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Prince Nana

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This article is about the wrestler. For the footballer, see Prince Nana (footballer).

Prince Nana
Nana at a Ring of Honor show in 2011
Birth nameNana Osei Bandoh
Born (1979-08-01) August 1, 1979 (age 45)
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Nana[1]
Prince Nana
Billed height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[2]
Billed weight235 lb (107 kg)[2]
Billed from"Ghana, West Africa"[2]
Trained byAngel Medina
Vito LoGrasso[2]
D-Von Dudley[2]
Johnny Rodz[2]
Mr. Fabian Street[2]
Debut1996[2]
Retired2019

Nana Osei Bandoh (born August 1, 1979), better known by his ring name, Prince Nana, is an American professional wrestling manager and former professional wrestler of Ghanaian descent. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he serves as the on-screen manager of Swerve Strickland.

Early life

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Although Nana was born in the United States, he claims that he is the son of an Ashanti tribe member with royal heritage and the heir to the throne of Ashanti in Ghana.[3][4] When Nana was three, his family relocated to Ghana for five years, returning so that Nana could be educated in America. As a teenager, he relocated to New York City in America as an exchange student. In 1992, at the age of twelve, Nana watched WrestleMania VIII, and was inspired by the WWF Championship match between "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Ric Flair to become a wrestler. A year later, he wrote to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF; renamed WWE in 2002) and asked their advice as to which professional wrestling school he should attend. The WWF recommended that he train under Larry Sharpe in New Jersey, but Nana felt that Sharpe's school was too far away. Instead, Nana became a photographer for Johnny Rodz, who operated Gleason's Gym in New York. Nana worked for Rodz until he turned eighteen, when Rodz began training him as a wrestler.

Professional wrestling career

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Early career (1996–2002)

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Nana debuted in 1996, wrestling in a church in Spanish Harlem.[3][5][6][7]

Nana worked regularly for the East Coast Wrestling Association in Delaware and USA Pro Wrestling in New York, as well as making appearances with the WWF and with Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX in Japan.

Ring of Honor (2002–present)

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See also: the Embassy
Nana in 2005

In 2002, Nana joined the upstart Ring of Honor promotion, where in 2004 he formed a heel stable known as The Embassy. In storylines, Nana used his wealth gained from the taxes of people of Ghana to hire wrestlers to wrestle his opponents and rivals. Under his management, John Walters defended his ROH Pure Championship and Jimmy Rave, Alex Shelley and Abyss won the Trios Tournament in 2006. He remained with Ring of Honor until September 2006, when he gave his notice.[8]

On October 24, 2008, in Danbury, Connecticut, Nana made a surprise return to Ring of Honor, saying he had no more riches or crown and just wanted a job, before he was dragged away by security. The next night, Nana made an appearance at Ring of Honor's Edison, New Jersey show where he was removed in the same fashion. The next time ROH was in Edison on January 17, 2009, Nana again appeared, only to be dragged away by security. He would then be featured in segments on the ROH Video Wire. In a March edition of the Video Wire, Nana revealed that he had regained his riches due to President Obama's stimulus package, and had been directing Bison Smith's attacks on ROH wrestlers. On March 20, at the ROH show in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, Nana declared that he had officially reformed the Embassy, with himself, Bison Smith and Ernie Osiris.[9] The next day in New York City they were joined by the returning Jimmy Rave. Other members of the stable came to include Claudio Castagnoli, Joey Ryan, Erick Stevens, Shawn Daivari and Necro Butcher, but by October 2010 all of them, except Osiris, had left the group. On January 22, 2011, Nana debuted the latest version of the Embassy, consisting of Ernesto Osiris, Mia Yim, R.D. Evans, and Tommaso Ciampa, who would take over Jimmy Rave's former role as Nana's number one wrestler.[10] The following April and June, both Dave Taylor and Rhino made appearances representing the Embassy.[11][12] On the July 28, 2012 episode of Ring of Honor Wrestling, The Embassy disbanded, when Ciampa turned on Nana, after R.D. Evans had revealed his deal with Truth Martini, which had cost Ciampa the ROH World Television Championship.[13]

On Monday, June 3, 2013, Nana received a tryout with WWE. Nana commented on the tryout on Facebook, writing, "Great day with the WWE...The future may be bright....Fools."

In mid-2013, Nana was given the new on-screen role of ROH Talent Scout.[14] In late 2014, Nana formed yet another version of the Embassy with Moose, Stokely Hathaway and Veda Scott, which was later disbanded.[15]

Nana was the manager of Donovan Dijak, after he sent him some envelopes every time he wrestled, until he finally departed from The House of Truth that took place on February 25, 2016 episode of ROH tapings.[16]

On July 23, 2022, at Death Before Dishonor, Prince Nana returned and announced he had purchased Tully Blanchard Enterprises and reformed The Embassy, with Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona.[17] The trio would go on to defeat the team of Alex Zayne, Blake Christian and Tony Deppen during the preshow.[18] At Final Battle, Cage, Liona and Kaun, defeated Dalton Castle and The Boys, to win the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championships, under Nana's guidance.[19] This victory marked the first time in his 20-year history with the company that Prince Nana had managed his Embassy clientele to ROH gold.

