler; he’s a personality,” says Greg. “People are drawn into him, whether it’s in the crowd or online."
Want hot pants inspo?
Instagram: @thetommytanner
TikTok: @thetommytanner
