Nestled in the back of a quiet yard just off Be Van Cam, in the heart of D7, lies VAIB Studio. You might be forgiven for thinking this is a mere production, film and photography studio. The website certainly reflects it. But once a month, VAIB Studio is home to one of Vietnam's fastest-growing sports : professional wrestling.
Sports Storytelling : Blending The Line Between Competition And Entertainment
Professional wrestling blurs the line between sport and theatre. Popularized in the USA, Japan and Mexico in the 1970s, it involves wrestlers performing matches with predetermined outcomes.
Rather than a test of martial prowess like freestyle or greco-roman wrestling matches, professional wrestling puts heavy emphasis on storytelling, with full-time producers and script writers hired by wrestling organisations to craft the perfect storylines.
This is no discredit to the exceptional athleticism of pro wrestlers. Predetermined outcome or not, very few people can flip 300 pound men only to crash into them with devastating effect all night.
Wrestling organisations (known as promotions) maintain the illusion of reality known as kayfabe. While it is an open secret that the matches and their outcomes are predetermined, this is never explicitly acknowledged by promoters and wrestlers.
Wrestling matches feature commentators, adding to the impression of reality. As for the wrestlers, they play outlandish characters (known as gimmicks) with signature outfits, moves, personalities and theme songs.
The audience is also a huge part of the appeal of professional wrestling. Fan reactions determine the storylines put in place for wrestlers, with some becoming heroic “faces” while others adopt villainous “heel” personalities.
Wrestlers regularly interact with the audience, whether it’s crashing into them face-first after a particularly explosive ejection from the squared circle, or taking pictures and signing autographs for fans.
Wrestling shows also feature heavy production. From smoke machines to lighting and even pyrotechnics, some matches also feature custom-built arenas, like towering cages. This adds to the spectacle of the event, and helps with immersion into the storyline for both fans and wrestlers.
This heavy production also materialises in the regular presence of star athletes from other sports, or even celebrities. Examples include Heavyweight Boxing Champion Mike Tyson, UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey, or more recently streamer IShowSpeed and youtuber Logan Paul, who has become a part-time feature on the WWE roster.
Bringing The Vietnam To VPW
VPW has integrated these traditions of pro wrestling in a uniquely Vietnamese way, making use of locally available solutions with resourcefulness and ingenuity.
Rather than smoke machines, a thick cloud of incense both blankets and perfumes the arena. Spotlights are hoisted onto towers made of scaffolding, painted dark to blend in with the black walls of the studio.
The iconic plastic chairs, ubiquitous in cafés and restaurants across Vietnam, serve as seating. The sponsors are also local, notably Heart of Darkness and Eddie’s Diner.
Beyond the production, the promotion and wrestlers have woven modern Vietnam’s unique cultural identity into theirs. Instead of the classic luchador character, VPW’s roster is home to Xiumin Long. Sporting an electric blue mask that combines a traditional Mexican luchador design with dragon-themed elements, he is VPW’s Vietnam-ified take on a luchador.
Similarly, Rocky Huynh, the co-founder of VPW, is a classic “face” good-guy persona. Billed as a national hero who fights for the smiles of children, he is VPW’s take on a John Cena-like character. On the other end of the spectrum lies Venomshank, a villainous duo of twin brothers whose signature move is spraying their opponents with caustic venom they spit from their mouths.
The current Openweight Champion, Hy Draco, styles himself as a Vietnamese Kobe Bryant. Leveraging his tall, lanky frame, what he lacks in muscle he makes up for in explosive displays of aerial prowess, leaping from the ropes to deliver spectacular jumping kicks to his opponents.
No wrestling promotion is complete without a tyrannic Vince McMahon-style CEO to keep wrestlers in line and occasionally join in on the fun himself. Enter X-Pat, the loud, brash, Candian ring announcer, who does not hesitate to personally inflict punishment on wrestlers should they fail to meet his expectations.
Local talent in other sports and celebrities make frequent appearances. In the buildup to her December 2024 defense of her Lion Championship Women’s Bantamweight title, Chelsey “Machete” Cashwell appeared at VPW’s August 2024 Royal Rumble to promote her upcoming fight. Tim Waale of the Saigon Heat is also a regular fixture, often participating in matches.
Outside of sports, renowned comedian Phuong Nam of Đấu Tếu fame is also a familiar face. He appears alongside the superstar wrestler he manages, Ares, as an evil, exploitative manager, scolding the monstrously muscled man should he fail to meet his performance expectations.
As for the fans, they represent every walk of life in HCMC. From suited-up expatriate businessmen on a company outing with their Vietnamese colleagues, to bearded Australian wrestling fanatics, to D7 locals and even children scampering around the ring, none fail to egg the wrestlers on and provide an atmosphere worthy of the spectacular athletic performances happening mere inches from their seats.
Struggle And Success
Things are moving at breakneck speeds at VPW. 9 years ago, founders Rocky Nguyen and Sid founded the Saigon Pro Wrestling Club. Initially, it was a small club of wrestling fans who would gather around some mats in a warehouse to re-create moves they’d watched being performed on WWE broadcasts and YouTube.
But the community kept growing, and eventually Vietnamese-American wrestling star Viva Van took notice. She set up a crowdfunding campaign, allowing VPW to build a ring that’s still in use today. Eventually she was joined by Carey Wass (aka X-Pat), a wrestling coach from Canada who had come to Vietnam to set up a pro wrestling academy.
Today, VPW is one of the biggest promotions in Southeast Asia. The roster features around 20 wrestlers, with local Vietnamese talent as well as foreign stars and regular collaborations with Singaporean and Malaysian talent. With an established training facility in Cu Chi, the bar is sky-high for the development of Vietnamese talent.
The future is looking brighter than ever for VPW. 2025 will see the promotion tour Vietnam, with shows planned in Hanoi, Da Nang and Hoi An, as well as a free show open to the general public planned for mid-2025.
With nine consecutive sold-out shows in the past 18 months, VPW has become the fastest growing independent sports entity in Vietnam. To cap off the year, a documentary on VPW produced by wrestling legend Chris Jericho is set to release in Q3 of this year.
To book tickets to VPW’s upcoming April 19th Saigon Slam show, check out their Facebook or Instagram. Show starts at 19h00, @Vaib Studio, 37 Be Van Cam, D7.
