A reformed ex-gang member has launched Scotland’s first professional wrestling charity in a desperate bid to stop vulnerable youngsters becoming the next victims of the nation’s knife crime crisis.
David McCallum, better known to many as wrestler Ravie Davie, says he wants to open the doors of his Glasgow School of Wrestling to more youngsters who would otherwise have nowhere to go. He’s done so amid fears more children will lose their lives unless communities step in where others have failed.
The 32-year-old spoke out after three teenagers, aged 18, 18 and 15, were last week convicted of murdering 16-year-old Kayden Moy in a shocking incident at Irvine beach in May 2025.
David’s mission comes against a backdrop of mounting concern over youth violence following a string of similar knife deaths across Scotland, including 16-year-old Kory McCrimmon, who was stabbed in the heart in Glasgow in 2024.
David says meeting Kory’s devastated mum earlier this year left a lasting mark on him and strengthened his determination to help youngsters before they fall into the same deadly cycle.
View 6 ImagesKory McCrimmon
The former hood, who turned to violence, alcohol and drugs after the suicide of his mother when he was just six years old, has spent years building Glasgow Community Wrestling from the ground up. Now, after being granted charitable status just two weeks ago, he hopes to reach children who have previously been priced out of attending.
David said: “I’ve been working to make the wrestling school bigger and better. I built this off my own back but the price is probably too high for many families and those kids most at risk of falling down the wrong path.
“However, because we have now launched a charity – we have opened ourselves up to a whole new world of funding options. This can help me lower the prices and potentially give out free wrestling classes to kids who come from similar backgrounds as myself who otherwise couldn’t afford it.”
View 6 ImagesGlasgow Community Wrestling Charity’s new logo(Image: Supplied)
The wrestling school has already transformed countless young lives in Govan and beyond. Previous pupils have credited the club with keeping them away from gangs, drink, drugs and violence.
But, David believes the youngsters most at risk are often the ones who never make it through the door.
He said: “We have changed the lives of countless kids who have walked through our doors. You have to remember though, we have changed the lives of children whose parents can afford it. There are hundreds out there who can’t.
View 6 ImagesThe kids are growing as wrestlers under David’s coaching(Image: Jamie Williamson)
“Those are the kids who can fall in with the wrong crowd. Especially with the rising knife crime deaths among young people. We want to be there so kids don’t see that road as their only option.”
After losing his mum as a child, David spiralled into gang culture and street violence before professional wrestling gave him an escape and eventually changed his life.
The wrestling promoter has often spoken about how his late mum’s death shaped his childhood and how the lessons learned from entering an early life of crime drives his determination to help others.
View 6 ImagesDavid McCallum as a teenager(Image: David McCallum)
Now he hopes the newly-formed charity can offer employability programmes, outreach projects and even classes aimed at young offenders.
He said: “I am looking at running classes for kids who have offended to show them there is another way and you can change your life, like I did.”
The charity’s launch also follows David’s growing involvement in campaigns tackling youth violence. Speaking about attending Easterhouse Sports Centre’s Youth Lives Matter event in April, he recalled the emotional impact of hearing from Kory McCrimmon’s family.
View 6 ImagesWrestler Ravie Davie in action.
David said: “Kory McCrimmon’s mum was there. It was heartbreaking seeing how families are affected by knife crime first hand like that. She spoke about losing her son and it really got to me.
“It’s harrowing the amount of families dealing with the loss of their kids to knives. My son was born this week and something has to be done about it at the top level. Until then, we all have to do our part.”
Recent knife killings involving teenagers including Kory McCrimmon, Amen Teklay and Kayden Moy have reignited debate over how Scotland tackles youth violence. For David, the answer starts in communities.
He added: “Hopefully, through the charity, we can now offer free classes and reach children who would have nothing else otherwise.
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“We want to be a hub in the community which steers kids down a good path through the medium of wrestling. Professional wrestling saved my life, through this charity we want to offer the same to others like me at that age.”
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