World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. signed its first female performer from the Arab world Sunday, pulling down cultural prohibitions.
According to Eyewitness News, a Jordanian versed in jiu-jitsu, Shadia Bseiso dreams of encouraging more Arab women to take up sports – and of one day maybe even crashing a metal chair over WWE mega-star, John Cena.
“Female athletes are finally getting the credit they deserve. The world is more open to that, and in terms of how the region will react to it, I‘m hoping it’s going to be very positive,” Bseiso said.
Speaking to Reuters in the WWE’s Dubai office, Bseiso said she made sure to tell her parents about her colourful career choice in person.
After announcing she would join the ranks of the WWE, they paused in disbelief for a moment, she said, worried for her safety in the often-bruising shows.
They support her fully, she added, as she now heads to the company’s Orlando, Florida, training centre for gruelling in-ring training and what WWE calls “character development” – transformation into one of their trademark big personalities.
She has a Jordan-themed persona in mind, she says, declining to elaborate.
“Recruiting Shadia to join our developmental system underscores WWE’s ongoing commitment to building a talent roster as diverse as our fan base,” said Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE Executive Vice President and himself a popular wrestler.
Bseiso insists the quirky genre has room to expand if only fans could find a hero from home.
“As it is, the WWE’s incredibly popular in the Middle East, but I think having athletes from the region who grew up here – it will change things. You finally have someone to root for.”
Read » Shadia Bseiso becomes first Arab woman in WWE on YNaija
from YNaija http://ift.tt/2zrNdxp
via IFTTT
