HE'S a 27 stone, 6ft 7in tall monster who has just hit Southampton.

World wrestling champion Earthquake is in town and as I found out, he means business.

The former World Wrestling Federation (WWF) tag team champion, with his ex-partner Typhoon, has fought legendary wrestlers Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker in front of audiences of 70,000.

Now he has brought his famous 'vertical splash down' to Southampton.

And his timing couldn't be better.

"This is my first time in Southampton. It's a beautiful city and I'm looking to put on a good match", said the ex-Sumo champion and father-of-three.

"I can promise people are going to be entertained. They're going to be cheering and having a lot of fun and I can guarantee that by the end someone will feel my famous earthquake.

"It's basically running at the ropes and jumping onto the opponents' chest", said the star from Orlando, Florida.

"And at 380 pounds they don't get up."

His huge success has been down to his enormous frame, but after years on bingeing on burgers and fries, he's been forced to go on a diet.

"Three years ago I was terrible - I used to weigh 470lbs because I ate loads of hamburgers and fries but now I eat healthier foods.

"My wife is Filipina so we eat rice and not much meat and gravy.

"But since I've been in the UK I've been pretty big on chicken kebabs."

Earthquake will be joined by 11 other wrestling stars, including the sensational Shooting Star at Southampton Guildhall on February 24 for the end of the Wrestling Alliance three-week tour.

The promoters promise solo and tag-team action plus the popular 'rumble' finale when two wrestlers start in the ring and a different wrestler joins the action every minute.

Tickets are on sale at the Guild-hall Box Office priced £10 ringside, £8 adults, £6 children and OAPs.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.