WORLD ELITE SUMO
The new era of live professional sumo
WORLD ELITE SUMO ANNOUNCES NEW DATE — SATURDAY, MAY 16
World Elite Sumo (WES) today announced a new date — Saturday, May 16 — for its previously scheduled live professional sumo wrestling event at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
WES also confirmed the complete lineup of competitors for the one-night, single-elimination 12-man tournament originally scheduled for April 18.
“In order to put together a tournament like this with the best possible group of fighters and to make this an unforgettable night for fans, the new event date was imperative,” said Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan.
The 33-year-old Shalan, a native of Egypt, is widely recognized as the first sumo wrestler in history from the Middle East and Africa.
Of the previously announced fighters, only Brennen Moorefield withdrew due to injury and will be replaced by veteran Sensho Hideki.
Additional fighters completing the lineup include Joshua Ortiz, Matt Kramer, and Mark Jones.
Ortiz, a member of the New York Sumo Club, also competes in strongman events and won the 2024 Summer Solstice Viking Battle in Brooklyn.
Kramer is a U.S. Army veteran and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, while Jones transitioned from football into sumo and quickly rose in competition.
Full Tournament Lineup
Event Format
The tournament will follow a bracket-style format with 12 fighters competing in the opening stage.
Six winners advance, joined by two wildcard fighters selected based on performance.
The competition then proceeds through quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final championship match.
All matches are contested in a best-of-three format to ensure intensity and excitement.
About World Elite Sumo
World Elite Sumo is a professional combat sports league redefining sumo for a global audience by combining tradition with modern production and storytelling.
About Prudential Center
Prudential Center is a world-class sports and entertainment venue located in Newark, New Jersey, hosting over 2 million guests annually and ranking among the top arenas worldwide.
Sumo Champs Will Bump Chests At NJ Tournament, Including Trailblazing Wrestler-Turned CEO
NEWARK, NJ — A history-making sumo wrestler from New Jersey will be among the athletes battling it out during an upcoming tournament in the Garden State.
World Elite Sumo (WES) – which bills itself as the first independent professional sumo wrestling league established outside of Japan’s traditional sumo universe in 800 years – will be holding an event at the Prudential Center in Newark at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.
The 12-man, single-elimination tournament will also feature live taiko drumming and a fight-night production that blends athleticism, intensity and spectacle.
The list of sumo wrestlers who will be entering the ring includes Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan – the CEO of World Elite Sumo.
A native of Egypt, the 33-year-old Waldwick resident is widely regarded as the first sumo wrestler in history from the Middle East and African regions of the world. He is known for his fighting style, which includes tsuki/oshi (thrusting and pushing).
World Elite Sumo Announces First Nine Competitors For One-Night Competition At Prudential Center
World Elite Sumo (WES), the first independent professional sumo wrestling league established outside of Japan’s traditional sumo universe in 800 years, today announced the first nine competitors who will battle in a one-night, single-elimination 12-man tournament at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Tickets for the WES live event are now available via official platforms.
“We are assembling a lineup of elite professional sumo wrestling athletes who will fight until only one champion remains,” said Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan, CEO of WES.
Shalan, a native of Egypt, is also one of the featured competitors and is widely recognized as the first sumo wrestler from the Middle East and Africa.
Confirmed Fighters
Soslan “Big Bear” Gagloev
Nationality: Russian
Weight: 350 lbs
Style: Yotsu-zumo specialist
Robert “The Samoan Bulldozer” Fuimaono
Nationality: Samoan
Achievements: 4x U.S. National Champion
Rui Junior
Nationality: Brazilian
Achievements: 22x National Champion
Alejandro “El Caiman” Santana
Nationality: Puerto Rican
Style: Aggressive push-outs
Brennen “Titan” Moorefield
Nationality: American
Style: Explosive speed & power
Jared “ParHammerTime” Parham
Nationality: American
Style: Grappling & throws
Jared “The Long Shot” Tadlock
Nationality: American
Style: Tactical precision
Edobor Konyeha
Nationality: Hungarian-American
Achievement: 2x U.S. Champion
First Professional Sumo League Outside Japan to Debut at Prudential Center
World Elite Sumo (WES), the first independent professional sumo league established outside of Japan in 800 years, announced the first nine competitors for its inaugural North American tournament.
The single-elimination, 12-man event is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, at the Prudential Center. The historic card marks a major shift for the ancient sport, blending traditional discipline with modern fight-night production.
“We are assembling a lineup of elite professional sumo wrestling athletes who will fight until only one champion remains in the center of the dohyo,” said Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan, CEO of WES.
Shalan, a native of Egypt, is a trailblazer in the sport as the first sumo wrestler from the Middle East and Africa. He is known for his tsuki/oshi (thrusting and pushing) fighting style.
Must Watch
The tournament will feature a dynamic bracket-style format. All matches will be contested in a best-of-three series, increasing intensity and competitive stakes. Twelve fighters begin the tournament, with six advancing and two wild card entries awarded to standout performers.
The competition will proceed through quarterfinal, semifinal and championship rounds, ultimately crowning one champion at the end of the night.
Beyond the wrestling, the event promises an immersive spectacle featuring live taiko drumming, dramatic entrances and high-energy production.
Tickets are currently available via official platforms. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with matches beginning at 7:00 p.m.
