How Dante Chen carved a path as the only wrestler from Singapore in WWE history

 

Dante Chen - Photo credit: WWE

 

Singaporean professional wrestler Sean Tan Li Hao was born on January 20, 1996. He is currently with the WWE and competes at NXT as Dante Chen. Apart from his amazing skills, the fact that he is the first wrestler from Singapore and Southeast Asia to sign with the WWE has made him more famous.

 

As a long-time fan of wrestling, this entertaining sport has not only deepened my passion for the sport but also introduced me to hundreds of wrestlers, including Triple H, Shawn Michaels, the Undertaker, and many others who have elevated it to a worthy level.

 

Thus, when I learned that Dante Chen is the only WWE wrestler from Singapore, my interest in him grew. At that point, I began researching how this young man weathered the storm to accomplish what many other young men had attempted but failed to do.

 

When Chen made his NXT debut in September 2021, he immediately made a name for himself by defeating Trey Baxter in a hard-fought, fast-paced bout that demonstrated his remarkable combination of strength and quickness.

 

Chen has since kept up his pace and established himself as one of the most intriguing young wrestlers in the WWE. Dante Chen is prepared to represent his roots and advance through the WWE ranks thanks to his special combination of technical proficiency and aerial strength.

 

Dante Chen was raised surrounded by the vast media collection of the WWE, just like many of his contemporaries, playing WWE video games that featured his favorite wrestlers, such as Shawn Michaels, in addition to watching the matches on television.

 

Chen had to work as a banquet waiter part-time during the early years of his wrestling career to support himself. His academic obligations at the time included taking a business course at ITE College West and a course at Republic Polytechnic on health management and promotion.

 

Even though Chen is notable for being the first wrestler from Southeast Asia to be accepted into this esteemed wrestling organization, there have been other Asian wrestlers, such as Jie Yin, Feicheng Wang, Gama Singh, the Great Khali, Jinder Mahal, Akam, etc., who signed a contract to join the WWE.

 

Whatever people's opinions may be regarding wrestling, I do know that rivals always compete with one another, and these rivalries frequently lead to unexpected outcomes. WWE NXT's November 14th event featured a singles matchup between Ethan Page and Dante Chen.

 

After Page's victory, he made an example of Chen by forcing Chen's leg into the hole of the steel step opposite to one of the ring’s posts and kicking it multiple times. The injured Chen was temporarily out of the NXT rings for many weeks. His fans are now anticipating his complete return soon.

Ilja Dragunov, the David, Defeats Walter, the Goliath, to win the NXT-UK champion

 

Ilja Dragunov, the UK, NXT Champion, photo 

credit: WWE

Whoever thinks wrestling is a fake sport, will change his mind after watching the match between the Russian Dragunov and the former NXT champion, the Austrian, Walter Hahn.

 

As a wrestling fan, I have been thrilled many times with tough matches but I wasn't expecting to see what transpired in the match between Dragunov and Walter.

 

Well, on the battlefield, if little David was able to slay the giant Goliath, then Dragunov can, and he proved it by defeating Walter to show that there is nothing impossible to achieve no matter how big the obstacle in your path poses a threat.

 

On NXT TakeOver 36, Walter and Dragunov participated in a violent match which forced Walter to submit. The match was previously postponed due to Walter’s injury in July. 

 

Ilja Dragunov defeats Walter, photo credit: 

WWE

After winning the championship by defeating Pete Dunne in April 2019, Walter’s reign lasted for 870 days.

 

To be the UK NXT champion exposed Dragunov to the most violent fight of his life in professional wrestling. It might be possible that he is not ready to leave this title soon.

NXT is part of the WWE, a wrestling company under the management of  Vince McMahon, the CEO, and his family, including Triple H, another distinguished WWE wrestler. 

What Does Kevin De Bruyne 'Black Lives Matter' Jersey Mean To Belgium?

Kevin De Bruyne and others, support for the 'Black Lives Matter, following the murder of the African-American, George Floyd. Photo credit:rtl.be/sport

Kevin De Bruyne is a Belgian professional football player who will be 29 on June 28, 2020. His prowess in football as a midfield player has enabled him to play for the league club Manchester City and the Belgian National Team.

After hundred days of the English premier league suspension by the coronavirus, Manchester City and Arsenal players exhibited jerseys on the soccer field with the inscription 'Black Lives Matter' behind.

