:The Bollywood Boyz
{{short description|Professional wrestling tag team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox Wrestling team
|article_name = The Bollywood Boyz
|birthname =
|type =
|image = Singh brothers.jpg
|image_size =
|caption = Gurv (left) and Harv (right) in November 2017
|members = Gurvinder "Gurv" Sihra / Sunil Singh
Harvinder "Harv" Sihra / Samir Singh
|names = The Bollywood Boyz
The Bollywood Lions
The Bollywood Brothers
The Sihra Brothers
The Singh Brothers
|heights = Gurv:
{{height|ft=5|in=10}}
Harv:
{{height|ft=5|in=9}}
|weights = {{cvt|303|lb}}
|hometown = Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
|billed = Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Punjab, India
|trainer = Rip Rogers
Harley Race
Hart Dungeon
Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling
|debut = October 2005 (Gurv)
May 2006 (Harv)
|disbanded =
|years_active = 2006–present
}}
The Bollywood Boyz are a Canadian professional wrestling tag team composed of brothers Gurvinder "Gurv" Sihra (born November 13, 1984) and Harvinder "Harv" Sihra (born November 2, 1987). They are best known for their time in WWE, where Gurvinder and Harvinder performed under the ring names Sunil Singh and Samir Singh, respectively.
They made their main roster debut on SmackDown in April 2017, repackaged as The Singh Brothers and the managers of Jinder Mahal. They managed Mahal to his reign as WWE Champion and continued to accompany him until 2019, when the duo began wrestling on 205 Live. In October 2020, both men reverted to The Bollywood Boyz team name and gimmick. They were released from WWE in June 2021.
Professional wrestling career
=Early career (2005–2015)=
Gurv began training in 2004 with Rip Rogers at Ohio Valley Wrestling, Harley Race, and in the Hart Dungeon. Gurv debuted in Ohio Valley Wrestling in October 2005, and Harv followed suit. The brothers wrestled for a short time as singles wrestlers: Harv as "Bollywood Don" and Gurv as "Golden Lion". As a tag team, The Bollywood Boyz (originally The Bollywood Lions) won the ECCW Tag Team Championship five times between 2011 and 2015. Early in their careers, the brothers also wrestled on Tony Condello's "Death Tour" of Manitoba, a tour known for its rough conditions.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2008/03/17/5031171.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723200658/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2008/03/17/5031171.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 23, 2017|title=Wrestling Lion Sihra never sleeps|author=Kamchen, Richard|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|date=March 17, 2008|access-date=May 4, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.burnabynow.com/sports/bollywood-boyz-primed-for-the-big-time-1.2054349|title=Bollywood Boyz primed for the big time|author=Beddall, Justin|publisher=Burnaby Now|access-date=May 4, 2017|date=September 9, 2015|archive-date=July 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728202404/http://www.burnabynow.com/sports/bollywood-boyz-primed-for-the-big-time-1.2054349|url-status=dead}}
In 2011, The Bollywood Boyz wrestled in India as part of the TNA-sponsored Ring Ka King promotion.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2013/04/29/20777671.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723163314/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2013/04/29/20777671.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 23, 2017|title=The Bollywood Boyz get "Grilled"|author=Basso, Corey|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|date=April 29, 2013|access-date=May 4, 2017}} On December 19, 2011, they took part of a tournament to crown the inaugural RKK Tag Team Champions defeating The Mumbai Cats (Leopard and Puma) in the quarterfinals.{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=77644|title=Ring Ka King #6 Results|publisher=CageMatch}} The following night they were eliminated from the tournament by RDX (Sir Brutus Magnus and Sonjay Dutt) in the semifinals.{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=77656|title=Ring Ka King #7 Results|publisher=CageMatch}} On January 22, 2012, The Bollywood Boyz defeated RDX (Abyss and Scott Steiner) to become the RKK Tag Team Champions.{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=78452|title=Ring Ka King #23 Results|publisher=CageMatch}} On April 23, 2012, they vacated the championships after the promotion closed.
