Local wrestlers to enter Total Non-Stop Action’s glitzy world

Rachna Khaira

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 23

Jalandhar wrestlers may get a chance to appear in the glitzy world of wrestling as the total non-stop action (TNA), a USA-based professional wrestling company, has joined hands with the World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) former champion “The Great Khali” to hunt fresh talent in the field of wrestling.

The TNA team, led by its executive vice-president John Gaburick and star wrestler Amanpreet Singh, aka Mahabali Shera, visited Khali’s academy at Kaganiwal village today to select the players who would feature in the live bout to be held at Mumbai on December 4.

According to Gaburick, the selected ones would be groomed for the professional game and would be provided training by professional coaches of the TNA.

When asked about the future of the TNA in India, Gaburick said in his first-ever visit to India, he had seen the passion that wrestlers here had for both athletics and professional wrestling. “It made me smile that there are so many people here who respond to our form of entertainment. Due to this, we have decided to hold our show here in Mumbai,” said Gaburick.

On being asked about Shera, the TNA’s top star who hails from Ferozpur, Gaburick said that in addition to his physical attributes, he had all that one looks for in a superstar. “It’s a make-up of that IT factor that he clearly has. Trust me, it’s not as if he became a star overnight. He works hard at his craft and he is making that commitment to be an even bigger star,” said Gaburick.

When asked about the future of women wrestlers, Dalip Singh Rana, better known by his ring name, “The Great Khali” said though the avenues for women wrestlers were abundant in India, very few are coming up to opt for the game professionally. “With so many professional wrestling companies turning towards India to hunt fresh talent, the scene is going to change for female wrestlers too,” said Khali.

Ever since the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) decided not to renew the contract of India’s first professional at all pro wrestling (APW) in the United States, Khali had quietly shed his fighting cape and donned the robe of a trainer.

The 42-year-old has opened an academy, Continental Wrestling Entertainment (CWE), inviting well-built men and women from across the country. He is teaching brawny boys and robust girls who came from the hinterland and cosmopolitan cities of the country to become the lord of the ring for the past two years.