TNA Wrestling's Raj Singh sits down with Peter Klein (former Sportsnet 960 host) for an exclusive interview on his groundbreaking year:
🎬 "Singhs In The Ring": Raj details his new movie premiering at the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) this month—a story of family, wrestling, and never giving up.
🏫 Opening a Wrestling School in Calgary: The inside scoop on his new training facility, its mission to build the next generation of Canadian talent, and how to get involved.
🤼 TNA's Future & The WWE Partnership: A look at his role in TNA Wrestling and what the historic partnership with WWE means for the company.
📅 Live Event Dates: Don't miss him at Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling in Ontario and Dungeon Wrestling in Calgary!
🔔 Subscribe for more pro wrestling interviews and analysis: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK4MO2vLadfPWGbn29xFwQZAslkg2Hfz7
#TNA #TNASigning #RajSingh #WWE #Calgary #WrestlingSchool #CIFF #CalgaryFilm #MapleLeafWrestling #DungeonWrestling #ProWrestling #WrestlingInterview
Catch Raj on Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling - Sacred Ground September 5th: https://www.youtube.com/@UC8dhvrhHtMOOO3Qw81psxkg
See "Singh's In The Ring" at the premiere at the Calgary International Film Festival: https://www.ciffcalgary.ca/films/2025/singhs-in-the-ring/
Looking to get into wrestling? Check out Raj's School The Stampede City Wrestling Academy: https://www.stampedecitywrestlingacademy.com/
Raj is back in Calgary on October 17th for Dungeon Wrestling's Wrestleween III: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/dungeon-wrestling-x-wrestleween-3-tickets-1554686231369?aff=oddtdtcreator
All images and graphics used in this video are courtesy of their respective owners, including Calgary International Film Festival, Singhs In The Ring, @SinghsInTheRing (X), @MapleLeafPW (X), and @Dungeon_Wrestling (Instagram).
🎧 Listen on: Apple https://apple.co/49NGm2L | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3QgazeHcSKSteZbBIubcuM?si=icY7NEBvT7yZadv_JFlT6Q
💬 Follow for live breakdowns: X.com/primetimepk | Twitch.tv/primetimepk | Kick.com/primetimepk
🔗 Support the Show:
- Tip Jar: https://streamelements.com/couchpotatodiary/tip (fuels more content!)
- Partners: C of Dead http://cofdead403.ca/ | Swift Energy https://www.swiftenergy.gg/?ref=mriusnqm PROMO CODE: PKPrimetime for 25% Off!
🎬 "Singhs In The Ring": Raj details his new movie premiering at the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) this month—a story of family, wrestling, and never giving up.
🏫 Opening a Wrestling School in Calgary: The inside scoop on his new training facility, its mission to build the next generation of Canadian talent, and how to get involved.
🤼 TNA's Future & The WWE Partnership: A look at his role in TNA Wrestling and what the historic partnership with WWE means for the company.
📅 Live Event Dates: Don't miss him at Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling in Ontario and Dungeon Wrestling in Calgary!
🔔 Subscribe for more pro wrestling interviews and analysis: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK4MO2vLadfPWGbn29xFwQZAslkg2Hfz7
#TNA #TNASigning #RajSingh #WWE #Calgary #WrestlingSchool #CIFF #CalgaryFilm #MapleLeafWrestling #DungeonWrestling #ProWrestling #WrestlingInterview
Catch Raj on Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling - Sacred Ground September 5th: https://www.youtube.com/@UC8dhvrhHtMOOO3Qw81psxkg
See "Singh's In The Ring" at the premiere at the Calgary International Film Festival: https://www.ciffcalgary.ca/films/2025/singhs-in-the-ring/
Looking to get into wrestling? Check out Raj's School The Stampede City Wrestling Academy: https://www.stampedecitywrestlingacademy.com/
Raj is back in Calgary on October 17th for Dungeon Wrestling's Wrestleween III: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/dungeon-wrestling-x-wrestleween-3-tickets-1554686231369?aff=oddtdtcreator
All images and graphics used in this video are courtesy of their respective owners, including Calgary International Film Festival, Singhs In The Ring, @SinghsInTheRing (X), @MapleLeafPW (X), and @Dungeon_Wrestling (Instagram).
