Professional sumo tournament set for NJ as athletes train for historic event
Training is already underway for the athletes, including Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan, a world champion sumo wrestler originally from Egypt and now a New Jersey resident.
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A centuries-old sport is preparing for a modern debut in New Jersey, as professional sumo wrestling is coming to the Prudential Center next month.
World Elite Sumo, the first independent professional sumo league established outside of Japan in more than 800 years, will host a 12-man tournament on May 16. The single-elimination event will feature elite wrestlers competing in a bracket-style format until one champion remains.
Training is already underway for the athletes, including Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan, a world champion sumo wrestler originally from Egypt and now a New Jersey resident.
Shalan, 33, is considered a trailblazer in the sport as the first professional sumo wrestler from the Middle East and Africa. He founded World Elite Sumo in 2018,
"I had the idea, why is pro sumo only in Japan? Why is it not available for the whole world? Not just to watch, but to attend live to, to watch it live, to live the moment which nobody knew how it really feels except whoever, watched sumo in Japan.” said Sandstorm
The league aims to balance tradition with a more modern presentation.
“To make the balance between keeping the tradition… because sumo is very, very respectful in Japan. It’s almost like religion in Japan. So, to have a modern version of sumo,” he added.
The upcoming tournament will feature a modified format designed to appeal to new audiences. Matches will be contested in best-of-three rounds, rather than a single bout, and the competition will include a 12-man opening round, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals and a championship match.
Two wild-card spots will also be awarded to standout competitors who do not initially advance.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: First professional sumo league outside Japan to debut at Prudential Center
“We are assembling a lineup of elite professional sumo wrestling athletes who will fight that night until there is only one champion left standing in the center of the dohyo,” Sandstorm said.
The event is expected to blend traditional elements with a more theatrical, “fight-night” atmosphere, including live taiko drumming and elaborate athlete entrances.
We met up with two of the athletes, Sandstorm, and Joshua “The Beast” Ortiz for a training session at Fitness 19 in Midland Park. The two demonstrated the physical and mental demands of the sport, describing the experience of stepping into the ring as almost meditative.
“You hear all the buzzing, but the moment my feet pass that row, it’s like that sense of calm… it’s a small ring, just you and your opponent,” said Ortiz.
Tickets are currently on sale through Ticketmaster and the Prudential Center website.
