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Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling (MLP) was revived in 2024, hosting quality pay-per-view events as it drew eyes on another major promotion in North America.
In June, MLP will debut on TSN, adding another wrestling show to a large menu for pro wrestling fans who can watch the sport almost every day of the week if they choose.
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Rohan Raja in the ring during a Maple Leaf Pro event. (Provided to Pakinomist Digital)
Pro Wrestling Alliance (PWA) Champion’s Grail holder “Ravenous” Rohan Raja told Pakinomist Digital why fans should put MLP on their viewing list.
“I remember when we ran our first show, a lot of fans, I, even if you go on Twitter and even news articles would report it, the quality is like an AEW or WWE product. It’s very top. We have Mauro Renallo as the voice of MLP,” he said. “He’s on fire and he’s still doing a lot of things like Jake Paul, he did Anthony Joshua’s last fight, Tyson Fury’s last fight. We’ve got all these star-studded guys.
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“How I kind of sum it up is it’s like a worlds collide, but every week because we’ve had guys from AEW out there, we’ve got guys from Japan, we’ve got guys from Mexico, we’ve got guys and girls from WWE coming on it. So I feel like that’s the biggest thing where they’re not only showcasing the Canadian talent, but now I want to get a glimpse. worlds collide, but I feel like we’re the promotion that’s got everyone—a taste of everything in one. With the TSN tapings and how it’s going to go, it’s really just going to reinforce what we’ve been building, and it’s something you don’t want to miss.”
Rohan Raja performs at Maple Leaf Pro Resurrection. (Provided to Pakinomist Digital)
Raja defeated Jake Something at MLP Forged in Excellence to win the PWA Champion’s Grail. The PWA was formed from a partnership between MLP, Oceania Pro Wrestling and Qatar Pro Wrestling.
It was one of the first major victories of Raja’s career and put him in the upper echelon of the up-and-coming promotion after working his way through smaller independent promotions to WWE NXT UK and then to MLP.
“When I moved back to Canada, I was in talks to potentially come back to TNA, and it all happened, I was reading reports that (Scott D’Amore) was reviving Maple Leaf Wrestling. And I was like, no way,” he recalled to Pakinomist Digital. “He hadn’t told me firsthand or anything. I worked with him, he has another independent promotion called Border City Wrestling, and he told me what was going on. I was like man, if he revives Maple Leaf Wrestling – my grandfather knew about Maple Leaf wrestling, it’s a big deal.
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“We did our first show in 2024 and I won the PWA Champions Grail. It traces its roots back to Rikidōzan in Japan and Kenny Omega. It’s like a family title. Ever since then we’ve been doing quality pay-per-view shows and the goal was to get a TV deal. And they finally got one with TSN’s pretty quick remarks. It shows Canadian talent, but it also shows international talent that I’m a representative of because I represent so a lot of countries. I was heavily involved there. I got a lot of freedom with my pre-taped campaigns.”
Raja suggested that everything he’s been through, everything he’s learned along the way has culminated in a huge opportunity with MLP.
Rohan Raja previously competed at WWE NXT UK. (Provided to Pakinomist Digital)
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“I feel like I’ve taken everything I’ve learned and put it into MLP. I feel like it really shows that I can hold my own as a main event player,” he said. “I’ve had really good fights with big names all the way from Rich Swann to Moose to Bishop Dyer to Rhyno to Fred Rosser. I’ve fought so many guys, even around the world. I’ve fought Robbie Eagles in Qatar for the belt. But it’s really a core product of showcasing Canadians and bringing in the international flavor.”