🎧 Listen on: Apple https://apple.co/49NGm2L | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3QgazeHcSKSteZbBIubcuM?si=icY7NEBvT7yZadv_JFlT6Q
💬 Follow for live breakdowns: X.com/primetimepk | Twitch.tv/primetimepk | Kick.com/primetimepk
🔗 Support the Show:
- Tip Jar: https://streamelements.com/couchpotatodiary/tip (fuels more content!)
- Partners: C of Dead http://cofdead403.ca/ | Swift Energy https://www.swiftenergy.gg/?ref=mriusnqm PROMO CODE: PKPrimetime for 25% Off!
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SportsTranscript
00:00Very pleased to be joined by my next guest from TNA Wrestling.
00:04He is a coach at the Stampede City Wrestling Academy,
00:08wrestling with Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling September 5th at Sacred Ground,
00:12part of the Sings in the Ring movie September 24th
00:15at the Calgary International Film Festival,
00:18and Dungeon Wrestling with Wrestleween coming up October 17th at the Victoria Pavilion.
00:24But aside from that, not a lot going on with our guest Raj Singh.
00:27Raj, do you just hate free time?
00:29Thank you for doing this. How are you?
00:31Of course, man. I had to make some free time for the Calgary Faithful.
00:35Yeah, man, you made it sound like a lot,
00:38and now that you're saying it, I'm kind of thinking like,
00:41damn, I got to do all of that stuff? All right.
00:45I didn't make it sound like a lot. It's a lot. That's just what it is.
00:49There's just a lot of things on the docket.
00:53Is this something you like, like to stay busy,
00:55like to have a lot of kind of irons in the fire?
00:58Yeah. You know, I think it's just, you know, with the lifestyle I chose and, you know,
01:04the career path I wanted to, to, you know, like lay for myself,
01:09it's kind of fulfilling, you know, because we're not going to be, you know,
01:13I could be sitting at home hoping to have work.
01:16And so now I guess, you know, being this busy is a good problem to have.
01:20Yeah, that's very fair. And I mean, in this industry where, like, if you're not working,
01:28you're not getting paid with certain organizations.
01:32Anyway, I would imagine busy is certainly better.
01:34Obviously a lot going on in the wrestling world right now and a lot going on with you.
01:38I want to cover all the ground, but with TNA wrestling,
01:41obviously there's a lot going on with that promotion
01:44and different ties with WWE and everything like that.
01:47I guess just what's the overall vibe with TNA wrestling and your spot there right now?
01:53So it's like a two-part answer, you know, everything's great there.
01:59It's like the morale is really high.
02:02You know, the talent is, you know, it's oozing through the TV screen right now
02:05where people are just watching the show more and more.
02:07And they're kind of like surprised at how good everybody at TNA is,
02:10but really it's always been that good.
02:12It's just getting more attention now.
02:14So I think the growth that the company has is a really good thing for pro wrestling.
02:19It's getting more jobs to a lot of the guys and girls out there.
02:21So I think that's really important.
02:23As for my spot on there, you know, I don't like sitting at home.
02:28I want to be as busy as possible.
02:30So the part is, you know, like I've equated it to being like a fourth-line hockey player.
02:35Sometimes you've got to sit in the press box.
02:36Sometimes you get back in the lineup.
02:37So that's kind of where I'm at.
02:39But that's okay because that doesn't mean that the next opportunity is not around the corner.
02:43You know, wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
02:45There is a show coming up in Edmonton, September 26th and 27th for TNA.
02:52So whether they like it or not, I will be in the locker room and we'll figure out what happens from there.
02:58Fair enough.
02:58That checks out.
03:00I forgot to put that in the laundry list of things that were going on.
03:02So apologies.
03:03But yes, end of the month, TNA Wrestling coming to Edmonton.
03:08And I've, like, TNA has always had a very interesting place in wrestling.
03:11And it has certainly changed dramatically from different points.
