Tariq Tahan

**Hari Tahan** (born March 20, 1991) is a British Indian professional wrestler who goes by the ring name **Tariq Tahan**. He works on the British independent scene, appearing mainly for ARMBAR Wrestling.

## Professional wrestling career

### **Training and early career (2013–2014)**

Tahan began his professional wrestling training in mid-2013 at the London-based Armbar Academy. He trained under former professional wrestler and owner of the school, Marc Gomez, as well as veteran British wrestler Stuart King. Tahan completed his training in late 2014. He debuted in November 2014 for a local English promotion under the ring name Tariq Tahan. Tahan continued to wrestle for smaller promotions across England, before being contacted by Gomez and invited to participate on ARMBAR Wrestling's upcoming developmental RISE shows.

### **ARMBAR Wrestling (2015–present)**

#### **RISE (2015)**

Tahan made his debut for ARMBAR Wrestling at RISE:1 on February 15, 2015, where he defeated Liam Taylor. After the match, Tahan spat at Taylor, cementing himself as a heel and beginning their feud. On March 14 at RISE:2, Tahan suffered his first loss to Chase Cupid when his attempts to cheat were thwarted by Taylor. At RISE:3, Taylor challenged Tahan to a rematch. Tahan refused, wearing a wrist brace and claiming that he was in no condition to fight. In response to this, ARMBAR co-owner James O'Reilly announced the two would face one another in a tag team match at RISE:4. On May 25, Tahan teamed with Charles Bennett in a losing effort against the team of Taylor and Dickie Hyde. Tahan and Bennett's attempts at cheating were stopped by Taylor and Hyde, much to their dismay.

At RISE:5, Tahan defeated Jack Harper, showing more ruthlessness after suffering two losses in a row. After the match, Tahan called out Taylor, challenging him to a one-on-one match at RISE:6. Taylor accepted the match, but when the two went to shake hands on the agreement, Tahan locked Taylor in the cobra clutch. On July 26, Tahan defeated Taylor after interference from Tahan's new ally, Henry Pryce.

#### **Alliance with Henry Pryce; subsequent feuds (2015–2016)**

Tahan's alliance with Pryce was made official via social media after Pryce helped Tahan defeat Liam Taylor at RISE:6. Tahan made his first chapter show appearance with Pryce at Chapter 12 on August 16, 2015, where the two teamed up to defeat Taylor and his tag team partner Danny Keane. After the show, Tahan was announced as one of the eight competitors in ARMBAR's first-ever Evolution Series tournament. On August 23 at RISE:7, Tahan defeated AC Hylan in the first round of the tournament. At Chapter 13 on September 13, Tahan was defeated in the semi-finals of the tournament, being eliminated by Dickie Hyde.

On October 18 at RISE:9, Tahan and Pryce attacked Hyde after his match. Just as with Taylor, Tahan spat in Hyde's face after the attack. At Chapter 14 on November 15, Hyde answered Pryce's 'the Pryce is Right' open challenge, only to lose when Tahan interfered. Tahan aired his grievances with Hyde, vowing to ruin Hyde after he had eliminated Tahan from the Evolution Series tournament and “robbed him” of his victory. At RISE:10, Hyde challenged Tahan to a match at Chapter 15. Tahan accepted, adding that if Hyde lost, he would have to become his personal bodyguard.

On January 10, 2016, Tahan defeated Hyde with help from Pryce, forcing Hyde to become his personal bodyguard. Tahan signed the contract for Hyde using Hyde's own blood after the match. At Chapter 16 on February 14, Tahan teamed with Hyde to defeat Mike Bear and Bulldog Hansen. Hyde attempted to abandon the match, but Tahan used the contract and Pryce's help to secure the victory. On March 13, Tahan and Hyde defeated Taylor and Keane, with Tahan's threats and Pryce's assistance again stopping Hyde from abandoning the match. Tahan and Hyde defeated Romano and Machismo at Chapter 18 on April 10, becoming the number one contenders to the ARMBAR Tag Team titles in the process.