Following the brutal murder of the African-American, George Floyd, many organizations and football players around the globe have shown solidarity and supported the 'Black Lives Matter,' movement, since there is also a serious issue of racism in football.

Manchester City player, Kevin De Bruyne was among other players to denounce racism in soccer as he kneels on the field. However, I strongly believe De Bruyne's action may trigger many questions of interest.

The footballer comes from Belgium, a country that has hailed and supported colonial crimes by erecting statues and naming streets after Leopold II, a king that maimed, hacked the wrists and limbs of children and killed thousands of Congolese.

Why for decades, it has never been a subject of interest to Kevin De Bruyne and other Belgium players, including Romelu Lukaku and Vincent Kompany, to speak about that inglorious statue of Leopold II, which has brought shame, disrespect, and insults to the black man?

You need to consider people who deliberately do the wrong things, yet pretend they have done something good very dangerous. That is both the Belgium government and its royal family. If there isn't any statue for Hitler for killing Jews, then there shouldn't be any Leopold II's statue for killing Africans because we are all human beings.

The color of a person doesn't matter than the brain he has, therefore this color issue was just institutionalized as a barrier for the greedy white people to oppress other people to work as slaves for them, leading to slavery, colonialism brutalities and Apartheid.

Marc Dutroux is a Belgian convicted pedophile who killed children. He was convicted in 1989 for the abduction and rape of five young girls and in 2004, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the abduction, rape, and killings of young girls. 

Since 2004, I am waiting for the Belgium government to unveil the statue of Dutroux but it has never happened. Sometimes I wonder why a country that has gained world recognition in beer and chocolate productions, will ruin their reputation in this manner?

Surprisingly, despite all the problems, including demonstrations and hate that have generated against the government and the royal family, over those stupid statues, the Belgian government wasn't prepared to remove them, until angry protesters defaced one of Leopold's statue in Ekeren, one Belgium's municipals.

The removal of Leopold's statue in Ekeren has a voice that if the Belgium government or the royal family is wise, they should listen to. Also, Kevin De Bruyne's jersey also has a message that if they listen carefully they will hear.

Already, statues serving slavery and colonial interest are being pulled down. The Belgian government and the royal family shouldn't wait for another 'George Floyd' to be killed, followed by riots, before they consider pulling down the senseless Leopold's statues.

A word to the wise is enough.

REFLECTIONS OF PAST TURBULENCE ON CURRENT GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS

Smallpox pandemic, photo credit: the Social Historian

It's clear and obvious that today's younger generation has never experienced such a destructive nature of a deadly and prolonged disease, known as the coronavirus, forcing people to stay at home, with anxiety, fear, and unemployment. 



The current crisis of the coronavirus, about infection, deceased, and healing, seems to bring to mind the harsh and bitter experiences of victims during the First and Second World Wars. 

It also gives us a comprehensive understanding of the terrible times people went through during epidemics, such as the Spanish flu, influenza, cholera, and other deadly pandemics.

People think their freedom has been taken away from them because they have been forced to stay at home, can't enjoy sports, visit the cinema halls, the restaurant, go to the football stadium, and visit their loved ones. 

The question is, do people have to be angry over measures that protect and guarantee their own safety against the deadly COVID-19? How honest and sincere are people? 

Let's begin to think deeply about whether people are bitterly complaining about measures to avoid the spread of the coronavirus as a loss of freedom. Decades after Germany was divided into East and West Germany, the Iron Curtain came tumbling down in 1989. 

The Germans were divided for 45 years, and those trying to flee from the East to the West were shot down in cold blood.

Africans were captured and taken as slaves. Their homes were burned down, and the people were divided and brutalized. The scars of colonialism and Apartheid are still visible in Africa today.  After that, Aids and Ebola have hit the continent, killing thousands.

Captured African slaves were taken to America to work long hours in sugarcane plantations amidst hunger and poverty. Years after the abolition of slavery, African Americans are still suffering.

Comparing those turbulence times to the current time of the coronavirus gives a better understanding of how people have suffered in the past, and the most painful part, which we can't ignore, is that the emerged political crisis and pandemics were man-made.

The suspension of work and school activities ordered by the government is for our own good. The answers to controlling the pandemic are not only technological or medical, but also quarantine and avoiding social gatherings.

