Gama Singh

2021-07-11T11:12:22Z

92.40.182.87:

{{For|the Indian wrestler of the early 20th century|The Great Gama}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name = Gama Singh
|names = '''Gama Singh'''<br/> '''Great Gama'''
|image = Gama Singh.jpg
|caption = Singh applying a [[Boston crab]] to his opponent
|birth_name = Gadowar Singh Sahota
|height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}
|weight = {{convert|225|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|12|8|mf=y}}
|death_date =
|birth_place = [[East Punjab|Punjab]], [[India]]
|resides = [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], Canada
|family = [[Raj Singh (wrestler)|Raj Singh]] (son)<br />[[Jinder Mahal]] (nephew)
|billed =
|trainer = Bill Persack<br />[[Stu Hart]]
|debut = 1973<ref name="ImpactHOF">{{cite web|url=https://lastwordonprowrestling.com/2018/01/14/indian-legend-gama-singh-joins-impact-wrestling/|title=Indian Legend Gama Singh Joins Impact Wrestling|work=Last Word on Pro Wrestling|first=Jamie|last=Greer|date=January 14, 2018|access-date=December 25, 2018}}</ref>
}}
'''Gadowar Singh Sahota''' ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]: ਗਦੋਵਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਹੋਤਾ); born December 8, 1954)<ref name="slamwrestlinghalloffame">{{Cite web|url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/singh_gama.html |title=SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: The Great Gama|work= Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canoe.ca|Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> is an [[Indo-Canadians|Indo-Canadian]] semi-retired [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] known as '''Gama Singh''' ([[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]: ਗਾਮਾ ਸਿੰਘ) and '''Great Gama''' currently signed with [[Impact Wrestling]] as a manager for Desi Hit Squad.<ref name="ImpactHOF"/> Sahota was a villainous mainstay and top attraction in [[Stu Hart|Stu Hart's]] [[Stampede Wrestling]] in [[Calgary]] for much of the 1970s and 1980s. Sahota also wrestled internationally in [[Japan]], [[South Africa]], [[Germany]], [[Kuwait]], [[Dubai]], [[Oman]], [[Australia]], the [[United States]] and the [[Caribbean]]. He also worked sporadically, mostly on overseas tours, for [[Vince McMahon]] and the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) from 1980-86. His nephew is former [[WWE Championship|WWE Champion]] [[Jinder Mahal]].

==Early life==
His father emigrated to [[Canada]] from [[Punjab, India]], with his family joining him in 1963. Sahota went to school in [[Merritt, British Columbia]] and excelled in amateur wrestling.<ref name="slamwrestlinghalloffame"/>

==Career==

===Early career (1973–1974)===
In the early 1970s Sahota met Bill Persack, an old time wrestler at a Vancouver [[YMCA]]; Persack had watched him wrestle in the amateur ranks and agreed to train him. Training Singh for six months, Persack suggested he go to [[Calgary|Calgary, Alberta]] and [[Stu Hart|Stu Hart's]] [[Stampede Wrestling]] to further his career. Upon moving to Calgary and meeting with Stu Hart, Sahota began training with [[Carlos Colon]], debuting in Stampede Wrestling in 1973. He would first compete under his own name, but by 1974 would take on the name "Great Gama", in reference to [[Great Gama|the great Indian star]] at the turn of the 20th century.<ref name="slamwrestlinghalloffame"/>

===Stampede Wrestling (1974–1990)===
Beginning his wrestling career in 1973, Gama Singh was one of the most hated wrestlers of all time in the Stampede Wrestling territory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.calgarysun.com/2017/05/22/jinder-mahal-first-calgarian-professional-wrestler-to-win-wwe-championship-since-bret-hart-20-years-ago |title=Jinder Mahal first Calgarian professional wrestler to win WWE Championship since Bret Hart, 20 years ago |publisher=Calgary Sun |access-date=May 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729094646/http://www.calgarysun.com/2017/05/22/jinder-mahal-first-calgarian-professional-wrestler-to-win-wwe-championship-since-bret-hart-20-years-ago |archive-date=July 29, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Singh would first find success in the tag team ranks, winning [[Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship|Stampede's Tag Titles]] on two occasions, before going on to feud with the [[Dynamite Kid]], taking the [[Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship|Mid-Heavyweight title]] from him in a ladder match. His most famous championship run, however, would be with Stampede Wrestling's [[Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship|British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship]], which he would win six times in the 1980s; with title victories over future renowned stars such as [[Davey Boy Smith]], [[Owen Hart]] and [[Chris Benoit]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=172|title=Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship |publisher=Cagematch.com |access-date=May 30, 2017 }}</ref>

