TAKE one look at WWE superstar Murphy and it is hard to believe anyone would be stupid enough to bully this jacked powerhouse.

But before Murphy, born Matt Adams, became one half of the NXT Tag Team Champions, the Melbournian was a scrawny red head who was picked on at school.

Today Murphy is one of the hottest young stars in the WWE, recently becoming the first Australian to ever hold a WWE branded title.

AUSSIE MURPHY MAKES WWE HISTORY

WWE ON THE HUNT FOR AUSTRALIAN TALENT

According to the 26-year-old he started to use wrestling as an outlet from the bullying and even adopted a new way of dealing with his detractors when confronted in the schoolyard by using the no-fear attitude of his heroes on television.

“I was a skinny little red headed kid and didn’t like going to school because I was bullied,” Murphy reveals to foxsports.com.au.

“(I’d watch wrestling) because the wrestlers were what I wasn’t in real life.

“These larger than life people, they were like superheros I could live through.

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WWE’s Australian Tour comes to Brisbane on August 6, Melbourne on August 7 and Sydney on August 8. Tickets are available through Ticketek.

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“Then at school I would try and rein act what they did at school.

“(Former champion Stone Cold Steve) Austin got hit in the face and it didn’t faze him so if I get hit in the face I’m not going to let it phase me.

“Just taking that kind of mentality where in my head, I was Stone Cold Steve Austin. I walked around like that as well.”

But thinking and acting like a wrestler was simply not enough.

He wanted to be one.

Since moving to America to chase his dream of becoming a championship wrestler, Murphy hasn’t looked back.

He signed a developmental deal in late 2012 after impressive talents scouts at a four-day tryout and has been training at the top class performance centre in Orlando Florida since June of 2013.

It has been a 14-year journey since his first wrestling lesson but now this famous face wants to spread the message to others going through hard times that they too can rise above their bullies and turn their pain into success.

“The only thing I loved and thought I was good at was wrestling,” Murphy said.

“A lot of people use wrestling as that outlet. It is a time when they can suspend their belief.

“Half of the roster did it. We’re all wrestling fans at heart. To be successful in that one thing that I loved is huge.

“Now if I can get that across to people in primary school and high school, they may be like ‘I’m in the same shoes as him’ even if it’s not wrestling. If they hear my story hopefully that can drive them to do the same and follow their dreams.”

In August the WWE is headed down under to tour Australia and Murphy is hopeful he will be part of the action.

After all, it was at one of these tours where Murphy decided he would become a star.

“My very first live event was at the Rod Laver Arena and I heard Rey Mysterio’s fireworks go off and it blew my mind listening to everyone cheer,” he recalled.

“I looked at my friend and said ‘I’m doing this’. I could see myself walking down the ramp. I was doing wrestling at that time. I was about 18 but that moment for me is when the light bulb went off for me. From that day on I was going for that and told myself I would do it.

“If I get the chance (to perform in Australia) that will be everything I have ever dreamt of.

“If I can defend the NXT championships with (my tag team partner) Blake, get the opportunity, it would be crazy to wrestle in front of the friends and family and possibly some of the kids who bullied me as a kid.

“I’ll be like Stone Cold again.”

HULKAMANIACS in Melbourne! See Hulk Hogan LIVE on stage at Westfield Knox (Victoria) at 1pm on Saturday 2nd May. Visit WWE.com for more information