An American entrepreneur is helping professional wrestling gain a foothold in China by combining the entertainment style popular in the United States with Chinese cultural traditions, local performers and international wrestling talent.

Adrian Gomez, founder of Middle Kingdom Wrestling (MKW), has spent years developing the professional wrestling scene in China. His journey illustrates how an imported form of entertainment can find a new audience when it adapts to local tastes rather than simply reproducing a foreign format.

From Arizona to China’s wrestling ring

Gomez grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, fascinated by professional wrestling and its combination of athletic performances, dramatic characters and scripted storylines.

He moved to Harbin in northeastern China in 2010, initially working as an English teacher. Through Chinese wrestling organizer Liu Xuanzheng, who helped introduce him to the emerging local scene, Gomez began exploring opportunities to develop the sport-entertainment format.

In 2015, he established Middle Kingdom Wrestling and organized its first event in Dongguan, Guangdong Province. The early response was modest, with few spectators attending even when admission was free.

Gomez recognized that simply copying American wrestling shows would not be enough. Chinese audiences needed a format that connected with their own cultural interests and entertainment preferences. He continued teaching to support the organization while gradually building its operations.

Giving professional wrestling a Chinese identity

MKW has increasingly incorporated local elements into its performances.

At a recent event in Tianjin, the announcer introduced wrestlers using the local dialect, creating a more familiar atmosphere for spectators. The promotion also brings local performers into its shows, including musicians and announcers, when it visits different cities.

Its storylines have drawn inspiration from Chinese literature and popular culture. Characters inspired by the Monkey King from the classic novel Journey to the West have appeared in its performances, while elements of Peking Opera have also been incorporated into the wrestling ring.

The organization has established a Belt and Road Championship title, reflecting its interest in connecting Chinese wrestling with a wider international audience.

Gomez describes the approach as a cultural combination of Chinese traditions and American-style entertainment.

Chinese wrestlers enter the international arena

MKW’s ambitions extend beyond staging events inside China. The organization has helped Chinese wrestlers gain opportunities to perform overseas, including in Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates.

It has also brought foreign performers to China, creating opportunities for wrestlers from different backgrounds to exchange techniques and performance styles.

Chinese wrestler Zhang Xue, a 27-year-old performer from Sichuan Province, took part in a women’s tag-team match at the Tianjin event. She said she was nervous before the performance but received help from an experienced British female wrestler in preparing the match choreography.

An American wrestler performing under the ring name Zombie Dragon praised the way Chinese performers have incorporated martial arts and dance into professional wrestling.

Such exchanges can help local performers develop distinctive styles while gaining experience in an international entertainment industry.

A niche market with growing interest

Despite the progress, professional wrestling remains a relatively small entertainment market in China.

However, observers have noticed a gradual expansion in its audience. WWE, one of the world’s best-known professional wrestling organizations, has attracted more than four million followers on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, according to the Xinhua report.

At MKW events, experienced fans often lead chants and cheering, while newcomers learn the traditions and presentation of professional wrestling by watching the performances.

A Tianjin event held alongside a motorsports festival also attracted casual visitors, giving the promotion an opportunity to introduce the format to people who might not otherwise attend a wrestling show.

Cultural exchange through entertainment

Gomez’s experience in China has shaped his understanding of how entertainment businesses operate across cultural boundaries. He says mutual respect is essential to making such ventures successful.

MKW’s development illustrates that cultural exchange does not necessarily mean abandoning the original identity of an entertainment form. Instead, it can involve combining familiar international formats with local stories, artistic traditions and performers.

For Chinese wrestlers, the expanding network offers opportunities to develop professional skills and reach audiences beyond their home market. For international performers, it provides a chance to experience China’s cultural traditions and contribute to a developing entertainment scene.

The long-term challenge will be turning growing curiosity into a sustainable domestic audience. But the blend of athletic performance, storytelling and Chinese cultural elements is giving professional wrestling a distinctive identity in the country.