Everything To Know About Uganda’s Upstart Wrestling Promotion

Highlights

• SGW brings wrestling back to its roots: no big productions, just pure, hard-hitting action on mud and dirt.
• Founded by Bumbash in 2023, SGW provides a fresh start for orphaned teenagers to showcase their wrestling talent.
• Major stars like Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega praise SGW’s dedication and express interest in inter-promotional matches.

Pro wrestling is a global phenomenon; it is a staple of Mexican culture, serves as a major spectacle in America, and was brought to new levels of physicality in Japan. Now, the sport has taken root in the continent of Africa.

Wrestling fans on social media have become infatuated with the Ugandan promotion, Soft Ground Wrestling (known simply as SGW). What’s truly unique about the promotion, besides its location, is their manner of wrestling; SGW does not use a traditional ring. Rather, the competitors fight on mud and dirt. This is where the promotion’s name originates.

In a way, SGW represents pro wrestling in its purest form; there are no gaudy LED lights, no picture-in-picture commercial breaks, no deafening pyro. There’s just hard-hitting action. It’s refreshing to watch, especially if you’ve gone numb to the commercialism of current American wrestling. If you’re unfamiliar with them, here’s a rundown on what to know about SGW, Uganda’s up-and-coming wrestling promotion.

Daniel Bumba Created Soft Ground Wrestling

Most Of SGW’s Roster Are Orphaned Teenagers

• One Man Army is the SGW Champion
• Kapeeka, Sanjuki, and Coolman are other SGW stars

SGW was founded by a lifelong wrestling fan, a Ugandan named Daniel Bumba, who goes by Bumbash. When he was a teenager, Bumbash made a living translating WWE DVDs and selling them. Then, in 2023, Bumbash decided to take his passion for pro wrestling a step further and opened a training school. He sought out young men and women who had been dealt a tough hand in life and needed a fresh start.

Many of the wrestlers in SGW are orphans who have found a new life through professional wrestling. The current SGW Champion, One Man Army, lost his mother shortly after completing primary school and could not further his education. He, like Bumbash, has been a fan of wrestling since he was a child, and answered the call to train at SGW immediately. Other stars include the cocky, fun-loving Kapeeka, fiery Sanjuki, and the ever-suave Coolman.

The most prominent heel in the company is undoubtedly Lord White, an Englishman who traveled across continents to claim ownership of the Ugandan wrestling business. The man behind the Lord White persona has a passion for the wrestling business, and is eager to help the sport grow in Africa.

Major Wrestling Stars Are Taking Notice OF SGW

SGW Has Been Praised By Stars Like Will Ospreay & Kenny Omega

• Will Ospreay helped SGW buy a wrestling ring
• Will Ospreay wants to wrestle in SGW
• Kenny Omega admires the dedication of SGW wrestlers

AEW star Will Ospreay has been a major advocate for SGW; he has donated thousands of dollars to the promotion so that they could have a proper wrestling ring, in addition to living facilities for the wrestlers. Ospreay is also hoping to have a match against an SGW star. He was asked about his feelings towards SGW during the media scrum for AEW Dynasty. He said:

They’re wrestling on the ground for f*cks sake. To see that and to see their enthusiasm and energy, I want to be part of that too. To be able to go, ‘there you go,’ a little wink and nudge. ‘I’ll see you over there soon lads.’ That’s my dream. Not dream, but my ambition. I really want to go to Uganda and do some wrestling.

At the time of writing, no official match for Will Ospreay has been announced. However, SGW star Sanjuki the Bull has issued a challenge against the Aerial Assassin, proposing an inter-promotional match between himself and the AEW star. Hopefully the bout comes to fruition and helps bring more eyes to the passionate work being done in Africa.

Former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega has also expressed his admiration for SGW. During a Twitch stream, he praised the promotion for their incredible dedication. He said:

One thing that I really love and appreciate about SGW Uganda is, when you’re watching it, you can feel the heart of the athletes. It’s infectious, to see the passion of these people and to see the passion through their work.

With endorsements from two of the best wrestlers in the world today, it’s hard not to imagine that SGW will continue building their momentum. They certainly have the passion and will to succeed; now, it’s just a matter of perfecting their craft and garnering a devoted fan base.