Arda Ocal

Arda Öcal
Öcal ringside doing commentary at anindependent wrestlingevent in June 2012
Birth name	Arda Öcal
Born	(1981-05-07)May 7, 1981 North York,Toronto,Ontario,Canada
Alma mater	University of Waterloo
Spouse(s)	Jennifer Öcal
Children	1
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Arda Ocal Kyle Edwards
Debut	1999

Arda Ocal(Turkish:Arda Öcal;born May 7, 1981) is a Canadian television personality, broadcaster, announcer, and writer. He previously worked inWWEunder thestage nameKyle Edwards,as well as the host ofAftermath TVonSportsnet 360andThe MSG Hockey ShowonMSG Network,as well as various current sports coverage onESPNandTRT World.

His previous roles included being a columnist forThe Baltimore Sunpublication/blog and as an analyst forRogers TVand host forYES Network.He was also formerly withThe Weather Networkas a morning show co-host,The Score Television Network(where he created the showAftermathas well as hostedWWE ExperienceandCountdown toWWE Raw), andGlobal TVas a sports reporter, as well as a co-host of the daily lifestyle programDaytimeon the Canadian channelRogers TVinMississauga,Ontario, before beginning to host and provide color commentary for their flagshipBrampton BattalionOHLhockey broadcasts and serving as host forToronto MarliesAmerican Hockey Leaguebroadcasts on the channel.

Early life and education

Arda Öcal was born inNorth York,an administrative district ofToronto,OntariotoTurkishparents.

He holds a degree in Mathematics and Business Administration from theUniversity of Waterloo.While there, he spent three years hosting a variety show onCKMSinWaterloo, Ontario,and releasedWarrior Nation,a compilation disc of the University of Waterloo's best musical talents, which sold over 4000 copies. Arda has always had a passion for the game of hockey, he played all throughout his childhood. He even went on to play in high school and got offers to play in college, but decided to focus on broadcasting.

Öcal formerly served as a member of the board of directors at a well known charity in Brampton as well as the Brampton Symphony Orchestra, and was involved with independent wrestling groupMaximum Wrestling,where he was also a ring announcer, play by play commentator and promoter. As promoter, he was the first to bring charity wrestling events to Iqaluit, Nunavut in 2008 (and again in 2011 and 2013). He also previously served as editor-in-chief ofThink Impact(a division of Impact, one of Canada's largest entrepreneurial organizations).

Television career

Aftermath TV and The Score

In 2009, Öcal pitched and hostedAftermath TVweekly on Sportsnet 360 following the broadcast ofWWE Rawon Tuesday afternoons (and previously following the airing ofWWE SmackDownon Friday nights, as well asAftermath RadioafterWWE Raw,which he hosted with former WWE refereeJim Korderas.Renee Paquetteeventually co-hosted and then hostedAftermath TVwith Arda and former WWE referee Jim Korderas. He was a broadcaster withThe Score Fighting Series,a Canadian MMA weekly televised program, as well as serving as cage announcer and backstage interviewer for MMA fights across Canada televised on theScore. Ocal also provided MMA fight picks on the Score'smobile applicationScoreMobile. He has interviewed a variety of notable international superstars and aired segments of these interviews on his show. These includeBret Hart,Sheamus,Honky Tonk Man,The Iron Sheik,Drew McIntyre,Chris Jericho,Gail KimandSgt. Slaughter,UFCpresidentDana White,and Bellator CEOBjorn Rebney.

The Weather Network (2013–2014)

Öcal was a national morning show co-host and reporter from November 2013 to August 2014, first based in Ottawa, then Vancouver. His approach was "Weathertainment", often infusing humor into his reports. During his tenure he interviewed and filmed comedic features with the likes ofCake BossBuddy Valastro,Oliver Stone,Ken Dryden,severalToronto Maple LeafsandDetroit Red Wingsalumni,Dave Coulier,andMargaret Atwood.

Broadcaster

Öcal is primarily a broadcaster in sports and lifestyle. On top of OHL hockey, he has provided play by play commentary for IBL baseball, CSL soccer, high school football, numerous junior hockey games and tournaments, and boxing. In 2011, he most famously called a bout with hall of fame boxing broadcasterAl Bernstein,on which one bout between Samuel Vargas and Ahmad Cheiko became a candidate for Canadian Boxing fight of the year.

From 2007 to 2008, Öcal served as male host for the daily talk showdaytimeon Rogers TV, which aired in the Toronto area. The program followed a similar format to other popular talk shows, starting with host banter (Öcal worked with co-host Kim McCleary), followed by several guests.

In 2012, Öcal was the creator, host, and producer of "Athlete Tweet Watch", a weekly three-minute video series onYES Network.

On April 1, 2013, Öcal announced via his personal Twitter account that he had leftthe Score Television Network.

