Peter Wright says his rivalry with Michael van Gerwen is like Ultimate Warrior v Hulk Hogan

Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright has compared his rivalry with Michael van Gerwen to the legendary WWE wrestlers Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan.

Live Premier League Darts

The flamboyant Wright earned a draw against world No 1 in last week’s Premier League leg in Exeter in a heated match that escalated into a war of words when Van Gerwen accused him of unprofessionalism.

But after patching up their differences in a UK Open final that Van Gerwen won at the weekend, Wright insists their tongue-in-cheek feud is inspired by the 1980s wrestling greats.

“Many years ago, the Ultimate Warrior was my favourite wrestler,” he told Sky Sports. “I loved his colours, and how the crowd loved him.

“Whenever I watch sport or television, I always like the colourful characters with personalities.

“I like how the wrestlers go on TV and wind up their opponents. I’ve always said we should go down that route.

“Instead of saying ‘he’s really good, he’s really nice’ let’s wind each other up and make this entertainment. I’d rather say ‘I’m going to rip his head off!’ That would be great for darts.”

I like how the wrestlers go on TV and wind up their opponents. I’ve always said we should go down that route.

So if Wright is influenced by the Ultimate Warrior, does that mean Van Gerwen is his Hulk Hogan? Wright insists that, like the wrestlers, their on-screen behaviour doesn’t mirror their genuine relationship.

“You leave it all behind up on that stage,” he said. The game is finished, so just forget about it.

“We’re fine, we’re professional sportsmen. That’s professional, not unprofessional!

“Michael was frustrated with the way he was playing. He wanted to smash me, like he’s smashed everyone else, but he lost two points to Adrian Lewis the week before and wasn’t beating me.”

Wright believes that the action at the oche could learn a thing or two from the showmanship and razzmatazz of the WWE’s spandex-clad entertainers.

“Like wrestling, people love watching darts,” he said. “They are entertained by us up on the stage but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s who we are off stage. My little children think me and Michael don’t like each other, and some darts fans think that too. It’s not real between us – but obviously I won’t stop winding him up!

“Last week I was winding him up backstage before we even played.”

Memories

Wright seeks his first Premier League win of the season against Kim Huybrechts in Nottingham on Thursday in a clash between the league’s bottom two players.

And despite the pressure of Judgement Day approaching, the ever-affable Wright sees the funny side of meeting the slowly-improving Huybrechts just as he is finding his own form.

“That’s typical, isn’t it,” he continued. “I’ve had a few good draws in the past couple of weeks so this one should be good for the crowds.

“I’ve got good memories of playing Kim. I’ve beaten him in Blackpool, I’ve got a decent record against him, so this one should be a cracker.

“But you can’t live on past results, if you do that then Phil Taylor, Stephen Bunting and everybody else would have beaten me. I start from scratch every time, it’s a brand new day.”

Watch Premier League Darts, featuring Wright v Huybrechts, on Thursday at 7pm on Sky Sports 1 HD.