THESE knockout identical twins are in a class of their own. By day
the brunettes help teach children at a primary school.
But when the bell goes Lucy and Kelly Knott swap it for another
bell...in the wrestling ring. Then the demure 8st 7lb girls turn
into their fierce alter-egos – the Blossom Twins, former co-world
professional wrestling champions.
Although they are far from the Giant Haystacks image of a wrestler,
the 24-year-olds, known as Holly and Hannah in the ring, are a
force to be reckoned with, fighting as a tag team in which they
take it in turns to take on their opponents.
Fast becoming superstars in America where they have hundreds of
thousands of fans, they fight in skimpy Union Jack kit and are
dubbed “the sweethearts of the UK”.
The girls discovered their passion at the age of 12 and have been
wrestling professionally since they were 16.
Kelly said: “We used to love watching wrestling with our brother
and we decided it was what we wanted to do. Since then we have
lived and breathed wrestling.”
They make no secret of their other career at their former primary
school, St Winifred’s RC in Stockport, Greater Manchester, where
they are teaching assistants. Lucy said: “We’re doing something
exciting and people love that. It’s put the school on the map.”
In fact, they are not the first famous faces to emerge from St
Winifreds. In 1980, the school choir hit No 1 with the single
There’s No One Quite Like Grandma.
Back in the ring, Lucy said being a twin was a big help. “We’re
definitely at an advantage as a tag team. Knowing Kelly is nearby
makes me feel better when I step into the ring. We know each other
inside out. We’re on the same page. It helps when we face opponents
that we know what the other has planned.”
Kelly added: “Some people have been doing it for a lot longer but
they don’t have the bond that we have. We still have a long way to
go in our wrestling careers but I like to think people see us as a
threat.”
The twins developed their skills with Ohio Valley Wrestling
promoters in the US and Kelly is engaged to an Ohio Valley referee,
which she describes as the “perfect relationship”. She said: “He
completely understands what I do. Me and Lucy are both really
girly. When we go out wearing dresses and make-up, people are
amazed when they find out we’re wrestlers.”
The twins enter the ring to their favourite tunes Bring It All
Back, by S Club 7, and How We Do (Party) by Rita Ora and hand out
cupcakes to fans. “When we first went to America we wanted to do
something a bit different,” Lucy said. “We love baking so this was
perfect. Now we do it all the time.”
Now the twins are trying to boost their popularity on this side of
the pond by appearing on TNA British Boot Camp, where they will
compete for a place as part of the Total Nonstop Action wrestling
team. Lucy said: “Boot Camp is the chance of a lifetime. Growing up
we were huge fans of the Hardy Boyz (tag team brothers Matt and
Jeff Hardy) and got to meet Jeff as part of the show. It put into
perspective how far we’ve come.”
