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Bahrain is set to launch a wrestling championship and crown its first-ever title winner by the year end or beginning of 2024.
The country’s only professional wrestling promotion, Kingdom Pro Wrestling (KPW), has invited young Bahrainis to jump into the ring and said the tournament could start this summer.
KPW founder Bahraini Mohammed Talaq told Gulf Weekly that participants were being assessed for entry into the tournament from the current 20-wrestler roster, besides possible invitees.
“It has been three-and-a-half years since we held our first show, a month before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and until date we have held four events to familiarise fans with our talents,” said the 36-year-old.
“In pro-wrestling, we have heels (villains) and babyfaces (fan favourites), based on wrestler’s preferences, but sometimes a heel may receive babyface reactions from the audience and vice-versa, and here we intervene to ask for character or attitude changes to tackle jeering or cheering,” he added.
In professional wrestling, a babyface is a heroic, ‘good guy’ or ‘fan favourite’ wrestler, booked by the promotion with the aim of being cheered by fans. They are portrayed as heroes relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains. Traditionally, babyface characters wrestle within the rules and avoid cheating while behaving positively towards the referee and the audience.
“So far, our 20 registered wrestlers are known to fans, and the formula is working - with us getting sponsorships, social media influencers, sporting and community personalities, and more public acceptance,” Mohammed said. “But, the promotion needs to evolve, progress and develop, as we are past the introductory phase and we need a champion that we can build our shows on. We have plans to introduce our first championship belt with the winner emerging from a 16-man tournament.”
Mohammed added that a draw ceremony would be held for participants after gaining approvals from all concerned ministries and government bodies.
“The winner of the prestigious belt - to be announced hopefully by the year’s end or early next year following the conclusion of the tournament through multiple shows - will be the most prominent wrestler for the promotion as it grows,” said Mohammed.
“It is the beginning and there are plans to introduce a tag team title and a mid-card title and depending on assessment and growth, other titles could also be launched.
“We are ready to move forward and now with ample exposure, there is more interest in what we are doing. Hopefully, that will continue and not fade away.”
Mohammed, an avid wrestling fan, started KPW in 2017 with an aim to promote local athletes. The group initially had 10 charismatic wrestlers who were known for their own styles and mannerisms. They include Jabbar, Rudy Royal, the Great Zubari, the “Black Sheep” Carnatux, Madrex the Entertainer and Hamad the Lion, among others.
“We need more wrestlers and now is the time for young Bahrainis to lace up their boots and give us a call,” said Mohammed.
“The tournament is an opportunity for exposure, fun and competition.”
Saudi Arabia already hosts two World Wrestling Entertainment shows twice annually.
