[image]
[title]No, we’re not talking about the ancient combat sport of wrestling – the sport that’s featured in the Olympics – but rather pro wrestling, the globally popular ‘sport’ known for its high-flying acrobatics performed by pantomime heroes and villains.
Actor and stuntman Ayez Shaukat-Fonseka Farid was one such WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) fan who decided he wanted a slice of the pie; with a passion for the pro-wrestling, he started Malaysia Pro Wrestling (MyPW), and even portrays one of the main protagonists, Shaukat. We spoke to him to find out more about the pro wrestling scene in the country and MyPW’s contributions to its growth.
Ayez Shaukat-Fonseka Farid
Pro wrestling is an art
It’s not fake – and that’s because pro wrestling is a form of entertainment first and foremost, and not an actual combat sport. Like all types of entertainment, there’s an art form that drives the performance. ‘Pro wrestling is like theatre but with a lot of athleticism and real pain’, says Shaukat. ‘Part of what we do in the ring is to get the audience invested in the storyline, the action and the characters,’ he continues.
Shaukat’s main story involves a heated feud with arch nemesis Dominic ‘The D’ Ng, and the both of them make up the first Malaysian pair in Southeast Asia’s pro wrestling scene. Their MyPW story and rivalry helped form the brands earliest fanbase, and until this day matches between the two are always highly anticipated.
There’s no choreography involved
‘Contrary to what most people think, we (pro wrestlers) don’t choreograph moves and fights prior to a show,’ says Shaukat. ‘Just before the show, we discuss little details like who’s winning and what moves we plan to use. When in the ring, we basically just wing it,’ he continues. Shaukat adds that what happens in the ring is a result of what the audience want. They prolong the fight by delaying pins to keep the audience on their toes, or perform high-flying moves when the fight gets a bit stale.
Photo: Malaysia Pro Wrestling
Wrestlers need to be in peak condition and fitness
Although wrestlers do their very best not to hurt one another, body slams, chest chops and high-risk moves do hurt, and can be dangerous if not performed properly. ‘The first thing I teach my students is how to fall correctly so they minimise damage to their bodies. They also need to learn how to bounce of the ring ropes correctly or they’ll suffer whiplash,’ he says. Wrestlers need to train on a regular basis as well as practise moves so they get used to its impact.
MyPW started small, and is growing fast
With his mind set on bringing pro wrestling to Malaysia, Shaukat began learning the tricks of the trade in 2013, which led him to a mentorship programme under the guidance of retired pro wrestler Thomas Prichard (who also trained the likes of The Rock, Kurt Angle, Shane McMahon and more).
After graduating from Prichard, he took a few students under his wing – Emman ‘The Kid’ Noorazman, Furious Faizal, JTJ and Razza, some of whom are now MyPW staples. By 2015, he had set up Malaysia Pro Wrestling Developmental Centre, a training school where he and his team train new generations of Malaysian wrestlers. Fast forward to 2018, his recent ‘MyPW: Resurgence’ show at KuAsh Theatre in April saw a sell-out crowd in attendance, most of whom are avid fans of the sport.
Datin Maria Abdullah, who’s an investor of the brand, helps oversee the operations and marketing aspects of MyPW. With her help, it now has over six shows and boasts a roster of 20 wrestlers. ‘We started this with only four students; now our try-out sessions consistently see over 20 wrestling hopefuls turn up,’ says Shaukat. ‘The fact that it’s growing at such a rapid pace shows that there’s a demand for pro wrestling in the country. One of the ultimate goals for MyPW is to get televised,’ he continues.
Photo: Malaysia Pro Wrestling
MyPW aims to develop international stars
Shaukat and his team frequently collaborate with Grapple Max, a Singapore-based brand and wrestling gym. Founders Greg Glorious, one of Shaukat’s biggest rivals, and Dennis ‘The Ladykiller’ H along with legendary Japanese wrestler Dick Togo work closely with MyPW to organise matches both in Malaysia as well as Singapore. ‘What I try to do here at MyPW is to create wrestlers who can go on and perform anywhere in the world – to wrestle on the international stage,’ says Shaukat. ‘Grapple Max and MyPW are working much like a symbiosis – our shows are a platform for our students to make a name for themselves in the pro wrestling circuit,’ he continues.
Unity is key
One of Shaukat’s ultimate goals for MyPW is to bring in wrestlers from across the globe, starting with promotional bodies from Asean countries like the Philippine Wrestling Revolution, Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling from Thailand, and New Vietnam Pro Wrestling. ‘To me, the WWE isn’t the ultimate destination for a wrestler; there are plenty of great wrestling promos that are closer to home,’ says Shaukat. ‘MyPW wants to bring in wrestlers from neighbouring countries to make bigger and better shows what with all the talent we have within the region,’ he continues.
Photo: Malaysia Pro Wrestling
The future is bright for Malaysian pro wrestling
Shaukat plans to organise four shows a year (at KuAsh Theatre), each held three months apart. At the recent ‘MyPW: Resurgence’ show this past April, Shaukat announced his retirement from the MyPW stage, and handed his title to his protégé Daryl Wong. ‘I’ve been going at it for five years, it’s time the younger generation of wrestlers get the spotlight. I want my students to make a name for themselves,’ says Shaukat, adding that he would still be performing in other Asean countries, but his role at MyPW now is to develop new wrestlers and hopefully turn them into international stars.
→Malaysia Pro Wrestling (012 292 2780/fb.com/MyProWrestling); Malaysia Pro Wrestling Developmental Centre, iM4U Sentral, Jalan 1/7, Taman Perindustrian Puchong, Selangor (012 932 2980/fb.com/mypwdc). Mon, 8am-10pm; Sat, 11am-4pm.