From swinging ropes as a pirate on WWE TV to racing into burning buildings, Paul Burchill’s second act is about as real-world as it gets.Burchill was once known for his explosive athleticism and swashbuckling gimmick alongside iconic grappling Brit William Regal in WWE’s mid-2000s era.Vince McMahon thrust Brit Burchill into WWE’s answer to Keith Richards – in pirate formWWERegal’s fellow Englishman, though, has quietly built a life in public service, far from the scripted drama of the squared circle.“Having wrestled with the best in the world, I got my fix,” he told WWE, long after his wrestling peak had faded.“I didn’t want people to remember me as the wrestler. I needed to do a little less for myself and a little more for others.”To say he went on to achieve that would be an understatement.Having been the recipient of one of the first ever WWE Talent Scholarships, he threw himself into studies and new careers with the same gusto with which he played the pirate in years prior.The grappler went on to study as a paramedic and registered nurse, and later joined the Jeffersontown Fire Department in Kentucky, serving not only as a firefighter but also as a certified paramedic — a double duty he pursued with intention and discipline.By 2017, Burchill was also serving with a SWAT team in Jeffersontown while continuing to work as a paramedic with Louisville’s Yellow EMS.Speaking to Wrestling Epicenter and making it all sound rather routine and normal, he said: “I’m currently a firefighter, an EMT, and an Emergency Room Nurse. I’m currently finishing my Master’s degree. I’m keeping myself busy.”His path into wrestling had been just as unorthodox. Before turning pro, Burchill worked as an English teacher in his native England, growing up in Cranleigh, Surrey.Having been an accomplished runner, he had initially set his sights on playing rugby and even playing at youth level before having his head turned by wrestling and the Attitude Era – in his own words: “Wrestling caught me.”The tough-looking Brit tried his hand at rugby before wrestling came into his viewWWEHired after impressing at a Manchester WWE try-out, this many-and-varied star’s life took another direction, packing up alone and heading to the US with ‘two bags.’Hilariously recalling the tale of how abruptly his pirate character came to be, he added: “I went to [Vince] McMahon and he said, ‘You’re going to be a pirate, like from ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’“I said, ‘OK, so you want me to be like Keith Richards?’ He said: ‘Yes, but dressed like a pirate!’”From there, Burchill was off and running — until injury struck. Climbing the top rope, he ‘blew’ his ACL and MCL, later recalling: “I completely destroyed my knee. I ended up limping through the match that night, then competing with this bad knee.”Soon enough, the pirate character faded from his act and the star, stripped back, continued to compete on the WWE-revived ECW roster.The tragic death of his brother, a British army Major, caused the powerhouse to re-think his career and, by early 2010, he was gone from WWE having asked for his release. In a heartbreaking contrast to so many who are shown the door by the company, this was a man who opted to quit on his own and walk away.Burchill swung into WWE but later walked outWWEBurchill has done it all, having taught, wrestled, and a firefighter-paramedicWWEFirefighting – and so much else – then followed, the star admitting his time in the ring did its bit to shape what came after, saying it “suited my attributes of being physical, being able to use tools and getting to do cool stuff.”But wrestling never fully left his system. After several years away from the ring, Burchill returned to competition in 2023 with the National Wrestling Alliance.In August 2024, he signed an exclusive contract with the NWA and soon found himself back in title contention. He entered the NWA National Heavyweight Championship picture and, in 2025, was a featured participant in the Jax Dane Memorial Tournament to determine the number one contender for company’s top male gold.While results have varied, his performances show that he hasn’t missed a step, even after years away. He continues to compete as recently as March 2025, racking up televised matches and showcasing the same intensity that defined his earlier WWE run.The journey from Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired entrances to firefighting and now a wrestling comeback paints Burchill as one of wrestling’s most fascinating characters.Years after walking out on WWE, he’s back in wrestling as a star in the NWAFacebook: NWAHe’s gone from performing dramatic chair throws in the ring to racing to emergencies across Kentucky and now back under the bright lights again.His real-world bravery long ago outstripped any theatrical heroics, but for Burchill, it was never about staying still. Whether it’s inside a burning building, a hospital ward, or between the ropes, he’s clearly never lost his taste for the fight.And now, fans old and new are getting a chance to see the comeback of a man who once walked the plank in WWE — and now stands tall in the wrestling ring once more.