Judoka Shady Elnahas, who represented Canada twice at the Olympic Games, is at a crossroads. His next tournament, this weekend in Japan, could be his last if he decides to pursue a new challenge… in a wrestling ring.
At 26 years old, the Toronto native already has an impressive track record in judo. He was vice-world champion in 2024, in the under 100 kg category, and he won 12 grand slam medals, including one gold.
His last Olympic experience, in Paris, did not live up to his expectations. He qualified in the extremes before showing up for his first fight with his fingers taped, due to a fracture suffered two weeks previously. He was quickly eliminated.
He now plans to end his career after the Tokyo grand slam, the first of the season.
There is definitely a chance that this will be my last tournament, so I really want to savor it 100%.
he told Radio-Canada Sports. I don’t want to think about the outcome. This is the first time in my life that I’ve said this: I’m not thinking about the gold medal, I just want to enjoy every moment.
It is because a new adventure could well await him, a new adventure which would allow him to realize a dream of little guy
.
The disappointment was acute for Shady Elnahas a few moments after his defeat in overtime in the round of 16 in the -100 kg category.
Photo: Getty Images / AFP/LUIS ROBAYO
In the French capital, a journalist asked him if he preferred a career in mixed martial arts or professional wrestling. The Canadian responded with a tit-for-tat fight. The information reached the ears of the famous wrestling circuit, the WWEwho contacted him to see if he was serious. And he really was.
I’ve watched wrestling my whole life, from when I was young until now. I’m really a big fan
says the adopted Montrealer, who has already participated in a few amateur galas. Every child dreamed of being Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, The Edge… For me, it was mostly Jeff Hardy. He inspired me a little look all tattooed.
Wrestler Jeff Hardy
Photo: Courtesy / AEW
So Elnahas traveled to Orlando, Florida to participate in auditions. It was really coolI just wanted to see what life might be like there. I brought my dad, because when I was young and traveling with him, we always brought all my wrestling toys. It was an extraordinary experience. But at the same time, it was also very similar to what judo has always given me.
A contract with the WWE could be signed by the end of the month, which would mark the end of the athlete’s journey on the tatamis. The three-year agreement would bring him nearly $100,000, a considerable sum for an athlete whose income from his sport is very limited.
The coaches would like me to stay. I would like to stay too. But I have to think about my future. I would like to do judo all my life, do tournaments all my life, but it’s not realistic. I have to think about my career, I have to finish my studies. And the struggle can be the opportunity to have a comfortable life. Because judo, I don’t do it for the money. I do this for the love of sport
he says.
Play the role of villain
A sign that his thinking is already well underway, Shady Elnahas has already started to create the character he will play in the good world of Hulk Hogan.
Unequivocally, he would like to play the role of a villain, one that the crowd loves to hate. I want to play a bad guy. Because if you want to be a good guy, there is a lot of work to be done with the public to make you accepted. When you’re a bad guy, you can just have fun, insult everyone, and it’ll work. It’s more the fun and easier, I would say
he says.
The judoka would like to create a character by borrowing traits from two idols, The Edge et Jeff Hardy.
Hardy, he did crazy, very physical things, like jumping off ladders. I don’t want to do this from the start, but I would like to build on it. Be in judo mode too. And also Edgehe was good on the mic, he knew how to play the bad guy and the good guy. It was one of the best. And if I go into this, I want to be at the top. So, that’s an inspiration.
And his stage name? Perhaps something tracing its Egyptian origins. Someone once suggested something like King Pharaoh to me. It would be cool
he said. Details which would of course be refined with a creative team from the WWE.
Before King Pharaoh, it will be the turn of the real Shady Elnahas to fight, starting Saturday, in Japan.
And then I’m going to ask myself the question. Where do I see myself in five years? As an Olympic champion or as one of the biggest stars of WWE?
With information from Olivier Pellerin
