Lifelong wrestling fan experiences first live match at Kidderminster care home

A lifelong wrestling fan and resident at a care home in Kidderminster has experienced his first-ever live match with a surprise visit from professional grapplers.

When the team at Care UK’s Brook Court, on Oldnall Road, learned about Paul Bardell’s dream to be reconnected with his favourite pastime, they set about creating the ultimate experience.

66-year-old Paul’s love of wrestling began in childhood, when he spent Saturday afternoons watching bouts with his family and cheering on household names such as Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks. As he grew older, he became a devoted fan of WWE and the larger-than-life phenomenon of Hulkamania.

Despite following the in-the-ring action for decades, Paul had never had the opportunity to see a live event in person. So, when the team learned of Paul's long-held wish to experience wrestling up close, they brought the action to him.

Working with HCW Wrestling, they arranged a surprise visit to the home and transformed the garden with a 12ft x 12ft wrestling ring.

Paul, along with fellow residents, gathered to watch Jonny Rose, Fenix Verde, Dan Striker, Wrecking Ball and Scrap Iron put on a show before enjoying the opportunity to meet the stars and pose for photographs.

In the first match, Jonny Rose defeated the villainous yet crowd-favourite Fenix Verde, setting the stage for a thrilling day of performances.

Paul said: “I won, I took over and I loved it. I had photos taken and Fenix Verde in the green mask was my favourite!”

The visit was made possible thanks to Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to suggest ideas for new hobbies they’d like to try, places they’d like to visit or even activities linked to past careers. From flying a plane to enjoying a fish and chip supper, no wish is too big or small for the team to try to grant.

Emma Metzger-Minns, Home Manager at Brook Court, said: “We were delighted to create such a memorable afternoon for Paul by bringing the thrill of wrestling directly to him! The visit enabled him to reconnect with his passion, while also giving him the opportunity to reminisce about watching matches with friends and family when he was younger.

“Our Wishing Tree initiative is a great way for residents to share their dreams and passions, and it’s incredibly rewarding to be able to make these a reality. Seeing his reaction when he realised a wrestling ring had been built in the garden was incredible. It was a fantastic day for Paul and all the residents, and there was a real buzz throughout the home.

“A big thank you to our wonderful team and to HCW Wrestling for making this day so special.”

Brook Court is a state-of-the-art care home that provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. It features 67 en-suite bedrooms and has been designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence. The building incorporates plenty of space for hobby and leisure activities.