Republic of the Congo National Championship underway and set to run through weekend

The best pro wrestlers from the Republic of the Congo have gathered in the town of Ouésso in the northern portion of the country for the 2022 National Championship.

The National Championship kicked off on July 26th and is set to run through the end of the month with the championship final set for July 31st. The goal of the event is to name the 2022 FECOLUSAF Champion of the Congo in both classic style pro wrestling and African style, which is also known as catch fetiche or “voodoo wrestling.”

These national and departmental championships that take place in the Congo are used to determine a new champion yearly. The championship system in the Congo works a little bit differently than it does in most of the wrestling promotions around the world. While there are singles match challenges and title defenses similar to what can be seen in many wrestling promotions around the world, the main difference is that heading into these championship events, the reigning champion has to relinquish the title and re-earn it during the championship.

Heading into this year’s National Championship, two recently crowned champions will be attempting to reclaim their title belts and continue their reign. Back in April in the city of Ouenzé, Safrane became the Champion of Congo in Classic Style after defeating Lourd Biankouikila in a bout for the vacant championship belt. On the same day, Zombie Aigle became Champion of Congo in African Style after beating Bougie Rouge, the reigning champion at the time, for the belt.

Now both Safrane and Zombie Aigle will have to fight through a packed crowd of wrestlers trying to capture their titles. In the African style division, popular practitioners such as Champion of Brazzaville “The Siren” Kabo Waces, former Champion of Congo Bougie Rouge, and Champion of Pointe Noire Abaramboua will be attempting to claim the country’s top belt in their division. The classic style division is just as stacked with wrestlers such as the Champion of Brazzaville RTGA Du Pouvoir Lion, Champion of the city of Niari Mick 23, Bras De Fer of Pointe Noire and more gunning for the right to become Champion of Congo.

From left: Classic Style Champion of Niari, Mick 23, a referee, and RTGA Du Pouvoir Lion, the reigning champion of Brazzaville in Classic Style, arrive in Ouesso. Image courtesy of RTGA’s Facebook page.

As of now, we’ve only been able to track down a few videos and photos of matches as well as news updates on the action so far. From the action we’ve seen so far, it looks like the matches are being contested in a ring with no ropes, giving a unique feel to this year’s event. We’ll do our best to keep this page updated with what we’re able to track down from the event. We’ll also be sure to provide a report following the championship to give an update on who left Ouesso with the belts and the title of Champion of Congo.

RTGA poses with the FECOLUSAF Champion of Brazzaville Classic Style championship belt before a match in Ouesso.

RTGA takes on Bras De Fer of Pointe Noire in each wrestler’s first match of the National Championship. RTGA would outlast Bras De Fer in this match from the first day of competition.

In a match with big implications, the Champion of the Congo in Classic Style heading into the National Championship, Safrane, takes on Champion of Brazzaville, RTGA, on the second day of action! This match was a back and forth battle between two of the Congo’s best and Safrane is able to pickup the pinfall win after a big gutwrench powerbomb.

Another flyer advertising the event.

All images to this point are courtesy of RTGA Du Pouvoir Lion’s Facebook page.