Season 2 Archives

By Eddie Jongwe, African Wrestling Herald
10 April 2021

There’s a new wrestling promotion in town and last Saturday saw their debut show at the South Bulawayo Youth Centre. Promoted by British wrestling entrepreneur and match maker Edwin Luntley the match featured five contests with an impressive audience of nearly 400 spectators. A lone cameraman was at the show, recording the match to be made available on YouTube following a 24 hour delay.

The Bulawayo Youth Club has hosted many boxing competitions over the years and the 18 foot wrestling run didn’t look out of place in the centre of the hall. It was great to see so many children sat around the ring while their families also enjoyed the action.

Harrison Ojubie was the commentator for the show, he ran down the card which would see a South African for Zimbabwe tag team main event with the Nupen Brothers set to take on two members of The Sables – King Myoyo and Benjamin Mapeza.

[1] DANNY ‘MR SMOOTH’ SWESWE (Gweru, Zimbabwe, 195lbs) v CHARLTON NGALA (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, 200lbs) – Heavy-Middleweight Match

Despite both being Heavy-Middleweights, these two moved around the ring at great pace and showed glimpses of some of the athleticism we are to expect from such high quality professional wrestling. Mr Smooth, as Danny Sweswe likes to be called showed his skill with the most perfectly executed butterfly suplex throw which saw him nearly secure a pinfall three count. Charlton Ngala was back in the contest though when he rocked Danny Sweswe out of the ring with a big forearm uppercut, nearly landing on the children cheering on at ringside. Once back in the ring Sweswe who seemed still groggy for the remainder of the contest following the blow was able to counter another butterfly suplex and lock Ngala in a Boston Crab.

RESULT: Danny Sweswe via submission following a Boston Crab in 5:24.

[2] ALAN ARNOTT (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, 188lbs) v WELLINGTON ‘THE HIGHLANDER’ NDLOVU (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, 185lbs) – Lightweight Match

Arnott and Ndlovu grabbled on the canvas for many a minute, with Arnott spending the majority of his time fighting from underneath, but failing to gain any advantage. The referee had to force a break in the proceedings when Arnott was forced to reach for the ropes. Once he was standing it was Wellington Ndlovu who asserted control with a kick to the head and an inside cradle in an attempt to end the contest. Ndlovu then applied an arm bar for several minutes with Alan Arnott attempting to escape unsuccessfully. Despite his advantage Ndlovu knew he was unable to secure victory with such a hold and executed a big Samoan Drop that caused considerable pain to the lower back of Alan Arnott. Wellington Ndlovu then hit a top rope elbow drop aimed at the lower back and that was all was required.

RESULT: WELLINGTON NDLOVU after a top rope elbow drop in 8:56.

[3] ABEL ‘BOOM BOOM’ MWENDWA (Kadoma, Zimbabwe, 170lbs) v PERNELL ‘SWEET PEA’ CHIROMO (Harare, Zimbabwe, 197lbs) – Catchweight

Mwendwa attempted to use his speed but Chiromo was no match for his lighter opponent with an overhead belly to belly making such an impact to the centre of the ring that all of those in attendance believed the match was over, or that significant damage had been done to the ring. There was no need for an engineering repairs and the match continued with Chiromo charging from corner to corner hitting Mwendwa with two charging clotheslines. Mwednwa was staggering around like a fish out of water before being launched into the ropes and then flung in the air with a back body drop. Chiromo was loving the attention and the fans were really behind him at this point, unfortunately for him he showboated to much and by the time he went back to deal with his opponent he was taken by surprise and rolled up for a close two count. It didn’t slow down Chiromo though and he was soon back on the attack with a release German Suplex and finally finished the match off with a double underhook DDT.

RESULT: Pernell ‘Sweat Pea’ Chiromo in 10:14 following a DDT.