Hanged African-American woman

Thousands of people have died because of the coronavirus. The world is bleeding, and people are mourning, in a state of shock and despair. Yet, it's shocking to read negative comments from people who are happy that the COVID - 19 is killing more black people in the United States of America.

This is not a time to laugh at people because the coronavirus's impact has taken its toll on whites or a particular race. The disease is far from over; besides, no one knows if you are going to live today or the next day. 

People need to show love and care in these disturbing times, not hate, discrimination, and racism. This is the time the world must come together as one until the right vaccines come to save the lives of people who are perishing because of COVID-19. 

Great Stars Who Begin As Rastafarians With Career-Ending Hair Cut

Ruud Gullit and Gregory Isaacs



It starts with ambition, motivation, and faith, and since personality defines us and how we interact with the world, many stars begin their careers with different personalities to be famous. Two stars I know personally who became successful in different fields while they kept dreadlocks were the ex-soccer star, Ruud Gullit, and reggae icon, Gregory Isaacs, but as both reached a certain age, they cut off their dreadlocks. Why?

World football legend Ruud Gullit is one of the strongest players in the 20th century. Since childhood, football has become his life. In the Dutch national team, Gullit played 66 matches and scored 17 goals. The most memorable one was the finals of the 1988 European Championships against the USSR team.

Ruud Gullit was born on September 1, 1962, in Amsterdam. The future captain of the Dutch national team has always sought to play against older rivals. Physical data contributed to this: none of the elders could outrun him, and Ruud stood out in height.

Gullit's hairstyle is similar to Rastafarian, which gave him a lot of admirers worldwide. Gullit comes from two different parents. His father originates from the South American country of Suriname, a former Dutch colony, and his mother from the Netherlands.

There is a hypothesis that Surinamese men are endowed with certain "football genes" that make themselves known after moving to Holland in the next generations.

Since 1982, Ruud Gullit has been a Feyenoord player. It so happened that he ended up in the same club as Johan Cruyff himself, who was finishing his playing career at Feyenoord. According to Gullit, to speak with Johan Cruyff, who died almost three years ago, was both a great pleasure and a great opportunity to learn the secrets of mastery."

On the field, Gullit has excellent speed. His brilliant technique and extraordinary thinking allowed him to become a real leader, playing first for PSV, then Milan, and then the Dutch national team. He handed out transfers to his partners and smashed the attacks of rivals.

His mastery on the field didn't escape the attention of former Italian president Silvio Berlusconi. The powerful television tycoon at the time, who had just bought Milan and decided to return it to former glory, laid out for Gullit an amount that was a record for those times—$10 million.

Without dreadlocks

During the unveiling of the Heineken Champions League trophy to the media, Gullit, who has long cut off his dreadlocks, appeared in a different image. He was asked about his new personality. Gullit smiled and said that he needed to close the books on the Ruud Gullit that was on the field and the Ruud Gullit that was no longer playing.

According to him, he has been living without his dreadlocks for 14 years, and even though it has been easy and sometimes people don't recognize him, the dreadlocks chapters of life on the football field have been closed. He said to thunderous applause.

Gregory Isaacs 

Gregory Isaacs was born on July 15, 1951, and died on October 25, 2010. His style of music gave him nicknames such as 'Cool Ruler' and 'Lonely Lover.' As a teenager, Isaacs had already become a veteran in talent contests that were regularly held in Jamaica.

In 1973, he teamed up with a young singer, Errol Dunkley, to open the African Museum record label and store. Soon, the single “My Only Lover” was a massive hit for reggae lovers. For three years, Gregory Isaacs recorded a lot with other producers to finance the further development of the African Museum.

These were hits ranging from ballads to indigenous reggae, including “All I Have Is Love,” “Lonely Soldier,” “Black a Kill Black,” “Extra Classic,” and his cover version of Dobby Dobson’s “Love Is Overdue.” In 1974, he began working with producer Alvin Ränglin, and in the same year he received his first Jamaican “number” for the single “Love Is Overdue.”

He secured his international fame in 1978, when he signed a contract with an offshoot of Virgin Records—Front Line Records—and appeared in the movie “Rockers,” in which he played the role of the slave owner. After the release of the film, Gregory Isaacs earned the nickname “Cold Ruler,” and his 'Soon Forward' record is considered one of his best works.

