5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
I quit my life in Scotland to become a US wrestling star
Luke Scouler, from Motherwell, left his job as a residential carer for young people to pursue his dream of being a pro wrestler.
In just a few years, Luke, now known to fans as Crixus, has transitioned from sleeping in a gym car park to becoming a breakout star at Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), an American wrestling brand which propelled the careers of John Cena and Dave Batista.
The Scottish War Machine, who featured in the hit Netflix documentary Wrestlers, was also crowned OVW's first-ever Scottish champion.
Luke (AKA Crixus) now stars in the Netflix-famous Ohio Valley Wrestling (Image: Supplied)
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Luke, 33, previously worked in residential care at Inspire Scotland, a social care organisation that supports children and young people.
He recalled his decision to leave his job and home almost instantly after watching wrestling on TV.
Luke said: 'I really loved that job.
"But it was tough emotionally.
"I've always had a bit of a Batman complex – I thought I was going to save everybody.
'I was in a bad place with it.
"I knew it wasn't for me, and I was burned out.
"I remember sitting in my house in Newmains watching TV with my dog, Odin, when wrestling came on and I just thought: 'Screw it, let's go.'
"Scots have made it big in this business – why couldn't I?"
Luke drove to London that same night and enrolled in a wrestling academy run by former WWE star and current OVW head trainer Al Snow.
He said: "I drove through the night with no plan and no place to stay.
"Me and the dog slept in the car for a bit.
"Eventually the guy who ran it asked if I was serious.
"I told him I'd already quit my job and left my house.
"That was it.
"We moved into the gym and didn't go back."
Luke joined OVW in 2019 after coming first in a 300-person wrestling combine.
However, his career was halted due to Covid, forcing him to stay in the UK for two years.
Now based in Kentucky, he is one of the biggest stars at the promotion, and believes his Scottish roots are what set him up for success.
Luke said: "We've got thicker skin, especially in Glasgow.
"You're battle-ready by the time you leave primary school, so wrestling comes naturally to us.
"I'm a smartass cheeky b******, and the accent helps too.
"Over here in the States, people already think we're mental which helps.
"I just turned my personality up to 11.
"I wasn't pretending to be someone else – just the version of me you probably wouldn't want to sit next to in a pub.
"I get to act like an a**** and they still love me.
"They boo you, but they're cheering underneath."
Al Snow, his mentor, believes Luke could be the next big Scottish wrestling star.
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He said: "With the success of Joe Hendry and Drew McIntyre, Scotland is increasingly a potential source of talent.
"With Crixus, we may have another superstar on our hands.
"His dedication has been incredible.
"To make it in this business, you have to sacrifice and do things out of the ordinary.
"And that's why I think he's got what it takes."
