WRESTLING – A young Bahraini professional wrestler is set to make history in the Land of the Rising Sun as he gets ready to grapple with some of the best wrestlers in a major event.
Shehab Abdulla, a 26-year-old from Hidd, known as ‘The Black Sheep’ Carnatux, will become the first Bahraini to wrestle in Japan and will share the ring with a savvy veteran.
This Saturday, he will team up with highflying Korean sensation JD Lee to take on the legendary Japanese duo of CIMA and Gamma in a tag-team match in Kyoto at The Great House Show.
Speaking to the GDN, Carnatux said that the match will be all about what he does best – defying expectations.
“When you think of the word ‘wrestler’, what immediately comes to mind for a lot of people is a six-foot-tall figure and built with more muscles than your eyes could comprehend. I’m neither of those things,” Carnatux said.
“I’m aware of the uphill battle I have to climb to prove that I belong in the ring, and this doubt has only fuelled me over the years, made me stronger, and pushed me forward, so I wear this symbolism of the ‘Black Sheep’ proudly, and use it as a source of strength.”
A lifelong wrestling fan, it was the intrigue of independent wrestling and Japanese wrestling that really made him fall in love with the sport.
The very first Japanese wrestling match he watched was Hiroki Goto vs Kenny Omega at the G1 Climax final of 2016, where he was enamoured by the in-ring work, the cinematography, and the Japanese audience’s deep appreciation for the sport.
He visited Japan in 2019 and attended a few shows in person, and was dazzled to the point where he wanted to step into the ring.
However, what flipped his switch was the WWE Cruiserweight Classic in 2016, which featured some of the best in the world.
Despite the exciting blend in styles, however, Carnatux felt that something was lacking, fuelling him to lace up his first pair of boots.
“I was fascinated watching Zack Sabre Jr’s technical mastery, Gran Metalik’s incredible Lucha Libre style, and Kota Ibushi’s Japanese Strong Style.
“Despite being an international tournament, however, there was no Arabic representation.
“At the conclusion of the tournament, I was determined to start wrestling and begin my journey to represent Bahrain and Arab countries on the international stage.
“My career began a lot sooner than expected with the founding of Kingdom Pro Wrestling, and starting out at 18 years old has helped hone my craft and continuously improve.”
Ahead of the biggest match of his career, Carnatux admitted that there are some nerves as he prepares to debut against icons of the industry.
Wrestling in Japan has always been his biggest dream, and now he gets to do it against a man who has won championships around the world over the past three decades.
“It’s almost unbelievable,” said Carnatux. “CIMA is one of the most influential Japanese wrestlers and I used to study his legendary work.
“Now I get to face someone from whom I have taken so much inspiration from, it’s incredible.
“Japanese fans have been very welcoming, and I feel a sense of pride in representing Bahrain. I hope I can live up to expectations.”
nader@gdnmedia.bh
Top stories for today:
DRIVING AHEAD!: CYVN Holdings signs strategic partnership agreement with Mumtalakat to acquire McLaren Automotive business
Plans underway for new markets across Bahrain
Call to support Syria’s reconstruction efforts
&uuid=(email))