I started training in August of 1990. Training back the consisted of falling on a Futon mattress for hours. Then my trainer taught me one match. The match I was going to have in December of that year. For several months all we would do was go over our match in a backyard on mattresses. Then on Dec 10th 1990 I had my fiirst match and had no clue how to hit or even use the ropes. It was decent but, I learned nothing and spent $2500 to learn that. Then and there I was determined to pursue the skills I needed wherever they were, and it was a long journey. Once I had 7 or 8 years on me I was being asked to help train in Indiana, Illinios, and Wisconsin on a regular basis because I had realized my goal and acquired the knowledge of the business and was much sought after. These were not my training facilities but someone elses. One day I decided to start a training facility of my very own.

I learned on my own, seeking out the skills and honing my craftsmanship with any of the guys willing to teach me. Long drives, injury & pain and disappoinment were regular occurrances but I endured.

Everyone learns Differently

This is something I realized right away. Some learn best by hearing, hands on, watching, reading or just plain repetitiveness. Learning to communicate with many at once can be challenging but, you have to adapt to how each individual learns to give them the best chance of "getting it". Most of the time as a trainer you will be heartbroken. Why? Well, I would say that over the years at least 50% of those who came to train for wrestling quit. Was it because they were unable to get it? No. Did you drive them off?? No. The answer is; most people are trying to fill a void in their life and they think this is it. They're looking for a hobby, approval, love, fame or just having a mid-life crisis. Pro wrestling is a commitment to the business, the brothers and yourself and will disappoint you if you are looking for any of those things. It is HARD WORK and most times comes with little reward other than the appreciation of the fans. Most of us can agree that people in general have a problem with not only committment but with careful deliberation and forethought; Look at the divorce rate. So as a coach, I sometimes approach training a New guy with caution and a whole lot of skepticism because I think he is going to bail on training really soon based on what I have experienced in the past.

One of my part time past students even quit 3 months in. The ring was in his parents garage on site and still didn't make it to train most the time and the ring was literally 20 feet from his house. Then, after he quit, his parents bought him his very own wrestling ring and this guy started to run a wrestling promotion...with NO KNOWLEDGE of how wrestling really works because they wanted him to be able to play wrestler to make him happy. To this day he still runs shows here and there and the draw is ass because that part of the business takes TALENT and KNOWLEDGE, two things he didn't have then and doesn't have any more of now. Money can't buy these things and only lazy hacks think it can. Had another former student drop off the planet and he started his own wrestling company also because running a pro wrestling promotion is so easy, anyone can do it! Yeah right. After 6 shows and owing many friends and business partners mountains of money, he folded. Probably for the best. One good thing came of it, Mike Idol came to train with me.

For the ones that resolve to endure...and that isn't many, they get the full on experience. Training sometimes 3 times a week, learning psychology, locker room politics, going on road trips, getting them booked at other promotions, teaching them how to call a match or politic a match, speaking Carne (which is a dying art with the younger guys along with the handshake), how to promote yourself and a show, how to network and get looked at by the TV based companies. Those who stick with it and make a career of it did it for all the right reasons and motivations and it makes me proud. One guy was going to work for wwe and when I told him to deliver a message to one of the agents (because we have a history together) they gave him a bigger payday than usual. They really liked his stuff. This is what over 30 years of wrestling has given me. A little bit of pull here and there because my reputation is one of integrity and knowledge.

If you decide you want to train for this crazy business, be prepared to make sacrifices. You will eventually miss social events, birthdays, anniversaries, christmas & holidays, and any weekend activities that pop up. You WILL be away from loved ones, often. But, if this is your calling, you have to put in the effort. From the beginning I was told; "This business owes you nothing. What you pour into it is what you will get out." Chase your dreams, devote yourself 100%, and absorb the knowledge imparted to you. Wrestling is brutal, if you've been here you know, even if some say it isn't real. Wrestling is and always will be very real to me.