Nigeria has made outstanding performances in the sport of wrestling. Various wrestlers brought Nigeria to the limelight in the sport of wrestling and will forever be referenced to and remembered for their great wins and achievements.
Michael Okpala, a.k.a Power Mike, is a famous Nigerian wrestler born on the 8th of August 1939 in Neni, Aniocha LGA of Anambra state, Nigeria. He discovered his talent as a boxer at an early stage when he was still in primary school.
His interest was initially in boxing games, which made him join the Dick Tiger Boxing Club as a middleweight boxer in the amateur category while in Onitsha immediately after his primary education. He later traveled from Onitsha to Kano for apprentice business; there, he started a local Superman show business that gained his popularity as Power Mike.
In his pursuit, he became a big-time traveler traveling from states in Nigeria to international countries. It was when he traveled to Greece in 1968 after his one-year contract in Sweden that he became a wrestler. While in Greece, he performed as a superman, and a wrestling promoter interested him and trained him under Kalie Abdulkalie of Lebanon. Initially, he never liked the wrestling game due to the brutality involved, but later developed great interest and became an acclaimed wrestler.
He later returned to Nigeria in 1970 after he competed in Britain. That was precisely the year he won a championship and held a title in an African heavyweight competition after overpowered a renowned foreign wrestler, Gambia's Massambula.
Power Mike defeated several noteworthy global superstars from different countries, including Judd Harris, Ali Baba of Lebanon in 1973, Joseph Kovacs, John Tiger of Canada, Johnny Kwango, and Power Jack.
In 1976, he retired from active wrestling and specialized in international sports promotions, bringing foreign wrestlers onto Nigeria's shores. Some of them included Chris Adams, Thunderbolt Dick the 'Bulldog, Carlos Colon, Brower'Williams, Mil Mascaras, Michael Hayes, The Mongols, Buddy Rose, Mighty Igor and so many others.
It came as shocking news on the 11th day of March 2004 when Power Mike finally gave up at the National Hospital, CBD Abuja, Nigeria, after a prolonged illness.
Odunayo Adekuoroye (Pantera dancer) is a Nigerian female freestyle wrestler born on the 10th of December 1993 in Ilutitun, Okitipupa Local Government Area in Ondo State, Nigeria.
Adekuoroye is a medallist who has made a name in the world wrestling medal table. She had won medals consecutively at the Commonwealth Games and other tournaments. In 2014, she won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games; at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships, she also won a bronze medal. She also won a silver medal in the women's 55 kg freestyle wrestling at the 2017 World Wrestling Championship.
Blessing Oborududu is a Nigeria freestyle wrestler born on the 12th of March 1989 in Gbanranu, Southern Region of Bayelsa state, Nigeria. She competed in the freestyle 63 kg at the 2012 Summer Olympics but lost the winning 1/8 finals to Monika Michalik of Poland.
Blessing has competed in several lose-and-win competitions. She made the country proud in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze medal in the women's middleweight.
In 2016, during the Summer Olympics, she competed in the women's middleweight division but lost to Soronzonboldyn Battsetseg in the second round.
At the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games, she won a gold medal for the women's 63kg category. also in the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast, she won a gold medal in the 68kg women's freestyle wrestling event, defeating Danielle Lappage of Canada.
John Emmanuel is one of the renowned wrestlers in Nigeria. He participated in the United World Wrestling – UWW, where he was ranked/rated the number one in the men's 70kg freestyle wrestling. In the African Wrestling Championship held in Port Harcourt, he performed exceedingly well to retain his championship title.
He is a one-time African champion, and when it comes to national championships, he has won twice.
Agiomor Ekerekeme is one of Nigeria's wrestlers who has also performed well in his feature wrestling championships. He is in the 79kg men category of wrestling. He has won many national titles but became famous as he won his first African title in the continental championship held in Port Harcourt City.
His winning ranked him third in the world after Rashid Kurbanov from Uzbekistan and Ezzetollah Akabarizarinkolaei, an Iranian wrestler.
Stephen Akintewe of Akure High School, Akure, Ondo State, is a 16-year-old Nigerian wrestler who won a gold medal in the 60kg cadet during the Africa Wrestling Championships held from 11th to 17th February 2018 at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt Nigeria.
Old famous wrestlers
Other past and present Wrestlers
To Learn More About Nigeria Wrestling, Click on any of the links below;