03:15And it does seem like it's on an upswing right now.
03:16To see the company getting some of this attention, is it just from your perspective, just kind of like a, hey, we told y'all.
03:22Like, there's a lot going on here.
03:24Happy you guys are watching, but you should have been here for a bit because there's a lot of good stuff happening.
03:28That's a great way to put it.
03:29You know, like, that's exactly how it wanted to be.
03:31We've always been here.
03:32You know, all we needed was the opportunity and, you know, the eyes.
03:37A lot of people get that.
03:39It's not like a recency bias, but, like, you know, they see the big shiny toy with, like, the branding from WWE or AEW.
03:46Yes, they are great, of course.
03:47But it doesn't mean it's the only game in town, right?
03:49So, you know, you pay attention to somebody else.
03:51You see those fine independent artists.
03:53All of a sudden, the independent artists become your household names and then the superstars.
03:57And I think that's really important to give everybody a chance.
03:59Yeah, kind of the 20 years in and now they're an overnight success, that sort of thing.
04:05Yeah.
04:06The Wrestling Academy, too.
04:08I would imagine if TNA is not using you, there's a lot of time to fill with Stampede City Wrestling Academy.
04:16Going over the website, a few things kind of caught my attention.
04:18But I guess for you, what made this kind of a necessity to do?
04:22What kind of drew you to doing something like this here in Calgary?
04:25I've always had the desire to be involved with wrestling, you know, whether I was going to be on screen for X amount of years or if I'm going to be on for X amount of years longer.
04:37I wanted to be in maybe a front office role of some sort.
04:41And I always just, like, really enjoyed teaching.
04:43You know, it's the same thing when I play hockey or I have hockey teams that I run.
04:48I'm usually the guy that's, like, strategizing and helping with all the boys on the coaching side.
04:51Right. So with the wrestling school, it's kind of like we don't want the art of wrestling to be lost.
04:58We don't want it to become, like, you know, the Cirque du Soleil type show.
05:01We still want to teach that groundbreaking wrestling, like the technique and the stuff that, like, made me fall in love with the sport.
05:08Right. And a lot of my friends that, you know, you all see at Dungeon Wrestling, Maple Leaf Pro, things like that.
05:13All these guys have that base.
05:15So, obviously, doing it in Calgary with the rich history we have, I just, you know, it's a no-brainer for me.
05:22And I love this city. I mean, surprise, surprise.
05:25But I could live anywhere in the world, you know.
05:28I have a property in Puerto Rico. I spent a lot of time over there.
05:31Not as much as I'd like, but Calgary is always going to be home.
05:34So it's like, you know, lay something down, build a foundation, and hopefully grow it into something that the city really loves.
05:41One other thing, as someone who has never got into a wrestling ring, from a wrestling capacity, they've given me a microphone a couple of times.
05:48But from that standpoint, the thing that I always hear as a fan for kind of critiques for wrestlers and stuff is, once you think you're going too slow, slow down.
05:57Do you think, is that still, I guess, an issue for younger wrestlers today?
06:01Is that kind of the main thing that you're seeing with different people coming through and different spot shows and stuff like that that you've done as well?
06:07Yeah, I agree with that. You know your wrestling stuff. I noticed that.
06:11Yeah, it's, you know, like the excitement that people get, the adrenaline.
06:18It's not like a knock or a personal attack on anybody, but that excitement happens.
06:22It happens for people that have been around the business for a very long time as well.
06:26You know, I can get in the ring with a legend like Tommy Dreamer, and all of a sudden I'm like that brand new rookie all over again.
06:33Doesn't matter how long I've been in the business, right?
06:36So when you have things like that happen, it's just, you know, how you said the rookies get, or the people that are less experienced, they get a little antsy and just, you know, sometimes want to do a little too much in order to entertain the people.
06:51But it's just like, hey, that's what the Stampede City Wrestling Academy is going to be about.
06:54We're going to teach a lot of that stuff too, right? Because it's, we want to teach it as a whole.
06:58And that means everything with the crowd interaction, the way you carry yourself, your persona, and, you know, like create champions if that's, if that's how we can put it.
