5 Takeaways from the NPWF’s National Security, Peace and Unity event

June 13th has come and gone but the results of the Nigeria Pro Wrestling Federation’s most recent showing will certainly affect the country’s pro wrestling scene for months and months to come. Here are our major takeaways from Sunday’s action in Abuja.

Rasman Iron had a star making performance

There was no Nigerian wrestler that was in the headlines this past weekend more than Rasman Iron. The NPWF newcomer really made a big splash in his first appearance for the federation. First, came his attack on his opponent for Sunday, Flying Danko, in Danko’s hotel room. Then, when the two stepped in the ring, Rasman Iron walked away as the victor in his first NPWF match over one of the federation’s most recognizable stars. While some have questioned the referee’s count on the winning pinfall, including Danko himself, the win still counts. Then, later in the night, the dangerous Rastafarian made his way to the ring following Strong Bone’s victory over Captain Dunga. Rasman Iron then challenged Strong Bone to a future match, telling the big heavyweight that he would get revenge for his friend Captain Dunga’s loss. Rasman Iron looks to be making the most of his opportunity in the NPWF early and often.

Rasman Iron

Flying Danko was grounded

Circumstances in Abuja kept Flying Danko from fully living up to the “flying” part of his name. Wrestling in a boxing ring instead of the wrestling ring that he’s used to, Danko wasn’t able to leap from the top rope and take to the skies as much as he usually likes to due to the general unsteadiness of the ring ropes. His arsenal of drop kicks was still present but there’s no doubt that his limited ability to take to the skies affected the outcome of the match. While Danko did pull out some new weapons in his arsenal, including some submission wrestling, it wasn’t enough to get the job done against Rasman Iron. But there’s still the issue of the finish of the match. Some fans believe that Danko’s shoulders were raised from the mat when the referee slapped the mat for the three count. Danko himself believes that the referee did it purposely, and that he was in Rasman Iron’s corner. I’m not sure that we’ll find out the truth about what really happened. But if Rasman Iron isn’t too wrapped up with Strong Bone, we wouldn’t mind seeing these two go at it again. Maybe this time, it could go down in the wrestling ring at Lagos National Stadium, on Danko’s home turf, in the ring that he usually takes flight in. Surely Flying Danko would be interested in getting some revenge after being attacked in his hotel room and losing by a questionable pinfall.

Flying Danko prior to his match with Rasman Iron

The NPWF’s female wrestlers made history and put on an awesome match in the process

History was made in the NPWF’s women’s division on Sunday. For the first time ever in Nigerian pro wrestling, three female competitors wrestled against each other in the same match. Nigeria’s first women’s triple threat match was one to remember. All three women were on top of their game. Stylish J was dominant at times and used her strength to her advantage well. Iron Lady Becky was aggressive and intense. Alexandra The Queen was fearless, taking to the skies on multiple occasions. In the end, things were left unresolved as the match finished in a time limit draw. The three wrestlers were dissatisfied with the end result of the match and continued their fight from the ring all the way back to the locker room. There definitely seems to be some unresolved issues between Stylish J, Becky and Alexandra. Hopefully that means we can get these three in the ring together again for a rematch at some point.

Alexandra The Queen and Stylish J

The trophy went home with its rightful owner

From the second the NPWF announced their intentions to hold the National Security, Peace and Unity championship in Abuja, Aliking was there and ready to help promote the event and the message behind it. He was there by Chief John Uche’s side when the NPWF made a visit to Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives committee on sports, speaking passionately about the message behind the event of promoting national security, peace and unity. He made a solo visit to the country’s NATFORCE offices to share the message of the planned event and ask for support. It was only fitting that Aliking was given a chance to fight for the National Security trophy. By all accounts, Mighty Progress gave him a tough match, but in the end, Aliking was able to win and take home the trophy. His hard work and dedication to the event and the cause behind the event paid off and the right man took home the prize.

Big surprise! New heavyweight champion of Nigeria!

When Chief John Uche became the president of the NPWF in 2018, he declared all championship titles vacant. Since that day, the Nigerian Heavyweight Championship title belt has not been held or defended by anyone. At the outset of Sunday’s event, the NPWF announced a huge surprise: the first NPWF Nigerian Heavyweight Champion in over three years would be named by the end of the evening. Due to Mighty Man’s continued success in the heavyweight division, he and the South African trained Great Mosendo were chosen as the two wrestlers that would meet to determine a new Nigerian Heavyweight Champion in the night’s main event. MIghty Man was able to overcome Mosendo with his power in the end and in the process won the championship title belt. Mighty Man is now the top heavyweight in all of Nigeria.

Mighty Man showing off his new championship belt after his big victory on Sunday

There were other stories from the event that have been touched on in other pieces that deserve a mention here as well. Nigeria is still trying to find it’s top tag team after Sunday’s tag team contest between De Grippers and the Dakkada Thunders ended in a time limit draw. It will be interesting to see if a tag team will emerge to the forefront of Nigerian tag team wrestling in the months ahead. Strong Bone’s success in victory is not to be overlooked either. The heavyweight competitor may have lined himself up as a future challenger for Mighty Man’s heavyweight champion title belt with his big win on Sunday.

After June 13th’s successful event, we’re excited to see what the Nigeria Pro Wrestling Federation has planned next! Stay tuned to WrestleMap for updates on the NPWF’s plans moving forward!