Wrestler of the Week: Rocky Huynh – The Awesome Taurus

Photo Credits as always, one of the best photorgraphers in Southeast Asia: Aurelien Foucault @wrestlographer.

As a follow-up to last week’s Wrestler of the Week, we spotlight the other half of Vietnamese wrestling’s founding duo—‘The Awesome Taurus,’ Rocky Huynh.

While Sid Nguyen now plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of Vietnamese wrestling, it was Rocky who laid the foundation for what has been, what exists now, and what’s still to come.

Back in the mid-2010s, a young man spent countless hours searching the internet for fellow wrestling fans in Vietnam. His goal was simple: to find like-minded people who shared his passion. It wasn’t easy. WWE’s exposure in Vietnam was limited to hour-long shows aired at odd hours, and non-WWE wrestling was virtually non-existent.

Eventually, Rocky founded a small club that would grow into the Saigon Pro Wrestling Club (SPWC), based in an upstairs room of a Saigon gym. There was no ring, no mats—just a handful of determined young men chasing what many called a pipe dream.

When the Dream Took Shape

The turning point came when Rocky and the club met several Japanese wrestlers living in Vietnam, including Fugo Fugo Yumeji, who was also a Vovinam master. This encounter moved them from imitating moves seen on TV to real training—learning ring psychology, technique, and how to work a crowd.

Rocky’s first big break came in 2016 at a special festival event in Da Nang. Billed simply as “Rocky,” the first Vietnamese wrestler, he defeated Friendr in a ten-minute bout. Given his limited in-ring time leading up to the match, the win was a significant achievement.

In 2018, Rocky and his tag team partner Sid made their debut in Singapore Pro Wrestling, challenging Might Dragon (Mighty Mighty & Eurasian Dragon) for the SPW Southeast Asian Tag Team Titles. Although they lost, they gained valuable experience from SPW’s trainer, Eurasian Dragon.

Soon after, SPWC began promoting mat-based shows at GS Dance Studio. The first major event was Saturday Showdown, where Rocky defeated his friend, partner, and sometimes opponent Sid Nguyen in the semi-main event.

Although Rocky was unable to win the VPW Openweight Title when it was first introduced, he continued honing his skills with the original SPWC roster. Less than a year later, he defeated Sid to become the second VPW Champion at a joint show with China’s Middle Kingdom Wrestling—a win that also led to his debut in China in 2019.

Unfortunately, the title win came at a personal cost. Sid, driven by jealousy, turned on Rocky. Their rivalry dominated VPW’s storylines into 2020 and coincided with the official formation of Vietnam Pro Wrestling. Online campaigns led by Rocky, Viva Van, and Sumie Sakai helped fund the purchase of VPW’s first ring.

At VPW: Upgrade, with a new venue, new branding, and a proper ring, Rocky successfully retained the VPW Championship—bringing his feud with Sid to a close.

The COVID Years and Warhouse

Just as things were gaining momentum, the COVID-19 outbreak forced VPW to pause operations. During this time, Rocky helped produce two “Warhouse” events under relaxed restrictions. These YouTube specials gave the VPW roster a chance to keep working and improving, with Rocky continuing to lead by example.

But not everything went smoothly. During this period, CVP stole Rocky’s championship and began playing mind games. Despite this, CVP failed to defeat him in two title matches, the second of which took place in 2022 at From the Ashes, marking the start of a new chapter for VPW.

At the very next show, Rocky’s three-year title reign came to an end when Le Tyler—a long-forgotten name in VPW history—dethroned him.

Climbing Back and International Spotlight

After his reign ended, Rocky continued to compete against a wide variety of opponents and earned a few more title opportunities. In January 2023, he faced his first international opponent since his early SPWC days, defeating Singapore Pro Wrestling's Da Butcherman. The win proved he could still compete on an international level.

Two-Time Champion, Cementing a Legacy

Later in 2023, Rocky began one of his most intense rivalries yet—against ‘The Unstoppable Force’ Ares. Their feud kicked off in the final of the Heart of Darkness Cup, where the rookie powerhouse Ares bulldozed through Rocky to earn a title shot against then-champion Damien Wolfe.

Unshaken, Rocky went on to win the VPW Rumble later that year. At Brawl Hallow’s Eve, he defeated Ares to reclaim the Openweight Title, becoming a two-time champion.

Throughout 2024, Rocky’s reign featured successful defenses against An D and Sid. He also revived the Saigon Hunters tag team alongside Sid, and the duo made their Malaysian debut at MYPW Fightback, taking on SPW Tag Team Champions The Juicy Boyz.

Representing Vietnam on the World Stage

Outside the ring, Rocky remained a powerful ambassador for Vietnamese pro wrestling. He appeared on local television, international media, and most notably, Talk is Jericho. He and X Pat impressed Chris Jericho so much that the nine-time world champion began work on a documentary about VPW and personally visited Immortal Glory 2023.

Difficult Times

The end of 2024 marked a downturn for Rocky. He lost the VPW Openweight Championship back to Ares in a one-sided match. Soon after, The British Horror targeted him, looking to use Rocky as a stepping stone. Their feud ended in a string of defeats for Rocky, the last of which cost him his hair.

Since Spring Bash, Rocky has kept a low profile. His only appearance was at Ho Tram Slam in a three-way match, which he also lost—an uncharacteristic dip for the usually reliable backbone of VPW.

Now, he’s set to face Malaysian star Emman Azman, a fast-rising talent considered one of Southeast Asia’s most talked-about wrestlers. Another defeat could be devastating.

Rocky. The Man. The Wrestler. The Founder.

Outside the ring, Rocky is a class act. If you’ve ever been to a VPW show, you’ve seen how he makes time for every fan in the building. Even under pressure, he handles problems with grace and a smile.

In the ring, Rocky is a true all-rounder. He’s brawled with Fugo in the crowd, gone hardcore with The British Horror, and matched agility with Sid and An D.

No one can deny Rocky Huynh’s contribution to professional wrestling. He didn’t just start a wrestling promotion—he introduced the sport to a country where most people had never even heard of it. Even if he never wins another match, his legacy is secure.

We should all be thankful he never gave up on his dream.