Rohan Raja, a former WWE NXT UK tag team standout, reflects on his journey to pro wrestling and the surprising support he received from his family. Born in the UK but raised in Australia, Raja grew up watching wrestling with his father and brother, deciding at age four that he wanted to become a professional wrestler. His Indian-descent family, he expected, might steer him away from such an "extraordinary" career path. Instead, when he presented his plan to his father, the response was simply: "So, what's next? What school do you want to go to?"
Raja trained in Calgary under Lance Storm, worked the Canadian indies (PWA, RCW) and briefly ran with TNA's Desi Hit Squad. After requesting his release in 2019, he landed a WWE tryout in Canada-despite not being a citizen-and was the only one selected out of 50 participants. He chose NXT UK to learn the British style, signing and gaining invaluable coaching from William Regal. The brand's shutdown, tied to WWE's sale, was a major disappointment. Now, Raja is with Maple Leaf Pro, the revived Canadian promotion by Scott D'Amore. "Mayhem" debuts June 12 and 13 on TSN.