Roy Bevis

Infobox Wrestler|name=Roy Bevis


names=Roy Knight,
Zebra Kid,
Brian Knight
height= 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
weight= 210 lb (102 kg)
birth_date = 1982
death_date =
birth_place = Norwich, Norfolk
resides=
billed=
trainer= Ricky Knight
debut= 1995
retired=|

Roy Bevis is a British professional wrestler best known by his ring name The Zebra Kid. Bevis is the son of the well-known wrestler-turned-promoter "Rowdy" Ricky Knight, Bevis would often wrestled alongside his father in his promotions as Roy Knight.

Wrestling career

At the age of 13 Bevis made his debut in Lingwood in Norfolk, partnering the Canary Kid in a tag-team match against Jamie Lee and the Brixton Brawler.

Since then, Zebra Kid has been faced with many challengers, including the likes of Robbie Brookside, Doug Williams and his own father through out many independent promotions in the United Kingdom.

Zebra Kid has not limited his career to the UK either, making appearances in the United States in 2002 for the now defunct Xtreme Pro Wrestling against Jonny Storm, Joey Matthews and Jerry Lynn.

The Zebra Kid's most high profile work in the UK was for the Frontier Wrestling Alliance, he would make his debut in 2002 winning a four-way match against Paul Trevell, Scotty Rock, and Mark Sloan at "FWA Carpe Diem" for an FWA All-England title match a few weeks later, a title he would go on to win. Throughout 2002 and 2003, Zebra Kid would trade FWA's All-England title back and forth with many of FWA's stars, but when Zebra Kid vacated the belt due to injury on October 18, 2003, Hade Vansen would jump right in to win a provisional championship match against Flash Barker. On March 26, 2004, Zebra Kid would make his return in a last effort to win back the title in an Undisputed FWA All England Championship match, but Vasen would walked out of this match still the champion. At "FWA Carpe Diem" in June 2004, Doug Williams defeated Zebra Kid when Ricky Knight turned on The Zebra Kid. This led to a long lasting feud between this father and son which involved many of Bevis family members, all fueled by Zebra Kid decision to wrestled full time for the FWA instead of his father's promotion, World Association of Wrestling.

In September 2004 this story came to an ebrupt end when Bevis was jailed for nine months for drink-driving and for dangerous driving. After this spell in prison, promoters the Frontier Wrestling Alliance released a statement welcoming him back, saying: "While the FWA does not condone Roy's actions, we recognise that he has now served his sentence."

During "Frontiers of Honor", a cross-promotional show between FWA and Ring of Honor in the United Kingdom, Samoa Joe their ROH Champion faced The Zebra Kid in a match that would make the belt a "World Title" as it was being defending outside the United States.

After this Zebra Kid would once again wrestle more for independent promotions in the United Kingdom, including his father's WAW, under the names Roy Knight, and Brian Knight. On February 4, 2006 at Real Deal Wrestling's "King Of The Castle" event, The Zebra Kid would make it to the tournament final to defeat Ricky Knight and win RDW Heavyweight Championship. However, not long after this WAW announced on their forum that Roy Bevis would be taking a break from wrestling, to sort out some health and personal issues.

Personal life and controversy

Roy Bevis enjoys Football (soccer) and would later become a striker for Thetford Town Football Club.

In September 2004 Bevis was jailed for nine months for drink-driving and for dangerous driving.

Bevis admitted "losing the plot" on a night out in The Globe pub, in Lowestoft, Suffolk, in June 2005. when he threw a beer bottle across a pub, hitting a drinker in the head, then drew a 12 inch Gurkha knife. He then stabbed the knife into the bar and tried to knock down a door to get into a back room where staff were hiding. He attacked the door with such force he injured his shoulder, and when police arrived he assaulted a police officer, when lashed out and swung an arm at them, giving one officer a bloody nose while being arrested.

Bevis appeared before magistrates to admit to these offences, and while waiting to be sentenced on this charge, Lowestoft magistrates took an unusual step of granting Bevis a special bail condition that allowed him to wrestle in Cyprus, as well as fulfilling bookings in France.

But before the sentencing, another spot of thuggery accured on the football pitch when Bevis knocked out Cambridge football referee Andrew Chapman after he sent him off for fighting during a Thetford Town FC game against Stowmarket Town in the Ridgeons League First Division. Bevis was sent off in the second half for kicking an opposition defender lying on the floor but then lashed out at the referee who "crumpled to the ground".

After the incident Thetford chairman Michael Bailey said: "I believe he will no longer play football again. He certainly won't play for Thetford again." Later, Bob Richards, secretary of Thetford Town FC, said: "Roy Bevis no longer plays for the club or is involved with the club in any way. When we signed him this summer he turned up to training and appeared to be as good as gold, but this was a moment of madness that we will not tolerate."

Roy Bevis is currently playing for Sheringham Town and has returned to the ring having served 18 months of a 3 year sentence as reported in an interview with Norwich Evening News on 20th February 2008.

In wrestling

*Managers:*Sweet Saraya:*Ricky Knight

*Finishing and signature moves:*"Zebra Crossing" (Diving elbow drop) - as Zebra Kid

Championships and accomplishments

*Frontier Wrestling Alliance:*2-time FWA All-England Champion [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2002-07.html | title=Independent Wrestling Results - July 2002 | accessdate=2008-07-06|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com] cite web|url=http://www.titlehistories.com/X_Wrestling_Alliance.htm | title=X Wrestling Alliance Title Histories | accessdate=2008-07-11|publisher=titlehistories.com]

*Premier Wrestling Federation:*1-time PWF Light-Heavyweight Champion

*Real Deal Wrestling:*1-time RDW Heavyweight Champion

*The Wrestling Alliance:*1-time TWA British Tag Team Champion (with Ricky Knight)

*World Association of Wrestling:*1-time WAW British Heavyweight Champion [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2003-02.html | title=Independent Wrestling Results - February 2003 | accessdate=2008-07-05|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com] :*1-time WAW European Champion:*1-time WAW British Cruiserweight Champion:*1-time WAW British Tag Team Champion (with Hot Stuff [formerly Canary Kid] )

Notes

References

* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20050821/ai_n14922104 "Wrestler Roy faces ban" by Tom Hatten from the Sunday Mirror (Aug 21, 2005)]
* [http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/city/2005/08/26/68c0d273-012d-470c-9cea-40bc08bdc1e4.lpf "Ref-attack wrestler facing jail for knife threat" from CEN News City Edition (26 August 2005)]