LadySports ::: SCHOOL DAZE

SCHOOL DAZE

The Slam-Bang World of Pro Wrestling Trainees!

by Shiai Mata

Each fall sees millions of students across America returning to school. While some may be more willing than others to be in the classroom, it's perhaps fair to say that few students are as anxious and avid to undertake their studies than those in professional wrestling training programs.

That's certainly the case for two young women we will be profiling in this special report. For simplicity's sake, we'll refer to them by the ring names they have chosen for themselves.

RoseCapri is an 18 year old from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The self-styled "Mississippi Spitfire" (she clearly has grasped early on the value of marketing a persona) is working with the Southern Wrestling Alliance, studying under the guidance of Ron Horn and Chris Black. Like many young students, she was a longtime fan, and she made up her mind early on to pursue a career in wrestling. "I was 15 years old when I first got into the sport and actually said, ‘I can do this'. My biggest influence was watching the WWE Divas on television and actually seeing them wrestle. From that moment on, I was convinced if they could do it, then I could."

Practically as far west as you can go from Hattiesburg before finding yourself in the Pacific is Woodland Hills, home to 17 year old Jayden Kane. Like her counterpart in Hattiesburg, she was a fan for many years before realizing that she had the right stuff to step into the ring. And for the past year, she has been pursuing her studies in ring science from several sources. "Originally, I was being trained at a small California school. But now I'm working with Charles Mercury at VenusFighting, where I‘m trained also by Ronin, Joey Ryan, Scorpio, Sky and Markus Riot, plus others who drop in."

In an era when young women are perhaps lacking for many powerful role models, Jayden took inspiration from women in the ring. "My biggest influence to get into the sport was of course growing up as a little kid and watching the female wrestlers just show that you can be sexy and strong."

At 5'11" and 153 pounds, RoseCapri has a size advantage over quite a few other women in the sport. So it's not surprising that she's focusing much of her efforts on mastering the proper execution of power moves. Yet she's also learning to use her size to carry out more subtle maneuvers. But as her instructors have made it clear to her, training doesn't just mean learning the intricacies of a hold, but also preparing your own body for the rigors you're about to put it through. The moment she hits the mat, she starts off with "stretching first, before anything. That way I don't hurt myself!"

Jayden also finds herself pushed to her limits in her studies. "Training in the ring is a lot of basics to start, such as bumps, rolls, running ropes. Then getting into calling spots and practicing moves and learning new ones. But training outside of the ring means for me going to the gym six days a week, and gymnastics at least once a week to work on extra things for moves. It takes a lot to train! It can be super-tiring sometimes, because I am still in high school, but I find the time for everything...such as going to school, having a job, the gym, in-ring practice at least two times a week or more, and gymnastics at least once a week." Perhaps a bit wistfully, she adds, "Trust me, I don't have much of a social life."

As for what she's concentrating on most, the 5'4" 122 pound brunette impishly says, "I'm focusing on learning every move I can! I wanna know it all."

The two of them are equally amused by the reactions they often get from ‘civilians' who discover that they are training to be wrestlers. The most common response RoseCapri gets is, "Not you!" And Jayden says that she's often playfully challenged to ‘rassle' by guys, whereas girls tend to get jealous because their boyfriends are suddenly intrigued by Jayden's choice of career!

Of course, simply wanting to be a professional wrestling and actually accomplishing that goal are two entirely different things. Statistically, most women who begin a training program will drop out before completion, and never pursue a pro career. In most instances, these women have the physical tools to learn the rudiments of the sport, but what they find is that they lack the proper mental and emotional wherewithal. It takes a certain kind of person... female or male... to make it as a wrestler. Both Jayden and RoseCapri feel that they are that kind of person. "I'm a very positive person," says Jayden. "I'm pretty much always the one to encourage everyone to keep going, and I push myself just as hard. Probably harder. I'm extremely dedicated to everything I do. I really dislike negativity in people. I'm not one for someone dissing themselves... I think it's a pathetic way to get attention. I think as long as I keep a smile on my face, I'm good to go." Clearly, she believes fully in the power of positive thinking to see her through the grueling hours in the gym, and the accompanying aches and bruises.

