Pakistan’s first international pro wrestling event begins today

KARACHI: As many as 25 professional wrestlers, including four women, from 20 countries are set to compete in what would be the first ever international professional wrestling event in Pakistan here at the KMC Sports Complex on Wednesday (today).

A senior official of the Pro Wrestling Entertainment (PWE) Shahid-ul-Haq told ‘The News’ on Tuesday that 19 wrestlers had reached Karachi while six from the United States and Canada would arrive early Wednesday (today).

He said that tight security arrangements had been made for the showpiece.

The organisers will also stage such shows in Lahore and Islamabad in the next few days.

Shahid said that the capacity of the KMC Sports Complex was too low, adding, tickets worth Rs1500 to Rs15,000 had already been put on sale.

However, he was quick to add that around ten percent quota had been kept for under-privileged class of the society.

He said that Sindh Chief Minister, Karachi Mayor and Sindh Sports Minister would be present at the opening ceremony to be held at 6pm.

He said that the number of wrestlers from France was more, adding, the step would help attract people towards the game.

Pakistan’s Badshah Pehalwan Khan, who is based in France, USA’s Flesh Gordon, England’s Tiny Iron and Wade Barrett are among the prominent wrestlers of the event.

WWE star and English actor Wade Barrett said that it was wonderful to be in Pakistan and he was looking forward to the magical competitions.

Badshah Pahalwan told reporters here at the Jinnah International Airport that they were going to make history and they would show it to the world that Pakistan also had the ability to stage such events.

About a stay order, reportedly issued by Islamabad Sessions Courts against the PWE’s step to also stage such a show in the federal capital, Shahid said he had talked to his lawyer and there was no such thing. “Whatever will be there, will be known,” Shahid was quick to add.