Professional wrestling has become a worldwide phenomenon.
With the accessibility of WWE and other promotions through streaming and various broadcasting networks, the sport has gained exposure to countries in all parts of the globe. This includes Uganda, where a small wrestling promotion called SGW (Softground Wrestling) has been emerging in a small village called Mukono.
The ring itself is surrounded by a soft pile of mud in the middle of a grassy meadow. It’s made from string and bamboo poles. According to the company website, these wrestlers are also orphans. Despite not having ideal equipment, the passion and love of the sport is nothing short of sensational.
These athletes are aiming to live out their dreams as professional wrestlers — though these individuals do need proper attire — and more so a proper ring, to continue developing. A GoFundMe has been set up to raise money for the promotion, though to date it’s only raised roughly $1,500. On Tuesday morning, everything changed for this small promotion. WWE World Champion Cody Rhodes took to X on a prerecorded video message.
After acknowledging the promotion and everything it stands for, Rhodes revealed that he found a manufacturer in Uganda capable of providing the company with a real wrestling ring. Even more exciting for SGW, Rhodes vowed to pay for the entire ring himself. This speaks to a bigger picture.
For one, Rhodes is an immensely charitable guy. He’s more than living up to the baby face moniker he’s built as the champion of the company. More importantly, this will surely help to grow the sport in a region where it’s still relatively young. With a proper ring and advances in equipment, one can envision a scenario where people from other parts of Africa will come to hone their skills and sharpen their prowess in the ring.
