Battle Ground wrestling championship begins in Lagos

Friday, April 5, 2024 was a night of glamour, acrobatic display, entertainment and show of strength as wrestlers took to the mat in the first day of the two day action packed wrestling extravaganza put together by the Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation.
The championship which was held at Big Apple Royale Hotel situated at 1/3 Salvation Army Street, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos under the chairmanship of High Chief Peter Asonye ( Uduego of Mbano) and Eze Ndigbo elect of Ibeju- Lekki attracted many important personalities including the
Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adebanji Adeoye Atewogboye who represented the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo- Olu.

Speaking at the event, President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, High Chief John Uche noted that the championship was part of efforts of the Federation to reposition the sports and show Nigerians that wrestling is real just as he appealed on government and corporate organisations to do the needful and support the development of the game.

” It’s unfortunate that government at all level and corporate Nigeria is not showing any interest in developing professional wrestling. In a country like Cameroon, DR Congo and South Africa, their government is always giving them financial support and I want Nigerian government to emulate them

“When you look at the WWE, you’ll discover that there are six Nigerians fighting in that body. In Japan, the heavyweight champion there is a Nigerian. What this shows is that we have talented wrestlers here but lack of adequate encouragement and exposure is affecting them.

Chief Uche noted that their is need for wrestling to be given statutory allocation so that it can uplift the game further and give wrestlers opportunity to excel in the game.

” There’s need for wrestling to be given statutory allocation from the annual budget. When this is done, we’ll be able to not only develop the sports but help the government create employment for the youths which will take them off drugs, crime, kidnapping and other societal vices.

In his remarks, Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adebanji Adeoye Atewogboye commended the wrestlers and the Federation; saying he’s overwhelmed with what he saw.

He noted that the government of Babajide Sanwo- Olu is interested in developing all sports as a way of empowering the youths positing that the state government is ready to partner the Federation to move the game to a higher pedestal.

The Special Adviser to the Governor charged the wrestlers not to relent in their training assuring them of support in their plans to rule the world of the mats man game just as he appealed to corporate organisations to support the development of the mats man game.

Meanwhile in some of the action packed fights in Day 1 of the championship, the current National heavyweight champion, Mighty Man defeated Flying Danko by pinfall in 10 minutes of the 15 minutes time limit allocated for the fight

Also, the reigning African Light heavyweight champion, Mr. Sharpman was too hard a nut to crack by his challenger, Zion Lion whom he pummeled to submission with Zion Lion refusing to come back to the ring after some minutes of action.

The fight between De Tiger and Captain Dunga kept fans off their feet as they kept on calling for more action from the wrestlers who showed a mastery of the game but it was Captain Dunga who emerged victorious at the end of the day through pinfall.

In the women fight, young and talented Alexandra De Queen did not mind the size of her opponent, Stylist J whom she did not allow to intimidate her but rather gave a good account of herself.
Stylist J however relied on experience to beat her opponent.

Action continues today, Saturday, April, 6 in the final day of the championship.