ESPN profiles David Arquette’s return to pro wrestling, Bloody return in Los Angeles

ESPN.com is featuring a story about David Arquette returning to the world of pro wrestling on the independent scene in recent weeks, including this past weekend in Los Angeles.

The article notes Arquette’s first involvement with wrestling for the “Ready to Rumble” WCW-themed movie released back in 2000. Promotion for the film would then see Arquette get involved in WCW storylines on TV and become the WCW World Champion.

Arquette insists it isn’t a publicity stunt and the bumps are very real.

“This time it’s far more intense, far more grueling. I’m 47 now. The body doesn’t react the same way as when you were younger. My first match with [RJ City] was just brutal. You get a whole new respect when you start participating in it and you really find out how real, honest, and complicated it is. It’s not a publicity stunt, that’s for sure. It’s too painful for that. It’s something that’s been gnawing at me for years.”

Arquette also talks about the day he was informed he would become WCW Champion, something he was informed about backstage by Diamond Dallas Page.

“I thought it was a bit of a joke and he was like, ‘No, I’m serious.’ I think [my] response was, ‘That’s a terrible idea. No, we can’t do that,’ but then they explained the storyline that I wasn’t pinning a wrestler, I was pinning Eric Bischoff.”

Arquette made headlines this past weekend and was even trending on Twitter at one point after highlights of a death match with Nick Gage went viral at the Joey Janela LA Confidential event, which streamed live on FITE.tv.

As you can see in the clip below, Arquette suffers a serious cut to his neck, looks to completely stop the match and then decides to finish it off.