‘In the ring, I don’t care who my opponent is, I’ll try and sledge him’

Mumbai: Notwithstanding any pressure whatsoever, Indian wrestler Mahabali Shera, who was recently the first Indian to be drafted in Total Non Stop Action (TNA) wrestling, is pumped up and will look to come out triumphant and pin down one of wrestling’s top stars- Jeff Hardy in his match on Monday on TNA IMPACT Wrestling.

(Photo: DC File)

A veteran wrestler like Hardy, who currently is one half of the TNA World Tag Team Championship has been in the business for quite some time, first with World Wrestling Entertainment and now with TNA. Given such experience, the quickness and pace at which Hardy operates surely will pose a problem for the Indian macho man, but Shera on the other hand begs to differ.

“Jeff Hardy is a well-known name and I’m happy to be working with such a superstar. I do have a lot of respect for him but when I enter the ring I don’t care who that person is, all I want to do is to take him down and emerge victorious,” Shera said.

Wrestling is considered to be a very dangerous sport and wrestlers in the ring always are ever willing to tear their opponent apart. However, it’s not the same outside equation they share outside the ring. “There’s respect for every wrestler outside the ring and we do wish each other and chat so in this way the enmity from the ring is never carried outside but the scene totally changes once we’re in the ring,” Shera, who wishes to continue with wrestling all his life added.

The God-fearing lad also wishes that a win with Hardy would also lower down his mother’s pressure when she tries her best control her emotions when her son’s in the ring. Settling outside his country and venturing into a sport that’s not conventionally accepted in the minds of Indian people, Shera receives a lot of love from his family and close friends, but his mother’s story is one that’s left only for him to tell.

Kurt Angle was responsible for bringing Mahabali Shera into wrestling. (Photo: DC File)

“My brother wishes to become like me but its just a sight to watch my mother’s face when she watches me in the ring,” Shera quipped, adding, “Whenever she sees in me in the ring she goes into depression, or catches fever, or her blood pressure dips. When she hears I’m playing a match, she falls sick the very next moment, so I just hope that a win will possibly change her. But otherwise, my dad and everybody at home support me wholeheartedly.”

With his career being in its nascent stages, Shera hopes that people will look towards him to take up the profession. “I am not denying this sport is a dangerous one but back home people take it too light heartedly. Now when they start seeing accidents happen in the ring, then they realise that wrestling is truly real. I am going to make sure that people look up at my performances in order to adopt the profession,” he said.

So here’s the first step you need to take to become the next Khali or the next Mahabali Shera. “You need to have the will power and the mindset to become the best here. Don’t be afraid of your opponents even if they are taller or heavier than you. Start exercising regularly and eat a healthy diet. I don’t encourage proteins or supplements at all. I’ve become like this all because of a natural diet that includes eggs, milk, chicken, ghee, dahi,” Shera pointed out.

And finally, in keeping with the cricket World Cup fever, Mahabali Shera does intend on adopting a cricketing strategy during his match against Jeff Hardy. “I’ll try to sledge him and see if it works. If it does I’ll make sure in no time I pin him down,” Shera, who looks to be confident for the big showdown on Monday, said.