Rohit Raju

Rohit Raju is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling, where he is a former one time X Division Champion

Rohit Raju
Birth nameRohit Raju
BornSaginaw, Michigan
ResidenceSaginaw, Michigan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Hakim Zane
Mad Dragon
Rohit Raju
Billed height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Billed weight172 lb (78 kg)
Billed fromHyderabad, India
Trained byXavier Justice
Debut2008

Before working for Impact Wrestling, he worked over 10 years on the independent circuit in promotions including Ring of Honor (ROH), Superkick'D and Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling (XICW). He signed a contract with Impact in 2017, where he debuted as part of Desi Hit Squad.

Professional wrestling career

Early career

Under the ring name Hakim Zane, he debuted between 2008 and 2009. From then on, Zane worked in matches in promotions including for the National Wrestling Alliance and several NWA affiliates.

Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling (2013–2018)

On April 14, 2013, Zane held his first title as co-holder of the XICW Tag Team Championship with TD Thomas. They held the tag titles until September 8, 2013 at XICW 167: Jacobs vs. Venom, where they lost the titles to challengers Sonny Scarboni and Vinnie Scarboni. The following year, Zane won his first singles championship on April 27, 2014 at XICW 177: Jacobs vs. Shelley, where he defeated The DBA to win the XICW Midwest Heavyweight Championship. He later lost the title on December 14 at XICW 187 Hardcore with a Heart, to former WWE Cruiserweight Shannon Moore.

The following year in 2015, Zane won the XICW Light Heavyweight Championship on January 17, 2015 at XICW Best in Detroit VIII, defeating Caleb Stills, Chris Sabin and Owen Travers in a four-way match. Three months later on April 12 at XICW 192, Zane lost the Light Heavyweight title to Owen Travers in a two-out-of-three-falls match. Zane later won the Midwest Heavyweight title for a second time. His second reign began on June 5, 2016 at XICW 210 after defeating Rhino. He went on to defend the Midwest Heavy weight title against challengers including Robbie E and Matt Cross. His final title defense was August 7, 2016 at XICW 213, successfully defeating Cross.

During 2017, Zane competed for the XICW Tag Team and Midwest Heavyweight titles on several occasions, however did not succeeding either title for a second time. He returned for one last match during a July 13, 2018 XICW show, challenging Jimmy Jacobs for the Midwest Heavyweight title but did not succeed in winning the championship.

Sporadic appearances (2017–2018)

On the May 11, 2017 episode of Impact!, Zane teamed with Idris Abraham in a tag match lost against Garza Jr. and Laredo Kid.[1] Six months later, Zane returned and wrestled in his first singles match. During the November 30 episode of Impact!, Zane lost his debut singles match to Taiji Ishimori. He made his final televised appearance of the year on the December 9 episode of Xplosion, losing to Eddie Edwards.

Zane returned the following year on the January 11, 2018 episode Impact!, teaming with Caleb Konley and Trevor Lee in a six-man tag match lost to Dezmond Xavier, Garza Jr. and Sonjay Dutt.[2] The following month on the February 8 episode of Impact!, Zane debuted the ring name Rohit Raju, teaming with El Hijo del Fantasma in a tag match lost against Ishimori and Matt Sydal.[3]

Desi Hit Squad (2018–2020)

On March 16 (which was taped on March 3) at Impact One Night Only: March Breakdown, Raju debuted with Gursinder Singh as the Desi Hit Squad. During the event, they defeated Sheldon Jean and Stone Rockwell.[4][5] On the March 22 episode of Impact!, Raju challenged for the X Division Championship but lost to the reigning champion Sydal.[6] For the course of the year, Raju and Gursinder Singh shared the ring as teammates and as opponents. Their final match was a singles competition during the October 11 episode of Impact! in which he defeated Gursinder Singh. By the November 1 episode of Impact!, the Desi Hit Squad was modified with the addition of Raj Singh, replacing Gursinder Singh. During the episode, they defeated The Beach Bums (Freddie IV and TJ Crawford). Raju wrestled his final match of the year on the November 22 episode of Impact! teaming with Eli Drake, Glenn Gilbertti, Jake Crist and Katarina Leigh in a The 2nd Annual Eli Drake Gravy Train Turkey Trot Ten Man Tag Team Match lost to Alisha Edwards, Fallah Bahh, Kikutaro, KM and Xavier.

The following year, Raju returned with Raj Singh on the January 3, 2019 episode of Impact! in a tag match against Bahh and KM. Their match was an "audition" observed by Impact Knockout Scarlett Bordeaux. The match concluded with the Desi Hit Squad losing to Bahh and KM. During the January 25 episode of Impact!, the Desi Hit Squad lost a tag match to The Rascalz (Dez and Wentz). During the early months of 2019, Raju competed in tag matches. On March 9 at Impact Wrestling-OVW One Night Only: Clash In The Bluegrass, Raju teamed with oVe (Dave Crist and Jake Crist), Madman Fulton in a tag match against Dustin Jackson, Melvin Maximus, Sam Thompson and Shiloh Jonze.