Öcal previously worked on broadcasts for the Toronto Marlies AHL hockey team, the affiliate for the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL franchise. He also provides commentary on boxing, soccer and table tennis events.

In November 2016, Öcal began hostingThe MSG Hockey Show,with co-hostsAnson Carterand Will Reeve. It is a weekly 30-minute program where "The Xs and Os are thrown out the window" and the show focuses on fun. This show was abruptly cancelled due to low ratings. Ocal also appears on New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils NHL and New York Knicks NBA game broadcasts.

Öcal served as an American sports analyst/pundit onTRT World.

He was the play by play voice of theNHLGaming World Championships, airing onNBC Sportsin the United States,SportsNetin Canada andViasatin Europe.

On December 31, 2018, Öcal served as host for "Ninja New Years", a 12-hour stream atTimes Squarein New York City hosted byFortnitestreamerNinja.

Öcal currently serves as a co-host of Classic Tetris Monthly, a monthly tournament created by Vandweller in which competitors play against each other in a best of five matches of NESTetris.

ESPN

In October 2016, Öcal began working withESPNon their esports coverage at theLeague of LegendsWorld championship semi-finals and finals, as well asBlizzCon2016. He hosted video segments and conducted interviews with players, coaches and luminaries.

With theNHL’sreturn to ESPN, Öcal began working studio coverage for most games onESPN+,as well as hosting In the Crease. Ocal also works select nights ofSportsCentereither on TV or onSnapchat,as well asSportsNation.He’s also contributed to ESPN’sNBA,PGA Tour,Euro soccer,MLS,UFC,MLB,andNFLcoverage.

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (1999–2014)

In the independent circuit in Toronto, Öcal was a promoter, ring announcer, commentator, interviewer, and host. He began in high school as the heel for a rival school in NRW, and then in 1999 as a live commentator at local wrestling events at flea markets. In 2006, he worked with the now defunct independent promotionBlood Sweat and Earsbased in Toronto, Ontario and became affiliated with Squared Circle Training wrestling school. In January 2008, Ocal promoted the first ever wrestling events in the Canadian Arctic city of Iqaluit, Nunavut. Wrestlers such asRhyno,Jay Reso,Lance Storm,Bobby Roode,Tracy Brooks,Christy Hemme,Jimmy Jacobs,Colt Cabana,Matt Morgan,and others have wrestled in the Arctic at these charity events held between 2008 and 2013.

In the summer of 2008, Öcal promoted a 16-day cross-Canada summer pro-wrestling tour, which saw shows inMississauga,North Bay,Kenora,Yorkton,Estevan,Swift Current,Winnipeg,Kapuskasing,Timmins,andManitoulin Island.The tour raised money for various local charities.

Between 2010 and 2012, Öcal worked forDragon Gate USA,performed ring announcing duties and commentary withLenny Leonardor solo. Other broadcast partners includedBryce Remsburg,Colt Cabana,andJohnny Gargano.

In 2012 and 2013, Öcal served as Master of Ceremonies for the George Tragos andLou TheszProfessional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction banquet in Waterloo, Iowa. Also in 2013 he served as MC for the "Baloney Blowout" event at the annualCauliflower Alley ClubReunion in Las Vegas, and co-hosted the 2013 New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Ceremony withHoward Finkel.

From 2012 to 2013, Öcal served as ring announcer and commentator for Smash Wrestling based in Toronto.

WWE (2014–2016)

On September 24, 2014, Öcal was hired byWWE.He worked under the ring name Kyle Edwards and hostedWWE Bottom Line,as well asWWE Experiencefor the European market. Ocal also provided exclusive 1-on-1 interviews with the UK, Indian, and South American versions of RAW as well as WWE.com. Ocal then went to debut as a host on theWWE NetworkRaw Pre-Show on April 27, 2015.

In May 2015, Öcal began hosting a weekly segment on the WWE Network and on social media entitled "This Week in WWE History" withCorey Graves.In October 2015, he took over fromTom Phillipsas host of the5 Thingsseries on WWE's YouTube channel. On April 29, 2016, Öcal confirmed on Twitter that he had parted ways with WWE.

Volunteer work and charity

He has sat on the board of directors for the Brampton Symphony Orchestra, as well as tutored and worked with the Brampton Neighbourhood Resource Centre. He has also done extensive volunteer work with theMarch of Dimesand has canvassed for theKidney Foundation.From January 2008 to May 2014, Ocal organized, promoted and served as ring announcer for non-profit trips toIqaluit,Nunavutin the Canadian Arctic. He spoke to children in elementary, middle and high schools, youth centres as well as juvenile detention centres.

Personal life

Öcal is aMuslim.He is married to Jennifer and they have a daughter, Ayla.

External links

• Arda OcalonFacebook
• Arda OcalonX
• Arda OcalatIMDb