Also in the 1980s Gama was a founding member and leader of the hated Karachi Vice stable, which also included [[Mike Shaw|Makhan Singh]], [[Steve DiSalvo]], [[Gary Albright|Vokhan Singh]], [[Kerry Brown (wrestler)|Kerry Brown]], [[Rhonda Singh]], Ron Starr and managers JR Foley and Abu Wizal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=29&nr=1429|title=Karachi Vice |publisher=Cagematch.net|access-date=May 30, 2017 }}</ref> A much reviled play on the popular 80s TV series [[Miami Vice]] and the city of [[Karachi]] in [[Pakistan]]; the Karachi Vice would dominate Stampede Wrestling in the late 1980s, becoming a cult sensation within Calgary.<ref>{{cite book |last=McCoy |first=Heath |date=October 1, 2007 |title=Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling |publisher=Disney–ECW Press |isbn=978-1550227871}}</ref> In an era when wrestling was treated as a real sport rather than spectacle, Gama Singh incensed much hatred as a wrestling villain in Calgary, receiving racist threats and often encountered people swearing at him on the street.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tjmadigan.com/tj-stampede/4580685346|title=GRIP ON REALITY |publisher=Calgary Sun |access-date=May 30, 2017 }}</ref> Stampede wrestling would be purchased by [[Vince McMahon|Vince McMahon's]] [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) in 1984, but return under [[Bruce Hart (wrestler)|Bruce Hart]] running with Gama as one of the top attractions until 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2007/05/20/4195265.html|title=Curse of Stampede Wrestling? |publisher=Slam Sports |access-date=May 30, 2017 }}</ref>

===NWA: All-Star Wrestling (1977–1979)===
Aside from Stampede Wrestling, and his later WWF tours, Gama Singh spent much of the late 1970s in [[Vancouver|Vancouver's]] [[NWA: All-Star Wrestling|All-Star Wrestling]]. He mostly competed in Tag Team bouts with partners such as [[Guy Mitchell (wrestler)|Guy Mitchell]] and [[Buck Zumhofe]]; culminating in a [[NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version)|Tag Title]] win with partner [[Lumberjack Pierre|Igor Volkoff]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1420&page=4&s=800|title=Gama Singh Matches |publisher=Cagematch.com |access-date=May 30, 2017 }}</ref>

===International career (1978–1994)===
Apart from competing in the odd [[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]] affiliated promotion in the United States; Singh also took part in several tours of [[NJPW]] in Japan in the late 1970s, often teaming with [[Tiger Jeet Singh]], and taking on greats such as [[Tatsumi Fujinami]], [[Seiji Sakaguchi]] and [[Riki Choshu]]. At various times in his career, Gama worked for [[World Wrestling Council|WWC]] and various other promotions in the Caribbean as well; once winning the [[WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship]] from [[Ciclon Negro]] in [[Puerto Rico]] in 1980. He would also prove very popular in South Africa, engaging in tours which included bouts against his friend [[Bad News Allen]]; and also competed for WPW in Germany in the mid-1990s, teaming with longtime associate [[Gerry Morrow|'Champagne' Gerry Morrow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1420&page=20|title=Gama Singh |publisher=Cagematch.com |access-date=May 30, 2017 }}</ref>

===World Wrestling Federation/WWF (1980–1986) ===
In the early eighties, [[Vince McMahon|Vince McMahon, Jr]]. widely expanded the [[WWE]] and was looking for an Indian wrestler to work on various tours in the [[Middle East]]. Gama Singh began working for [[Jack Tunney]] in Toronto and then worked several overseas tours for the WWF in Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Australia and Hawaii.<ref name="slamwrestlinghalloffame"/> While in the United States in 1984/1985, Singh would mostly compete in undercard matches on WWF house-shows. He would, however, appear on WWF television defeating [[Johnny Rodz]] on ''[[Prime Time Wrestling]]'', and also appeared on the June 27, 1985 edition of WWF's ''[[Tuesday Night Titans]]''; interviewed by McMahon and accompanied by an [[Indian Rock Python]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/wwf-tuesday-night-titans-ep-39-review-magnificent-muraco-gets-rubdown-200501|title=WWF TUESDAY NIGHT TITANS EP. 39 REVIEW |publisher=F4W Staff |access-date=May 30, 2017 }}</ref>

