WATCH: All the best action as Grant Holt wins his singles wrestling debut

The former Canaries centre forward won by default after his opponent, Brad O'Brien, was disqualified when a trio of other wrestlers stormed the ring and gave Holt some punishment.

The 37-year-old treated the crowd to some spectacular moves before being carried out of the ring by WAW promoters at the end of the fight after being 'badly hurt'.

The morning after the event, Mr Holt tweeted: 'Nice black eye and fat lip from last nights wrestling debut. Glad to get the win.'

He headed into the ring at Epic Studios on Saturday as part of the World Association of Wrestling (WAW) 'Do they know it's Christmas?' event.

Grant Holt and his opponent Brad O'Brien during their wrestling match at Epic Studios. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

The ex-striker already had a taste of success after winning the WAW 40-man rumble earlier this year.

Before the fight, Mr Holt said: 'My opponent is a fantastic wrestler, he's got some fantastic moves that he pulls out of from nowhere, you have to very vigilant about where you are in the ring.

'Once I got the opportunity, that was it, I had to do it! I'm really enjoying it.'

Holt was supposed to make his debut at Fightmare 3 in 2019, to give him time to train, but he climbed in the ring almost a year early.

Brad O'Brien leaps from the ropes onto an hurt Grant Holt during their wrestling match at Epic Studios, with the referee injured too. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

He was welcomed to Epic Studios with a standing ovation by the crowd of more than 800 people.

Zak Knight, wrestler and co-owner of WAW, said: 'He [Grant Holt] met the family had a 10-minute session in the ring and loved it.

'From there he has won the 40 man memorial trophy and is set to make his singles debut.

'As soon as we saw him in the ring we knew he was a natural, he took to the ring as well as he did to football.'

Three 'baddie' wrestlers attack Grant Holt in and out of the ring during his wrestling match at Epic Studios. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

The former Canaries striker is due to fight again next June at another WAW event.

Mr Knight said: 'We're planning something big, instead of just having British talent in the ring we're hoping to get the most talented wrestlers from around the world in Norwich.'

To find out more about WAW follow them on Twitter: @WAW_UK

Grant Holt face down on the floor as he is announced the winner by disqualification of his opponent during his wrestling match at Epic Studios, and then he is carried off. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Three 'baddie' wrestlers attack Grant Holt in and out of the ring during his wrestling match at Epic Studios. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Grant Holt with rising wrestling star Ricky Knight Jr. Holt makes his wrestling singles debut on Saturday December 22 at Epic Studios, Norwich. Picture: Neil Didsbury (Image: Archant)