07:08Love that. Love that.
07:09Well, one of the things looking at the website was kind of a tape study and a film study as well.
07:14And I don't know why that's not something that kind of dawned on me, but like the overall, like the biggest ones that you're doing are going to be on television.
07:22So look at what it looks like, you should see what people are seeing, because that's how most people are going to be consuming this when you get to the higher levels.
07:30How important is kind of that part of it, the tape study to see like, hey, this, just so you know, this is how you are coming across to the other eyeballs that are outside and actually consuming what you're doing.
07:41100%. And it's like, you know, the practice is not only in your technique and in your dieting and like training like that, the practice comes in your mind.
07:50So if we can teach like, you know, the coaches that we have the school along with the students, like it's going to be like a partnership, but we'll bounce ideas off of each other.
07:58And I'll say, hey, this is the type of movie you like to do.
08:00Okay. These are, these are different ways we can accentuate that movie, like may make it look better or have it become your staple.
08:08But what we're going to do is through the film study, we're going to see what works, what doesn't work.
08:14You know, with the crowd interaction, sometimes you've been at shows at the Legion downtown or at the pavilion.
08:19There are two separate types of stages. One is all like stage front and the other one is a stadium seating with everybody around.
08:26So then now there's two different ways to have your matches because of where the crowd is sitting and where the camera would be or could be.
08:33So there's just things like that that are going to be very important.
08:36And if we can get that repetition, not only like in the movements, but also in your mind, it's like, okay, I've seen this before.
08:43I've seen this before. You watch yourself on camera and you can picture yourself, what you're going to look like on TV, as you said.
08:49So I think it's really important. And why not? NHL players do it.
08:54The Calgary Flames, they have to go and do tape study. The Stampeders are doing tape study.
08:58Why can't we? We should. You know, it's only going to make us better.
09:01And I think it's something that's really important.
09:02You talk about like how like different audiences, right?
09:07And the shows that I was at the most recently have been at different bar locations in Calgary, right?
09:13Like when they were doing some stuff up at Brickwell Taphouse and getting to do some ring announcing there.
09:18And then the stuff outdoors at Muggs on...
09:22Yeah, I saw you there that day. I saw you there that day on outside. That's right.
09:25Yeah. Yeah. I stand out even amongst wrestling fans. The beard is extra beardy. That's for sure.
09:33But with stuff like that, where people maybe aren't necessarily...
09:38I guess the best way I can put it is they're on purpose where they're just they're walking up and oh shit, a wrestling ring.
09:43Well, guess I'll hang out. Do you or should someone maybe perform a little bit differently for that compared to you're not just stumbling upon the pavilion on a Friday night in October, right?
09:54Like you are there to watch wrestling. Does that kind of different audience expectation maybe change how you would go about things?
10:00Yes. You're asking some killer questions that are going to like maybe expose the business a bit.
10:07No, it's not going to expose the business.
10:11That's a really good question, actually.
10:13And it is also something that, you know, we all got to remember.
10:16You don't want to take yourself too seriously to either, right?
10:19You got to have fun because wrestling fans are there at the shows to have fun.
10:22They want to enjoy a good night.
10:24You never know. It could be somebody's first date night ever.
10:27It could be like someone's anniversary birthday party.
10:30There's a lot of different types of crowds that are there.
10:32So then you play up to it.
10:33But that's also the beauty of pro wrestling.
10:36You come to a show, you're going to see, say, six to seven matches.
10:41And there's going to be so many different characters, so many different types of personas.
10:45And they're all going to, like, cater to different sets of fans.
10:49So let's just say I'm there and I'm having a fun-loving match at the Muggs Pub, how you were watching.
10:55Then the next match is going to be all serious.
10:56And now the fans are going to get both.
10:58But then I'm not going to be fun-loving when I'm, like how you said, when I'm at Maple Leaf Pro, TNA, or Dungeon.
11:03Not a chance.
11:04I got to go put on my best performance.
11:06Not to say that the fun-loving is not.
11:09But it's just, like, we want to cater to the fans and give them something to remember.