[4] ALF’ SLEDGEHAMMER’ SALISBURY (Harare, Zimbabwe, 269lbs) v LAURENCE BROOKS (Rusape, Zimbabwe 195lbs) – Catchweight

The crowd erupted as national wrestling sensation ‘The Sledgehammer’ returned to the ring, the first time in Bulawayo in many years following his travels around the globe. He was no match for Laurence Brooks, despite having a comprehensive amateur background it was Salisbury who was able to use his considerable size advantage to restrict Brooks’ movements around the ring with a fierce headlock early on. Brooks only way into the contest was a dirty looking punch to the kidneys before pushing Salisbury out of the ring before pushing him face first into the rusty steel turnbuckle post. Salisbury was cut with a large four inch cash on the head and the blood was flowing freely. The referee was concerned and a medic was quickly found from the backstage area to check on the national hero – who was eventually deemed fit to continue. Salisbury was now in trouble, with impaired vision and the loss of blood impacting his balance and energy Brooks hit a nasty looking knee drop which opened the cut up even further. Brooks locked on a figure four leg lock and the crowd were on the edge of their seats as it looked like their hero The Sledgehammer was set to pass out, his face now covered with crimson red that was now causing a small puddle to form on the canvas. But The Sledgehammer had too much fight in him, he got the energy of the crowd behind him and he managed to reverse the hold, putting the pressure now on Brooks’ knee. Laurence Brooks though was able to scramble to the the ropes and the referee made Alan Salisbury break the hold. As Laurence Brooks got to his feet, he tested out the mobility of his left leg and pulled up his knee pad but before he knew what was happening Salisbury rocked him with an uppercut that sent him crashing to the mat, then a second before he lifted him onto his shoulder for a perfectly executed shoulder breaker. Brooks was in agony, the fans believing he may have separated his shoulder but there was no letting up from Salisbury who tugged him up by his arm and sent him across the ring with an Irish whip before almost decapitating him with a lariat, the bloody Salisbury then fell down on his opponent to cover him.

RESULT: Alf ‘Sledgehammer’ Salisbury in 14:51 following a lariat.

[5] NUPEN BROTHERS (ERNEST NUPEN & HERBIE NUPEN) v THE SABLES (BENJANI MAPEZA & KING MYOYO)

The Nupen Brothers arrived to the ring carrying a South African flag and were immediately unpopular due to some unpleasant conversations they had with the fans on the way into the ring. The Sables – full of energy and charisma stormed the ring and the fight was on before the ring announcer had safely exited the ring. The Sables sent the Nupen brothers head first into each other and then hit stereo dropkicks that sent them over the top rope to ringside. The crowd were as hot as they had been all night and were shouting for the referee to count out the South African brothers who were taking their time to get back into the ring despite a slow ten count from the official. Once back in the ring and Mapeza was on the wrong end of a headset from Herbie Nupen before a quick snap suplex and then in came Ernest the smaller of the two. Mapeza quickly fought back knocking down Ernest with a tackle before trying to get the fans back into the action, they were on their feet and waiting for Mpenza to pounce as Ernest Nupen rose to his feet, Mpenza dived for a cross body but Nupen ducked and Mpenza flew over the top rope crashing to the ringside area, landing on the hard – cold floor. King Myoyo tried to enter the ring to take his partners place but the referee was having none of it, with Mpenza coming one count away from being counted out. Once back in the ring, there was no let up and both Nupen brothers tagged in and out double teaming their opponent. They finally attempted a double suplex only for Mpenza to block the move, avoid a punch from Ernest Nupen and then push him into his brother Herbie who fell out of the ring. When Mpenza make the tag the fans made the most alright roar of support and Myoyo finally made his impact on the match firstly lifting Ernest above his head with a gorilla press slam straight onto his brother Herbie. Myoyo then hit both South Africans with spin kicks and tagged in the recovered Mpenza who climbed up to the top rope as Myoyo hoisted up Herbie Nupen on his shoulders for the duo to hit their favourite double team move with Mpenza coming off the top hitting a DDT.


RESULT: The Sables – Benjani Mapenza & King Myoyo after Mpenza pinned Herbie Nupen following a top rope assisted DDT in 16:12.

POST MATCH

After the main event King Myoyo and Benjani Mpenza thanked the crowd for coming out to support them. They said they were true patriots and along with the stable mate Danny ‘Mr Smooth’ Swewse they were going to bring true glory to Zimbabwean wrestling. It was at this point that Pernell Chiromo came out and asked to join The Sables. Myoyo and Mpenza said they would need to discuss the matter with their team mate but Chiromo would need to prove his worth by beating an international talent if he was to be considered worthy of joining the The Sables.

No return date was given.