Inside Chase star Mark Labbett’s wrestling love as ‘The Beast’ takes cost of Britwres
Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett is known worldwide for his intimidating persona on screen, and it turns out his love of wrestling is actually something that shaped what you seen on the ITV show
Wrestling fever has taken over the world, thanks to WWE’s major deal with Netflix. But for diehard fans, the love of wrestling is life-long.
And that has never been more true than for star of ITV’s The Chase, Mark Labbett. Known to many as The Beast, Labbett is actually executive producer of one of the UK’s fastest growing independent wrestling companies called New Gen Wrestling, based in Hull.
Mark has been a mainstay on NGW shows since at least 2017, asserting his authority to make matches on the spot and to seek revenge on angry talent. His most recent involvement at the end of 2024 saw him bring ex-Love Island contestant turned wrestler Adam Maxted in as a tag team partner for ECW, WWE and TNA Wrestling legend Rhyno.
And while many commenting on YouTube and Instagram videos of the moment he appeared seemed shocked that Mark was involved in wrestling, he once admitted that his persona on the Chase was actually inspired by wrestling.
Speaking to Keighly News in 2016, he said: “I’ve been a fan of professional wrestling for most of my life. In fact, much of what I do on The Chase has been inspired by wrestling bad guys.”
The Beast has made no secret of his love of wrestling, making appearances in the crowd at various TNA shows during UK tours over the years.
Although he doesn’t appear to want to get physical with any wrestlers anytime soon, he seems intent on pushing NGW to become the pillar of British wrestling – something proven by the company striking a deal with Butlins to hold hundreds of events at various Butlin’s venues around the UK
“From a council estate in Hull to a Saturday afternoon TV series televised all over the world, NGW is truly one of East Yorkshire’s biggest success stories of the past decade,” he says on NGW’s website.
When Mark first arrived in NGW, he took to the stage to cut a promo against the company’s managing director Richie West who was in the middle of playing a bad guy and holding a show hostage.
However, The Beast entered and raged: “When the cameras are rolling, I’m in charge.”
And it seems as though that rule has been something he’s stuck by since debuting, making frequent show-stealing announcements and creating game-changing matches.
NGW’s next big show is called Destiny and will feature one of the country’s best female wrestlers in ex-WWE NXT star Lizzy Evo, as well as other top talent who will battle it out at Hull City Hall on February 21.
And yes, it’s pretty nailed on that Mark Labbett will be involved somehow.
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