WWE and AEW legend William Regal has seen friends ‘die trying’ to be best wrestler in the world: ‘There’s no such thing’-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro

William Regal has insisted there’s no such thing as the best wrestler in the world (Picture: AEW)

WWE and AEW veteran William Regal has urged wrestlers to stop risking an ‘early grave’ by striving to be seen as the best in the world.

The 54-year-old British legend – who is highly regarded as one of the greatest of all time – has urged people to focus on more than just the in-ring side of the business to avoid getting caught in a trap, and he’s something he’s seen plenty of wrestlers fall victim to.

He exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘It’s not a knock on anybody trying to be the best wrestler in the world, I just don’t want them to eat their lives up, fixate on it. I’ve seen it put some of my friends in the grave. That’s not an exaggeration.

‘Some of my friends have gone to the grave because they have been trying to live up to too much, because they put so much pressure on themselves to be somebody you can never be.

‘There’s always gonna be at least one person will disagree – even if they don’t disagree – just to disagree. If you listen to too much of it, it’s gonna send you off the deep end.’

Regal first started wrestling on the piers in Blackpool before making his name in the United States and becoming a hugely influential figure in WWE, helping scout talent for NXT before being let go earlier this year and joining All Elite Wrestling.

The former WWE superstar is regarded as one of the best minds in the business (Picture: AEW)

He added: ‘I’m gonna offend people if I say this because there’s no such thing – there never was, there never will be – as a best wrestler in the world, because it is subjective.’

‘If one person thinks you are not – I know there’s a lot of young lads at the moment wanna claim that and think that. I hope they’re not driving themselves mad with it,’ he said with sincerity.

‘I have seen some of my friends drive themselves to the edge of not good things trying to be the best wrestler in the world, and unfortunately there’s always somebody who’s gonna critique you.’

The Blackpool Combat Club leader insisted he has never strived for that kind of label, and he insisted wrestlers need to realise it’s ‘a completely worthless exercise’

‘I’ve never even tried to think of anything like that, lucky ’cause I’m not that way. But if you are trying to be that, do not read anything about yourself or listen to anybody,’ he advised.

‘There’s always gonna be somebody that says there’s somebody better than you, or you don’t do something right. It’s something that’ll drive you up the wall.’

He said performers will be better served by focusing on themselves and simply trying to improve, rather than seeing such lofty – and ultimately unachievable – goals.

‘Just be as good as you can be, because somebody is always gonna say you’re not what you are,’ he said.

‘It might offend you, and that headspace, it’ll take up time as you’re trying to get mad at them or worry about some non-entity saying that you aren’t the best. You could be working on actually getting better at being a wrestler.’

AEW Dynamite airs Wednesday nights at 1am on Fite TV.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : AEW: ‘Hangman’ Adam Page stretchered out and rushed to trauma centre after terrifying injury

MORE : AEW’s William Regal argued with WWE boss Vince McMahon over infamous ‘Kiss My A** Club’ moment

Entertainment – MetroRead More