All Elite Wrestling (2023–present)

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See also: Mogul Embassy
Nana at All In in August 2024

On the April 7, 2023 episode of AEW Rampage, Prince Nana began managing Swerve Strickland as a part of Mogul Embassy, formerly 'The Embassy' in ROH, after Strickland announced he was merging his 'Mogul Affiliates' stable with The Embassy.

On April 21, 2024 at Dynasty, Strickland defeated Samoa Joe to win the AEW World Championship. This marked the first time that Prince Nana had managed an Embassy client to any singles championship, and specifically to a world championship. On the May 8 episode of Dynamite, Mogul Embassy was disbanded after Brian Cage, Toa Liona, and Bishop Kaun attacked Strickland and broke away to form their own stable, Cage of Agony. Despite this, Nana continued to manage Strickland without the Mogul Embassy banner.

Nana managed Strickland for his successful title defenses against Christian Cage at Double or Nothing later that month and against Will Ospreay at Forbidden Door in June 2024. At All In in August 2024, Strickland lost the AEW World Championship to Bryan Danielson. In September 2024 at Grand Slam, Nana was scheduled to give an update on Strickland's condition after his lights out steel cage match with "Hangman" Adam Page at All Out. However, he would be interrupted by a debuting MVP, who blamed Nana for Strickland's loses at All In and All Out and offered to take over as Strickland's manager. In October 2024 at WrestleDream, Strickland rejected MVP's offer and remained loyal to Nana.

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ "Nana". Ring of Honor. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Prince Nana". OnlineWorldOfWrestling.com. Retrieved May 20, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Clevett, J. (May 31, 2005). "Nana an honorable Prince". Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2007. I was born in the U.S., but when I turned three we went back to Ghana for five years. I came back to go to school. My Father is part of the Ashanti tribe in Ghana, West Africa with Royal Heritage. I am part of that because of my relation to the existing chiefs of the Ashanti tribe. If my uncle is to pass away, because he is the chief uncle, legally I will be the next King.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "Prince Nana at Cagematch.net". Retrieved May 23, 2007.
  5. ^ Clevett, J. (May 31, 2005). "Nana an honorable Prince". Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2007. ...it was the classic feud between Randy "Macho Man" Savage and Flair that culminated at Wrestlemania 8 that changed his life.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ Clevett, J. (May 31, 2005). "Nana an honorable Prince". Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2007. A year later I was looking into schools and I wrote to the WWE, who told me to go to Larry Sharpe's school. It was too far away because I was living in New York City as an exchange student from Ghana. After a few months I found Gleason's gym on Front Street. I started as a photographer for Johnny Rodz...{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ Schwan, B. (2005). "Ten Questions With Prince Nana". WrestlingClothesline.com. Retrieved May 20, 2007.
  8. ^ Clevett, J. (May 31, 2005). "Nana an honorable Prince". Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ "10/24 ROH in Danbury, CT. Results & Discussion". October 24, 2008. Archived from the original on February 14, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2008.
  10. ^ Martin, Adam (January 23, 2011). "Spoilers: 1/22 ROH HDNet tapings in Philadelphia". WrestleView. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  11. ^ Caldwell, James; Radican, Sean (April 2, 2011). "ROH Internet PPV report 4/2: Caldwell & Radican's ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of live ROH PPV from Atlanta". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  12. ^ Radican, Sean (June 26, 2011). "Radican's "Best in the World" internet PPV report 6/26: Ongoing "real-time" coverage of live PPV from New York City". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  13. ^ Namako, Jason (July 28, 2012). "ROH on Sinclair Results - 7/28/12". WrestleView. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  14. ^ "Final Battle: Ring of Honor World Tag Team Title Match". Ring of Honor. November 18, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  15. ^ Caldwell, James (December 7, 2014). "Caldwell's ROH Final Battle 2014 PPV results 12/7: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live PPV from New York City". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  16. ^ 2/27 Ring of Honor TV Taping Results from Las Vegas, NV - PWInsider.com
  17. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (July 23, 2022). "Prince Nana Announces He's Purchased Tully Blanchard Enterprises At ROH Death Before Dishonor". Fightful. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  18. ^ "ROH Wrestling.com Death Before Dishonor 2022 Results".
  19. ^ "The Embassy Win ROH Six-Man Tag Team Titles At ROH Final Battle 2022".
  20. ^ ""PWI 500": 301–400". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. July 27, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  21. ^ WrestlePurists. January 28, 2024 "WRESTLEPURISTS AWARDS 2023" https://wrestlepurists.com/wrestlepurists-awards-2023-results/"WRESTLEPURISTS AWARDS 2023". Retrieved January 28, 2024. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
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