The Last Place I Expected To Find Pro Wrestling

If someone had told me before that there is a pro wrestling scene in Nepal, I probably wouldn't have believed them. That is, until I saw the pictures and videos. You see, I've always thought of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal as a peaceful, unassuming, developing South Asian country. I associate the country, especially its capital and largest city, Kathmandu, as a place where people go for spiritual discovery. One doesn't always see news about Nepal, unless perhaps it involves the Earth's highest mountain, Mount Everest, which is located there. But lo and behold, there is pro wrestling in Nepal and there are a handful of Nepalese wrestlers. While doing research for this blog,  I happened to come across the Nepal Ring Wrestling Association's Facebook page and boy, was I surprised. The promotion looks relatively new and I believe they have a few locals on their roster. As with a few other wrestling companies in Asia, the promoters often book foreign talent to compete against the homegrown talents. You have to be in awe of how scrappy and dedicated the local wrestlers are. In this outdoor match between Koju and Nuwakote Tiger, the wrestlers don't even seem to have "proper" locker rooms. There's even some WWE-style backstage drama that takes place before the match, complete with an underhanded attack on one of the competitors (in fairness, they do a pretty solid job of selling the drama). I love coming across stories like this. Knowing that professional wrestling has reached almost every corner of the world gives me hope that the spectacle we love will be around for a long, long time.