On July 24, 2015, The Bollywood Boyz made their debut for Jeff Jarrett's promotion Global Force Wrestling (GFW), where they participated in a tournament to crown the inaugural GFW Tag Team Champions. They defeated The Akbars (Ali and Omar) in the quarterfinals of the tournament.{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=129706|title=GFW Amped TV Tapings results|publisher=CageMatch}} On October 23, 2015, at Global Force Wrestling's TV tapings, The Bollywood Boyz defeated Reno Scum to become the first ever GFW Tag Team Champions.{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/indies/new-champions-crowned-global-force-wrestling-tv-tapings-200301|title=New champions crowned at Global Force Wrestling TV tapings|last=Alvarez|first=Bryan|author-link=Bryan Alvarez|date=October 24, 2015|access-date=October 24, 2015|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}
=WWE (2016–2021)=
==NXT and 205 Live (2016–2017)==
On June 13, 2016, Gurv and Harv were announced as participants in WWE's Cruiserweight Classic tournament.{{cite web|url=http://thefangarage.com/articles/6169-tfginterview-bollywood-boyz-speaks-about-wwe-cwc-breaking-stereotypes-and-more|title=Interview of Bollywood Boyz by Renjith Ravindran for The Fan Garage|publisher=The Fan Garage|date=July 11, 2016|access-date=July 13, 2016}} On June 23, both Sihras were eliminated from the tournament in their first round matches, with Gurv losing to Noam Dar and Harv losing to Drew Gulak. The Bollywood Boyz debuted in the WWE developmental territory NXT at the September 15 tapings. They also took part in the second annual Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic; however, they were eliminated by The Authors of Pain in the first round.{{cite news|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/755335-live-ongoing-wwe-nxt-tv-taping-results-for-september-and-october-spoilers|title=Complete WWE NXT TV Taping Results for September and October *Spoilers*|date=September 15, 2016|newspaper=WrestleZone |last1=Paglino |first1=Nick }} On the premiere episode of 205 Live in November 2016, The Bollywood Boyz defeated Tony Nese and Drew Gulak in their debut tag team match.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/videos/the-bollywood-boyz-vs-tony-nese-drew-gulak-wwe-205-live-nov-29-2016|title=The Bollywood Boyz vs. Tony Nese & Drew Gulak: WWE 205 Live|date= November 29, 2016|publisher=WWE}}
==Managing Jinder Mahal (2017–2019)==
File:Jinder Mahal and Singh Bro (cropped).jpg to retain the WWE Championship during his reign]]
On the April 18, 2017, episode of SmackDown Live, they made their main roster debut as The Singh Brothers; Gurv was renamed Sunil Singh, while Harv was renamed Samir Singh. They interfered in a six-pack challenge match to determine the number one contender for Randy Orton's WWE Championship at Backlash, helping Jinder Mahal win the match, turning heel in the process.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2017-04-18|title=WWE SmackDown LIVE results, April 18, 2017: Styles squeaks out victory over Corbin with Owens watching on|publisher=WWE|date=April 18, 2017}} During Mahal's reign as champion, they usually interfered during his title defences.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/2017/article/wwe-backlash-2017-results|title=WWE Backlash 2017 results}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/wwe-backlash-2017-results-grades-jinder-mahal-wins-title-owens-styles-rocks/|title=WWE Backlash 2017 results, grades: Jinder Mahal wins title, Owens-Styles rocks|date=May 22, 2017 }}{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/wwe/top-stories/summerslam-2017-results-jinder-mahal-brock-lesnar-retain-titles/articleshow/60150751.cms|title=SummerSlam 2017 results: Jinder Mahal, Brock Lesnar retain titles - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=August 21, 2017 }} On the January 16, 2018, episode of SmackDown Live, Samir suffered a torn ACL during a ringside brawl with Bobby Roode. On April 16, The Singh Brothers moved to Raw brand as part of the Superstar Shake-up alongside Jinder Mahal. On the October 15 episode of Raw, Samir returned after his injury to unite with his brother and Mahal. Sunil and Samir wrestled their first match on the January 1, 2019, episode of Raw when they teamed up with Mahal to defeat Heath Slater and Rhyno, in a 2-on-3 handicap match.
==Return to 205 Live and 24/7 Champions (2019–2021)==
During the 2019 WWE Superstar Shake-up, the Singh Brothers and Jinder Mahal were drafted back to SmackDown. The following week, the Singh Brothers were drafted over to 205 Live, separating them from Mahal. Since then, they have changed their gimmicks, very similar to their previous gimmick of The Bollywood Boyz and have been competing in tag team matches regularly. On October 21, 2019, Sunil – after a distraction from Samir – pinned R-Truth backstage during Raw to win the WWE 24/7 Championship, marking the first title for either of the Singh Brothers in WWE. 10 days later at Crown Jewel, Sunil lost the title to Truth after they both were eliminated from a battle royal, but later in the evening Samir pinned Truth backstage to win the title for the first time in his own right. 18 days later, Samir lost the title backstage on an episode of Raw to Truth, who was disguised as a doctor. Since then, both brothers have regained and lost the championship at various house shows. On the October 9, 2020, edition of 205 Live, it was announced that The Singh Brothers would return to the brand, going back to The Bollywood Boyz gimmick. On June 25, 2021, they were released from their WWE contracts.{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/148196/complete-list-of-todays-wwe-releases.html?p=1 |title=Complete List Of Today'S Wwe Releases |publisher=PWInsider.com |date=June 25, 2021 |accessdate=May 13, 2022}}
=All Elite Wrestling (2022–present)=
On the October 17, 2022, episode of AEW Dark: Elevation, The Bollywood Boyz made their debut in a losing effort against the Gunn Club.{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=353554|title=AEW Dark: Elevation #85}}
Other media
