A leading man possesses qualities that go beyond their standard acting skills – or in this case wrestling ability – which allows them to carry the weight of a narrative and making them pivotal to capturing an audience’s attention.

These traits can include charisma and presence, being able to convey a range of emotions and emotional depth and adaptability.

One man who possesses those traits within British Wrestling is the self-styled “Leading Man” Tony Wright and he is determined to finally become True Grit Wrestling’s leading man this Sunday at Redemption.

Charisma and presence are an immediate check with Wright. When he enters the room, he draws eyeballs and support immediately. Though he isn’t a physical spectacle in height or build, Wright has an innate appeal that can’t be taught.

The fact that he pairs this natural presence with an understanding of when to break out special ring attire for big matches and important moments means that Tony Wright comes across as a star in a way that some celebrated names in the sport are never able to grasp.

As for adaptability, in his time in True Grit, Wright has had to battle through multi-person matches, ladder matches and Rumbles to get to where he is today.

Whether it’s flying off the top of a ladder, busting out intricate offence to take out multiple opponents or having the athletic prowess and wrestling nous to endure a lengthy match like a Rumble, Tony Wright is comfortable in any situation.

The burgeoning star has also been able to demonstrate the emotional depth demanded of a leading man. Wright is often a cool, calm and collected wrestler, apt to have a bit of a joke and laugh when the occasion allows, but he’s also capable of showing a steely determination and fiery attitude when it’s called for.

The target of that fiery attitude in True Grit has been the reigning Pride Champion, Adam Bolt, who has escaped with the title through nefarious means on three separate occasions against Wright.

The fact that it is Bolt who Wright must overcome in his quest to become True Grit’s leading man is ironic given that, despite his means of doing so, Adam Bolt has perhaps the best case of anyone to truly be classed as the leading man of the Yorkshire promotion.

While the Men’s Championship has changed hands between Brady Phillips, Kemper and Riley Nova over the course of the last 15 months, one thing has remained a constant in True Grit – Adam Bolt as Pride Champion.

In the same way as Wright has displayed those traits needed to be considered a leading man, Adam Bolt has charisma and presence. It’s no coincidence that Bolt enters to the sound of Tom Zanetti’s Make It Look Good. If anyone has made True Grit look good, it’s Adam Bolt, who has elevated the Pride Championship to new heights through a number of fantastic matches.

The way in which Bolt has used his charisma and presence to carve out his own case to be True Grit’s leading man is different though. He hasn’t attempted to endear himself to the True Grit fans or rally them behind him. Instead he holds a disdain for them, as if breathing the same oxygen as them for any extended period is an insult.

He is arrogant, cocky and doesn’t care what anyone thinks. Adam Bolt embodies the notion that a man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the audience.

He’s also shown the adaptability to combat a host of would-be challengers to his belt in a variety of matches, both in match type and the in-ring style of his opposition.

And despite his outward show of cockiness and impenetrable bravado, Bolt has displayed his own emotional depth. That has come in the moments when the championship has almost fallen out of his clutches, causing panic, anger and fear.

Though Sunday’s Redemption show will be the fifth time Tony Wright and Adam Bolt have faced off against each other in a True Grit ring (Bolt beat Wright at True Grit Games 2024), it will be the fourth time they do so with title implications hanging over the bout.

Adam Bolt has indeed elevated the Pride Championship to new heights. He has held the title for over 15 months, dwarfing the reigns of all other current champions. And he’s done it all by bloody cheating and it’s Tony Wright who has been on the receiving end of those underhanded tactics more than anyone else.

At the 2025 True Grit Rumble, in a match famed for being played out in darkness and then the glow of mobile phone torches when the house lights malfunctioned, Adam Bolt faced Wright and former champion Priscilla.

Though all three wrestlers deservedly received plaudits for being able to carry out their match under those difficult circumstances, it was only through the intervention of Jackie T (Bolt’s hired security) who prevented Tony Wright from getting into the ring and breaking up the cover, that Adam Bolt was able to pin Priscilla to leave the Left Bank victorious.

When Bolt and Wright squared off a few months later at the Left Bank Lock-Up, it looked like Tony Wright had been able to overcome both Bolt and Jackie T’s villainous plans.

After repeated attempts at interfering in the contest, Ref Sandy ejected Jackie T from the ringside area and Wright landed a thunderous blow to Bolt with a superkick that should have resulted in a new champion being crowned.