X Division Champion and various feuds (2020–present)

On August 18, 2020, during Night 1 of Emergence, Raju defeated Chris Bey to win the X Division Championship in a three-way match that also involved TJP.[7] On the September 15 episode of Impact!, he had Bey, TJP and Trey Miguel compete in a three-way match next week to determine who will face him for the X Division Championship immediately afterwards, which Trey won but Raju quickly defeated him in his first title defense.[8][9] At Victory Road, he issued the Defeat Rohit Challenge with the X Division Championship on the line, which was answered by Willie Mack but he took the count-out loss to retain his title.[10] On the October 6 episode of Impact!, Raju lost to Jordynne Grace who answered his challenge, but changed the rules so that his title wasn't up for grabs.[11] At Bound for Glory, Raju successfully retained his X Division Championship in a six-way intergender scramble match that involved Bey, Grace, TJP, Mack and Trey, the latter of which he pinned to win the match.[12] On November 14 at Turning Point, Raju retained his title against Cousin Jake Deaner.[13] On the November 24 episode of Impact! he lost to Crazzy Steve disguised as Suicide, but managed to defeat him on the following week to retain his title.[14][15] At Final Resolution, Raju lost the title to Manik, ending his reign at 120 days.[16] On January 16, 2021, at Hard to Kill, he failed to regain the X Division Championship in a three-way match that also involved Bey.[17]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. Bocook, Gerald (May 12, 2017). "Impact Wrestling Results – 5/11/17 (Alberto El Patron vs. Magnus)". WrestleView. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  2. Csonka, Larry (January 11, 2018). "Csonka's Impact Wrestling Review 1.11.18". 411Mania. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  3. Csonka, Larry (February 8, 2018). "Csonka's Impact Wrestling Review 2.08.18". 411Mania. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  4. "BCW/Impact Wrestling One Night Only: March Breakdown « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". CageMatch. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  5. Csonka, Larry (March 17, 2018). "Csonka's Impact Wrestling One Night Only March Breakdown 2018 Review". 411Mania. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  6. Csonka, Larry (March 22, 2018). "Csonka's Impact Wrestling Review 3.22.18". 411Mania. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  7. Garza, Antonio (August 18, 2020). "Impact Wrestling Results: Emergence Night One". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  8. Coder, Brie (September 15, 2020). "Impact Wrestling Results: Eight-Man Tag Main Event, TJP Takes On Trey, Knockouts Tag Match, More". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  9. "IMPACT! on AXS TV Results – September 22, 2020". Impact Wrestling. September 22, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  10. Manolo Has Pizzazz (October 4, 2020). "Impact Victory Road 2020 recap & reactions: Rohit Raju steals the show as X-Division Champion". Cageside Seats. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  11. Coder, Brie (October 6, 2020). "Impact Wrestling Results: Motor City Machine Guns Vs. Austin & Fulton, Knockouts Tag Action, More". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  12. Gagnon, Joshua (October 24, 2020). "Impact Bound For Glory Results: Eric Young Vs. Rich Swann, Multiple Title Changes". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  13. Cook, Ryan (November 14, 2020). "IMPACT Wrestling Presents Turning Point Results & Live Coverage Rich Swann vs Sami Callihan". Fightful. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  14. Toro, Carlos (November 24, 2020). "The Wee-nomenal One AJ Swoggle Appears On IMPACT Wrestling, Pins Ethan Page". Fightful. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  15. Beaston, Erik (December 1, 2020). "IMPACT Wrestling Results: Winners, Grades and Reaction from December 1". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  16. Cook, Ryan (December 12, 2020). "IMPACT Wrestling Final Resolution Results Swann, Purrazzo Retain, Karl Anderson Victorious". Fightful. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  17. Powell, Jason (January 16, 2021). "1/16 Impact Wrestling Hard To Kill results: Kenny Omega, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson vs. Rich Swann, Moose, and Chris Sabin, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Taya Valkyrie for the Knockouts Title, Manik vs. Chris Bey vs. Rohit Raju for the X Division Title, Ethan Page vs. Karate Man". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  18. "Hakim Zane defeated PACO". CageMatch. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  19. "Rohit Raju and Raj Singh defeated Aiden Prince & Brent Banks". CageMatch. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  20. "Hakim Zane defeated Myron Reed". CageMatch. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  21. "Impact X-Division Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  22. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated". Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  23. "Hakim Zane defeated Gavin Quinn and Orlando Christopher". CageMatch. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  24. "Hakim Zane defeated Caleb Stills and Chris Sabin and Owen Travers in a fatal four-way match". CageMatch. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  25. "Hakim Zane defeated The DBA". CageMatch. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  26. "Hakim Zane defeated Orlando Christopher and Donnie Hollows and Jake Something". CageMatch. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  27. "XICW Tag Team Championship". Cage Match. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
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