It was wrestling that Newman was swayed to.
With the 2024 New Japan Cup tournament underway, NJPW is rolling out interviews with competitors in the tournament and one of those talents is United Empire’s Callum Newman.
This NJPW1972.com interview was conducted prior to the tournament. Newman was bounced in the first round by Gabe Kidd.
During the chat, Newman opened up about his time as a footballer and playing for Tottenham Academy. He shared that he was getting looks from West Ham United F.C. and Arsenal FC. He ultimately ended up choosing wrestling over the potential football career. Newman shared that Will Ospreay was adamant that he continue pursuing wrestling and not give it up.
A really good one (footballer). I played for Tottenham Academy, and nearly got scouted by West Ham and Arsenal. But I wasn’t sure it was for me. Then one day my granddad started talking like, ‘I used to be a stuntman and a wrestler.’ I was like, ‘No way. What are you on about?’ We thought he was messing about. But he said, ‘No, no, I’ll show you.’ Goes in the attic and comes down with his wrestling boots. He said, ‘I’ll teach you some stuff now,’ and then we found a wrestling school nearby. I did that until I was 15, and I was playing football as well. Wasn’t sure what was for me, and that’s when I met Will (Ospreay)… Will told me, ‘If you quit, you’re a f***ing idiot.’ My parents came to all my training sessions, he pulled my parents aside and said, ‘This kid can make a ton of money if he sticks with it’ and look at me now.
Bro, my dad was pissed (that I started leaning more into wrestling)! I had Tottenham, West Ham and Arsenal knocking at my door. I was dope! I played for Tottenham Academy because it was my dad’s favorite team… And they were talking about, ‘We want to use you properly…’ I was 16, and it was wrestling, or football. I was like, ‘Dad, I kind of don’t want to play football any more.’ ‘Yeah, you do.’ It was like, ‘Sorry dad.’ I could’ve been really good at football but now I’m here. My last job before being a professional wrestler was working in a pie shop (laughs).
The 2024 New Japan Cup is entering the quarterfinal stage. The winner of the tournament will move on to Sakura Genesis on April 6th to challenge Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
