Wrestlers could be shown red card in hybrid league

A former professional wrestler has launched a hybrid league that is a mash-up between the entertainment sport and football.

Dragon Aisu, real name Dante Richardson, from Middlesbrough, said he wouldlaunch its debut season on 9 August at the Vertu Arena in Newcastle.

The National Wrestling League (NWL) involves regional teams managed by famous names from both sports, including American professional wrestler D'Lo Brown and former Liverpool star Neil "Razor" Ruddock.

"Football is all about passion, rivalry and backing your team, and wrestling has the characters, drama and atmosphere to go with it," said Ruddock. "So bringing the two together just makes sense."

Six squads of wrestlers wearing their team kit will compete for 15 minutes with those that score the most falls [goals] within that time declared the winner and awarded three points, just like in football.

Similarly, teams will pick up a point apiece for a draw.

Ruddock explained: "It's right up my street, which is why I am excited to get involved - Newcastle fans are some of the loudest in the country, so the atmosphere in there is going to be unbelievable."

Inspired by former American wrestler, Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Richardson pursued a career as an English wrestler.

Among his accomplishments, he twice won a tag team championship.

One of the league's owners, Richardson competed between 2003 and 2010 mainly in the north-east of England.

Now 42, he said he wanted to bring football's "tribalistic fan approach" to wrestling so that fans could follow their squad of wrestlers across 10 matches each season with a winning team crowned at the end.

With the seasons mimicking football, the league will run from August to May with the North East Outlaws competing at home in their first match.

The league will also involve former England stars as guest coaches.

Red cards could also be shown for bad behaviour.

"We are trying to combine the football aspect even more by having the rings with green canvas and pitch markings," Richardson said.

"The managers sit in the dugouts at ringside", he added. "We've got a huge, ridiculous inflatable tunnel that the wrestlers come out of."

Richardson said the main focus was to make the event affordable for families "because everything is expensive".

He added that he wanted local football fans to get behind the Outlaws and help them to be the first league champions and "put the region on the map".

Brown, who has fought the likes of American wrestlers Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Stone Cold Steve Austin, will also be a permanent fixture in the league.

Managing the Yorkshire Titans, he will also compete in Newcastle.

He said: "Considering my love for both American football and European football, I feel this format is the perfect marriage of the two. It has the perils of relegation and the thrill of competition.

"Whether it's Newcastle, Yorkshire or Liverpool, any time I have the opportunity to return to the United Kingdom it puts a huge smile on my face."

Brown said he would offer his team bits of advice acquired throughout his career and "hopefully that will lead to the Titans having an edge in the league table".

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.