11:13But then when they come up to watch the wrestling match, it's like they want to see that simulated event.
11:17They want to see that simulated competition as to who's better than the other.
11:20Yeah.
11:21Last one on this.
11:22And then I will stop exposing the business here with you.
11:27But, like, going to those shows and stuff, you'll see some of the younger guys and newer guys.
11:32They come out and say, hey, that guy's pretty good.
11:34Like, that guy's got something.
11:35Maybe there's something like that.
11:35And then not to blow smoke, but someone like you will come out and say, oh, that's different.
11:41I kind of see that now.
11:42When did that click for you?
11:44That kind of, like, okay, I have this it.
11:46I have this persona now that is kind of working for me.
11:49I, like, I have now kind of leveled up here.
11:54Man, I've, like, I've had such a long career that I kind of had that twice.
12:01Which, when I first started, it was my cousin and I, we first started, and we got thrown to the fire right away.
12:10We were working with guys like Harry Smith, TJ Wilson, other superstar talents.
12:14Like, we wrestled Kenny Omega in one of our first five matches.
12:17Wow.
12:18It was like, those guys didn't know that we hadn't even wrestled less than 10 matches.
12:23They had no idea.
12:24So, the fact that they gave us that vote of confidence, I was like, wow.
12:28And then you kind of have, how you say, like, the level up.
12:32You know, I was around, I've been around the game.
12:34I grew up in the business.
12:35So, I kind of, like, seen it.
12:36So, it was a little bit easier to see what would work and what wouldn't work.
12:40But then, after a little bit of time and injury, the career comes down a bit.
12:46And then you get complacent.
12:47And then I had to start putting in some really hard work.
12:50Because I came back as my old usual self.
12:52And I can see that maybe a lot of people caught up.
12:56Which is not a bad thing.
12:57But then I wasn't going to stand out anymore.
12:59So, then I had to put in extra work, an extra time.
13:01And then that's kind of like, it came with the traveling and the experience.
13:06When I was checking out other parts of the world.
13:09And then I came back and put everything together.
13:11That's when I kind of saw that level up.
13:13And I was like, okay, here's something with the persona.
13:16That I'm taking, like, these people in Puerto Rico.
13:17Like, these people in Africa like this.
13:19These people in the States like this.
13:20And you blend it all together.
13:22And then you kind of just make that big, larger-than-life character.
13:26On now to the movie.
13:28Sings in the Ring, September 24th at Calgary International Film Festival.
13:32And it's funny.
13:32When I messaged you to set this up, I hadn't heard about that yet.
13:36So, I was able to add this to the line of questioning.
13:39But I guess, for you, like, there's a focus on you on this, from what I understand.
13:44A focus on your dad as well.
13:46I guess, just how did this all come together from your perspective?
13:49I got reached out to by a production company.
13:55There was actually one gentleman himself who actually passed away during the making of this movie.
13:59Which really, really sucks.
14:00He's a good buddy of mine.
14:01We became good buddies.
14:03He contacted me a few times.
14:05And I think you yourself, being in, like, the entertainment industry, you know, like, when people come and ask you things or promise you things.
14:11Like, hey, I want to write a book about you.
14:13Or, hey, I want to make a documentary about you.
14:14The first thing, you're kind of like, oh, cool.
14:16Thanks, man.
14:16I appreciate it.
14:17Nice to meet you.
14:17But then when this guy showed his persistence over a few months, I was kind of like, huh, maybe it's a real thing.
14:26And then he came out with a full plan.
14:28Like, the movie's going to be called Sings in the Ring.
14:30I want it to be about you and your dad and your cousin.
14:32I want this story to be like this and blah, blah, blah.
14:35And he had the production crew.
14:37And basically, I talked to my dad.
14:39And I gave him.
14:40You know what?
14:41I told my dad it was going to happen.
14:43I was like, hey, we're doing this.
14:45You've got to sign here, here, here, and here.
14:47And then next, you know, the ball got rolling.
14:49And it was kind of like, it took a few months.
14:51I mean, it sounded like it happened really quick.
