Former Australian Pro-Wrestling Champ, the Punisher, plans to use his 35 years perfecting body-slams and choke-holds to win people for Christ.

The Punisher, alias Wayne Pickford, was commissioned as an evangelist by the Church Army last month at his home church, Dapto Anglican. 

"Using professional wrestling for evangelism is a big thing in the States," he says. "You put wrestling shows on and you get people who don't usually come in to church."

Evangelistic bouts in the US have involved some of the biggest names in the sport, including Sting and Shaun Michaels, who are both Christians.

Closer to home, Wayne Pickford has already organised one evangelistic wrestling bout at Plumpton.

About 400 people turned up to watch. Most had never been near a church before.

"The local church people felt comfortable bringing their non-Christian contacts. People just asked their neighbours, "We've got wrestling up the church. Do you want to come and watch?' Churches have to realise its becoming harder to attract people to church events."

Wayne admits he learnt a lot from this first evangelistic wrestling bout.

"It was just a wrestling show and a gospel message," he says.

Team up with the Punisher

Wayne is looking for other churches to partner with him in staging further bouts.

"Next time I want the wrestling to work like a modern day parable."

"Professional wrestling tells as story," Wayne explains. "It's like a modern theatre presentation about good and evil."

Wayne says his wrestling bouts will point to the cross as the ultimate thing in life.

"If you understand the cross you understand what good and evil is about," he says.

Bouts cost $2,000 to stage, mainly because insurance costs are steep. However Wayne says the general public is willing to pay to attend.

"It would be up to the local church whether they charge," he says. "People would still come even if they had to pay. It's good family entertainment - no sleaze like some other events."

Wayne, with the support of his home church, is already planning an upcoming bout at Dapto Leagues Club.

"It's waste of time if there is no follow up," he says. "So bouts must be linked up with a church."