Wednesday, September 14, 2016

WWE"s push in China: Could this man give pro-wrestling 1 billion new fans?

Shanghai (CNN)With a flash of a smile Wang Bin will charm you. With a furrowed brow he"ll have you fearing for your life.

At 6-feet 3-inches tall, with 220 pounds of lean muscle, 22-year old Wang is a giant among his Chinese countrymen.
    His handsome, expressive face and impressively imposing physique is why World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wants to make him one of its "superstars."
    Wang is the first Chinese pro-wrestler to sign a developmental contract with WWE.
    He"s spent the past three months training at its "Performance Center" in Orlando, Florida and was back in China last week to have his first match at a WWE live show in Shanghai.
    "I"m having my debut WWE match in my motherland. I"m so excited and very happy," Wang, a native of Anhui province, told CNN a day before his big match.
    "My family and friends will come to the arena and watch me compete."
    John

    Uphill battle

    For Wang, who speaks minimal English, communication has been an uphill battle. "My trainers and I cannot directly communicate in words. We express ourselves in body language," he told CNN.
    In addition to the hours of physical training, Wang also has to study English as part of his daily routine.
    On Saturday night, he got his first chance to show fans what he"s learned.
    Debuting his new ring name -- Tian Bin -- he pinned established WWE wrestler Bo Dallas after a powerful running slam -- and celebrated along with several thousand excited Chinese fans.
    Wang knows as WWE"s first Chinese performer he"s got a lot to live up to.
    "I definitely feel the pressure. We have so many fans in China," Wang said.
    "But gradually, through my training, my opportunities, and my progress that comes from that, I"ll take this pressure and turn it into power."

    Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/13/sport/china-pro-wrestling-wwe/index.html

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