14:52But it happened over, like, eight months where I was like, you know, I don't really know who to trust when you don't know a stranger.
15:00Right.
15:00And they become buddies through a common denominator.
15:02They have a couple buddies.
15:03Like, we know a couple of the same people.
15:05So it's easier to talk with you than it is with somebody else, right?
15:08But then, yeah.
15:10And then we started filming.
15:11And then we find out, like, just as we start filming, that the crew that was doing our movie, they work on.
15:20They did Jordan Tutu's movie just now.
15:23They did Dolph Lundgren, Michael Bisbing, Danny Trejo.
15:26They did Biff Naked's movie.
15:28So they're doing all these people that are, like, huge names.
15:31And then they're doing the Singh family.
15:34Like, we're like, you know, it's surreal.
15:37So when you're sold a promise like that, you're kind of, like, skeptical.
15:40But, hey, it ended up being great.
15:43And I'm really, really excited to share this with everybody, especially Calgary First.
15:49The world premiere gets to be in Calgary.
15:50That's super dope.
15:51And then it is going to play in a few other festivals.
15:54Edmonton and Vancouver are announced.
15:56And we got some other stuff up the pipeline that I can't say just yet.
16:01But it's super exciting.
16:02And I think it's going to be a really good time for the city and especially for somebody like my dad.
16:07I was going to ask about the importance of Calgary.
16:09Calgary, your dad, a legend in this city.
16:12When people find out that I'm into wrestling and I'm wearing the, can't see it because of the camera,
16:16but Stampede Wrestling shirt from Sea of Dead today.
16:19Get a plug in there.
16:20But when you mention Stampede Wrestling, it does not take long before your dad, Gamma Singh,
16:26and that name comes up very, very quickly and with a lot of reverence.
16:30I guess, how important was it for Calgary to kind of be the first launching point given, I guess,
16:37like the stature that your dad has and you and your cousin as well.
16:40But your dad kind of laying that foundation here many years ago.
16:43You know, it's going to be a boring answer for you, bro.
16:49It was a no-brainer.
16:50There was no discussion.
16:52And that actually came from the production crew where like a gentleman, Shane Fantasy,
16:57runs Fantasy Films and the director, Josh Sherman.
17:00They had no, there was no, it was just, hey, guys, we're going to do it in Calgary first.
17:04It was like, oh, cool.
17:05It was like, I think everybody kind of knew it was like the right thing to do, you know.
17:07And then that suggestion by the crew has been like a blessing, you know.
17:12And then luckily, then thankfully, we get to go do the film in Edmonton,
17:15which is the home for the film crew.
17:18So that's going to be nice.
17:20And then we get to go to Vancouver where my dad spent a lot of his like childhood years.
17:24I don't want to ruin the movie for anybody.
17:26But Vancouver, he spends a lot of time and we get a whole bucket load of our family,
17:32get to come out and share with all the family and friends and fans and film lovers out there.
17:36And the International, in the International South Asian Film Festival.
17:41So that's what it's going to be.
17:43Yeah.
17:43So it's super like, we're getting things happening to us now that like we didn't think were going to happen.
17:49And then my dad now, like in the twilight of his career, like after, after his career is done,
17:55he's getting a resurgence and he's like, wow, I got to do this and this and talk to this person
17:58and this person wants to meet me.
18:00So he's having a fun little time all over again.
18:03That has to be pretty cool for you, right?
18:05To see your dad get that level of attention again, right?
18:08A hundred percent.
18:08And I think, you know, my dad, like I got, I got a lot of love from, uh, from people all over the world.
18:14But my dad was like a big star and not just my dad.
18:18There's all those guys in the Stampede era.
18:20You know, all those guys, they never got the love that they should have because there was no social media.
18:24If somebody never randomly saw them at a TV, at a local show, they might never have seen how good those talents were.
18:32Yeah.
18:32So it's just like, it's really cool to see all that.
18:35And, um, you know, it's, it's, uh, when you're a professional wrestler, we're just big kids.
18:40Right.
18:40We're all just big kids.
