Among his major inspirations was the charismatic Robbie Eagles, an Australian with New Japan Pro Wrestling, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious professional wrestling companies.
So when Eagles announced he would be heading to Malaysia in 2019, Karu seized the chance to watch his idol perform.
There, Karu was introduced to the world of Malaysian Pro Wrestling (MYPW), and his world was changed forever.
“I didn’t know there was pro wrestling in Malaysia at the time! After watching Eagles, I think I was sold on the sport.
“So I joined MYPW and it’s been a one-way journey ever since!” Karu, 22, told FMT Lifestyle, flashing a wide grin as he recalled his beginnings in the sport.
Since his debut, Karu has risen high in the world of local pro-wrestling, and is now the supervising coach of MYPW.
The tough Petaling Jaya-born athlete is the current MYPW Southeast Asia champion, and is a former Singapore Pro Wrestling Tag Team champion alongside Emman “Wonderboy” Azman.
Karu is no stranger to wrestling in other countries, having recently formed a tag team with Singapore Pro Wrestling’s (SPW) Da Butcherman, and being a mainstay in Vietnam Pro Wrestling (VPW).
Soon his wrestling career will take on an even more international flavour when he embarks on a three-month tour in Japan, the very country where his idol, Eagles, made his name.
There, Karu is expected to wrestle in various prestigious promotions such as DDT Pro-Wrestling, PPP Tokyo, and other Japanese wrestling events.
His tour marks a landmark moment for pro wrestling in the country, as Karu becomes one of the first few Malaysians to wrestle professionally in Japan, one of the few countries where pro wrestling is a viable full-time career.
Karu explained that MYPW had always had a working partnership with Japanese wrestling company DDT Pro-Wrestling. The two groups collaborated, alongside others, at Love and Peace 2025, a pioneering crossover event at JioSpace, Selangor last year.
There, the Japanese representatives were impressed with the local talent on display and suggested Karu try the Land of the Rising Sun.
According to the young wrestler, this offer came at a crucial time, as he was wondering if full-time wrestling was even possible as a career.
“I’m very excited and honoured to be part of this. Japan has one of the most amazing wrestling scenes in the world, and I hope to be able to work up close and personal with the people there,” Karu said.
Karu has always had a heart for professional wrestling, discovering it in his teens through watching Cody Rhodes and the tag team “The Shield” on television.
In the ring, he adopts the name “Lyrical Lightning”, so called for his speed and love of using musical parodies for his dramatic entrance music.
One of his signature moves is the “Cadenza”, where Karu leaps over another wrestler’s back, before crushing a leg drop on their head. Opponents have also learnt to fear his deadly drop-kick.
“Most people have a short wrestling phase and then grow out of it. I never did. And here I am today, with the little kid in me still trying to live his dreams,” Karu laughed.
“I think wrestling is the ultimate art form. It infuses sport and entertainment together, and there’s so much drama and storytelling in a live setting. And everything has to be done in one take! There’s nothing like it in the world.”
Karu hopes to train under as many different people as possible in Japan, and learn as much as he can. He aims not just to improve himself but to raise the standard of the sport back in Malaysia.
According to him, the local pro wrestling scene might still be small but it is growing steadily, thanks to the passion and spirit of the people behind the scenes.
“I think we have a lot of good energy here. I hope the people involved keep on giving their best, and our beloved fans continue to support us. The scene can only get better,” Karu concluded.
“I look forward to wrestling as much as I can in Japan, and then sharing my experiences with all my boys back home.”
Follow Miles Karu on Instagram.