PHOTO: TIMEOUT DUBAI
Born in Lebanon and raised in Saudi Arabia, 17-year old Gheeda goes by the name of Joelle Hunter, and wears fishnet stockings, rugged boots and leather jacket as a part of her façade for the part scripted fights.
“Some people say, ‘She’s out there wrestling guys?’” says Chamasaddine, adding that “They are not very cool with that.”
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Chamasaddine is the only female member of the Dubai Pro Wrestling Academy, although the wrestling is part theatrics and part physical and considered amateur.
Although it may not be the norm for a girl to be seen in the academy, Joelle attends training sessions three times a week where she learns moves such as the the back breaker, the arm twister, and the clothes line.
PHOTO: TIMEOUTDUBAIWhile some may be reluctant about fighting a woman, Joelle’s opponent, the Vigilante--19-year-old Michel Nassif from Lebanon--doesn’t mind it too much. After beating her in the first show he is now more concerned with killing her fan base.
“Just because she’s the first female Arab pro wrestler, it’s a big deal,” the Vigilante says, “I want to put a stop to the fact that [people] like her so much," he added.
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The founder of the Academy, American Caleb Hall said, “In WWE, female wrestlers are very common, but out here in the Gulf, Joelle’s the only one. We’ve been trying for a while to get another girl.”
Chamasaddine’s mother, single-parent, Nihaya Haimour had hoped her only child would have remained on the safe side of the Arab culture, adding that she really wanted a ‘girlie girl.’
However, Chamasaddine grew up admiring wrestling. “This is a dream for her,” says Haimour adding that they regularly sit together and watch WWE.
This article originally appeared on Wall Street Journal
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