For 33-year-old Penshurst wrestler Liam Jordan, the squared circle is much more than just a place to trade body slams.

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It is a platform for storytelling, personal triumph, and making a genuine difference in the lives of children in the community.

As the reigning Rock and Roll Wrestling heavyweight champion, Jordan competes in a high-octane, WWE-style circuit that spans Sydney and Wollongong.

It is a world of theatrical showmanship and punishing athleticism that he traces back to his childhood, when his father first introduced him to the sport.

Tragically, Jordan lost his father to cancer when he was just 13, but the bond they shared over wrestling became a lifelong anchor.

"Wrestling was something I really loved as a kid and I never fell out of love with it," Jordan said.

"It's physically taxing and athletic and you always have to keep people engaged. It's like storytelling."

While Jordan now plays the hero character in the ring, his training lineage is just as legendary.

He was the first Australian to be trained under American superstar Cody Rhodes, the man who helped redefine modern professional wrestling globally.

"It's like a fight scene or boxing fights in a movie, similar to the Rocky movies, where you have two people in the arena and you're talking about wrestling each other," Jordan said.

Despite holding a championship belt, the reality of the local circuit means Jordan has to balance his passion with the daily grind.

He previously trained, and worked, at the Hurstville Aquatic Centre and splits his time working at an out-of-area gym and Big W Menai.

"There is no money in local wrestling," Jordan said.

"Even [though] this isn't my full-time job, it's something I am pushing towards."

However, Jordan's ultimate victory happens outside the ring.

Using his profile as a champion and his lived experience of overcoming childhood grief, he partners with the Black Dog Institute as a presenter, visiting schools to talk to students about mental fitness.

For Jordan, connecting with children who are quietly battling their own demons is far more rewarding than any title belt.

"I have had great talks with kids about the importance of mental fitness and a lot of them feel comfortable to ask me questions," Jordan said.

"Teachers say some of them never really talk in class because of their anxiety or they may struggle with autism. That's the best part of what I do.

"These kids need the right type of positive influence."