El Ligero versus Cruz. Picture: CONTRIBUTED

Is wrestling still a sport, a modern-day gladiatorial arena only with more Lycra or just entertaining fakery?

Shinya Ishikawa. Picture: CONTRIBUTED

Looking at the size of this lot I think it’s safer to let them answer... and then agree. What I do know is it’s always fun to watch and tonight sounds no exception.

One of international wrestling’s most lethal fighters is coming to Britain to take on our home talent.

Drop-kick specialist Shinya Ishikawa joins the line-up at the All Star American Super Slam Wrestling show at Ipswich’s Corn Exchange.

Big Japan Wrestling’s highest-rated star will be coming from Germany on the latest leg of an extended world tour after quickly making an impression following his professional debut in March 2008.

Standing 1.8 metres tall and weighing 82 kilos, the 28 year-old from Ehime had made progress unheard of in Japanese wrestling in recent times. He is equally well-read out of the ring, having gained a degree in commerce at Hitosubashi University before starting to wrestle.

There is no shortage of top home talent standing in Ishikawa’s way, all aiming to keep out of the way of his deadly two-footed strikes.

Also on the bill are South London-born favourite and former European title holder James Mason, Cheshire-based reigning Superslam Championship holder “Xtreme” Dean Allmark and Marty Scurll, the bustling Cambridge-based wrestler who recently took time out of the ring to feature on the prime-time Saturday night ITV1 dating show Take Me Out hosted by Paddy McGuinness.

Film and TV star Mark Sealey, alias wrestling’s mighty midget “Little Legs”, will also be in action.

Towering at just 3ft 6in over the canvas he comes from very much the opposite end of the weight scale.

A firm favourite with the crowds, the Oxford Wrestler was in the latest Harry Potter films and over the festive period was an elf in Channel 4 show Christmas House presented by Vernon Kay.

Grapple fans can also look forward to seeing colourful tag team combination Bud and Bexx, the Football Hooligans along with high-flying masked Mexican style luchador El Ligero, abrasive self-styled prima donna Nathan Cruz and 6ft 4in, 20 stone powerhouse Colossus Kennedy.

Expect two hours of non-stop thrills and spills with the chance to meet the stars backstage afterwards.