The historical past books {of professional} wrestling are affected by failed massive males. Each firm has tried to take mountainous people and switch them into wrestlers. And whereas some pan out like Andre The Large or The Huge Present, far many extra stand out for all of the incorrect causes, fading into obscurity after a couple of years of disappointment.
This weekend AEW unveiled its newest try to show a giant man into a professional wrestler. Former NBA Draft decide Satnam Singh debuted for the corporate, and after a shaky first look on AEW Rampage, the 7′ 2 massive man adopted by turning heads at Battle for the Belts II on Saturday evening when he was allowed to do extra within the ring, and exhibit this athleticism. It’s early, and there’s loads of methods this will go incorrect, however he’s turned me right into a believer.
Singh isn’t your typical wrestling massive man
There’s an expectation that comes from a giant man. Their fashion within the ring tends to be gradual, ponderous, and when the shock issue of seeing somebody that dimension wears off, there’s actually little left to make them compelling. It’s sort of an unsolvable puzzle. How do you will have long-term entertaining matches with somebody who has a restricted transfer set, and easily can’t work on the similar degree as smaller athletes.
That is the place Singh seems totally different, even primarily based on the very small pattern dimension we bought over the weekend. It’s probably not in regards to the massive double chokeslam he hit on Dalton Citadel’s valets on his solution to the ring, or how he ragdolled Jonathan Gresham into the ropes earlier than dribbling his head off the mat like a basketball. I used to be listening to the little issues: How he moved across the ring, how he stepped over the ropes, and I used to be blown away with how mild on his ft Singh was for a person of his dimension.
Much more importantly, his reflexes. For sure the very best transfer he pulled off on Saturday got here on the fly. Citadel, in an try and catch Singh off guard, dove excessive rope at him. Whether or not his launch was incorrect, or he didn’t get the proper rotation — I’m not precisely positive what occurred, however Citadel’s head was pointing on the ground, he was going to plant himself within the concrete like a garden dart.
With out considering, Singh reached out, plucked him out of mid-air and stopped his momentum. In a second he hurled Citadel apart into the ring steps. In that temporary window he saved one other performer, and to the untrained eye, nothing went incorrect. That could be a veteran transfer you simply don’t see out of a younger, very inexperienced wrestler.
Singh carries himself like a heavyweight, reasonably than the superheavyweight his dimension would counsel. He’s far more akin to guys like The Undertaker, Kane, and Lance Archer in how he strikes across the ring than folks like The Nice Khali, The Huge Present, or Omos. That is just about unprecedented for a person standing 7’2, 290 kilos — nevertheless it is also what makes him much more compelling than the everyday massive man.
He was lauded for his athleticism prior to creating it to the NBA
Singh was not the standard massive man when he was so closely scouted out of India and dropped at america to play at IMG Academy in 2014. Known as a “stretch 5 and a half,” Singh confirmed means to not simply play a standard sport within the paint, however confirmed an actual aptitude for hitting mid-range jumpers, and had nice contact from past the arc too.
Clearly he was extraordinarily tough across the edges, and wanted numerous work — and that work didn’t pan out, in any other case he’d be within the NBA proper now, and never working as an expert wrestler. Nonetheless, it factors to a left of grace and athleticism that may naturally lend itself to efficiency within the ring.
Maybe, most significantly, his dimension isn’t the product of an issue together with his pituitary gland, as we’ve seen with different wrestlers of his dimension. Singh has generational dimension inherited from his 7’2 father and a grandmother who was 6’9. Because of this his physique is of course extra accustomed to hold this sort of weight, and will result in him avoiding points together with his knees — particularly contemplating he’s working at a leaner 290 kilos than different wrestlers of his dimension.
There’s a stable help system in place in AEW
Singh tried out on the WWE efficiency heart in 2017, earlier than WWE determined to not signal him to a futures contract. From there he started coaching privately, and when he signed with AEW in 2021 he pivoted over to QT Marshall’s coaching heart.
Marshall has confirmed to be one of many biggest belongings in AEW’s arsenal. Behind the scenes he’s been an enormous boon to younger wrestlers, all of whom have flourished beneath his tutelage. As well as, AEW now has Paul Wight (aka The Huge Present) and Mark Henry beneath contract, two long-standing, profitable working massive males who may also help Singh work on the psychology of wrestling as a giant man, and what he must keep away from to achieve success.
The sky is the restrict for Satnam Singh
Clearly it is a very early within the course of for Singh and he’s but to have a full match within the ring. That stated, there’s each probability for him to be a serious, main star in AEW and past.
Not solely has Singh proven some pure traits within the ring that might become one thing particular, however he represents one thing wrestling firms have been clamoring for: A serious homegrown Indian star.
WWE has tried this up to now with The Nice Khali, however the reality is that India has a proud wrestling custom — and Khali merely wasn’t ok to courtroom followers between the ropes. The corporate tried once more extra lately with Jinder Mahal, however the push felt contrived, and it by no means garnered the fan help than WWE hoped.
Singh is a recognized identify. His basketball profession was chronicled when there was a perception he might turn into India’s Yao Ming. Now he has an opportunity to seize a brand new viewers, which each skilled wrestling firm has been dying to get a foothold in.
If Singh can proceed to be taught, and work, whereas maintain displaying the aptitude he did on Saturday, we might be seeing one thing very particular emerge.
