With wrestling schools like The WWE Performance Center or The Factory in AEW and thanks to the power of the internet, it’s easier than ever for aspiring wrestlers to figure out where they can learn and hone their craft. But it wasn’t always that easy during the territory days.
Yes, there were schools and training camps to go to, but wrestling was much more of a secret society where you had to know somebody who knew somebody who could vouch for you. Even then, a trainer would run you ragged - before the training even began. It sounds brutal, but if you’re committed enough to make it in the ring, you were willing to do it no matter what. That's just what these WCW stars did.
10 Ric Flair
The wrestling world that heralds Ric Flair as the absolute GOAT should also extol the virtues of Verne Gagne. After all, after Verne’s training ran Flair wet and hung him dry, the future Nature Boy actually wanted to quit.
Gagne had convinced him otherwise and Naitch was able to resume the wild Hindu Squat - Marathon Jogs in the Minnesota wilderness. It was that level of conditioning that helped facilitate a career that saw Flair wrestle countless one-hour Broadways for years.
9 Sting
While his arch-rival, Ric Flair wanted to pursue a career in the squared circle, The Stinger didn’t even know much about the sport when he was starting out. But attending a WWE House Show in Los Angeles put him on the path.
The aspiring bodybuilder even co-owned a famed Gold’s Gym before embarking on his wrestling career. He would train under Red Bastien and Rick Bassman, becoming part of Power Team USA, along with his future Blade Runner tag team partner, The Ultimate Warrior.
8 Disco Inferno
Other than the last name, Steve The Brawler Lawler is not related to Jerry The King Lawler. But wrestling fans do have Steve Lawler to thank for teaching The Disco Inferno the ropes.
Glenn Gilberti got his start learning from Lawler in the early nineties before heading to WCW. There is where he gained the reputation that has soured him with fans for years. But he still was always a solid hand, and the fact that fans despise him so much is what made him a great heel - and he in-turn trained Karrion Kross, so thank you, Steve Lawler!
7 Scott Hall
Diamond Dallas Page didn’t train Scott Hall, but he is responsible for helping create the look of The Diamond Studd; the look that he’d carry on for the rest of his career.
The legendary Bad Guy was actually trained by the same guy who broke Hogan’s leg - Hiro Matsuda. The military brat got his start throughout the Florida territories before migrating to Minnesota to join the NWA. But while Matsuda might have trained him, it was DDP who probably had the biggest impact on both Scott’s life and career.
6 Chris Kanyon
Unfortunately, it seems that only in death did Chris Kanyon find peace and did fans truly begin to understand just how influential The Innovator Of Offense truly was. The Queens, New York native had played multiple sports in high school and set out on his professional wrestling journey, learning from local talents in Manhattan.
James Mitchell wound up suggesting and getting him into a “finishing school” of sorts at the hands of The Fabulous Moolah. Kanyon was one of, if not the only man to have been taught by the former women’s world champion.
5 Kevin Nash
After growing up in a working-class suburban Detroit, as well as a stint in the army, European basketball, and bouncing at adult establishments, Kevin Nash decided to give professional wrestling a whirl.
Like many men gifted with height, he didn’t have to look hard to get a foot in the door and was trained by The Masked Assassin, Jody Hamilton, along with the rest of the WCW Power Plant.
4 Lex Luger
After attempting a career in the NFL for several different teams, The Total Package took his bodybuilding physique and entered the wacky world of sports entertainment.
The former Miami Hurricane was one of many that learned from Japanese legend, Hiro Matsuda. But he also got the benefit of being booked alongside the likes of Barry Windham, Arn Anderson, and Ric Flair and got plenty of hands-on training as well.
3 Brian Pillman
Even today, years after his unfortunate death the wrestling world still loves and appreciates the genius and the madness of Brian Pillman. His entire childhood, he endured a life of countless throat operations, and being told he was far too small, he embarked on a football career and made it to the NFL to play for the Cincinnati Bengals.
He also spent some time in the Great White North, to play for The Calgary Stampeders, which put him in line to get trained in The Dungeon and work for Stampede Wrestling and get his start in the business.
2 Booker T And Stevie Ray
After spending some time in prison, Stevie Ray decided that he was his brother’s keeper and took Booker T in to look after him as a boy. As lifelong fans of Houston Wrestling, they both began to learn from one of its former stars.
Together they both tried to break into the business. The former WWE Champion, Polish Power Ivan Putski and Scott Casey helped to shape the future Harlem Heat, who began their careers as The Ebony Experience.
1 Glacier
Despite the eccentric nature of The Blood Runs Cold gimmick, some of the backstory for Glacier was actually true. The Power Plant trainee began training in the martial art, Hung Ga, and added more and more Martial Arts to his training regiment.
The art of Hung Ga involves extensive training just learning various fighting stances. He began his wrestling training in Georgia under Fred Avery and Wildfire Tommy Rich.