Gzim Selmani has made waves in the combat sports realm this year, making a spectacular debut in the sport of bare-knuckle boxing in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).
- Gzim Selmani talks potential WWE return
- Gzim Selmani confident about becoming BKFC heavyweight champion
- Gzim “The Albanian Psycho” Selmani on Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling
- Gzim Selmani’s statement — “The Albanian Psycho” cuts an epic promo
- Gzim Selmani returns against Reece Heer at BKFC 96 Glasgow
The former WWE Superstar — having performed there under the ring name “Rezar” — went viral with his thrilling knockout victory and post-fight speech in his maiden BKFC appearance.
I recently had the honor of conversing with Gzim Selmani. The Netherlands-born athlete of Kosovo Albanian descent addressed multiple prominent topics, including the WWE, BKFC, and RAF.
Going by the moniker “The Albanian Psycho,” the ferocious heavyweight combatant also proceeded to cut an epic promo, warning foes far and wide in the fight game.
Listed below are a few questions and the heavyweight star’s responses (the latter within double quotation marks). Let’s get to it!
Gzim Selmani talks potential WWE return
We discussed professional wrestling, including his former stomping grounds, the WWE. Can we see Gzim Selmani return to professional wrestling in WWE or other organizations again?
The aforementioned question has been on the minds of a number of fans since last year. Gzim Selmani, on his part, appears to be open to a potential return to professional wrestling.
Selmani extensively competed in the professional wrestling sphere, making a name for himself as a formidable athlete in the world of sports entertainment under the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) promotional banner.
Prior to that, the talented athlete had accrued a 4-2 record as a professional MMA fighter. He’s known to have taken up Judo as a child and kickboxing in his youth. Selmani, as such, utilized his grappling and striking martial arts knowledge in the mixed martial arts sphere as well.
As for his WWE career, he was a part of the organization from 2015 to 2020 in his first stint — working his way up the food chain, from NXT to RAW. Selmani performed alongside Sunny Dhinsa (WWE ring name: “Akam”) as a part of The Authors of Pain (AOP), a tag team managed by the veteran Paul Ellering.
The AOP won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic back in the year 2016. Selmani and Dhinsa, performing as Rezar and Akam, also captured the NXT Tag Team Championships and the WWE RAW Tag Team Championships.
They departed the promotion in 2020 and later competed in the independent pro wrestling circuit before returning to the WWE for their second stint, which ran from 2023 to 2025. The latter run witnessed them perform with onscreen allies Paul Ellering, Karrion Kross, and Scarlett, as part of The Final Testament pro wrestling stable.
When asked about a possible comeback to pro wrestling, be it in the WWE or other promotions, Selmani suggested that he’ll return for big matchups only. The 32-year-old touched upon the possibility of a return, stating:
“Hell yes. But I’m not moving back to the US full-time. If WWE or any other organization wants ‘The Albanian Psycho,’ they better bring me the biggest names and the biggest stages. I’m not coming back to stand in the background or make up the numbers.”
Selmani added, “I’m coming to headline, cause chaos, and remind everyone exactly who the hell I am.”
The BKFC star seemingly indicated that he’d like to continue his combat sports career, with his pro wrestling pursuits, if he returns to the latter. He explained, “And I’ll still be fighting. Because one battlefield has never been enough for me.”
Gzim Selmani confident about becoming BKFC heavyweight champion
We also spoke about bare-knuckle boxing in the BKFC. I asked him whether he’s aiming for a BKFC heavyweight title shot next, or if he’d want to get two-three more fights’ experience before a title fight.
Gzim Selmani expounded upon his championship ambition in the world of bare-knuckle fighting, eyeing the coveted BKFC heavyweight title that’s currently held by ex-UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.
When asked about whether he would like to clock in some more time inside the BKFC’s famed Squared Circle for additional experience before a championship fight, he reaffirmed his confidence.
He said, “One hundred percent. What the hell do I need another two or three fights for? I’m not here to collect experience. I’m here to collect heads and championships. I don’t care who’s holding that belt. Put him in front of me, and I’ll take it from him.”
The fighter, who has familial roots in Mitrovicë and has long represented the Netherlands and Albania, sent a chilling warning to the BKFC heavyweight division. He asserted, “I’m not asking for permission to take over the heavyweight division. I’m putting everyone on notice. ‘The Albanian Psycho’ is coming for that throne.”
Gzim “The Albanian Psycho” Selmani on Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling
I further asked Gzim Selmani whether we can we see him competing in freestyle wrestling in the Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling organization.
The RAF wrestling organization has generated considerable buzz in the grappling world over the past several months, drawing athletes from wrestling, MMA, BJJ, and miscellaneous combat sports.
Intriguingly, the RAF is said to have set itself apart from most other unscripted pro wrestling organizations by giving more leeway for athletes to cut scripted pro wrestling-style promos, akin to how performers in the WWE, AEW, and NJPW do.
Gzim Selmani, who’s no stranger to grappling in both unscripted and scripted wrestling, seems willing to challenge himself in the RAF as well.
Apparently more than happy to embrace that challenge, Selmani said, “Why not? I’ve been throwing people around since before some of these guys could walk. Wrestling is in my blood.”
Having essayed the role of a kayfabe villain — an onscreen villain in the WWE, or a “heel” in professional wrestling terminology — he warned, “If RAF wants to bring in a real villain and shake things up, they know where to find me.”
He continued, “I’m always open to new challenges, especially when there’s someone on the other side who thinks he can stop me.”
Gzim Selmani’s statement — “The Albanian Psycho” cuts an epic promo
The ex-WWE Superstar subsequently cut a fiery promo, wherein he took aim at the combat sports world and underscored his mission to dominate any and all opponents who stand in his way.
Gzim Selmani said, “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m not here to be the good guy. I’m not here to shake hands, make friends, or make people feel comfortable. WWE, BKFC, RAF — different organizations, same nightmare.”
He added, “You can cheer me. You can boo me. You can hate my guts. I don’t give a damn. But when ‘The Albanian Psycho’ walks into the building, everybody pays attention. I’m not here to fit into your world. I’m here to turn it upside down.”
Gzim Selmani returns against Reece Heer at BKFC 96 Glasgow
Gzim Selmani’s first appearance in the sport of bare-knuckle boxing came at BKFC Fight Night Newcastle back in March. The durable and dangerous combatant rallied from a knockdown to score multiple knockdowns of his opponent, Daniel Curtin, ultimately finishing the fight via KO in round two.
Following that, he cut a ferocious in-ring promo that piqued fan interest, apparently emphasizing that he’s unfazed by others’ opinions and aims to dominate.
His next fight was set to be a clash against Brad Lee at BKFC Newark last month, but the matchup fell apart. Selmani was then booked to take on Rob Cunningham at BKFC 96 Glasgow. That matchup was recently changed, with Cunningham out of it, and a replacement opponent set.
Currently, Selmani is booked to take on Reece Heer in a heavyweight showdown, which is one of the most eagerly awaited fights of the BKFC Glasgow event that’ll go down at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 7.
View this post on Instagram
Johny Payne is a writer, martial artist, and multidisciplinary artist.
He has covered martial arts and combat sports for around a decade, crafting compelling content for fight fans with world-renowned media outlets.
He’s been a writer and martial arts practitioner since childhood. Compassion and respect are among his tenets.
