Nightmare fulfils his dream of achieving success

After being the only Indian tattoo artist to participate in the annual Durban Ink and Iron Tattoo competition, recently, Chatsworth’s Daryl Dante Naidu, also known as Nightmare, has yet another achievement to celebrate since rightfully claiming back the WWP Hardcore Championship belt in a gruelling match.

Describing himself as a ‘troubled teen’ while growing up, Nightmare’s journey to success has not been an easy one however, being humble, focused and determined helped him become the man and champion that he is today.

Following his recent achievements, the Rising Sun team spoke to the Moorton resident, who has been part of World Wrestling Professionals (WWP) for quite some time.

“Being part of the annual Durban Ink and Iron competition was a phenomenal experience which helped me showcase my creativity and uniqueness. Having gained the respect from other tattoo veterans meant the world to me. With regards to my recent match at WWP Locked and Loaded, it is one that I am extremely proud of. I had less than two weeks to prepare for the ultimate fight of my career where I finally went up against my teacher, Tornado,” he explained.

The live wrestling show was held in Johannesburg, and according to the two-time champion, it was a tremendous success with a house full of spectators.

“Growing up, all I wanted to do was become a wrestler. I was often taken for granted and led on many wild goose chases until I met Tornado. He took me under his wing and introduced me to the world of professional wrestling. He saw greatness in me and knew that I had a fearless attitude. As the years passed by, I needed to spread my wings and chose my own part. There was some tension as he still treated me as a ‘rookie’. However, I was confident of my skills and knew that I could take him on once again and be victorious this time,” he proudly said.

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During the match, there were many times when Nightmare got knocked down and received multiple blows to his head and also falling on 15, 000 drawing pins, which were scattered across the ring. Despite this, he got back to his feet and came back stronger.

He knew he had a point to prove and did not give up. “Not throwing in the towel helped me reclaim the championship belt. I respect my opponent for not holding back and giving me the match of my career,” said Nightmare. He also praised WWP for always providing a platform for local wrestlers to showcase their talent.

“There are great things in store for WWP so be sure to watch this space. Being part of a sporting organisation that has done so much to celebrate and promote our South African wrestling industry is a great feeling. Some of the other artists who received an opportunity to shine at the recent live show included Kilimanjaro, Mr Wrestling, Kwaito Kidd, Ananzi, Xterminator, Black Widow and Venus. They certainly proved their talent and love for the industry as well,” he added. Following his win, Nightmare issued an open challenge to the locker room and is locked and loaded for any challenge headed his way.

Even though he has achieved immense success, charity work still remains a top priority. “Chatsworth is my hometown and fame does not matter to me. I have found peace and love in giving back. Having been a troubled teen, I feel it is my responsibility to also reach out to youngsters who are indulging in social ills and help them understand that they can achieve success and become someone great,” he told journalists.

He is currently preparing to attend international wrestling tours and film a wrestling TV series in India. In addition to this, he also has to prepare for national SA TV tapings. He has proven that success does not lie in the results but rather in the efforts.