A HUGE night of professional wrestling is coming to The Oxford Academy next week as organisers hail a 'revival' of the sport.

The star-studded family event on Friday will feature local and international talent including former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar Cody Rhodes.

Organisers from Swindon-based 4 Front Wrestling have been out in force in Blackbird Leys and Littlemore drumming up excitement for the big night at the school in Sandy Lane West.

Director David Sharp said: "I've wanted to host events in Oxford for a long time now. We have been based in Swindon and the surrounding areas and Oxford was missing.

"The venue has the potential for 650 seats and they have got everything there.

"The lighting is really good and they have a huge screen for all our graphics to give it a show atmosphere, rather than just a ring in a hall."

Five action-packed contests will take place over the course of the night at OX4, the leisure facility within the school in Sandy Lane West.

Cody Rhodes, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, will fly in on Thursday night and is wrestling current 4FW heavyweight champion Tiger Ali.

Elsewhere British wrestling legend Doug Williams will take on 4FW favourite Saime Sahin and masked hero Mega Pegasus, who will enter spreading 10-foot 'wings'.

Mr Sharp said: "Cody Rhodes is a huge superstar, and being so fresh out of the WWE, this is a real coup for 4FW.

"People in the area seem so excited and glad it's coming to Oxford. We have another provisional date in May so if this goes well we will bring another WWE name back.

"There has been a revival of British wrestling of late. I've been through hard times when I've struggled to get 100 people in a building, and now we get 1,000 plus."

Oxford's very own pro-wrestler and dwarf actor Mark 'Little Legs' Sealey, who grew up in Blackbird Leys and has recently retired, said he was glad an event was coming back to Blackbird Leys after regular show Superstars of Wrestling struggled to get off the ground last year.

He said: "It has always been well-received in Blackbird Leys. You always get 200 to 300 people in the audience, which is pretty good for a venue like this.

"There is definitely a revival going on. It's doing very well. I used to do all the comedy stuff and wrestling is like a pantomime. There's something for everyone."

Doors will open at 6pm. Tickets cost £10 or £35 for a family with two adults and two children. Food will be available and there will also be a chance to meet the stars.

For more information or to buy tickets ahead of the event visit 4fw-online.com