This Windsor-based athlete is changing the image of South Asian pro wrestlers
CBC
One body slam at a time, Bhupinder Gujjar is changing the image of South Asian professional wrestlers.
While they're often painted as evil personas, or "heels," the Windsor-based wrestler is a "babyface" — a good guy. And Gujjar says he hopes to spread the idea in North America that Indian wrestlers can win by fair play.
Gujjar is signed with Border City Wrestling (BCW) and Impact Wrestling. He's also in Border City Wrestling's show at the Essex Fun Fest on Sunday.
He spoke with Windsor Morning's Nav Nanwa Friday about his character, the reception he's gotten, and how he hopes to help change a stereotype.
The following transcript has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: How did you get into professional wrestling?
A: I wanted to do it, but back home in India, we didn't have much opportunity. So [in] 2016, I got an opportunity to go to Khali's school to train for a little bit, like six months. Then I moved to Canada after six months training. I got trained here by Scott D'Amore. Since then, I just got into this profession.
Q: Everyone has a character in professional wrestling. It's one of the reasons I love watching professional wrestling. How would you describe your character?
A: My character is a new upcoming Indian star who's the face of Impact Wrestling in India. I'm aggressive; I do power moves. I can do flashy moves, too. I'm aggressive, but at the same time, I don't like to win by cheating. That's my character: win, but win with fair play.
Q: When I grew up seeing South Asian wrestlers like Tiger Ali Singh or, most recently, Jinder Mahal, a lot of them had a very stereotypical persona — almost like the evil foreigner persona — that would come out. You're quite the opposite. What can you tell me about that?
A: Impact Wrestling, I think, is the only promotion who's breaking these stereotypes. They launched me as a babyface. Usually you're going to see all the Indians, all the Asian wrestlers, all are heel, or evil, characters. But [with] Impact Wrestling, this is the first time that, to my knowledge, they launched someone as a babyface. And people are really liking my stuff and they love watching my stuff.
It's just a stereotype, as you said, that people launch all the Asian wrestlers as evil wrestlers or as bad guys. But now, working with Impact, I get a chance to represent India. I've lived in Windsor for over five years and I can say I represent Windsor, and people in India, in a good way.
Q: Why do you think it's important to change that narrative?
A: You need to change. People want to see something because India is a big market. Indian people like fair play, whatever the sport you play. I think Impact Wrestling knows that better, and Scott D'Amore, my coach, knows that better. That's why he gave me a chance where I can present myself in a positive way. And I think it's working pretty well.
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