If you thought that Spuds were just potatoes, you didn't take this one into account!
James Curtin, more commonly known to the wrestling world as Spud, has spent most of his career being compared to TNA's Amazing Red. There's a good reason for it.
At 5'3", Spud is the smallest mainstream wrestler currently performing in Britain, but don't let his size fool you.
He is the definition of a live wire. High-flying, death-defying, and electric, Spud is always dropping jaws wherever he goes.
Curtin began his training at the tender age of 16, under the tutelage of K-Stars Wrestling trainers Jack Storm and Chris Gilbert. However, Curtin, desperate for a larger opportunity, moved to SAS Wrestling to begin training with "Charming" Don Charles.
It was this partnership with Charles that lead to the start of Curtin's wrestling career.
Like many wrestlers, Curtin spent the first few years of his ring career jobbing to bigger names in promotions all over Britain and Europe. Looking back on this now, he said:
"There was method to the madness. I didn't see it then. I automatically thought that I should be the one making a name for myself, not losing week in, week out to those who had more of a sway in the business. I realise now that it was because they wanted to test me. Being so small, they didn't think I'd have the strength to succeed, so I worked at proving them wrong. Hell, if that meant having to work my dues, then that was what I did."
It wasn't until 2003 that Curtin began to pick up any sort of momentum in his career.
His first taste of gold came on Aug. 30, 2003, when Curtin, wrestling for Revolution British Wrestling, defeated Jack Hazard to become the promotions first ever British Welterweight Champion.
It was during this match that the commentators remarked that Curtin, with his unique look and recognisable hairstyle, looked like a Mr. Potato Head toy.
This line led to Curtin's reply that he was the Spud-sized version. The name has stuck with him ever since.
The newly christened Spud was able to hold onto the Welterweight title for over four months, before losing it to Ross Jordan in December of the same year.
Over the next few years, Spud began to expand his horizons, wrestling in different continents and picking up different styles of wrestling, most notably, Lucha Libre, which forms the basis for a large amount of his move set.
It was also during this period that Spud gained a reputation among British promoters as a man that people would pay to see perform. This led to him garnering a large and loyal fan base all around the country.
"Most of my early fans were usually mothers, as embarrassing as that sounds. It was because I was always presented as a sweet, butter-wouldn't-melt-in-mouth kinda chap. They thought it made me vulnerable. A funny experience occurred actually during one of my early shows. I was wrestling Jonny (Storm, british wrestler) and one of the old ladies at ringside stood up, leaned over the rail and shouted to Storm 'Don't beat up the poor little lad, that's not nice!' I got so much stick for that afterwards!"
Spud's first opportunity at becoming known outside of Britain came in 2005, when he joined 1 Pro Wrestling (1PW) as one of the original alumni.
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