Roy Bevis

Roy Bevis
Ring name(s)	Roy Knight The Zebra Kid Brian Knight
Billed height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Billed weight	210 lb (102 kg)
Born	January 1, 1982 (1982-01-01) Norwich, Norfolk
Trained by	Ricky Knight
Debut	1995

Roy Bevis, better known by his ring name Zebra Kid is a British professional wrestler. Bevis is the son of the well-known wrestler-turned-promoter, Ricky Knight. Bevis often wrestled alongside his father in his promotions as Roy Knight.

Professional wrestling career

At the age of 13 Bevis made his debut in Lingwood in Norfolk, partnering the Canary Kid in a tag-team match against Jamie Lee and the Brixton Brawler.

Since then, Zebra Kid has been faced with many challengers, including the likes of Robbie Brookside, Doug Williams and his own father throughout many independent promotions in the United Kingdom.

Zebra Kid has not limited his career to the UK either, making appearances in the United States in 2002 for the now defunct Xtreme Pro Wrestling against Jonny Storm, Joey Matthews and Jerry Lynn.

The Zebra Kid's most high profile work in the UK was for the Frontier Wrestling Alliance, he would make his debut in 2002 winning a four-way match against Paul Trevell, Scotty Rock, and Mark Sloan at FWA Carpe Diem for an FWA All-England title match a few weeks later, a title he would go on to win. Throughout 2002 and 2003, Zebra Kid would trade FWA's All-England title back and forth with many of FWA's stars, but when Zebra Kid vacated the belt due to injury on October 18, 2003, Hade Vansen would jump right in to win a provisional championship match against Flash Barker. On March 26, 2004, Zebra Kid would make his return in a last effort to win back the title in an Undisputed FWA All England Championship match, but Vasen would walked out of this match still the champion.

At FWA Carpe Diem in June 2004, Doug Williams defeated Zebra Kid when 'Rowdy' Ricky Knight turned on The Donkey Boy. This led to a long lasting feud between this father and son which involved many of Bevis family members, all fueled by Zebra Kid decision to wrestled full time for the FWA instead of his father's promotion, World Association of Wrestling.

In September 2004 this story came to an ebrupt end when Bevis was jailed for nine months for drink-driving and for dangerous driving. After this spell in prison, promoters the Frontier Wrestling Alliance released a statement welcoming him back, saying: "While the FWA does not condone Roy's actions, we recognise that he has now served his sentence."

During Frontiers of Honor, a cross-promotional show between FWA and Ring of Honor in the United Kingdom, Samoa Joe their ROH Champion faced The Zebra Kid in a match that would make the belt a "World Title" as it was being defending outside the United States.

After this Zebra Kid would once again wrestle more for independent promotions in the United Kingdom, including his father's WAW, under the names Roy Knight, and Brian Knight. On February 4, 2006 at Real Deal Wrestling's King Of The Castle event, Zebra Kid would make it to the tournament final to defeat Ricky Knight and win RDW Heavyweight Championship. However, not long after this WAW announced on their forum that Roy Bevis would be taking a break from wrestling, to sort out some health and personal issues.

Zebra Kid made a triumphant return to the ring in 2007. In 2008 he went on to defeat Erik Isaksen (at The Talk, Norwich) to win become the first British wrestler to hold the WAW World Heavyweight Championship. Zebra Kid would go on to make many successful title defences against; Christian Eckstein, Danny Collins, Martin Stone and Scott Fusion. In October 2010, Zebra Kid lost the WAW World Heavyweight Championship to Scott Fusion at WAW's annual spectacular; October OutRage 12. Fusion is the 2nd British wrestler to hold the title.

On November 19, 2010 at a WAW show in Norwich; Zebra Kid regained the WAW World Heavyweight Championship in a hardcore rules tag team match. The match featured Scott Fusion teaming with Karl Krammer against The Zebra Kid and his father, Ricky Knight. The rules situated that if Knight or Zebra Kid pinned either Fusion or Krammer, then Zebra Kid would regain the title. Knight pinned Krammer for the victory and Zebra Kid regained the title.

Personal life and controversy

Roy Bevis enjoys football and would later become a striker for Thetford Town F.C..

In September 2004 Bevis was jailed for nine months for drunk driving.

Bevis admitted "losing the plot" on a night out in The Globe pub, in Lowestoft, Suffolk, in June 2005. when he threw a beer bottle across a pub, hitting a drinker in the head, then drew a 12 inch Gurkha knife. He then stabbed the knife into the bar and tried to knock down a door to get into a back room where staff were hiding. He attacked the door with such force he injured his shoulder, and when police arrived he assaulted a police officer, when he lashed out and swung an arm at them, giving one officer a bloody nose while being arrested.

Bevis appeared before magistrates to admit to these offences, and while waiting to be sentenced on this charge, Lowestoft magistrates took an unusual step of granting Bevis a special bail condition that allowed him to wrestle in Cyprus, as well as fulfilling bookings in France.

But before the sentencing, another spot of thuggery occurred on the football pitch when Bevis knocked out Cambridge football referee Andrew Chapman after he sent him off for fighting during a Thetford Town FC game against Stowmarket Town in the Ridgeons League First Division. Bevis was sent off in the second half for kicking an opposition defender lying on the floor but then lashed out at the referee who "crumpled to the ground".

After the incident Thetford chairman Michael Bailey said: "I believe he will no longer play football again. He certainly won't play for Thetford again." Later, Bob Richards, secretary of Thetford Town FC, said: "Roy Bevis no longer plays for the club or is involved with the club in any way. When we signed him this summer he turned up to training and appeared to be as good as gold, but this was a moment of madness that we will not tolerate."