18:42You get to see the key in him, like, you know, like embrace the moment and have fun, have some laughs with his buddies.
18:47So that's all cool.
18:48Uh, being a part of this and now that, that whole, the whole journey through this, what is something you would like people to take away from the film?
18:57Um, there's a few different things, but the answer I'll tell you is an exclusive to your show, um, is for people not to give up, man.
19:09Like you, like you and I, like we've run into each other throughout the years and you've seen me that I've wrestled for a long time in the city and I didn't just make it overnight.
19:18It's not like, Hey, and tell somebody, Hey, I trained with so-and-so, or I was trained by this person.
19:23I wrestled here.
19:24And it doesn't work like that.
19:25I had to put in a lot of time where honestly, I've seen so many people quit along the way that it kind of like breaks my heart because they're really good people and they're really good workers, uh, good wrestlers.
19:38But you had me exposing the business.
19:41Yeah.
19:42Uh, but the thing is don't give up, man, because if you're chasing a dream and you know, there's people out there that I hear get, they get motivated when they see our story or they hear about it.
19:53And they say, yeah, man, I, I always wanted to own a gym or I wanted to do this with my life.
19:59I wanted to do that with my life.
20:00Who cares how old you are?
20:01Who cares if you never had a chance to do it before?
20:03Just get on it now.
20:04And I think never giving up and believing is what I want people to take away from this movie.
20:10That's a fantastic message to, to, to get out there.
20:13And I am certain that your guys' story will motivate a lot of people in that way.
20:17Um, I do want to ask about kind of your journey with, not just with the, the film, but just kind of tying in with it where you do have, um, a dad who is a legend in this space, specifically in this city, but all around, like that is a name that, that people know.
20:32Um, we have seen in wrestling where people will have that kind of a lineage and some will dive into it headlong and some will maybe stay away from it a little bit.
20:41And I would always find that to be an interesting balance where like on the one hand, you know, where you came from, you want to honor that there is a connection there with people as well.
20:49But you don't just want to be the next Gama Singh.
20:51You want to do your own thing as well.
20:53Was that a tough balance to kind of walk for you?
20:57Yeah.
20:57Especially because every promoter that wanted to book me when I first started is like, your name's going to be Gama Singh Jr.
21:03I assume.
21:04So, which is funny because in our, in our Punjabi Singh culture, we don't even do juniors.
21:10There is never a junior in the history of like Punjabi Singh.
21:14Well, there, you could be a trailblazer then.
21:16Look at that.
21:16First ever.
21:17Yeah, so with that part, it was, it was, it was cool.
21:24Like there was, you know, a little bit of pressure where, you know, it looked like I wasn't going to get away from that.
21:32But then again, I didn't want to get too far away from it, but I wanted people to know I was my own man as well.
21:38So I think, yeah, it's like, I even did, I don't know if you remember, I did the stamina pop.
21:42You did a completely different character.
21:44Changed my name.
21:45I came out, like, I, like, like Gama Singh or Raj Singh didn't even exist.
21:51And then completely new character because that's what, you know, wrestling is like art, you know, so it's very fun.
21:57And we got to have a good opportunity to cater to the crowd.
22:00And then, yeah, it was, it was just, I did a good blend of it, I guess, where I wanted to show, show the respect.
22:08But at the same time, you know, make my own, you know, make my own path.
22:13Yeah.
22:13Yeah.
22:13Like you, you don't want to just like, this is the only thing that people know about you is that, hey, you come from a good family.
22:20At the other side, you're not going to call yourself Kyle Williams and just go out there.
22:24Yeah, no, we're good, man.
22:25It's all just completely different.
22:27Whatever, you know.
22:27100 percent, right?
22:29Yeah.
22:29Just kind of now, while everything's going on, like we said before, you have a lot of irons in the fire in the pro wrestling business.
22:39I guess, where do you want to go from here on to ring or sorry, on to TNA much more from from what I gather.
22:46And for the card in Edmonton, it sounds like they're not going to have a choice.
22:50But but for you, like, what are kind of the next steps and the next goals for you?
22:54Um, well, I do have a couple of meetings with some people.
