July 12th 2024.
Grado is ecstatic to be a part of the highly anticipated revival of World of Sport Wrestling. The wrestler turned actor, known for his role as Alan in the BBC sitcom Two Doors Down, is excited for what's to come for WOS. In its heyday, WOS commanded a massive audience with over 10 million viewers in the 1960s and became synonymous with iconic wrestlers like Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks in the 70s.
In an exclusive interview with The Agency, Grado expressed his admiration for the rich history of WOS. "The name itself is synonymous with history. Back in the day, Saturday afternoons, it was massive, bigger than the FA Cup!" he exclaimed. "This reboot is an amazing opportunity for British wrestlers to showcase their skills. I'm really excited this time around."
The team behind WOS, which includes experience from the UK scene, WWE, and TNA Wrestling, is a promising sign for the revival. The official return is set to take place on September 14 at Norwich's Epic Studios. Grado, whose real name is Graeme Stevely, believes it's the perfect time for WOS to make its comeback, with WWE and wrestling as a whole on the rise.
"[WWE] is just going to keep getting bigger when it goes to Netflix," he shared. "With us, we want this to be a family tradition. We're going to have the finest athletes, the finest characters, lights, camera, music - action!"
WOS holds a special place in the hearts of many, with a generation still remembering watching the likes of Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, and Kendo Nagasaki with their grandmothers on Saturday afternoons. For Grado, there's also a personal goal as he looks to get back to his best after a decade of balancing wrestling, television, and a breakfast show on Go Radio.
"As much as I love sitcoms, as much as I love acting, as much as I love radio presenting, my number one place I feel at home is wrestling," he shared with a smile. "It's still my love."
Grado has definitely made a name for himself in the acting world, with his roles in popular shows like River City, Scot Squad, Two Doors Down, and Disney+ series Wedding Season. However, his heart has always been in wrestling. His underdog character has won over fans, and his iconic walkout to Madonna's Like A Prayer is now a signature part of his persona.
"That song has been really good to me," he admitted, even revealing that he had a string quartet play it at his wedding. However, Madonna wasn't too keen on the association and even requested for the audio to be omitted from the live broadcast of TNA Wrestling's show at the Hydro in 2015.
"The email said, 'The following request for Like A Prayer to be used in TNA has been denied by: Madonna'," Grado shared. "So Madonna was actually approached about it. She apparently has a big say in where her music goes... She did not want us."
Despite the setback, Grado received a phenomenal reaction from fans when he made a surprise appearance at Wembley Stadium last August for AEW All In London. He even impressed WWE legend Paul Wight (formerly known as The Big Show) with his performance.
"It was a relief," Grado admitted, as he had taken a lot of time off from wrestling while focusing on his acting career. He also joked about his old friend Drew McIntyre, who has become a WWE superstar and recently starred in a Hollywood movie with Dave Bautista. "I'm advertising breakfast rolls on the radio. How the f*** does that work?!"
But in all seriousness, Grado is proud of his friend's accomplishments and considers him an "absolute hero" and one of his best mates. He also credits Drew's blurred line storylines in WWE as inspiration for WOS.
Speaking of this year, Grado revealed that he will be focusing on writing his own projects, with sessions already underway with a production company. But he won't forget his true passion, and fans can expect to see more of Grado in the ring this year.
"I've had so much time away from wrestling. Two Doors Down isn't recording this summer, it's the first time it's not going to be filmed," he shared. "So I want to focus mainly on my wrestling career and bring Grado back a bit!"
Fans can catch the highly anticipated return of WOS Wrestling on September 14 at Epic Studios in Norwich. Tickets and more information are available on their website. And if you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, don't hesitate to reach out to The Agency entertainment team - they'd love to hear from you.
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