Likewise, RoseCapri has a positive opinion of herself and her outlook: "I have a very good attitude toward the business, and personally as well. My personality is very likeable in the sport and out." If she speaks more like a corporate efficiency executive than a typical teenager in describing herself, that can only speak well of her ability to analyze her own strengths and weaknesses... a skill that training school drop-outs tend to lack.

But for all of their positive outlooks, both pupils aren't entire star-struck. They've been lucky to have instructors who have shared the facts of pro wrestling life with them. It isn't always a very pretty picture, but any rookie armed with the information is well-fortified to handle the shocks, upheavals and disappointments that are sure to come in the days and years ahead. "I knew about much of that before I came into the business. It was brought to my attention more now, but I came from a family that has always been into wrestling, so, I've always known about it," says RoseCapri.

When asked what she knows about the more unseemly side of the business, Jayden laughs and replies, "Oh, that's funny, because just last night my trainer had a talk about the 'facts of life' in wrestling with me. No, it doesn't make me not wanna do it... it made me want to change the ways of it!"

So, it would seem, both teenagers are well-prepared to undertake their careers in the sport. But all the same, who could blame them for having moments of doubt... for tending to physical pains of the ring and asking themselves, "Why am I doing this?" And who could blame them?

Jayden, for one, is adamant that her devotion to wrestling has not wavered in the face of nagging aches (which have included sprained wrists and ankles, and even a concussion). "I mean, almost every morning after a good practice, I wake up in a little pain. But that's gone within an hour. It's all a part of the sport, and you've got to know that going in, so you really shouldn't complain or change your mind once you're in it. I'm always excited to get into the ring and do bumps! It's really the best times of my week." And the same goes for RoseCapri (who has luckily avoided anything other than the usual simple injuries), who avows, "I don't think there has been a time when I've questioned my decision to pursue this career. I am very happy with my training... and so are my trainers."

But, invariably, some things do bother them a great deal. Many are the little things that are beyond the control of any individual person to change. But some go right to the heart of the wrestler, and make her want to try and change things with her own two hands. "The unprofessionalism of other women wrestlers," is the bete noire of RoseCapri. "As in, being held back and not getting as much recognition." And for Jayden, it's unscrupulous training schools. "The first place I used to train, the guy was just out for my money, and if it wasn't for the other students there, I wouldn't have learned anything... or found my new coaches."

Both young ladies, naturally enough, would like to change the public perception of women's wrestling. They're disdainful of the 'T&A' elements, of the women in the ring who are little more than models with scant wrestling ability. It's the kind of disdain that only those who have worked and sweated and strived for hours on the mat can't help but have. "I want to have people appreciate real women wrestlers more, to realize that they sacrifice just as much as the guys do," explains RoseCapri And although she hasn't heard the words of her Southern counterpart, the West Coaster almost perfectly adds, "It used to be they were seen as strong women. Nowadays, all they do is walk around in their underwear NOT EVEN WRESTLING!"

Outside of the ring, they would seem to be paragons of what a "normal" teenaged American girl would be. RoseCapri and Jayden both love to listen to rock music, lounging around in casual clothes like jeans and T-shirts... not that their training schedules allow for a lot of relaxation time.

As they drive closer and closer to their training completions, each of them are giving thought to the roles they want to play in the ring. For RoseCapri, that means doing what helps her best connect with the fans at ringside; invariably, she will probably pursue a career as a 'face'. Jayden is also leaning toward playing the face, although she relishes the art of trash talking and wields it like a true heel. However, since she says she just can't bring herself to take cheap shots in a match, she figures she probably wouldn't make for a very good rulebreaker.

Although Jayden Kane and RoseCapri have never met one another, they are much alike in many ways. Both have deep and sincere love for the sport of wrestling... both respect the business and the people who toil in it... and both are willing to push themselves to their own limits and beyond in order to one day soon be able to step between the ropes not as a student, but as a full-fledged Professional Wrestler.

And we at LadySports can only wish them the very best, to congratulate them for having the courage to follow their dreams, and to thank them for sharing those dreams with us.


Jayden

Jayden

Jayden

Jayden

Jayden

RoseCapri

RoseCapri

RoseCapri

RoseCapri

RoseCapri