22:59I can't speak on it, but I do want.
23:02Yeah, I mean, I'm not I'm far from quitting.
23:04And it's there's a there's a lot left in the tank, like performance wise.
23:10But obviously, I just want to, you know, keep on the legacy, especially with the movie coming out.
23:15I think it's going to be now, you know, maybe you just ask, like, was there kind of like an added pressure with my dad?
23:20Mm hmm. There's more of an added pressure now because there's going to be a lot of eyeballs because this movie is not just going to have that one theater showing in Calgary.
23:27It's going to be on on demand pretty soon.
23:31And it's going to be viewed by, yeah, like quite a few people.
23:35So, you know, that pressure is going to be up there.
23:38But I also think I have like time left just because the way that my career has gone on the way my body's feeling, I'm feeling good.
23:46I'm feeling healthy. So which knock on wood, but it's like, you know, what's next?
23:54Yeah, I just want to keep making my name.
23:57You know, like I said, I want to get out of that kind of fourth line role and being the guy that's in a healthy scratch.
24:02I want to come into the venue and know that it's like, hey, you know, you're the power play guy today.
24:07You're the guy that's getting on that first line, go up to crack that home run.
24:10Yeah, I think that's what I'm going to do. But also in the process, use that knowledge that again, like not just in the ring, but the production side of things, also helping the future generation of wrestlers.
24:25And I think, you know, it's like we've got to just try to make everybody around us better.
24:29And I think that's what I want to do with it.
24:31Just one more on the TNA thing, just from from what I gather from just talking with different people, like you said, mutual contacts and everything like that.
24:40And the little bit that I know of you from here, you don't strike me as the type who's just sit around and OK, when they call, they call.
24:46It'll be fine. What is the kind of community? Is it an open thing where you're messaging them?
24:50Like you just have a text scheduled once an hour? Be like, hey, what's up? Hey, what's going on?
24:54What's with me? Or do you just like kind of, hey, there it's their decision when they call, they call.
24:59What is kind of your process and your kind of pipeline there with TNA?
25:03I think I can I can speak for myself for sure.
25:07And I know a few other people have kind of like the same mentality, but no, I can't just stay silent and just wait for them to call me either.
25:14Like because that's, you know, I'm showing them you're OK with it.
25:19I don't want to annoy them. I don't want to bother them too much, but I let them know, hey, I'm right here.
25:24Like, don't forget about that idea we talked about before.
25:27Or, hey, don't forget about that promo that I smashed 100 percent of what you wanted.
25:32You know, I give the reminders, but you also don't want to be annoying.
25:36Right.
25:37But you got to find that with any job, you got to have that fine balance where you want to show respect and get respect at the same time.
25:46So, yeah, love that.
25:48All right. Like I said, one more time, TNA Wrestling, Stampede City Wrestling Academy.
25:53If people want to get in touch with that, how can they do that?
25:57The website and so the website stampedecitywrestlingacademy.com or on Instagram and X, we're also there.
26:07And there's a sign up button.
26:09So easy sign up buttons and email direct to our site.
26:12We have our admin look at everything, send it over and we have a conversation with the students there.
26:18Or you can find me at True Raj Singh, both on X and Instagram.
26:23I'm super active, pretty active on there.
26:26You know, try to communicate with anybody and everybody that can, you know, make their day if it works.
26:31Or we find like a business opportunity together.
26:33That's where I'm found, man.
26:36Right on.
26:36And then, again, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling coming up September 5th.
26:40Sacred Ground.
26:41Singh's in the ring September 24th at the Calgary International Film Festival.
26:45That's the premiere, like Raj said here, that there's, it's in Calgary a second time and then a few other spots around and then into your homes at different points as well.
26:55And then Dungeon Wrestling at the Victoria Pavilion back October 17th with Wrestleween 3.
27:01Raj, this was a pleasure, man.
27:02Thank you so much for doing this.
27:03Hope we get to do this again soon.
27:05Absolutely, man.
27:06It was fun.
27:06Thank you for having me and thank you to everybody for listening.
27:09Appreciate it.
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