Bevis would appear in court again. In March 2010 it was reported in the Norwich Evening News that he escaped a further prison sentence for two separate offences. In May 2009 Bevis was arrested after he, along with his friend Tony Evans, wrecked a pub in the Heartsease area of Norwich. According to prosecutor William Carter, pool cues were used to cause damage, and one regular was left unconscious.

He said: “It was just after 5.30pm. Evans came into the bar and said 'Who's the hardest? I'm the hardest in Heartsease'.

“Bevis was outside the pub and when he was joined by Evans, both returned to the pub, and smashed pub windows, throwing glasses and chairs.

“One regular was attacked and left unconscious. Bevis picked up a pool cue and hit a stranger in the pub on the head. The pool cue broke and narrowly missed a child. Bevis also punched another man.

“Evans hit a man with a chair and picked up and threw a chair towards the bar and threw a glass behind the bar. The pub manageress said it was like a scene from the Wild West. They left the pub pretty wrecked and caused £300 damage.”

Just six months later, in November 2009, Bevis, along with Sonny Pryatt and Anton Willis, was involved in a fight over drugs in Norwich. The victim was hit over the head with a piece of tarmac and almost died as a result of his injuries.

Prosecutor William Carter said: “They met drug dealer, Abduramane Jalo, 22, and there was an argument over price and Pyatt said 'If you keep playing with me, I'm going to stab you'.

“Pyatt punched Mr Jalo and his friends Willis and Bevis attacked Mr Jalo and his friend Nathan Carthy.

“Bevis pleaded guilty to picking up a piece of tarmac, the size of an A4 piece of paper and four inches thick.

“Jalo was hit on the head by that and was in intensive care for three days. His nose was broken and his right eye socket fractured. His shoulder was also dislocated when he fell.”

Bevis, who along with his co-defendants spent four months in prison on remand following this incident, was given a twelve-month sentence suspended for two years, as well as an eighteen-month community order.

The reaction of Bevis' family and friends, upon hearing this sentence, drew a great deal of controversy when they applauded the decision in the court room. Upon hearing this reaction court recorder Jonathan Ferris said: “This is not Celebrity Squares. It's not a day out for you, as there are very important matters being discussed here, so show more respect.”

Bevis' father, via the WAW Fan Forum, issued the following statement;

"Due to the story written by the EEN in relation to my son Roy's case I feel a response is needed to clarify what actually happened and the facts of the case.

In the case of the Public house incident my son went in there at 5pm with other members of our family and friends, things were said one member who was rightly shown the door, Roy and others were served drinks, some locals took it upon themselves to administer their own form of justice resulting in a girl getting hit with a pool cue, my other son Zak receiving a broken nose, and the man who got ejected gaining a deep cut to his head. In seeing all this Roy rightly or wrongly defended himself and his kin with the same force being dished out. Roy has from the outset admitted what he did was wrong and has always pleaded guilty to it. Two of my other children were also arrested, one was dealt no further action, one was charged but the charges were dropped at a later date. We as a family believe what happened that day was wrong but also believe guilty parties of both sides should have been brought to justice, As agreed in court, three bad injuries were inflicted in my families group, they did not do them, themselves.

In the case of the drugs related Case, Roy was out in the city but WAS NOT LOOKING FOR DRUGS, as stated in the EEN, his friend approached a dealer and went down an alleyway. Roy stayed on the main road, He heard a cry for help, went down there, and was hit by a bit of tarmac, which broke part of his hand, he threw it back seriously injuring the man who threw it at him, As pointed out in court two feet higher and Roy would have been the victim and the other man in the dock. Again this was not a one way fight admitted in court, the man was a drug dealer who himself resorted to fighting.

Roy again held his hands up admitted guilt, once again in our opinion both sided should have been in the dock, we again make no excuses for Roy's behaviour other than if the object had not been thrown at him it might not be in the equation.

As for the applause for Roy it was in our opinion for the judge who came with an open mind actually took into account social inquiry reports, references and in fact dealt a very good sentence as we feel all the conditions which go with Roy's suspended sentence will benefit him, his family and society in the long run. Yes Roy could have gone to prison came out and still had the same problems

We feel front page coverage by the EEN was way over the top and we know people were convicted in the same courthouse of crimes more worthy of front page coverage."

This marked a change in attitude by Bevis & his father to the Eastern Evening News, which had previously been supportive of the family during other controversies. Bevis has since reoffened, and has been arrested on further assault charges.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Zebra Crossing (Diving elbow drop) - as Zebra Kid

• Managers
  • Sweet Saraya
  • Ricky Knight

Championships and accomplishments

• Frontier Wrestling Alliance

• FWA All-England Champion (2 times)

• Premier Wrestling Federation

• PWF Light-Heavyweight Champion (1 time)

• Real Deal Wrestling

• RDW Heavyweight Champion (1time)

• The Wrestling Alliance

• TWA British Tag Team Champion (with Ricky Knight) (1 time)

• World Association of Wrestling

• WAW World Heavyweight Champion (2 times, Current)
• WAW British Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
• WAW European Champion (1 time first)
• WAW British Cruiserweight Champion (1 time)
• WAW British Tag Team Champion (with Hot Stuff (formerly Canary Kid)) (1 time)

External links

• "Wrestler Roy faces ban" by Tom Hatten from the Sunday Mirror (Aug 21, 2005)
• "Ref-attack wrestler facing jail for knife threat" from CEN News City Edition (26 August 2005)
• "Norwich Wrestler spared jail after wrecking pub" by David Bale, Norwich Evening News, March 13, 2010