In 1981, he first appeared at the Reggae Sunsplash festival. He participated in it every year until 1991 and moved on to Charisma Records, the Pre branch. That record company released his single "The Lonely Lover" with other successful compositions, including "Permanent Lover," "Tribute to Waddy," "Tune In," and "Wailing Rudy."

He signed a contract with Island Records and released an album that finally helped him break through to a wider audience: “Night Nurse." The success of Gregory Isaacs coincided with the problems with drugs, then served a six-month prison sentence in Kingston in 1982 for possession of unlicensed firearms.

When I interviewed the reggae star in Antwerp, I asked him many questions, but one thing that I didn't ask him is why he cut off his dreadlocks. Gregory Isaacs is dead and gone, but his sweet melodies are still with us today.

LANCE ARMSTRONG: A FALLEN HERO?

Lance Armstrong

The hot pursuit of fame, money, and success continues to be an obsession. We are in a world where if one doesn't appear on television, you are not classified as a human being.

There are intelligent people, writers, civil servants, engineers, pilots, soldiers, and police, serving their country, but because they don't appear on television, they aren't known, and society gives them little respect and recognition.

It is now a competition. Many people would do everything and anything to be famous. Many female celebrities, because of fame, would open their legs, without underwear, to show their hairy or shaved vaginas to photographers, for the media to get something to write.

The most disgusting thing I have ever seen. I wonder if they are mothers raising children. As one of the world's most respected cyclists, his thirst for fame has led him to deviate. He used banned sports steroids, enhancement drugs and continuously deceived the public.

In his recent interview with Oprah, Lance Armstrong admitted he cheated during most of his famed career and that he bullied people who dared to speak the truth about him.

After denying doping allegations for more than a decade, he said he used banned drugs or blood transfusions during all seven of his victories in the Tour de France. " I will spend the rest of my life trying to earn back trust and apologize to people", said Lance Armstrong.

"Do you think this big shame and embarrassment would be the last thing in sports?". Trust me, more is yet to come. Nothing would serve as a deterrent to man. As long as many are thirsty for fame, money, and power, they will do everything to achieve this, regardless of the consequences.

Some are lucky to escape disgrace, but many will be exposed. We should be prepared to read more such news in the future. Lance Armstrong has disappointed his fans.

JAMAICA ADDS ATHLETICS TO ITS REGGAE HISTORY

From left to right, Warren Weir, Usain Bolt, and Yohan Blake



Jamaica, that wonderful Island in the Caribbean, for many years has established its name as one of the best countries in the world, in regard to tourism, and above all, the home of wonderful reggae music. 


Jamaica is the birthplace of great reggae stars, including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Gregory Isaacs, Joseph Hill-Culture, to name but a few.

Apart from the reggae stars, Jamaica has produced great sprinters in the past, such as Merlene Ottey, Asafa Powell, etc, yet in athletics, compared to other great countries, Jamaica wasn't classified as a great country in sports until the emergence of an unknown sprinter, Usain Bolt. 

Usain Bolt's unique and charismatic performance, along with teammate Yohan Blake, has firmly established that Jamaica is not only good in music but also in athletics.

The 2012 Olympic Games taking place in London confirm it all. After winning the 100-meter race in 19.32 seconds, Usain became the first athlete to win two Olympic medals in the event. Yohan Blake, his training partner, also claimed silver in the event and bronze for Warren Weir.

There is no doubt that Jamaicans are now doing better in sports than the United States of America, which has produced great athletes in the past. 

It seems underestimation of athletes from 'third world countries' is gradually coming to an end because the Jamaican sprinters are "Coming in hot! Hot! Hot! and firing some shots! Shot! shot!" Sings reggae legend late Peter Tosh.

MARIO BALOTELLI SHOULD SUE THE NEWSPAPER "Gazzetta dello Sport"

MARIO BALOTELLI

When it comes to gross disrespect, abuse of human rights, and racism against blacks, Italians are number one within the European Union. They do that every day against Blacks with impunity. 

This time, they have gone too far by showing pure racism against Mario Balotelli, a footballer playing for Manchester City and the Italian national team.

Even though anti-racism campaigners have criticized the newspaper "Gazzetta Dello Sport" for depicting Mario Balotelli like King Kong in a cartoon on top of the clock tower Big Ben, that isn't enough. 

