PROFESSIONAL Bahraini wrestlers will put on an adrenaline-filled display as they stage the country’s first independent public wrestling show.
Kingdom Pro Wrestling (KPW), the brainchild of Bahraini Mohammed Talaq, is gearing up to host its first show for fans in Bahrain on January 17 at El Mercado in Janabiya.
A special ring will be set up at the venue for fans to watch local athletes compete and entertain crowds similar to shows under the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Athletes
“This will be our first independent wresting show featuring local athletes who are specially trained and excited to be part of this important event in Bahrain,” said Mr Talaq.
“The opening match will be Jabbar versus Rudy Royal and fans can expect some surprises.
“We have everything set in place from live commentary, referee, surprises, locker room talks to high flying moves by our wrestlers that the fans will witness on January 17.”
Mr Talaq, an avid wrestling fan like many Bahrainis, started KPW in 2017 with an aim to promote local athletes.
The group now has 10 Bahraini athletes who have their own style and charisma, with some already becoming fan favourites.
The athletes include The Great Zubari, The “Black Sheep” Carnatux, Madrex The Entertainer, and Hamad The Lion.
“They are all professionally trained athletes and follow proper safety skills as well as training,” added Mr Talaq.
He explained that they first started by setting up a ring in an industrial area as an underground experiment, which exploded into a full-fledged weekly league.
“We wanted to grow gradually and give enough time for the wrestlers to hone their skills to prepare for a big event,” he said.
“The fans’ numbers kept growing every week and we received amazing positive feedback that pushed us to finally host a public show.”
He said every person associated with KPW have full-time jobs and have put their own money to get the show running.
He added that KPW aimed to eventually form a professional wrestling company in Bahrain that will promote new talents.
Passion
“Wrestling is a passion for us and now with this public show we are the first pro wrestling league in the Gulf, featuring local athletes,” he said.
The show will be open to the public and will start at 7pm.
Wrestling is popular among locals with fans flooding various cinemas that screen major WWE events such as SummerSlam or Royal Rumble.
The GDN reported last year that the Southern Municipal Council presented a proposal to the Cabinet to set up a Middle East training academy for future wrestling superstars.
The proposed WWE Performance Centre aimed to attract hundreds of people to Bahrain, either as trainers, trainees or support and technical staff.
WWE is a $5 billion American entertainment company that hosts more than 500 events a year and is available to about 36 million viewers in more than 150 countries.
The company in 2018 signed a 10-year exclusive contract with Saudi Arabia’s General Sport Authority, to hold wrestling competitions in the kingdom.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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