Wrestler looks forward to UK homecoming

22 August 2025

Neve Gordon-Farleigh,BBC News, Norfolkand

Rob Butler,BBC News, Norfolk

Kip Sabian made his professional debut at the age of 18

All Elite Wrestling Kip Sabian with blonde hair in a wrestling ring. — Kip Sabian made his professional debut at the age of 18

A wrestler who has travelled the world during his career says performing in his home country in his biggest match yet is "a great story".

Simon Kippen, who wrestles as Kip Sabian and is from Gorleston, Norfolk, is due to take part in the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) Forbidden Door event on Sunday at London's O2 Arena.

He and partner Killswitch are due to face Adam Copeland and Christian Cage is a tag-team match.

"I feel like now my time is starting to come. I have put in the work," he said.

"People refer to it as paying your dues. I think I have paid a lot of dues."

Now 33, Kippen made his professional debut at 18 in 2010, in 2019 he won the first-ever singles match in AEW.

Despite wrestling taking him across the world, he said it had been the home matches, including performing at Wembley, that had been a "dream come true".

He said taking part in the biggest match of his career was made even more special by the ringside support he would have, including from his brother Ben, 28, who suffered a cardiac arrest last year.

Ben Kippen has recovered after his cardiac arrest in Gorleston last year

Kip Sabian Ben Kippen lies in a hospital bed. A blonde woman and a man in a beanie hat are pictured with him. All are smiling. — Ben Kippen has recovered after his cardiac arrest in Gorleston last year

"The last thing you want to hear is your younger brother, who you are very protective of your entire life, has had a cardiac arrest," said Kippen.

After going into cardiac arrest, he was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation by a member of the public.

"Thankfully, after the recovery that he went through he is back to full health... he lives in London, so for him to be there to see this match is almost me doing it for him."

Sabian started his career with Brad Slayer

Rob Butler/BBC Kip Sabian, who has blonde hair and is bare-chested, stands with his arm round the shoulder of fellow wrestler Brad Slayer, who is wearing a black leather vest. They are in front of a door. — Sabian started his career with Brad Slayer

On his success, he said: "I feel like it's something I have worked hard for especially when I go back to the Norfolk days training with the Knight family, training with World Association of Wrestling (WAW).

"To now go into having a tag match against probably the best known tag team especially for my generation... it's a great story to be doing the biggest match of my career in England."

He also praised former tag-team partner Brad Slayer, saying: "I feel like I'm doing it for the both of us."

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