The newspaper has to be sued. Mario shouldn't accept any apology because Italians are like pigs; no matter how you clean them, they will still go into the mud. 

They should be ashamed of themselves. The country has the police, Carabinieri, and Guardia di Finanza, yet they can't fight their mafia gangs, the Camorra and the Ndrangheta, causing panic, misery, and death throughout Italy. 

All that they know best is racism against poor, innocent blacks. Italians can't live in their own country because of mafia activities. This is what the newspapers must fight against, but not to insinuate racism.

No one can tell me better about the attitude of Italians toward Blacks. I lived in Rome for three years, and my experience in that city is vividly in my mind like a picture hanging on the wall. 

One couldn't even identify a genuine policeman from a false one because every criminal has a police badge to rob people. 

They claim to be intelligent, yet they can't speak common English. Their intelligence only lies in racism, mafia activities, robbing banks, killing, and ruining the businesses of other people who do not want to pay money to the mafia gangs. Blacks don't do this. They should leave Mario Balotelli alone. Shameless people.

PAUL GASCOIGNE IS THE RIGHT MAN TO HELP VICTIMS OF ALCOHOLISM

Paul Gascoigne: A great footballer who couldn't free himself from alcohol



If Britain needs to educate the youth and alcoholics against alcoholism, then Paul Gascoigne would be the best person to do this job. Experience is the best teacher, they say. Paul has been in alcoholism before and is now out of it. 


He has therefore acquired a certain experience that he could use to help other people who alcoholism is gradually being their toll on them.


I quote "I could drink a bottle of whiskey, but give me six cans and I will be drunk. It was getting too much for me. I was trying to fill my days doing my dad's garden or things for my mum, playing football on the street with my nephews." 

That is an emotional speech of once one of the best Britain's, or probably the world's, best footballers, Paul Gascoigne. At his highest peak, this great footballer's only problem was alcohol.

Paul Gascoigne couldn't leave alcohol alone, even though he knew alcohol and sports can't work together. Paul is quite happy about his present life after kicking alcohol. 

Paul Gascoigne's great moments on the field


He has just completed a three-month course at a Bournemouth center. The course has brought his awareness of an understanding of how alcohol can destroy one's life.

Even though alcohol ruined the career of Paul Gascoigne prematurely, he still has a lot to do to help people who are trying to fight against alcoholism without success. 

Paul, I know that you can do it. Happy to see you once again in the news with the best solution for your life.

TIGER WOODS IS NOT THE ONLY SINNER IN THIS WORLD

Tiger Woods: His golf ball landed in the wrong place for a woman



When Tiger Woods the great golf player extramarital affair was exposed, the media and the reaction of a section of the public against him were as if none of them had ever done wrong before. They painted Mr. Woods double darker than he is and judged him as the biggest adulterer or fornicator in the universe.


To me, there are thousands of people, including celebrities, musicians, and film stars, having extramarital affairs, yet the media does not know about it. As an African, I always speak in proverbs. One says that "when the air blows, then you see the backside of the chicken." When your cup is full, then secret things are exposed.

From biblical times to our present generation, great men have fallen to their knees because of women. Samson submitted to the Philistines because of Delilah. King Ahab's glory fell to grass by listening to his wife's advice. Jezebel forced him to take possession of Naboth's vineyard. That cost him much.

Mike Tyson, formerly one of the world's strongest boxers, served a jail sentence because of his rape case against Desiree Washington. Bill Clinton, the former American president, had his share of disgrace because of Monica Lewinsky, a white house staff member. 

Kobi Bryan, the NBA star, narrowly escaped prison because of a woman. Jeffery Archer, the British author, failed to be elected as the mayor of London because he slept with a prostitute.

It would be an unending feature if I kept on giving examples of great men floored by women. These problems men are facing keep on surfacing in the papers each and every day, but none serve as a deterrent to anyone, until they are exposed. They say women are the weaker gender, but to me, they are stronger than men.

Tiger Woods is not the only wrongdoer. One thing I don't understand is the woman who openly told the world that they had an affair with Mr. Woods. 

Do they want money or fame? I call this cheap publicity. If one wants to be famous, he or she must try on their own. The media should leave him alone. The man has suffered a great deal psychologically.