British wrestler Nathan Cruz wants full-time deal with WWE

Hull-born wrestler Nathan Cruz is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Irish stars Sheamus and Finn Balor and Newcastle native Neville and land a permanent contract with WWE.

Cruz, 26, wrestled on a recent episode of WWE NXT - a losing effort to Elias Samson - having first competed for the company in a non-televised bout against The Usos in Liverpool in November 2011.

And the Englishman is hoping that 'keeping his head down' will secure him a WWE deal - and a main-roster match against NXT Tag Team Champion, and his close friend, Dash Wilder.

"The whole reason I got into professional wrestling was because I wanted to work in WWE," Cruz told Sky Sports, ahead of his appearance for British promotion NORTH Wrestling on Saturday night.

"That is the end goal and since I tried out for them initially it has been a case of hearing: 'Just keep on doing what you're doing'.

"They were more than happy to give me a match on NXT and we had another conversation there, so for the time being it's a case of keeping my head down, working hard, priding myself on being a professional and raising my profile all over the world.

"I worked with Dash a ton when he was wrestling in Britain and we often spoke about how it would be a dream come true if we could have a singles contest against each other in WWE.

"As Dash and I are so close, I can also go to him for advice, while I think The Revival, his tag team with Scott Dawson, has revived the tag-team division - when I watch, them even I pick things up."

We have a great history of chain or hold-for-hold wrestling [linking moves together] and as long as you don’t stray too far from that, that’s what will appeal to WWE – they can’t find that in the United States and although there are styles of it in Japan, it’s never as authentic as what we provide.

Cruz, the reigning Undisputed Champion at Hull-based company New Generation Wrestling, was impressed by the family feel in the NXT locker room and thinks the show, which focuses on in-ring action, has been a real boost for independent wrestlers.

"There is commitment and hard work by everyone - Triple H, for example, is so hands on with everybody - while everyone is so polite," Cruz said of NXT.

"It can be a bit of a daunting experience when you go to a wrestling promotion for the first time, especially one as big as NXT, but they were so welcoming and treated me so well - you can see that everybody gets along and wants each other to do well.

"I think WWE's outlook used to be to look at a wide range of athletes from all different walks of life to try and fill a spot they had an idea for.

"Now I believe they are looking for people who have created a spot for themselves on the independent scene and who can bring a viewership with them.

"NXT has opened doors and created opportunities that may not have been there before."

Cruz describes himself as a "through and through sports entertainer" and "brash character", with charismatic six-time world champion in WWE, Chris Jericho, one of his wrestling idols.

"Jericho was a huge influence on me and my persona - but someone who falls under the radar for how incredibly talented he was is Dean Malenko," said the Brit.

"When I got involved in wrestling and studied it a bit more as opposed to watching it as a fan, he was someone I instantly became enamoured with. I still tape and study a lot of his matches.

"In the modern era, there is a wrestler in the UK called Rampage Brown, from Leeds, who took me under his wing about six years ago and taught me so much - he was in WWE development for a while and, in my mind, he is a modern-day great."

You work for various audiences. If I am doing a children’s birthday party then I may not go in with as much aggression as I would for an all-adult audience. In that sense, it’s much like the theatre – if you went to see a Shakespearean play it would be very different to the Christmas pantomime!

Cruz's real surname is Irwin, so how did he get his wrestling one?

"There is a professional wrestler in the UK called Martin Kirby and once upon a time he thought I shared a resemblance to Tom Cruise," he added. "I've never seen it myself!

"At the time I was looking for a new last name and another wrester, El Ligero, said: 'Actually, Cruise would be really good'.

"A wrestling promoter in Birmingham said he liked it but that I should spell it with a zed as Taio Cruz has just blown up. Since then it has just stuck!"

Cruz will be in action for NORTH Wrestling's show at The Riverside in Newcastle on Saturday night. Head to www.northwrestling.co.uk for news and ticket information.

Getting to know Nathan Cruz

Favourite food: Steak
Favourite film: Pain and Gain
Favourite TV show: Batman: The Animated Series

Dream job if not a wrestler: Sitcom writer
Hero: Arnold Schwarzenegger.
What would you take to a desert island: A full, deep freezer of food

Favourite word: Capricious
Celebrity crush: Scarlett Johansson
Dream dinner party guests: Stephen Fry, Morgan Freeman, Ric Flair