===Impact Wrestling (2018–present)===
Singh signed a deal with [[Impact Wrestling]] in January 2018 as a manager.<ref name="ImpactHOF"/>

==Desi Hit Squad==
Upon debut with Impact, Singh formed a new stable, playing off his old Karachi Vice stable,{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} called the [[Desi Hit Squad]].<ref name="auto">https://impactwrestling.com/desi-hit-squad/</ref>

=== Current members ===

:'''[[Raj Singh (wrestler)|Raj Singh]]''' - Gama's son.

:'''[[Rohit Raju]]''' - previously wrestled as Hakim Zane and performed in Impact Wrestling in 2017, winning the ‘Global Forged’ competition.

:'''[[Mahabali Shera]]''' - former [[Ring Ka King]] [[Ring Ka King#RKK World Heavyweight Championship|World Heavyweight Champion]].

=== Former members ===

:'''Bhupinder Singh''' - was born in Chandigarh, India. He was a competitive bodybuilder before entering professional wrestling and also competed in kickboxing and wushu, winning double gold representing Chandigarh in national competition. He trained under the [[Great Khali]] at Continental Wrestling Entertainment.<ref name="auto"/>

:'''Gursinder Singh''' - also competed in 2017's Global Forged competition with Impact. Although both his parents are from Punjab, India, Singh was born in West Sussex, England, and raised in Australia. He moved to Canada to train under Lance Storm at the Storm Wrestling Academy.

:'''Vikas Kumar''' - is a native of Haryana, India, and previously wrestled as 'Pagal Parinda' with Impact's Indian-based sister promotion [[Ring Ka King]].

==Personal life==
Gama started investing money in real estate eventually becoming a renowned real estate developer in Calgary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tjmadigan.com/tj-stampede/4580685346
|title=GRIP ON REALITY |publisher=Calgary Sun |access-date=May 30, 2017 }}</ref> His brother Akam would also become a professional wrestler, as would his son, [[Raj Singh (wrestler)|Raj Singh]]. His nephew Yuvraj Singh Dhesi,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2007/05/20/4195268.html|title=Gama Singh made Great choices outside the ring |publisher=Slam Sports |access-date=May 30, 2017}}</ref> would go on to the [[WWE]], as [[Jinder Mahal]] and win the [[WWE Championship]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://desibuzzbc.com/2017/05/27/jinder-mahal-becomes-the-first-indo-canadian-wrestler-to-win-wwe-championship/ |title=Jinder Mahal Becomes The First Indo-Canadian Wrestler To Win WWE Championship |publisher=desibuzzbc.com |access-date=May 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827084007/http://desibuzzbc.com/2017/05/27/jinder-mahal-becomes-the-first-indo-canadian-wrestler-to-win-wwe-championship/ |archive-date=August 27, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[[Heart of America Sports Attractions|Central States Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Central States Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Central States Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Bob Brown (wrestler)|Bob Brown]]
*'''[[NWA All-Star Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) - with Igor Volkoff|NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship ''(Vancouver version)'']] ([[NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version)#Title history|1 time]])
*'''[[Stampede Wrestling]]'''
**[[Stampede International Tag Team Championship]] ([[Stampede International Tag Team Championship#Title history|3 times]]) - with Ed Morrow (2) and Crary Stevenson (1)
**[[Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship#Title history|6 times]])
**[[Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Championship#title history|3 times]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/calg-pac-h.html |title=Stampede World Mid-Heavyweight Title |publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
*'''[[World Wrestling Council]]'''
**[[WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])
**WWC Trinidad and Tobago Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with [[Victor Jovica]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/singh_gama.html Slam Wrestling Hall of Fame]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Gama}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Canadian male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Indian male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Canadian male actors of Indian descent]]

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