Gurv and Harv, as The Singh Brothers, appear in WWE 2K19 and WWE 2K20 as non-playable managers for Jinder Mahal.{{cite web |last1=Cole |first1=Caitlin |title=Complete WWE 2K19 Roster |url=https://rumbleramble.com/complete-wwe-2k19-roster/ |website=Rumble Ramble |access-date=April 23, 2019 |date=December 19, 2018}}
Personal lives
The Sihra brothers are originally from Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada and are of Indian descent. They both graduated from Moscrop Secondary School. Gurv graduated from Douglas College in British Columbia, where he studied criminology. He has also worked in loss prevention and has a third degree black belt in Taekwondo. He and his wife have one son.{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B6O2VuLADQC/?igshid=7cjndozy7360 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B6O2VuLADQC |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=limited|title=On December 13th, 2019, my wife and I welcomed our son, Gurveer Singh Sihra into this world. |author=gurvsihra_wwe |website=Instagram.com|access-date=May 29, 2021}}{{cbignore}} Harv also attended Douglas College, studying history.{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2014/06/25/21764161.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722163534/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2014/06/25/21764161.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 22, 2017 |title=Bollywood Boyz hope TigerFest leads to bigger and better things |author=Oliver, Greg|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=May 4, 2017|date=June 25, 2014}} He has also worked as a model and actor. Harv appeared in the 2015 movie Brothers.{{cite web|url=http://globalforcewrestling.com/roster/thebollywoodboyz/|title=The Bollywood Boyz|publisher=Global Force Wrestling|access-date=May 4, 2017|archive-date=April 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428155114/http://globalforcewrestling.com/roster/thebollywoodboyz/|url-status=dead}} Both brothers appeared in the movie Russell Madness, which also starred fellow professional wrestler John Morrison. Gurv and Harv are both Sikhs.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJAzhjJ3IxY|title=The Bollywood Boyz visit a Sikh temple|last=WWE|date=February 11, 2017|publisher=WWE|via=YouTube}}
Championships and accomplishments
- All-Star Wrestling (British Columbia)
- ASW Tag Team Championship (1 time)[https://www.cagematch.net//?id=5&nr=2357 ASW Tag Team Championship], cagematch.net, Retrieved 2021-01-24
- King of the Island Tournament (2009) – Gurv
- CanAm Wrestling
- CanAm Tag Team Championship (1 time){{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=5&nr=5014|title=CanAm Tag Team Championship|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database|date=November 17, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2022}}
- DEFY Wrestling
- Defy Tag Team Championship (1 time){{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=5&nr=4021|title=Defy Wrestling Tag Team Championship|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|publisher=Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database|date=February 13, 2022|access-date=February 14, 2022}}
- Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling
- ECCW Tag Team Championship (5 times){{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=542|title=ECCW Tag Team Championship history}}
- NWA Pacific Northwest Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times) – Gurv (1), Harv (1)
- NWA Canadian Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time) – Gurv
- Global Force Wrestling
- GFW Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- GFW Tag Team Championship Tournament (2015)
- Hamilton Wrestling Entertainment
- HWE Tag Team Championship (1 time)[https://www.cagematch.net//?id=5&nr=5395 HWE Tag Team Championship], cagematch.net, Retrieved 2024-01-24
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Gurv/Sunil ranked No. 240 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2017 and 2019{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/pwi-500/2017.html|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2017|access-date=September 1, 2017|work=The Internet Wrestling Database}}{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/pwi-500/2019.html|title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2019 - the Internet Wrestling Database}}
- Harv/Samir ranked No. 236 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2017 and 2019
- Real Canadian Wrestling
- RCW Tag Team Championship (1 time){{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=147542|title=RCW Showdown 2016 results}}
- Ring Ka King
- RKK Tag Team Championship (1 time){{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=1733|title=RKK Tag Team Championship history}}
- Thrash Wrestling
- Thrash Tag Team Championship (1 time){{cite web|url=https://m.facebook.com/thrashwrestlingbc/posts/5258348397542054|title=Our new Thrash Wrestling tag team champions The Bollywood Boyz!!!|website=Facebook }}
- World Series Wrestling
- WSW Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- WWE
- WWE 24/7 Championship (9 times) – Sunil (4), Samir (5)
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bollywood-boyz-wwe-1.3654884|title=B.C.'s 'Bollywood Boyz' slam their way to the big leagues|author=Hernandez, Jon|publisher=CBC News|date=June 28, 2016}}
External links
- [http://www.eccw.com/tag/bollywood-boyz/ ECCW profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813193326/http://www.eccw.com/tag/bollywood-boyz/ |date=August 13, 2016 }}
- [http://globalforcewrestling.com/roster/thebollywoodboyz/ Global Force Wrestling profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428155114/http://globalforcewrestling.com/roster/thebollywoodboyz/ |date=April 28, 2017 }}
- {{wwe superstar|samir-singh|Samir Singh}}
- {{wwe superstar|sunil-singh|Sunil Singh}}
{{WWE 24/7 Championship}}
{{Global Force Wrestling Champions (2014–2017)}}
{{Ring Ka King Champions}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bollywood Boyz, The}}
Category:Global Force Wrestling teams and stables
Category:Independent promotions teams and stables
Category:WWE teams and stables
Category:Canadian male professional wrestlers
Category:Sportspeople from Burnaby
Category:WWE NXT teams and stables