Brother vs brother as wrestling returns to Motherwell

Mark Coffey defends the SWA Heavyweight Title against his brother Joe in a cage match on Saturday, April 9.

Technically this is the first ever meeting of “The Coffey Brothers”, although Mark revealed they have faced each other once before.

He said: “About five years ago in what was maybe my third match I did face Joe, at the time I was calling myself Mark Anthony and really all I remember about that night is he won.

“I do know we went on first so to now be headlining a show with the SWA title on the line just show how far we have come.”

Mark was inspired to enter wrestling after his brother Joe and close friend Jackie Polo started training for a career in the squared circle.

He said: “We were all fans of wrestling when we were younger, it wasn’t like my parents were big fans, but at three I can recall sitting down to watch the Royal Rumble.

“When schools started opening locally Joe and Jackie decided to start training, I didn’t think it was me, however about a year later I watched Joe in action and I decided I wanted to do it too.

“I was 19 when I started and when I look back to the 19-year-old me and the current 25-year-old me then it is like night and day.

“At first I didn’t want to be known as Coffey and just have people think of me as Joe’s brother, when you have a relative in the business it is very important to carve your own path.”

Mark thanked both his former and current tag team partners for helping his career develop.

He said: “Initially Jackie and I were to be a tag team, but perhaps inevitably when you have two brothers promoters put you together.

“I learned a lot teaming with Joe, there’s that sibling rivalry that makes you push each other. Now I love teaming with Jackie, we are like chalk and cheese but it works, he is such an extrovert and helping pull me out of my shell.

“When I first went to Japan they told me I had to put on 10kg to be a heavyweight and spent a lot of time in the gym reshaping my body, now I am developing my mind to be the kind of larger than life persona you need in this business to make people want to see you.

“It has also helped me in the ring, five years ago I never dreamed I’d be facing a Chris Sabin, a Prince Devitt or a Drew Galloway, but now there are no nerves and I can just get on with the job in hand.”

Mark has enjoyed tours of Japan and had a WWE try-out, but his main focus is ensuring the continued revival of the British scene.

He said: “The UK scene is getting bigger and bigger and I only see it continuing to grow so why would I want to go anywhere else?

“I went to Japan to get an education in wrestling and lifestyle which I could bring back here and equally I might go to Mexico if I thought I’d learn something.

“But I’m not going halfway round the world just to work three matches in a week when I can easily do that here against some amazing talent.

“When I started in SWA there was maybe 100 people present, now we draw 6/700 and the audiences continue to rise, look at ICW holding an event at SECC which I was on and it is the same story across the country.

“I want to keep growing as a performer to make a real name for myself in this business and be an integral part of its growth.”

The next stop on Mark’s journey will be the cage match with Joe and has warned his brother not to expect him to go easy when the door closes.

He said: “This is my first time in a cage match, Joe had one before against Mikey Whiplash and described it as being just another day at the office, but a bit sorer, although that is usually the case when you wrestle Mikey.

“Of course the cage adds an element of danger, but I’ve told Joe I won’t be holding back and I suggest he does likewise.”

The card also includes the return of Jester to SWA to take on Big Damo, in his SWA debut Trent Seven meets Mikey Whiplash, Jackie Polo is in action against Joe Hendry and Bubblegum and Solar take to the air in a lucha contest.

Doors open at 6pm for the VIP Meet and Greet at 6.30pm which costs £25 (£75 for a family of four), then doors for general admission open at 6.30pm with the opening bell at 7pm and tickets cost £14 (£40 for a family of four).

They are available by calling 01698 403120 or visiting Ticketmaster