New Delhi: The excitement was palpable, the noise at its peak and the crowd on its feet when Raj-The Maharaja (aka Jinder Mahal), a renowned name in pro wrestling and one of the most successful Indian-origin pro wrestlers, made his grand entry into the ring at the much-awaited Ground Zero Tapings of the WXM (Wrestling Xtreme Mania) in India’s Gurugram on Thursday.
WXM, an upcoming Indian promotion, is ready to not just disrupt the pro-wrestling scene in the country but to carve a niche for itself among the global audience. With world-class infrastructure, top-notch production quality, and some of the finest international and Indian wrestlers on their roster, WXM aims to bring a pro-wrestling revolution in India in the years to come.
It was a glimpse of the company’s grand plans and the grandeur that awaits the Indian pro-wrestling fans as WXM successfully wrapped up its Ground Zero Tapings at its state-of-the-art facility in Gurugram. In what was arguably the most exciting battle of the night, Jinder Mahal locked horns with ex-WWE superstar Dijak and the two set the arena on fire.
The intense match-up between Tha Maharaja and Dijak set the tone for the rest of the night as the crowd got to witness Axel Tischer, Samuray del Sol (Kalisto) and others produce an exciting round of matches to showcase what the future might look like when WXM is officially launched in India. While the official details are still under wraps, WXM might soon launch a top-tier pro-wrestling promotion, which the Indians can proudly call their own.
WXM: The vision and what to expect
A big project or a new pro-wrestling promotion born out of India is nothing new. Several wrestling companies in the past have tried to gain a foothold in the Indian market, which arguably consists of one of the largest wrestling fan bases in the world. Not to forget, for a majority of India’s current youth pro wrestling brings a mix of nostalgia and childhood memories.
TNA’s spin-off ‘Ring Ka King’ was what could be fairly labelled the last successful India-related pro-wrestling promotion, but overall even the big-wigs of the wrestling world have failed to keep the Indan audience hooked. However, WXM promises to be different. It is the vision of the founders and the organisers that sets the company apart.
Satender Dagar, popularly known by his ring name Jeet Rama, Former WWE Superstar, is the COO of WXM and has played a key role in shaping the vision of the promotion. Having competed in WWE and been at the WWE Performance Centre in Orlando, Florida, Jeet has witnessed the growth of several top wrestlers from close quarters and is now utilising his experience in developing the next-gen of pro wrestlers in India with the WXM.
A platform for Indian wrestlers
As the COO, he is not only ensuring the action delivered in WXM is top-notch and at par with the best in the world, but he has also scouted personally for the promotion and has handpicked the finest of Indian wrestlers from around the country. He is training them personally and sharing his experiences to help them in their journey to the top level in pro wrestling.
Having spent 7 years with WWE and the NXT, it was the desire to do something for his country and build a platform for his fellow Indian wrestlers that motivated Jeet to come on board with WXM and help shape the global vision of the Indian promotion.
“I spent around 7 years at WWE and from the moment I went there I knew how much Indian fans loved pro wrestling. There are more pro wrestling fans in India compared to America and there are several talented wrestlers too. I thought let’s build something of our own in our country to give a platform to Indian wrestlers,” Jeet told News9 in an exclusive interaction ahead of NXM’s Ground Zero Tapings.
“Why should our wrestlers run after others and keep messaging them to get a chance? I wanted to do something for my countrymen and that drove me towards NXM. We have a global vision and we want to take WXM to the world. We have started from a very high level and the feedback from our international wrestlers is that our matches have been at the same level as the best in the world,” he elaborated, sharing his vision for WXM.
Challenging the best in the world
India has over 150 million pro wrestling fans but no promotion has been able to truly harness the potential and challenge the might of the WWE. WXM aims to bring together the top Indian and international wresters to create a wrestling powerhouse in the country and produce thrilling, action-packed live events which can give the best in the world a run for their money.
“We want to give the Indians the live event experience. We have followed the likes of WWE from childhood but we have watched it on TV. Live wrestling is different. When that slam hits the ground, it gives you goosebumps and you realise how big it is. We want to give a complete live event experience, we want to create a live event ecosystem where eventually down the line everything will be telecasted. Currently, we are pre-taping it but that’s the goal,” said Rishi, the CEO of WXM.
WXM’s production quality stands out
As witnessed by this reporter at the Ground Zero Tapings of WXM, the production quality of the event stood out. The final product on the screens installed at the venue did justice to the exciting in-ring action. The arena, though a moderate one with a capacity running in a few hundred, looked equipped with the best equipment with a smashing ring. The entire set looked world-clas with everything that was required for the tapings to be a success.
WXM has roped in some of the best and the most experienced production executives, including Mark Dallas to deliver top-notch action quality on the television screens of fans in India and across the world. Dallas, the co-founder of Insane Championship Wrestling in Scotland, has also worked extensively with the WWE.
“The goal for WXM is to build a world-class promotion right here in India. It’s a huge investment. They are investing in the future of wrestling in India. We now need the talent to step up and perform. I would love to see WXM get a weekly tv show and do some bigger events in large stadiums to give the wrestlers some experience,” said former WWE champion Jinder Mahal, who is currently the biggest name associated with the WXM.
The challenge for the producers and the organisers will be to ensure the production quality only goes upward from here to meet the demands of a modern-day wrestling fan. Nonetheless, with exceptional production quality, WXM can build some exciting storylines for its launch in the future and kickstart what can potentially be the kind of revolution that Indian pro wrestling has craved for years now. WXM (Wrestling Xtreme Mania) conducted its much-awaited Ground Zero Tapings in Gurugram on Thursday, providing a glimpse into the future of pro-wrestling in India. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
