PLOT twist! Coronation Street icon Les Battersby has signed for pro wrestling.
Soap opera fans responded with "If only my nan was still around" after hearing the cult character – played by 70-year-old Bruce Jones – will fight in February.
Sovereign Pro Wrestling insisted "this is not a drill, this is not a parody" as they announced the on-screen taxi driver will swap the rink for the ring.
One viewer responded, "WTF is this?" and another called the fight: "The thing you never knew you wanted in life. But now desperately need."
Battersby was in Corrie from 1997-2008 – famous for his frank opinions and love of rock band Status Quo.
Now he will be 'shockin' all over the world' if he grapples as planned at the Trinity Sports Centre in Manchester.
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Jones himself confirmed the bout and organisers SOVPRO stated: "From the infamous cobbles of Weatherfield, The Champion of the Rovers Return, THE Les Battersby makes his SOVPRO debut on Feb 18th."
Stunned as they are to hear of his career change, soap buffs pounced on his name as a clue.
One wrote: "They don't call him Les BATTERSby for no reason."
The character was also part of the "family from hell" that managed to alienate some Corrie fans.
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So perhaps it's only right he'll be getting to grips with a tough new lifestyle as he gets in shape for his bout in three months' time.
One fan referenced another legend of the show when he asked: "Who will he be facing in that most dangerous of matches, the Coronation Street Fight? My money is on Fred Elliott. "
Unfortunately, even though Battersby's fight was announced just after Halloween, there's not a ghost of a chance of that.
Fred was played by John Savident – now 85 – and, even more importantly, the popular character died on screen in 2006.
Nonetheless, one fan claimed seeing Battersby fight was on their "bucket list" and another posted: "Might fly home again for this one."
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