PROFESSIONAL wrestlers from all over the world came to Worcester to entertain children and adults.

Dozens of youngsters accompanied by their mums, dads, grandparents and older siblings went to the Sixways Smackdown on Saturday.

The family-friendly show, held in the rugby stadium’s indoor training centre, featured theatrical wrestling and mock combat similar to the fights made famous by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) franchise.

Competitors included heavyweight champions Jonny Rose and ‘Bad News’ Brown from the USA, ‘Highlander’ Drew McDonald from Scotland, Mandrake from Ireland and Andy Simmonz from Britain, who is famed for his “running powerslam” move.

Fans jeered and cheered as the costumed competitors met each other in the ring.

Eight-year-old Matthew Rivers, of Worcester, watches American wrestling on the television and brought along his two favourite wrestling figurines.

“I like watching them fight,” he said. “You don’t know who is going to win.”

Eleven-year-old Lily-Rose Shale, who went along with her big brother Tony, liked the loudmouthed wrestlers’ acrobatic moves.

“It’s good when they jump off the ropes and land on each other,” she said. “And when they trash-talk the other wrestlers.”

Professional wrestling has origins in carnival sideshows and music halls in the late 19th century when competitors would showcase athleticism and strength.