Plans are underway to organise an intercontinental professional wrestling championship in Lagos to celebrate the Governor of the state, Akinwunmi Ambode.
The championship, tagged A+A Intercontinental Wrestle Force, is being packaged by the Nigerian Wrestling Federation in conjunction with Current World Wrestling Federation.
Initiator of the tournament, Prince Olarenwaju Mohammed, who is the President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, said the competition, which will hold to celebrate the first year anniversary of Ambode in office this May, is being staged to further project the good governance of his administration to the outside world.
Mohammed said: “Our plan is to project Lagos to the outside world that the state is peaceful despite all the negative reports in international media.
“I always tell people that we can’t quantify the benefits of staging international competitions in our community like the recently held Lagos City Marathon.
“We have invited renowned wrestling champions, Hulk Hogan and Undertaker, to be part of the show.
“Hogan specifically told us that he would like to come to Lagos once in his lifetime to see how the city looks like.”
Prince Mohammed, a former Nigeria and intercontinental wrestling champion, disclosed that wrestlers across the world will be in Lagos for the show, which will hold in about 14 centres across the three senatorial districts of Lagos.
He added: “The reason we are having the championship in multiple centres is to bring wrestling closer to the people at the grassroots.
“We want our people to see those wrestling stars who they normally watch on television live at their domain.
“These centres include Epe, Alimosho, Badagry, Ojo, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Ifako Ijaiye, Agboyi Ketu, Eti Osa, Oshodi Isolo, Yaba-Mainland, Lagos Island, Surulere, while the grand finale will hold in Agege.”
According to Mohammed, 24 wrestlers will be coming from the home front, while 11 others will feature from African continent.
He said 35 wrestlers have signified interest from other continents of the world, with most of them already sent information on their international passports to facilitate issuance of Nigerian visas in their respective countries.
He said: “Some of the notable wrestlers include Cannonball Grizzly from USA, American Big Vader, Giant Warrior of USA, Demolition Davies also from USA, Chris “Bambi Killer” Raaber from Austria.
“Raaber was in Lagos when we held the BRF Wrestlemania at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
“Others are Robin The Bull (Belgium), Eirick Justin (Norway), Rosto Poulet (France), Michael Kovak (Hong Kong), Makoto Morimitsu (Japan), Big Daddy (USA), Ultimo Chingon (Mexico), Scarz (Jamaica), Space Cowboy (Switzerland), Titan (Bulgaria).
“In Africa, we have Noudem Michael (Angola), Tya Mupepe (DR Congo), Black Queen Angel (Liberia), Mast Terror (Sierra Leone), Bing USA (Congo Brazaville),Omar Baali (Morocco)Lady Jeanne (Gabon).
“In the local scene here in Nigeria, we have lined up wrestlers such as Hot Tempo, Rocky Johnson, Iron Scatter, Strong Bone, Ariba Swan, Tony Destroyer, Super Rosco, Afro de Giant, Mighty Man, Super Hercules, Lady Bunmi, Iron Lady Becky Wonderful Sholey and others.”
The Chairman of the Publicity Committee, Alhaji Abiodun Salami, Assistant Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, said that between now and May when the competition will hold, series of activities have been lined up to ensure a smooth organisation of the championship.
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