"A lot of people have asked why I'm retiring. When wrestlers retire, there are lots of different reasons: sometimes people are bitter, sometimes their bodies are really banged up, sometimes they don't love [the industry] anymore. None of those are true for me."
Rishi Ghosh is a true veteran of the independent British wrestling scene. Since the turn of the millennium, Ghosh has been lacing up his boots and stepping into the squared circle – and in the process has earned himself a reputation as one of the industry's most trusted and beloved performers.
Yet now, in 2023, the 'Prince of Mumbai' has made the decision that it's time to move forward with the next chapter of his life – but not before rounding out his career with a retirement tour spanning the length and breadth of the UK. For Ghosh, the time is right to call it a day and hang up the robe once and for all.
"I'm still wrestling lots of main event matches"
"I feel like I could probably wrestle on shows for another five years," says Ghosh, speaking with Wrestling Life Online's Ben Veal on the #WrestlingLifePod.
"I'm still doing lots of main event matches and it's nice to be given the faith to do it. But I'm now running the Quality Wrestling Academy full-time now [and] it's my main source of income. It feels to me like, in order to prolong what I'm doing at the Academy, something has to give. I want to keep building it and evolving it. Now is the right time for me to take a step back ... I'm the old guard and it's time for the new guard to take over."
Based close to Portsmouth, the Quality Wrestling Academy now has over 70 trainee wrestlers on its books and truly offers something for everyone, including a specialist inclusive training session for adults with learning disabilities and additional needs, and a dedicated youth session.
"We try and provide the most variety in a wrestling academy," says Ghosh, who is clearly deeply passionate about passing his vast in-ring knowledge on to the next generation of grapplers: "if you can get the basics right, that's more important than anything."
"Professional wrestling is such a sensitive industry"
Over two decades spent in the game brings with it a wealth of wisdom, and mistakes learnt along the way. Alongside his brother Raj Ghosh, Rishi has now authored Becoming A Pro Wrestler: The Quality Wrestling Manual, providing insight and tips to trainees and new-to-industry talents to help them navigate their way through the sometimes choppy and unpredictable seas of professional wrestling.
"Professional wrestling is such a sensitive industry," reflects Ghosh.
"As the industry gets bigger – which is great – we're also losing a lot of the really important little etiquettes. You can really upset people without even knowing it - little things like a student, doing their first show, forgetting to go around, introduce themselves and shake everyone's hands. Introducing yourself to the promoter and asking them what they would like from the match. Knowing what your time is, because you never want to go over your time. Making sure you're there to help set up. And that you're still there to help tear down. There are just so many things [to remember] when you're first starting out; young wrestlers should know this."
Episode 004 of Wrestling Life with Ben Veal is out now: real talk from real talent.
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