'Ballet' grappler Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke says wrestling is like "ballet".

The 56-year-old actor - who was once a professional boxer - underwent pro-wrestling training for his part in new movie 'The Wrestler' and now has more admiration for the stars of the sport.

He said: "It's choreographed like a ballet. I have respect for them now because I don't compare it to boxing, it's a totally different arena. It's something by itself that you can't define. Almost like circus."

Mickey reveals he initially thought wrestling was more about entertainment than sport, but soon realised it can be just as vicious as boxing.

He explained: "It's a sport, because yes, you do get hurt, and you get hurt because you throw yourself around for the audience. But when you land, you really get f***ed up. By the time wrestlers are in their late 30s or 40s, most of them are half-crippled.

"I met so many wrestlers in wheelchairs or paralysed because they do it for 15 years; they kill themselves for the fans. They did it for the love, for the glory."

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