A FORMER wrestler has described his journey from leaping off the top rope to climbing a pulpit.
The Rev Steven Horne, 43, was ordained by the the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Dover at Canterbury Cathedral this year.
He spoke to the BBC about his unique switch, saying he turned to the sport as “escapism” after a tough childhood.
Horne said he received a “call” from God in 2022.
He told BBC Radio Kent: “I’ve always had a strong relationship with God, ever since I was a young child.”
The deacon worked as a police officer before taking a PhD in theology and linking up with South East Professional Wrestling.
He took part in his first amateur event in 2016 a went on to compete hundreds of times.
He explained: “Life can be difficult and sometimes unpredictable, but I rest comfortably knowing that although life is full of slams and suplexes, God has oversight of it all and knows what the end will be.”
Horne explained that he had been “waiting for the green light from God” to enter the church.
He added: “I had heard that particular call very distinctly on 30 December 2022 and the next day I popped an email off and the process for discernment started two months later.”
Earlier this month, Jacob Henry proclaimed himself a “future superstar” of WWE after announcing a deal to follow in the world’s strongest footsteps.
Dad Mark Henry is a WWE Hall of Famer who won strongman crowns, a global powerlifting title and USA national weightlifting championships.
Son Jacob perhaps has a wider sporting pedigree as a talented gridiron player and starlet of track and field athletics.
For added drama, he chose to reveal the news at a Remix Rumble event in Cleveland, Ohio, where his father was on stage as the DJ.
Jacob said: “The crowd is out here tonight, you seem pretty lively. I think it’s time, I think it’s time for people to know.
“I think you guys should be the first to know that I’m going to be a future superstar and it’s been put on paper.
“I have officially signed a deal with the WWE.”
His words and sense of timing will have impressed the sport’s chiefs – ahead of Saturday’s WWE SummerSlam in the same city.
Jacob’s powerful background includes coming second in the 285-pound weight class of a state wrestling tournament in February.
