PRO Wrestling Africa (PWA) Heavyweight title holder, Nigeria’s Godspower Ikpide, popularly called Power Lee, has been in the forefront championing the development and promotion of professional wrestling in Nigeria.Power Lee who is a power house when it comes to rating Nigerian pro wrestling talents in the heavyweight categories hails from Oghwe, in Itsoko North local government area of Delta State.
“Mr. Peace” as he is sometimes called, started his pro wrestling career in 1987 and turned professional in 1990. Since he started his professional career, he has been privileged to compete among the best superstars in Nigeria, namely Super Samson, De Executioner, Super Apama, African Mr. Perfect, Jimmy Palm “De African Dream” and a host of others.The African champion got his title in September 19th 2015 in Cameroon where he defeated the three times national champion, Mitchel Noudem Lamatrick. He also defeated Marvellous Buffalo of Angola at the Asaba Township Stadium, Asaba in Delta State, on May 1, 2016 to retain his African title.
In this chat with AKEEM LAWAL, Power Lee believes that with the number of years he has spent promoting the game of pro wrestling, he would have by now gone to become the Chief Justice of Nigeria if he had taken to Law.
Are you satisfied with the level of pro wrestling in the country right now?
I am not satisfied. Once I’m satisfied, it means I am going to retire because wrestling is a continual thing. But the state of professional wrestling, in Nigeria especially, is still at a very low level compared to what it used to be in the days of the late Power Mike. When we remembered that the main bowl of the National Stadium used to be full to the brim. But look at it today, the advent of other sports has come to cripple professional wrestling. Yet, every home you go to, they watch professional wrestling on television. But hardly will you see people coming to watch live shows because there is no enough publicity, no enough media coverage and there is no much awareness created around the game of professional wrestling.
How did you get into wrestling?
I used to watch wrestling when I was young. Mighty Igor, Ray Apollo. That is why you must have role models. It is what you see that gives you that interest in going to do it. I used to see the way these people behaved, the charisma, their attitude, the way they related to people. They were not injurious people. I looked at them and I said I wanted to be like these people. It was made possible with the help of my late brother who supported me. Naturally, I was a very rigid person. I’m very strong and I’m still strong, that is why I’m still able to do what I’m doing now. That is why on my street today, the young ones will be hailing me ‘Power Lee, ‘Power Lee’ and that is to tell you that they are seeing good things in this man. Perhaps in the nearest future they too will become a professional wrestler like me.
Which of the wrestlers were you looking up to that time?
Actually, I adored Mil Mascara. He was a man with 100 types of tricks; he had the gimmick, he had the flexibility. He had the wisdom and could always manoeuver in every lock and the same thing today. When you see heavyweight champion, look at my size. If you see heavy man coming on the street you will say he will beat Power Lee, but I always tell them I’m the needle you cannot swallow, if you do that you will get hurt. It’s about the skill, the technique. I’ve been in wrestling for about 30 years, so I have the onion; I have all it takes to bring my opponent down when I want.
Will you encourage any of your kid to take to wrestling?
My kids are my first fans. I have a fitness centre and some of them are into it. The only thing is that they would not do the killer drive or do killer moves. Their father is a wrestler and they do whatever I tell them to do. I won’t stop any kid that wishes to take after their father, because their own case might be better than what we are doing now. So if I ‘m appealing to everyone out there to come and join us, any of my kid that has interest will be welcome.
Are you satisfied with your achievements in professional wrestling?
Human needs are insatiable, I can’t say I am satisfied but I am contented with whatever God has given to me. I still aim higher, I want to go to the next level. I’ve been the national champion for the past six years; nobody was able to take the title away from me. I’m now the African champion. I won it last year and defended it successfully this year. I’ve been rated Number 2 in the world in professional wrestling and definitely I’m going higher. If I become the world champion today, of course it will be a great deal.
You have been scheduled to face Damien Wayne Kostyal in the Allied Independent Wrestling Federation (AIWF) World title fight in USA, how are you preparing for the match?
The world title match against Damien Wayne will hold in January 2017 in California, USA. It is part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the AIWF.I’ve been promoting professional wrestling with the help of an organisation called Ultimate Pro Wrestling Promotions (UPWP). I’ve been the national champion without any assistance, now I’m the African champion and I was able to defend the title here in Asaba which has gone to put Nigeria positively on the World map.Now I’ve been given the opportunity to take a shot at the world title, it’s left for me to prepare towards that day.
If not wrestling, what would you have been doing?
If not wrestling I would have been what God wants me to be.
So many athletes will say they would love to be doctor, engineer … (Cuts in)
Even in wrestling we have doctors, pilots, lawyers and so on. But one factor is that it depends on the foundation you are building on. In Nigeria, we have wrong people running sport. They will never tell you the truth. If not for wrestling I would have been a lawyer. I’ve spent close to 30 years in this sport and when you subtract that from my present age you know what you have. I’ve spent quality years in this game of sport and especially in wrestling. By now probably I would have been the Chief Justice of the federation considering the years. How many years will it take me to complete my PhD in law or whatever to be a SAN (Senior Advocate of Nigeria). They are not better than me, but this is a profession I have passion for, it is the profession I love. Even though I’m doing it in a hard way and definitely I’m getting more experience because technicality is the order of the day. It’s just not about the theory but the practical. So that is why when you compare the height of Goliath and David, you can never believe that David can win. It’s all about technicality too. So if I can do that I will do it again and again.
