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 Shadia Bseiso, a Jordanian versed in jiu-jitsu,
dreams of encouraging more Arab women to take up sports - and of
one day maybe even crashing a metal chair over WWE mega-star
John Cena.
"Female athletes are finally getting the credit they deserve.
The world is more open to that, and in terms of how the region
will react to it, I'm hoping its going to be very positive,"
said Bseiso.
While women exercising in public is rare in the Arab world and
the local entertainment industry often relegates them to docile
roles, big companies such as Nike have stepped up advertising
geared towards female athletes.
Still, the high octane physicality and outrageous storylines of
professional wrestling remain a novelty in the region.
Speaking to Reuters in the WWE's Dubai office, Bseiso said she
made sure to tell her parents about her colorful career choice
in person.
After announcing she would join the ranks of the WWE, they
paused in disbelief for a moment, she said, worried for her
safety in the often bruising shows.
They support her fully, she added, as she now heads to the
company's Orlando, Florida, training center for grueling in-ring
training and what WWE calls "character development" -
transformation into one of their trademark big personalities.
She has a Jordan-themed persona in mind, she says, declining to
elaborate.
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For decades a quintessential if curious emblem of Americana,
professional wrestling has now won die-hard fans in the Arab world
and beyond, and features widely in apparel and toys.
WWE's reach deeper into new demographics makes plenty of business
sense for the $1.5 billion Connecticut company, which has also
recently signed several Indian and Chinese athletes in the hope of
snaring millions of potential new devotees.
"Recruiting Shadia to join our developmental system underscores
WWE's ongoing commitment to building a talent roster as diverse as
our fan base," said Paul "Triple H" Levesque, WWE Executive Vice
President and himself a popular wrestler.
Bseiso insists the quirky genre has room to expand if only fans
could find a hero from home.
"As it is, the WWE's incredibly popular in the Middle East, but I
think having athletes from the region who grew up here - it will
change things. You finally have someone to root for."
(Editing by Mark Potter)
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