Flying Danko: a multi talented pro wrestler, a skillful trainer
There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened. We all have a choice. You can decide which type of person you want to be. I have always chosen to be in the first group. – Mary Kay Ash
Those are the words of the great and multi talented pro wrestling superstar, Daniel Kolawole Adeniyi, known worldwide as the Flying Danko, a notable talented powerhouse in the middle weight category under the Nigeria Pro Wrestling Federation and who is currently playing a dual role in the world of Nigerian professional cycles, competing as a wrestler and also training other upcoming talents of the grunt and groan game.
Flying Danko hails from Ayeteju, Mopamuro in Kogi State in Nigeria. Kogi State is one of the 36 States of Nigeria, located in the Middle Belt. Created in 1991 from parts of Kwara State and Benue State, Kogi State is noted as being the only state in Nigeria to border ten other states. He was born on the 5th of September, 1983 to the Samuel and Victoria Adeniyi family of the Ayeteju and the last born among six children of three male and three female.
Though he joined the league of Nigerian wrestlers in February 2011 under the auspices of the legendary African Grand Wizard of professional wrestling, Coach Elephando Bassey, he felt it is not how far, but how well as he had Mr. Emma as his first opponent in late 2011 while he has wrestled with the great and talented Mr. Sharpman, Target, Zion Lion, Rasman Iron, Mighty Progress and Captain Thunder. His seriousness made him participate in the BRF Wrestlemania 2012 which was a landmark in Nigerian pro wrestling.
He believes in Nigerian pro wrestling that the future is so bright and that things will indeed get better for the game in our part of the world and with this inspiration, he has taken it upon himself to handle the training of some of his mates as well as upcoming talented wrestlers like Alexandra the Queen, Mighty Progress, De Suspect (who recently joined the ranks) and so on thus competing and training other talents.
To enable him to go far in the sport, he travelled back to his origin at the inception of his career some years back, to meet with the Ayeteju kingdom paramount ruler to receive royal and fatherly blessing from His Royal Highness, Oba Julius Caleb, the king of Ayeteju Agbajogun, in Ayeteju Amuro Mopamuro, in the Mopamuro Local Government area of Kogi State who indeed prayed for Flying Danko. “I’m full of appreciation to Flying Danko for his great exploits in seeing to it that the name of the community is now known through sports locally, nationally and internationally. I see him going places around the world. God will continue to be his strength. He will go from grace to grace, power to power and from strength to strength. I’m also promising Danko that I will be at the ring side with all my chiefs to support him whenever he is competing for a national title in Nigeria. Danko, it shall be well with you and your pro wrestling career” prayed the monarch.
‘’I’m sincerely grateful for this rare privilege from His Royal Majesty and I know his royal highness’ blessings on me will be fulfilled’’ as Danko responded to the prayers from the king. ‘’I just want supports from my kinsmen as well as well meaning sons and daughters of Kogi state and other Nigerians to push me to the top’’ Danko concluded.
The Nigerian professional wrestling scene since its inception has never seen a crazy fighting machine like Flying Danko who enjoys flying from corner post to corner post in the wrestling ring. This talented athlete who takes pride in making someone get hurt and cry like a baby in the wrestling ring knows every hold and counter hold and whenever he applies them, victory is always on his side.
Due to his exploits in the wrestling world, Danko made the 2021 Black Pro Wrestlers list of the best 500 black talents around the world. TheBest in Black Pro Wrestling is a concept of www.blackwrecellence.com tagged: #BW500 which has become a much anticipated yearly release, an annual list of the world’s best professional wrestlers from around the world. The #BW500 focuses on the world’s 500 best black professional wrestlers, listing both male and female wrestlers that are competing around the world.
We, the Nigerian pro wrestling community members, are not really surprised that this year’s list features a number of pro wrestlers that are from Africa of which Danko is one of. According to the rating, Danko was number 2 in Africa and number 240 among the listed 500 black pro wrestling talents worldwide, though he would not have been known and recognized if not for the constant publicity from Wrestlemap. Kudos to the media team.