KZN wrestler crowns himself king of the ring

KwaZulu-Natal professional wrestler Mbusi “Spice Gold” Riddle has etched his name into the history books after becoming the inaugural New South African Wrestling (NSAW) champion, a title he says no one can ever take away from him.

Becoming the inaugural NSAW champion means everything to me.

“Championships can be won and lost, but nobody can ever take away the fact that I was the first,” he said.

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“My name will always be part of NSAW history, and that’s something I take great pride in.”

Riddle said there was added pressure going into the contest, as the championship was about more than simply winning a title.

“There was definitely extra pressure because this wasn’t just about winning a title — it was about setting the standard for what this championship represents.

“I embraced that pressure and used it as motivation to perform at my very best.”

He said the biggest challenge was proving that he belonged at the top of the division, with every opponent testing him physically and mentally.

Every opponent brought a different challenge, and every match tested me physically and mentally.

“I had to stay focused, overcome doubts, and constantly push myself to another level,” he said, referring to his bouts against Matthew Hammar and Kev Killer.

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Describing the championship match, Riddle said it was a gruelling encounter from start to finish.

“It was intense, hard-hitting, and demanded everything I had. There were moments where I had to dig deeper than ever before, but I refused to quit,” he said.

“When the referee counted three and my hand was raised, it was a mixture of relief, pride and pure joy.

“All the sacrifices, training and hard work came rushing back.”

Riddle said the victory also carried special significance for his home province.

It was a feeling I’ll never forget, especially being happy that KZN was finally on the map.

Meanwhile, Matthew Hammar said NSAW’s Hall of Champions was established to provide KwaZulu-Natal with a consistent platform for emerging professional wrestling talent.

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He said the promotion has grown significantly since its first event, evolving from a grassroots operation into a structured organisation with its own ring, roster, training centre, and formal backing from sponsors and the local municipality.

According to Hammar, the Hall of Champions remains a vital platform for local talent in a province that previously had limited opportunities for structured professional wrestling development.

Looking ahead, he said NSAW aims to grow the Hall of Champions into the most consistent professional wrestling event in South Africa while continuing to develop the next generation of wrestlers.