The Malaysian Insight

WHEN talking about wrestling, names from the popular World Wrestling Federation (WWF) franchise – now World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) – come to mind. Among them, the names Triple H, Hulk Hogan, Undertaker, The Rock and many other legendary wrestlers will likely be mentioned. 

But those are in the US, here in Malaysia we have our own pro-wrestlers but their names might not be as familiar.

They include Serigala, Shaukat, Double-K, Phoenix, and Gotham.

You might be forgiven for not knowing them at all but they are the pioneers of wrestling in Malaysia.

They are among 15 professional wrestlers under the Malaysian Pro Wrestling (MyPW) displaying their skills with a combination of theatre, action, stunt, acrobatic and art performance. Watching them wrestle, you might think that they look suspiciously fake, or it is just an act.

For Ayez Shaukat Fonseka, who is popularly known as Shaukat, the fights might be scripted but the pain is real.

The 29-year-old MyPW founder and chief coach proudly said that wrestlers have collectively reached a professional level and have many supporters around Asean countries like Singapore, Thailand and Philippines within the span of 3 years.

They follow international standards to develop and train the wrestlers. Total discipline, a strong body through a strict diet and exercise routine is a must for every wrestler. They must be physically and mentally fit.

For Shaukat and the other wrestlers, they share the same vision to see Malaysian talents in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). And to their delight, the WWE had sent talent scouts to the MyPW championship held in Malaysia months ago.

The Malaysian Insight had an opportunity to follow and capture some moments at the recent MyPW Reckoning championship held in Pusat Komuniti Bukit Damansara in Kuala Lumpur. – May 17, 2017.