I’m a WWE legend and a record-breaking champion – but now I bail out criminals and chase them for cash

A WWE legend has revealed how he went from breaking wrestling records to bailing out criminals and chasing them for money.

Steve Blackman, 59, entered professional wrestling in 1986 and made his name in New Japan Pro.

He looked set for a full-time WWE contract after making his debut with the company in 1988, but contracted malaria and dysentery on a trip to South Africa.

The illness set Blackman back for years and he had to undergo gruelling amounts of physical therapy to get back in the ring.

Blackman made his second WWE debut in 1997 on an episode of Raw is War and would spend the next five years rising the ranks, becoming a cult hero among fans.

He first won the Hardcore Champion championship in 2000 and held the title six times for a combined record of 172 days.

However, the star wrestled for the final time for the company in late 2001 before sitting out the remainder of his contract.

Since leaving the federation, the dad-of-two has kept a low profile and is now a martial-arts instructor and works as a bails bondsman in Pennsylvania.

He started up Blackman Bail Bonds where he states on his website: "Don't spend another minute in jail! Call Blackman Bail Bonds today!"

The wrestling icon now works across more than nine jails and offers bail bonds to criminals who want to get out of prison.

He claims to gather the defendant's information as the first step, including the amount of bail required and the alleged crime committed.

The inmate will then speak to Blackman directly about the next steps in the process via phone call.

Prisoners then meet with Blackman and run through the necessary paperwork before starting the bail bond process.

The fourth and final step is "Bail Bond posted and release from jail".

Blackman does state on his website that if the prisoner or their loved one has no money, then it's no problem as they "take items" too.

As well as the venture into bail bonds, Blackman also opened a self-defense class in Pennsylvania called BlackmanMMA which teaches jujitsu and wrestling techniques.

Blackman has made only a few wrestling appearances since leaving WWF, most notably on the Raw 15th Anniversary Special on December 10, 2007, where he took part in a Battle Royal.