10 Professional WWE Wrestlers From Africa
WWE also known as professional wrestling promotion formed in the 1950s by the Capitol Wrestling Corporation. It is the largest wrestling promotion in the world, with over 500 events per year, a roster generally divided into three globally touring brands, and about 36 million viewers in over 150 countries.
The company’s global headquarters are located in Stamford, Connecticut, approximately 50 kilometres from New York City, with offices in major cities worldwide. check out What is Robert Pattinson Net worth 2022
Five of the following ten professional WWE wrestlers are Nigerian:
1. Justice Gabriel
![10 Professional WWE Wrestlers From Africa, 5 Are Nigerians](https://jaybesttrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/wwe-gabriel-justin_3256336.jpg)
Justin Gabriel, a second-generation Superstar who was born and raised in Cape Town, was WWE’s first South African Superstar. When the WWE Universe first admired his 450 splash, the former model had been performing in South Africa and the United Kingdom for more than a decade prior to entering the WWE ring. check out Top 7 Best Smart TV’s Under 70k in Nigeria 2022
Gabriel has brought his rebellious nature to The Nexus and The Corre since his debut in WWE NXT season one. In the vast majority of attacks by these factions, Gabriel’s astounding acrobatics served as the concluding flourish to each calculated assault. Every time he executed his signature body-crushing manoeuvre, he demonstrated to every WWE Superstar that he was more than a pretty face.
In January 2015, the self-proclaimed Darewolf left WWE to travel the globe once more in search of new adventures.
2. Ezekwesiri “EJ” Nduka Jr
Ezekwesiri “EJ” Nduka Jr. was born on August 28, 1988. He is currently signed to WWE and assigned to the WWE Performance Center.
On February 21, 2013, prior to signing with WWE, Nduka was signed by the Toronto Argonauts. Nduka had multiple stints with NFL and CFL teams following college.
In 2012, following his senior year of college, Nduka was ultimately invited to the NFL Combine. He participated in college football at Sam Houston State University, the 2012 runner-up for the National Championship. Nduka has played for the Tri-Cities Fever, Allen Wranglers, Toronto Argonauts, and the San Antonio Talons.
Nduka is also a professional IFBB bodybuilder. Nduka has competed previously for the MuscleMania Professional Division. Nduka finished fourth in the Men’s Physique Professional Division at the World Championships in Las Vegas. After leaving the AFL in 2016, Nduka began a career in bodybuilding.
Since then, he is won the Texas State Championships, the Ronnie Coleman Classic, the BetterBodies Championship, the Junior Nationals, and the JR USAs. Nduka has also competed in the Classic Pro division at the Arnold Classic and the Lou Ferrigno Legacy Classic, where he finished in the top three.
Due to his success on the gridiron and the IFBB stage, Nduka received a WWE tryout in December 2018 and returned to the WWE Performance Center in April 2019 for a second tryout. Nduka was signed to WWE’s developmental territory NXT in August of 2019.
Nduka was born in Dallas, Texas, to Nigerian parents. Jackson Memorial High School was EJ Nduka’s high school in Jackson, New Jersey. He was a letterwinner and star in both basketball and track and field. Before committing to football in college, he was a standout basketball player.
Nduka began his college career in 2007 at Jacksonville University before transferring to Sam Houston State in 2008, where he played for three years, from 2008 to 2011. As a freshman in 2008, he wore a redshirt, but he eventually made a significant impact for the Bearkats, particularly as a pass rusher in game situations.
NFLDraftScout.com projected that Nduka would go undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft. He was considered the fortieth-best outside linebacker in the draught. The Allen Wranglers of the IFL later signed Nduka. In the final three games of 2012, Nduka recorded 15 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, and one recovered fumble.
Nduka was signed on February 21, 2013 by the Toronto Argonauts. The Argonauts released him on May 8, 2013.
Nduka is now a professional athlete in the IFBB. Nduka recently announced via social media that in 2017 he will now compete in the Classic Physique division.
3. Kofi Kingston, Ghana
Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah is a Ghanaian-American professional wrestler. He was born on August 14, 1981.
As a member of ‘The New Day’ alongside Big E and Xavier Woods, he is under contract with WWE’s SmackDown brand. In 2013, ‘Pro Wrestling Illustrated’ (PWI) ranked him as the twenty-fifth best wrestler based on his multiple championships.
Among his signature moves are the double backhand chop, the flying forearm smash, and the somersault plancha. He gave up his corporate job to sign with WWE, having been passionate about wrestling since childhood. In the early stages of his career, he promoted himself as being from Jamaica rather than Ghana, as he believed that people would be more receptive to him if he came from the same country as the legendary singer-songwriter Bob Marley.
Nonetheless, he has now abandoned the Jamaican claim and confirmed that he is from Ghana. Initially, his fans did not embrace his group ‘New Day,’ but its appearance on RAW soon became a highlight of the programme. In fact, ‘New Day’ became the tag team champion with the longest reign in WWE history.
Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah was born in Kumasi, Ashanti from Kwasi and Elizabeth Sarkodie-Mensah. Kwame and Nana Akua were his siblings. He immigrated to the United States with his family and eventually settled in the greater Boston area, where he attended Winchester High School in Winchester, Massachusetts, and then Boston College.
4. Babatunde Aiyegbusi, Nigeria
Babatunde Aiyegbusi, who was born on 26 May 1988, is a Nigerian wrestler who is currently shining in the sport as he frequently wears an agbada into the ring to fight.
Born to a Nigerian father and Polish mother, he grew up in the United States and began his career as a footballer before moving to WWE.
Babatunde Aiyegbusi, who stood 6 feet 10 inches tall, formerly played in the National Football League.
The 32-year-old is currently performing in WWE’s developmental territory, and if he impresses like Anthony Joshua, Nigerians may start to follow him.
5. David Daniel Otunga, Kenya
David Daniel Otunga, Sr. was born on April 7, 1980, and is a professional wrestler and former reality television actor.
Together with Michael McGillicutty, he was a member of the WWE Tag Team Champions. He is signed to WWE. John Laurinaitis hired him as a legal consultant to assist other wrestlers in eliminating Triple H. During the first season of NXT, he finished second. He was also the host of the WWE Kickoff Show at the time.
Otunga was selected as a contestant on I Love New York 2 and given the nickname “Punk” after his niece submitted an audition tape of him. Otunga reached the competition’s final three before being eliminated in the penultimate episode.
In November of 2008, Otunga signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling, the company’s developmental territory.
On May 29, 2009, he debuted under the ring name Dawson Alexander in a six-man tag team match. Abraham Saddam Washington, Derrick Bateman, and Tonga were defeated by the alliance of Otunga, Barry Allen, and Jon Cutler.
Moses, Otunga’s Kenyan father, and Billy, his white American mother, were both educators. Otunga is their son.
On Jennifer Hudson’s 27th birthday, he proposed seven months after meeting the singer and actress. Hudson gave birth to her and Otunga’s first child, a son named David Daniel Otunga Jr., on August 10, 2009.
6. Moose, Nigeria
Born on April 23, 1984 to Nigerian parents, Moose Quinn Ojinnaka is an American professional wrestler and former American football player. He is currently under contract with IMPACT Wrestling and is a former Impact Grand Champion twice over.
In addition to Ring of Honor, Revolution Pro Wrestling, EVOLVE Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and Pro-Wrestling NOAH, he has worked for Ring of Honor, EVOLVE Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and Pro-Wrest
As a college offensive lineman at Syracuse, he was selected in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Afterward, he played for the New England Patriots, the St. Louis Rams, and the Indianapolis Colts.
Ojinnaka began training in professional wrestling under Mr. Hughes at WWA4 in 2012, and has attended WWE training camps. On February 22, 2014, he made his debut as a bodyguard for Dragon Gate USA, working alongside The Bravado Brothers. Global Force Wrestling (GFW) announced on May 6, 2015 that Ojinnaka would be joining their roster. As a result of signing a new contract with Ring of Honor (ROH), Ojinnaka was only scheduled to work GFW’s house shows and not television tapings.
Two days after Willbourne appeared at ROH’s Best in the World 2014 event on June 22, 2014, the promotion announced it had signed him to a contract. Then, Ojinnaka adopted the ring name Moose and joined forces with R.D. Evans and Veda Scott. R.D. Evans was defeated by Moose, Prince Nana, and Stokely Hathaway at Final Battle 2014 on December 7, 2014.
Moose defeated Mark Briscoe in a singles match at the ROH 13th Anniversary Show on March 1, 2015, marking his first major victory within Ring of Honor. Moose previously “squashed” wrestlers like Colby Corino.
Cedric Alexander ended Moose’s unbeaten streak on May 16 at Global Wars ’15, when he defeated him. On June 19 at Best in the World ’15, Moose’s manager Veda Scott turned against him and partnered with Alexander. Moose lost a three-way match against Roderick Strong at the PPV.
He was defeated by Michael Elgin at Final Battle. Moose and War Machine were defeated by Bullet Club at Best in the World ’16. Ojinnaka departed ROH on July 8, 2016, with reports linking him to WWE and TNA (TNA).
7. Kamala, Uganda
James Harris, also known as Kamala, was one of the most savage and terrifying Superstars in the history of sports entertainment.
1978 marked the debut of his professional wrestling career under the ring name “Sugar Bear” Harris.
Lawler, who was a promoter at the time, offered Harris a job with the Continental Wrestling Association in 1982. Harris, Lawler, and CWA founder Jerry Jarrett then created the character of Kimala (later renamed Kamala), who was originally billed as being from Uganda.
After wrestling for the CWA, Mid-South Wrestling, and World Class Championship Wrestling, Harris debuted in the WWF as Kamala in 1984 and began feuding with Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant.
Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Harris repeatedly left and returned to WWF, wrestling for other promotions in between. He was the one who suggested Hulk Hogan join WCW in 1995, when he was semi-retired and briefly performed for the company.
Throughout the 2000s, Harris made multiple appearances as Kamala for WWF/WWE. His last WWE appearance was in 2006, but he remained active on the independent circuit through 2010.
On May 28, 1950, he was born in Senatobia, Mississippi, United States. On August 9, 2020, he passed away. He reached the age of 70.
8. Jordan Omogbehin, Nigeria
Jordan Omogbehin, born in 1994, is a Nigerian professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where he competes under his real name on the NXT brand.
Omogbehin played college basketball for the University of South Florida and Morgan State University before becoming a professional wrestler. From 2012 to 2015, he competed in college basketball. In October of 2018, it was announced that Omogbehin would be training with WWE.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, is Omogbehin. Omogbehin attended and graduated from Atlantic Shores Christian Academy in Chesapeake, Virginia, following his family’s migration to the United States. After deciding to attend the University of South Florida (USF) from 2012 to 2014, he continued playing basketball, as he did in high school. Omogbehin played the centre position for USF.
During his time at USF, Omogbehin claims to have met basketball legend Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston, Texas, in 2014. After transferring from the University of South Florida, Omogbehin played basketball at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. From 2014 to 2015, he played the centre position for the Morgan State Bears.
According to a report dated October 17, 2018, WWE has signed seven athletes to train at the WWE Performance Center. Signed among them was Omogbehin.
Omogbehin made his in-ring debut in 2019, defeating team 3.0 in a Two-On-One Handicap match at a house show on July 18.
9. South Africa’s Raymond John Leppan
Raymond John Leppan, born July 20, 1979, is a retired South African professional wrestler best known for his time in WWE under the ring name Adam Rose.
In 1995, Leppan made his debut on the independent circuit in South Africa. In 2010, he signed with WWE and competed in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) under the ring name Leo Kruger, where he won two FCW Florida Heavyweight Championships. After FCW ceased operations in 2012, Leppan continued to compete in NXT as Leo Kruger before joining WWE’s main roster as Adam Rose in early 2014. After a series of scandals, Leppan was released from the promotion in April 2016 and competed in the independent international circuit until his retirement in June 2019.
Adam, according to his wife, desired to wrestle as early as age 10. Leppan, who dropped out of school at the age of 14, ran away from home at the age of 14 and spent the next two years living on the streets and in abandoned buildings. Later, Leppan explained that he had been “spiralling out of control” during that period, which was filled with violence and alcohol, and that only the idea of becoming a wrestler had helped him escape. Leppan also stated that despite having loving parents, he had rejected family membership. Later, Leppan’s mother successfully persuaded him to return to Johannesburg from Durban in order to begin wrestling classes.
10. Apollo Crews, from Nigeria
Apollo Crews, born Sesugh Uhaa on August 22, 1987, is a Nigerian-born American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand. Crews was born on August 22, 1987, in Nigeria.
2009 marked the beginning of his wrestling career. Here you will find details regarding the Apollo crew’s biographies, ages, wives, heights, weights, net worth, and salaries. In 2015, he began wrestling for WWE and was assigned to NXT, the organization’s developmental brand. Luke Harper eliminated him on January 29, 2017, during his first Royal Humble match.
Crews did not have an easy childhood; he attended a military high school, and because things were so challenging there, he immersed himself in sports as an escape.
In addition to excelling at soccer, football, track and field, and wrestling, he was also an outstanding athlete. “Sports were my escape from the military,” he stated. “I desired to play all year. I have always been dedicated to athletics.
I did not want there to be a moment when I was not doing anything.” Crews also has a background in gymnastics, which he claims has influenced his wrestling style to some degree over the years. Growing up, he had difficulty finding the time to train for wrestling, so he did not pursue it seriously.
In 2011, Crews participated in tryouts for Philadelphia-based wrestling promotion Dragon Gate USA, which gave him his first major break in the sport.
He was immediately signed and began performing for them, as well as their parent company and subsidiaries, Dragon Gate, Evolve, and Full Impact Pro.
During an event in which he defeated Kotoka and became a Blood Warrior, he made his Japan debut two months into his Dragon Gate run. This trip to Japan is credited by Crews with launching his career and establishing his wrestling reputation.
In October 2014, after leaving Dragon Gate, Apollo Crews attended WWE’s tryout camp. A few months later, it was announced that he would be joining NXT on an official basis. On May 6, 2015, Crews made his debut on a broadcast episode of NXT.
Crews defeated Tye Dillinger at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn in his first televised match. Crews attacked Baron Corbin after Crews had defeated him in a battle royal. This resulted in a match won by Corbin over Crews. Elias Samson was the subject of another feud he had in NXT, but this time Apollo Crews was victorious.
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