Folks, if you thought the world of wrestling was wild inside the ring, just wait until you hear about what’s going on behind the scenes in Uganda’s Soft Ground Wrestling (SGW). What started as a feel-good story of a humble wrestling promotion rising from the ashes has turned into a Shakespearean drama of betrayal, corruption, and alleged vodka-fueled van rides—because why not?
SGW, which burst onto the scene earlier this year, captured the hearts of wrestling fans and even some of the biggest names in the business. WWE’s Cody Rhodes, AEW’s Will Ospreay, Mansoor, and Mason D. Madden, among others, all chipped in to support this underdog promotion. Unfortunately, it seems like all those donations might have ended up funding someone’s personal “McMahon Mansion” rather than a legitimate wrestling dream.
Enter Daniel Bumbash, the man behind SGW, who is now being accused of treating this whole thing like his personal piggy bank. An explosive report from Bodyslam alleges that Bumbash took the wrestling world—and a bunch of kind-hearted donors—for a ride, and we’re not just talking about the van he got from Mansoor’s mom.
It all started with a GoFundMe campaign, which saw thousands of dollars pouring in from names like Will Ospreay, Daniel Garcia, and Jordynne Grace. The campaign smashed its $10,000 goal, but things got messy real quick. According to the report, Bumbash allegedly harassed the young SGW fan who set up the fundraiser, demanding the money pronto. When the funds didn’t arrive on time, Bumbash apparently lost it, berating the kid like he was Vince McMahon yelling at a rookie for botching a promo.
Now, you’d think $10,000 would go a long way in Uganda, right? Well, not quite. A lot of that cash vanished due to fees, and instead of building a wrestling ring, the money allegedly went toward an “office and food storage area.” Sure, because nothing says “we’re here to wrestle” like a nice place to store your groceries.
But the plot thickens! In May, Madden and Mansoor hosted a stream that raised a whopping $40,000 for SGW. Cody Rhodes also jumped in, promising to buy a wrestling ring. However, when the money was sent to someone other than Bumbash, the promoter apparently responded with threats. Because that’s how you inspire loyalty—fear and intimidation!
Behind the scenes, SGW seems to be splitting like a tag team on the outs. Some folks are apparently in a “cult-like trance” around Bumbash, believing every word he says. Others are starting to wake up to the reality that SGW’s dreams might be built on quicksand. Bumbash’s claims about TV deals, legal statuses, and even the very purpose of the promotion are looking shakier than an untrained wrestler on the top rope.
And it gets worse. Reports suggest Bumbash endangered his talent with unsafe travel conditions, including a van without seatbelts, and that he might’ve been enjoying some liquid courage while driving. Oh, and did we mention the mass arrest of SGW trainees for arson and malicious damage to property? Because that’s a thing that happened too.
In a twist worthy of a wrestling soap opera, the land SGW was supposedly training on may not have been theirs to begin with. Bumbash claimed he was scammed, but the only thing that seems certain is that the dream of Soft Ground Wrestling is turning into a nightmare.
So there you have it, folks—a cautionary tale that even in the world of wrestling, sometimes the biggest battles are fought outside the ring. Let’s hope the truth comes out, and those who’ve been caught in this mess can find some peace. Meanwhile, we’ll be here, shaking our heads and wondering how it all went so wrong.