However, Jackie T’s histrionics at ringside over being thrown out distracted Sandy for long enough to delay the pinfall count, meaning Bolt had the time to recover and kick out. To add insult to injury, Bolt then used his hairspray to incapacitate Wright and roll him up.

Furious at his dreams being dashed again through interference and cheating, Tony demanded one final shot at Adam Bolt and the Pride Championship. The match was set to headline Showtime Slam, True Grit’s annual Pride event, with Bolt defending the title in a ladder match.

Co-GM Ivy, a close personal friend of Bolt, added the stipulation that if Wright lost then he could never challenge for the Pride Championship again while Bolt was champion.

On a night that is meant to represent celebration, unity and equality, the main event was laced with venom.

Both men flew at each other from the opening bell and went to new levels of violence that neither had shown in the company beforehand.

Ladders were used to both maim the opposing man and as a device to reach the title in increasingly terrifying and impressive ways. As the violence ramped up, so did the crowd, who hung onto every blow whether in awe or from behind their hands in the same way you might observe an accident or horror movie.

This was further emphasised on commentary as “Magic” Mark Adams went from hitting his best Gary Neville impression following a Fame Asser from the top of the ladder into the ring from Tony, to exclaiming “what are they going to do now, I’m scared?” five minutes later.

There is a clear Shawn Michaels influence to Tony Wright’s wrestling and the Heartbreak Kid would’ve been proud of the spectacle that both men put on that night. It was a bonafide “Match of the Year” calibre epic and is the best ladder match that I’ve seen in years.

Due to the rules, Jackie T was a constant thorn in Tony’s side. Three times it felt like the challenger had sidelined Bolt’s lackey, first by superkicking him before the bell then later on turning the hairspray that had styled a thousand undeserved victories at his eyes.

On the third occasion, when Jackie T was sent crashing through a table from the top of the ladder, it felt like Tony Wright had finally turned the tide.

He superkicked Adam Bolt out of the sky, another nod to Shawn Michaels and that iconic moment against Shelton Benjamin, before crushing him into the canvas with a Pedigree.

Adam Bolt and Jackie T were done. As Tony climbed the ladder, as he stretched out to retrieve the belt, he must’ve felt the weight of over six months of frustration and anger washing away. As an award-winning actor going up to receive his Oscar, the adrenaline rush must’ve been euphoric.

His fingers brushed the strap of the Pride Championship he had yearned to hold and he would have been able to put that strap around his waist, if it hadn’t been for Ivy pulling him down from the ladder.

The match had been labelled as a one-on-one ladder match but Tony knew it was essentially a two-on-one because of the presence of Jackie T. He had accepted that would be the case. What he hadn’t counted on was Ivy, the co-GM of the promotion, effectively making it three-on-one.

As Wright voiced his displeasure with her, Adam Bolt snuck behind and delivered a low blow before the devilish pair handcuffed Wright to the ropes, allowing Bolt to casually claim his title.

Tony Wright hadn’t just lost. He hadn’t just been cheated out of the championship by an opponent. He hadn’t just been hoodwinked by a promotional power broker. He had forfeited his ability to challenge for the title again while it was held by Adam Bolt.

Tony Wright exited stage left and wasn’t seen again in True Grit in 2025.

That felt like the end of Tony Wright’s story in True Grit Wrestling. He hadn’t been the leading man. He’d been a supporting actor – a damn fine one – unable to take his spot in the limelight.

That changed when Wright returned in the True Grit Rumble in January, entering at the #10 spot, going on to win the match and earn a shot at any title of his choosing.

Like his three championship attempts in the company, it felt like the deck was stacked against Tony Wright. He had to contend with perhaps the only other man who has more disdain for him than Adam Bolt, the monstrous Isaac North, before facing an alliance of convenience between Nathan Black and Charles Crowley in the final throes of the match.

As the fans called his name to the tune of Daddy Cool, Tony Wright was able to dump Black out to be left as the last wrestler standing and nobody needed any hints for where his attention would immediately turn.

Rumble rules trump all. It’s just how it works. So, yes, Tony Wright did invoke his right to face Adam Bolt one final time for the Pride Championship.

On Sunday at Redemption, Tony Wright takes his make-or-break audition to land the role he wants more than any other. With Jackie T locked in a shark cage, Tony Wright looks to dethrone Adam Bolt and become True Grit Pride Champion.

On Sunday at Redemption, we find out who the real leading man of True Grit Wrestling is.

– James Woodgate

Image Credits: True Grit Wrestling, @Elliottt93