Pro wrestling gains attention in Botswana
Botswana will soon become a regional professional wrestling power house given the number of locals who are willing to compete and participate in the sports entertainment activity that continues to grow in popularity across the world. Recently, the Botswana Wrestling Federation ( BWF) announced through its social media platforms that it was looking for at least 300 wrestlers and officials across the country and the response seems to be positive as things stand.
In an interview late last year, the president of Pro Wrestling Africa ( PWA), Dr Moagi Sharp revealed plans to turn Botswana into a continental wrestling powerhouse. Dr Sharp, who also doubles as the President of the Botswana Wrestling Federations is planning to use his influence as PWA president to transform and commercialise the local wrestling industry for the benefit and entertainment of locals.
“We are on the right track after managing to recruit 300 wrestlers and we have appointed two general managers of the two shows Power Rumble whose GM, Masedi Chaba and Claw Hammer, whose General Manager is Kelebogile Basupi,” Sharp said in an interview this week.
“We are planning to organise auditions in February and March. Our aim is to identify potential pro Wrestlers among the 300 that we have since recruited. Those who will fail to make the final list will be absorbed as referees, ring announcers, commentators, analysts and other tasks.”
Dr Sharp continued: “Our main intention is to have 30 male wrestlers and 20 Female Wrestlers to make a total of
50. The rest will join the division 2 of our Pro wrestling shows. Mind you, we are going to have the premier Division 1 pro wrestling shows and lower tier Division 2 pro wrestling shows. Division 2 will be where we unearth and nurture pro wrestling talent.”
Recently, Sharp explained that the headquarters of Wrestling Africa are now in Botswana by virtue of him being president. They have put plans in motion locally by introducing the Wrestling Entertainment Championship ( WEC) after registering the company back in 2018 in order to commercialise the sport in the country.
Dr Sharp further said: “We have since registered two shows, Power Rumble and Claw Hammer.”
He further explained that the local pro wrestling Calendar is expected to start with the Power Rumble show this January, followed by the No Entry show in February and the Bots Wrestlemania in March. In April, there will be a show called Back Door followed by Now or Never in May and Boss of the Ring in June. July will witness Claw Hammer, with Summer Time coming in August and Bottom Up in September. In October, audiences will be treated to Fit for Ever and Super Rules in the next month. The shows will conclude with Christmas Rumble in December. According to Dr Sharp, the local market is ready for professional wrestling shows which will be similar to pro wrestling shows seen on TV.