Before he was body-slamming opponents in the ring, Tyran Tuckey was just another uni student, drifting through lectures and lockdowns, unsure of where he was headed.
But fast-forward a few years, and he’s emerged as one of Australia’s most exciting up-and-coming professional wrestlers—mulleted, motivated, and unmistakably himself. He is The Tuckman.
Originally from Dubbo, New South Wales, Tuckey made the bold decision in 2021 to walk away from a double degree in economics and international studies to chase a very different kind of dream. He relocated to Sydney and began training at the Pro Wrestling Academy, where he sharpened his skills and began crafting the larger-than-life persona fans now know and love.
Since making his debut in July 2022, he’s become a staple of the Australian wrestling scene. In October 2023, the Tuckman hit a major milestone by winning the Soul of PWA Championship, a title previously held by notable wrestlers such as Mick Moretti and Cherry Stephens.
Now he has racked up over 130 matches across various promotions, including more than 70 bouts in 2024 alone—a testament to his rapid rise in popularity and skill.
With his sights firmly set on WWE, The Tuckman is pushing harder than ever to turn his dream into reality.
I spoke with The Tuckman to learn more about what pushed him to walk away from the traditional career path and the journey that’s taken him from small-town dreamer to hometown hero.
Q: So… dropping out of uni to pursue wrestling professionally- what was going through your mind when you made that call?
A: Well, honestly, this was the year after COVID—2021. After studying online during lockdown and everything, I’d sort of lost the passion for university.
I remember after about three months of training; I was with one of my fellow trainees from the pro wrestling academy. He had just finished his degree, and I asked him for some advice. He told me that if he were in my shoes, he’d chase wrestling with everything he had—and that meant putting university or whatever other commitments he had aside.
At that time, I felt a real belief that it was possible and that I could make it work. Obviously, there was fear, but I think it all worked out.
Q: What was the reaction from your friends and family when you told them you were dropping out of uni to become a professional wrestler?
A: My dad—and my family in general—has always been very happy for me to go and do whatever makes me happy. It was the same with university and whatever I did in high school. They always wanted me to do what I was passionate about.
When I told my dad, I remember he was a little sceptical, but he was pretty open-minded about it. He was happy that I had found something I was passionate about—specifically something that was keeping me healthy, getting me in the gym, and helping my mindset.
Q: Was wrestling always the dream? Or did it kind of come out of nowhere one day?
A: When I was 11, I watched WWE for the first time—and till I was about 16, becoming a WWE wrestler was all I cared about. That was the dream.
But when I got into Year 11, started doing exams, and people started talking about uni, I thought, Alright, maybe I need to be more realistic. I kind of stopped watching wrestling. It faded into the background, and uni started to seem like the more practical option.
Then, in 2021, I saw an ad for the Pro Wrestling Academy—and the rest was history, really.
Q: What was your first time in the ring like? Terrifying? Electric?
A: The first time I stepped into the ring at our training centre, I remember feeling overwhelmed. It was something I’d been thinking about my whole life.
The first bump I ever took—that’s what we call it in wrestling when you learn to fall safely inside the ring—was one of the most intense moments I’ve ever experienced. It was just a wave of emotion I’d never felt before.
Now, my first time in the ring in front of a live audience—that was a whole different story. It was in my hometown, Dubbo, in front of family and friends. That was off the charts. “Electrifying” is the perfect word.
Q: Let’s talk about The Tuckman- how did that character come to life?
A: Well, I kind of love The Tuckman because he is just me turned up to 1000. I don’t think there’s anything you see about The Tuckman that’s really anything or not a lived experience that I’ve had in my life. When I first started wrestling, The Tuckman was this beer-drinking, kind of stupid university dropout. And that was actually me in university.
The Tuckman is a little bit different now. He doesn’t drink as many beers, he’s grown out the mullet, and he refers to himself as “Australia’s Mullet.” And that’s who I would say more is me today—just a young Aussie having a go, trying to work his hardest and doing it with a smile on his face.
Q: You’ve built a solid fanbase- what do you think it is about your energy that makes people want to cheer for you?
A: I think that everyone knows a Tuckman in their life. I think that I remind people of someone they know, someone they’ve met, and I hope that that is a positive thing.
They see me and I remind them of another young Aussie larrikin having a go in their life, just trying to do good in the world and chase their dreams. And I think that resonates with people on a different level because, you know, this isn’t just some crazy goofy character.
Q: You grew up in Dubbo, and I can’t imagine there’s much of a wrestling scene out there. Do you think being from a regional town made you hustle harder?
A: I definitely think that, you know, anyone who comes from the country, who has to leave and pursue anything, generally has a better work ethic than the normal person. People from the country have experienced more hardship in certain ways because we don’t have everything at our fingertips.
I think that a lot of the lived experiences—just being in a country town, especially as a wrestling fan—we just don’t have access to it as much. So, to be able to be a part of something that goes to regional towns and provides live entertainment for, you know, kids who don’t get to see this kind of stuff—I understand the importance and the value that that has.
Q: WWE is the big goal, right? What’s your plan to get there, and how hard is it for an Australian to break through?
A: Look, yes, WWE is the big goal. Australians in recent years have actually taken on WWE by the horns. Rhea Ripley—right now she’s one of the top wrestlers in the company. So is Grayson Waller.
There are some in the development program—Delta, I actually wrestled her in 2023—now she’s in the WWE. And to see those guys over there is majorly inspiring because they all got signed through different avenues.
There’s so many different ways to get there, but the plan for me right now is to keep growing my social media, keep traveling so people keep hearing my name, and just keep getting better.
Q: If you could go back and talk to your uni-self sitting in a lecture, what would you say to him?
A: Oh mate, put the pen and paper down. You’re not too good with it. Put the beers down, put the Hungry Jacks down, get in the gym, start training—because, you know, I’m meant to be doing something creative. I should be doing something athletic.
I’ve got this whole world of potential, and I’m sitting in a lecture hall because someone at school told me that I should be doing that. Yeah, just go and get after it. Go look for something that sets your heart on fire.
Catch the Tuckman live in action with Slam Pro League at the UC Refectory on May 31st. Grab your tickets here!
Photo by Sheridan Munro