Local wrestler to hang up gloves after 17 years
As Payne transitions to boxing, he views it as a way to stay active rather than focusing on wins and losses.
After 17 years in the ring, 34-year-old wrestler Hector Payne is embarking on a retirement tour set to conclude on May 31, 2025.
Reflecting on his decision to step away from wrestling, Payne cited the physical toll the sport has taken on his body and the feeling that he has accomplished all he set out to do.
“The mental and physical strain has been too much,” Payne said.
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“That’s why I’ve started leaning more into boxing, it’s less strenuous.”
Over his career, Payne has endured numerous injuries, including two knee surgeries, two broken ankles (twice each), a broken arm, and significant damage to his hands, especially his right.
Among the highlights of his career, Payne recalled his toughest match, a barbed wire match in Brakpan against an opponent known as Jackal.
Payne’s journey into wrestling began with a childhood fascination with wrestlers like The Undertaker and Goldust.
His passion led him to amateur wrestling and eventually to professional wrestling, where mentors encouraged him to pursue the sport seriously.
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“Wrestling is pre-planned, but it’s not fake,” Payne said.
“I’ve been hit with keyboards, guitars, and fallen off ladders. That’s real, it can’t be faked.”
He started at South African Pro-Wrestling (SAPW), where he became a partner, promoted shows, and achieved his career highlight by winning the SAPW Hardcore Championship.
Payne later joined Heartland Wrestling Association (HWA) and claimed the HWA Heavyweight Championship.
One of the most rewarding aspects of his career was touring the country.
“We went everywhere – Cape Town, Durban, and Limpopo. It was amazing, but it meant a lot of time away from home, missing birthdays and anniversaries.
“Still, being on the road was so much fun,” he reminisced.
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As Payne transitions to boxing, he views it as a way to stay active rather than focusing on wins and losses.
“I just can’t sit at home and do nothing. The plan is to get others involved and explore the boxing world, even if I don’t do it for long.”
Payne’s farewell tour serves as a celebration of a storied career filled with resilience, triumphs, and a love for the sport that defined much of his life.
