Dante Gulapa: Pinoy Val Venis?

The wrestling scene in the Philippines is a niche that has a following but not as popular as it is in the US. I am also personally not too familiar with this industry and decided to do some research and highlight some of the interesting topics.

First off, we have Dante Gulapa, a former macho dancer (male stripper) who rose into internet fame in the Philippines back in 2019 due to his viral strip dance video. You can watch the clip here but viewer discretion is advised due to its slightly sexual nature.

At 3:04 you can see him do the Eagle Dance where he lifts his left leg backwards and flaps it together with the arms to simulate a flying movement. This became his signature dance move and saw hundreds of parodies. And with most online successes, you have to strike while the iron is hot and capitalize on the fame. And that is exactly what Dante did with product endorsements and appearances in various media.

Now, what does this article have to do with wrestling? While browsing through Filipino wrestling videos, I came across Dante doing wrestling! Apparently, he also had a short gig as a wrestler for Manila Wrestling Federation. (MWF) Here's a promotional video of Dante doing a wrestling match.

If you skip into 5:27 you will see Dante executing his finishing move, the Gulapunch. But I'd like to call it the Trance and Pounce. How it works is that Dante does his signature Eagle Dance, as I mentioned above, and the opponent will then be hypnotized into mimicking the dance. And while he is half dazed and in a flying posture, Dante will pull off a devastating clothesline that knocks him off his feet.

I believe Dante's wrestling stint was a one-off and more of a promotion than an actual career. But whoever came up with the Gulapunch was certainly a brilliant fellow and it makes for an entertaining watch. From being a stripper to online success, Dante has come a long way and is still active with a fanbase called the Gulapanatics. He's one amongst many Filipinos who don't let the hardships of life bring them down.

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