Tahan and Hyde unsuccessfully challenged Tag Team Champions Kieran O'Keller and Curtis O'Dwyer at Chapter 19 on May 15. After the loss, Tahan and Pryce attacked Hyde, only to be chased off by Taylor and Keane. At Chapter 20, Tahan announced that Hyde had violated the terms of his contract and thus would have a restraining order placed upon him, effectively forcing him out of ARMBAR. Hyde confronted Tahan and demanded the contract be made void, challenging Tahan to a match. Tahan refused the match, with Pryce accepting it in his place. At Chapter 21 on July 17, Hyde defeated Pryce, despite interference from Tahan. Enraged by Pryce's loss and Hyde's persistence, Tahan agreed to fight Hyde. The stipulation was made stating that if Hyde lost, he would go ahead with the restraining order, but if Hyde won, the contract would be void. At Chapter 22 on August 14, Tahan lost to Hyde in a no holds barred match, freeing Hyde from his contract.

On September 18 at Chapter 23, Tahan and Pryce teamed together in a losing effort against Marshall Lockwood and David Sterling. During the match, it was clear there was mistrust and miscommunication between Tahan and Pryce. At Chapter 24, Tahan answered Pryce's 'the Pryce is Right' challenge. He complained about Pryce's lack of loyalty and demanded Pryce prove that he would put Tahan above himself by allowing Tahan to win the challenge, which Pryce had been undefeated in thus far. Pryce refused and the two brawled, being separated by security. After the show, it was announced that the two would compete against each other at Chapter 25. On November 13, Tahan defeated Pryce when Pryce refused to tap out to Tahan's cobra clutch, passing out and turning face in the process. This signalled the end of their alliance and feud.

#### **EXCEL Cup and The Sect (2017–2018)**

On January 8, 2017, Tahan defeated Connor Mason to qualify for the EXCEL Cup tournament. At Chapter 28 on January 22, he defeated Smitty LeBlanc to advance to the semi-finals. On February 12, Tahan defeated Mikael Diedrich in the semi-finals, advancing to the final later that night. In the final, Tahan defeated Stuart King, Ryan Glynn, and Chase Cupid in the four-way elimination match, picking up the victory by last eliminating King to become the EXCEL Cup 2017 winner. By winning the tournament, Tahan also earned the chance to challenge for the ARMBAR British Championship at any time of his choosing.

At Chapter 30 on March 12, Tahan appeared at the end of Owen Shaw's British Championship defence, seemingly appearing to try and cash-in his title opportunity. However, this was only a distraction as Shaw was ambushed by Ozymandias. On April 16, Tahan teamed with Ozymandias in a winning effort against Shaw and his ally Gareth Bate. During the match, Charles Bennett assisted Tahan and Ozymandias. The trio would proclaim themselves The Sect after the match, and announce their intentions to “cleanse” ARMBAR, with Ozymandias holding up Shaw's British Championship.

The Sect would act on their promise at Chapter 32 on May 14. The stable attacked Underground Champion Dickie Hyde and his challenger Liam Taylor (both of whom had been rivals for Tahan in the past), claiming them to be unfit to be in the title picture. Later that night, the group appeared at the end of Shaw's title defence, taunting him. On June 4, Tahan teamed with Ozymandias against Hyde and Taylor, with the stipulation being that if The Sect won, one of their members would be granted an Underground Championship shot against Hyde. Despite Shaw stopping Bennett from interfering in the match, Tahan and Ozymandias still won. Ozymandias chose Bennett to be the Underground Championship contender, much to Tahan's clear irritation. However, when Shaw challenged The Sect to a non-title match at Chapter 34, Tahan took this opportunity instead.

