Don’t know a thing about Sumo wrestling? No problem. Many don’t.
Tickets
Tickets for the World Elite Sumo event, April 18 at Prudential Center, go on sale Friday morning at 10. Go to PruCenter.com or Ticketmaster.com for more information.
All you need to know is this: The winner is the first person to knock the other person out of the ring.
It’s a simple sport – and one that has been incredibly popular in Japan, where it has been the national sport for centuries.
On April 18, it’s coming to the Prudential Center, where World Elite Sumo will make its New Jersey debut, launching a new era of elite combat sumo in Newark. (Tickets go on sale this morning.)
Following the sold-out success of Sumo Fight Club at White Eagle Hall, WES aims to continue its national expansion with a high-energy, globally inspired event designed to thrill both longtime combat sports fans and first-time sumo audiences.
“Prudential Center is the perfect stage for what we’re building,” Abdelrahman “Sandstorm” Shalan, founder of WES and a world-renowned sumo champion, said. “We’re honoring the traditions of sumo while presenting it in a fast-paced, modern format that delivers explosive action every single match.”
World Elite Sumo brings together top-level athletes from around the world, featuring live taiko drumming, dramatic entrances and an immersive fight-night production that blends athleticism, intensity and spectacle.
The innovative WES format emphasizes quick, decisive matches with one clear winner every time, creating nonstop edge-of-your-seat action for fans of all ages, Shalan said.
WES matches are contested in a best-of-three format, increasing competitive stakes and maintaining a fast, fan-friendly pace.
Athletes compete wearing mandatory fight shorts beneath the traditional mawashi (sumo belt), reflecting modern athletic standards while preserving the heritage of sumo.
Having a great variety of shows has helped make the Prudential Center one of the top venues in the world.
Dylan Wanagiel, VP of sports properties and special events for HBSE/Prudential Center, always is on the lookout for new events, like this bare-knuckle boxing card last year.
Sumo is the latest addition to the list.
“As this sport’s fans have witnessed for 1,500+ years, sumo wrestling’s unique combination of strength, athleticism, international talent, and high-energy entertainment will make April 18 an unforgettable night for fans in New Jersey and beyond,” he said.
