Serpent River First Nation citizen brings wrestling to local communities
By Leslie Knibbs
SERPENT RIVER FIRST NATION— “Wrestling brings me happiness,” he said recently. “I put my own blood sweat and tears into starting this business.”
These are the words of William Meawasige of Serpent River First Nation (SRFN). Meawasige personifies the archetypal entrepreneur; he’s the perfect combination of a sharp businessman and a dreamer on his own terms. Promotion is his game and wrestling is fast becoming his claim to fame.
For just over one year, he has been running Lucky Savage Entertainment and is the CEO of Nimkii Wajiw Wrestling (NWW), an up-and-coming wrestling organization focusing on the North Shore of Lake Huron as a venue of operations.
Recently, Meawasige staged the All-Nations Warrior World Championship at the Lifestyle Center in SRFN on August 31. He worked with Kryss Thorn, CEO of the Canadian Wrestling Federation (CWF), to put the show together in SRFN in August; it was the first authentic Canadian First Nations Championship.
On the last day of August, NWW All Nations Warrior Worlds Championship match contestants faced off in the square circle at the Lifestyle Center; several other wrestling matches were on the card. The event was promoted by Lucky Savage Entertainment in cooperation with the Canadian Wrestling Federation (CWF) and billed as a “No Limits” show.
The main event featured United Kingdom Champion Liam Car challenging the current Champ Jesse Bieber. This wrestling spectacle was in celebration of the first anniversary of the NWW, which was founded and operated by SRFN member William Meawasige with his daughter Emily assisting him at Lucky Savage Entertainment. After a rousing battle, Bieber came out on top retaining his championship; however, a rematch is being scheduled to be held in Mississauga #8 First Nation in the near-future.
At 14 years old, Meawasige ran away from home to the United States where he worked for 10 years in construction and private security. During that time, he met with many pro-wrestlers, training with, and listening and learning from them. Meawasige’s life has had many twists and turns since entering the Indian Residential School System at the tender age of seven.
“In my mind, it was Hell,” he said, reflecting back on those days. “They (students) were to watch TV and I was given alcohol and sexually abused for the last two years until the school was closed and we were shipped to Elliot Lake…Having gone through that experience turned me into a fighter [and] not being afraid of anyone, but deep down inside, I was hoping someone would KO me for good, just to end the pain I was keeping inside me…Just think, one lost Rez kid never giving up, overcoming whatever life brings.”
Meawasige has faced personal health challenges throughout his life. In 2013 after years of suffering with diabetes, doctors amputated a leg, making getting around difficult. He was in a culinary program at the time in Sault Ste. Marie with plans to work as a chef; however, his dreams of being a chef were shattered. In October 2023 while watching a wrestling bout at ringside, one of the wrestlers was thrown out of the ring, pushing Meawasige to the floor and breaking his arm. Recalling that incident, he remembers while in the hospital thinking, “Well look at me. Yeah, it looks bad, and feels worse, but having this NWW has given me back life again. Before I started this wrestling program, I had nothing but life in a wheelchair. Now, I’m having fun with wrestling enjoyment, making the crowds excited.”
Meawasige has had a tough life in many respects but has shown incredible resilience. All of the trials and tribulations he’s gone through have never dampened his spirit.
“So, it was a tough pill to swallow but well worth it,” he said recently while speaking of his life.
Meawasige is grateful to Kryss Thorne from the CWF who helped produce and create NWW.