On June 18, Tahan defeated Shaw with the help of Ozymandias. After the match, Tahan planned on cashing in his EXCEL Cup title opportunity, but was persuaded not to by Ozymandias. After this, Tahan remained largely at ringside, assisting his fellow Sect teammates during their matches. At Chapter 37 on August 13, Tahan assisted Ozymandias in defeating Shaw, making Ozymandias the new British Champion. At this point, The Sect had both singles titles (with Bennett holding the Underground Championship) and the EXCEL Cup opportunity. The group had a celebration ceremony on August 27, which was interrupted by Shaw, Bate, and Daniel Royal. At Chapter 39 on September 10, the team of Shaw, Bate, and Royal defeated The Sect in a six-man tag team match after miscommunication from Bennett cost them the victory. After the show, Tahan and Ozymandias warned Bennett, stating that "everyone is expendable".

Tahan and Ozymandias were notably absent from Bennett's Underground Championship defences after this incident. At Chapter 41 on October 15, Tahan assisted Ozymandias in defeating Shaw, Bate, and Royal in a four-way match for the British Championship. On November 12, Bennett lost the Underground Championship to David Sterling, leading to further disappointment from Tahan and Ozymandias. After the match, and with some convincing from Tahan, The Sect excommunicated Bennett, with Tahan beating Bennett down. At Chapter 43 on December 10, Bennett challenged Tahan to a no DQ match after believing he plotted against him, and Tahan agreed to the match.

On January 7, 2018, Tahan defeated Bennett. Ozymandias congratulated Tahan after the match, solidifying his trust in Tahan. At Chapter 46 on February 11, Tahan would betray this trust by cashing in midway through Ozymandias' title match against Oli Fisher. Initially, it was believed Tahan had sacrificed his title opportunity to help Ozymandias retain, but this was immediately disproven when Tahan attacked the tired Ozymandias and attempted to pin Fisher. Tahan's decision to cash-in would result in defeat for both members of The Sect, as Fisher pinned Ozymandias after he was distracted by Tahan to become the new British Champion.

At Chapter 47 on February 25, Tahan would explain his actions, echoing Ozymandias' sentiment that “everyone is expendable” and stating Ozymandias had attempted to sabotage him by stopping him from cashing in when he wanted to. In response, Ozymandias offered Tahan a chance at redemption, only to betray him when they went to shake hands. It was then announced the two would fight at Chapter 48, with the winner receiving a shot at the British Championship. On March 11, Ozymandias defeated Tahan, earning a title match, and finally ending The Sect and their feud.

#### **Post-Sect (2018–present)**

Having lost his chance at the British Championship, Tahan looked to other ventures for success. In a backstage video taken at Chapter 49 on March 25, 2018, Tahan approached former allies Charles Bennett and Henry Pryce (who had since formed a tag team), congratulating them on their recent success and trying to reconcile with them. Bennett and Pryce rejected the reconciliation, suspecting Tahan of a scheme.

## Personal life

Tahan is of Indian descent, with his parents having moved from India to England shortly before his birth. Tahan was raised in a Sikh family, though he has stated that he does not practice the religion himself. He currently resides in Camden and is roommates with fellow professional wrestler and ARMBAR roster member, Matt Odell.

## Professional wrestling highlights

* **Finishing moves**
	+ Cobra clutch
	+ *The Payroll* (Swinging reverse STO transitioned into a DDT)
* **Signature moves**
	+ Jumping big boot
	+ Soccer kick
	+ Brainbuster
	+ Superkick
	+ Tiger suplex
	+ Russian legsweep
	+ Low blow
	+ Schoolboy roll-up
	+ Armbar
	+ Knee drop
	+ Knee smash to a kneeling opponent
	+ Octopus hold
	+ Haymaker
	+ Jumping high knee
* **Nicknames**
	+ **"The Wolf of Knightsbridge"**
* **Entrance themes**
	+ **"Headlines"** by Drake (2014–present)

### **Championships and accomplishments**

* **ARMBAR Wrestling**
	+ EXCEL Cup winner (2017)