Wrestling with success
The director of World Wrestling Superstars aims to see the sport rise from the canvas again
MANO Singh has carved a niche in the popular, bone-jarring sport of wrestling, where for more than two decades he won fame and adulation from his fans through incredible tournaments, World Title bouts and cage matches.
Step outside the arena of excited fans baying for blood, wrestlers posturing, and learn how…
In the early 1990s Singh stepped in to fill the void in the wrestling business due to some promoters leaving. Though his first series of events were a financial disaster, he never gave up.
“Being young and adventurous, and through sheer dedication and love for the sport, I successfully steered my organisation into a name synonymous with wrestling in South Africa.
“Being an ambitious promoter, I took my ‘road show’ internationally and successfully promoted many shows abroad as well.”
Since the formation of the Universal Wrestling Federation, Singh has been responsible for exhibiting over 800 matches locally and 300 overseas. Due to its popularity and expansion, Universal Wrestling Federation changed its trading name to World Wrestling Superstars.
The World Title bout between Gama Singh and Danie Brits, at the UKZN Westville Indoor Sport Centre in March 1994 proved one of the most challenging.
“After Gama gained the victory, the 2.2m Giant Warrior leapt into the ring and attacked Gama, whose fans took great offence and started rioting so much that Giant Warrior was covered in over 500 chairs and the ring was about to be set alight.
“Gunshots were fired like in the Wild West movies. One spectator was shot through the right side of his chest and the bullet exited through his back,” said Singh.
“The series of events had to be cut short as wrestlers refused to perform unless security was beefed up.”
Singh was the youngest of 11 children. Discipline, education, yoga, meditation, culture and tradition were paramount.
“My siblings are still accomplished exponents of eastern classical music.”
As a child, he watched great wrestlers such as Gama Singh, Tiger Singh, Akam Singh, Danie Brits and Tornado.
Shelving his career as a mechanical engineer, he started Universal Wrestling Federation in 1991 “with nothing more than a pipe dream” – which went on to be admired by wrestlers (nationally and internationally), politicians, business leaders and millions of fans.
Through wrestling Singh raised funds for Chatsworth and Phoenix Child Welfare, the Durban Milk Fund, and many others.
In 2005 he brought to South Africa the strongest combination of 28 Global Superstars – Rikishi, Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner, Rick Steiner, Test, The Warlord, Barbarian and Munraj Singh (Gama jr).
“To date this series of events has not been surpassed,” said Singh.
While the rand has in recent times made it a challenge to import class wrestling acts, Singh said he was considering reviving the sport this year.