Becoming a WWE Diva

Question
hi James, my name is Nichale and I am 13 years old. I live in Illinois, by Chicago and i was wondering are there any pro wrestling schools near by? Also I was wondering how and what is the right age to try to apply? Is there a certain height you have to be? What are some tips to being successful in the WWE? Thank You!!!!!

Answer
Hello Nichale,

There are no height requirements in pro wrestling. In the US, the usual minimum age to apply in pro wrestling is 18. Many schools allow earlier applications with parental permission at the ages of 16 or 17, with some schools offering training of some kind to those of earlier ages.

In Illinois you have:

S.I.W.E. Pro Wrestling School (Southern Illinois Wrestling Entertainment)
2010 East Main, West Frankfort,
Franklin County, Illinois
Website: http://www.myspace.com/siwe2009
Phone: 618-932-6832
Email: [email protected]

Windy City Pro Wrestling Training School, (Windy City Pro Wrestling)
Exact location unknown,
Chicago, Illinois
Website: http://www.windycityprowrestling.com/SCHOOL.htm
Phone:773-978-7317
Email: [email protected]

New Midwest Wrestling Training School (New Midwest Wrestling)
1200 North Bradfordton Road, Springfield
Sangamon County, Illinois
Website: http://www.newmidwest.com/school.html
Phone: 217-691-0871
Email: [email protected]

Pro Championship Wrestling Training Center (Pro Championship Wrestling)
Exact address unknown,
Chicago, Illinois,
Website: http://www.pcwwrestling.net/page/page/4108469.htm
Phone:708-945-4386
Email: [email protected]

PCW Training School
The Gym Combative Training Facility, 11000 Major Avenue, Chicago Ridge,
Cook County, Illinois,
Website: http://www.pcwwrestling.com
Phone: 708-945-4386
Email: [email protected]

Since you are currently 13, you can look at these sites to get a sense of whether there any you are interested in, but you will have to get more current information when you are approaching the age of 18.

As for tips to reach the WWE, they look for numerous things in potential Divas. First and foremost is the ability to entertain and connect with the audience. WWE look for Divas who can get the attention of the audience.  It always helps if you are marketable- attractive or multilingual, or engaging to demographics the WWE don't normally engage- as long as you can engage them while being family-friendly, as that is the approach WWE is going for at the moment.

Communication skills are highly important. Not only do you need to be able to get along with the other wrestlers and personnel, as well as the fans, but you need to be able to network. This means that you have to be able to make contacts and friends in the wrestling business. These people can give you info on any shows you may be able to work, as well as help you to develop yourself. Having good friends is good to make the wrestling experience more fun and enjoyable. To get to a promotion like the WWE, you need to get noticed. This is not easy, since you have to stand out from the crowd. The more people you impress and get talking about you, the better. Networking helps that to happen.

Attitude can mean the difference between success and failure, or greatness and mediocrity. Even after pro wrestling school, you have to always improve yourself. You need to work hard, but in a smart way, so that you don't push yourself too hard and can balance your life as best as one can. Punctuality is valued in any field. Having passion for pro wrestling and a love for entertaining, plus the drive to succeed is crucial. You also need patience, since you may not get where you want to as fast as you would like. Be able to enjoy the journey of wrestling in itself.

As WWE is a company with a global audience, international wrestling experience is very useful, since if you can connect to a range of audiences, then it is an indication that you can fit in the WWE. The Divas need to be able to wrestle, but in the WWE their ability to entertain is more important. Acting skills are very useful, but you don't need to be a great actress, just good enough to be able to say your lines- if you are creative and talented enough you can come up with them yourselves, given only dot-points by the writers.

After pro wrestling school you are out on the independent circuit, which is working in the small promotions. You work in as few or as many as you choose, as long as you can fulfill all of your commitments. You don't earn much money there, especially when you are inexperienced, so you may need to get one or possibly two part-time jobs to give you the money you need. If you can get part-time work that helps you to work on communication/people skills, or one that engages you athletically, this is all the better.

You can prepare yourself in other ways now. You could start saving some money up for pro wrestling school. You could watch wrestling videos, including that of time periods and promotions you don't normally see, to get exposed to more characters and moves.. This can help you get ideas about what persona/s you want to play, how you want to approach promos and what moves you want you use. Even for the moves and wrestling styles you don't use, if you what their name and what they are, it helps with communication when you are wrestling someone who does use that move or style. Many wrestlers have hybrid styles, or at the very least elements from different styles, so learning about other styles may influence your style.

Doing well at school also helps. Starting a good work ethic at school will make it easier to continue that with pro wrestling. Also, what you learn in or outside of school can be used as part of your character. It helps if you know how to create and maintain a website as well as know your way around social networking sites. There can come a time where you decide to have a personal website, which can help you get your name out. Alternatively, social networking sites may be enough to suit your needs.

Getting involved in stuff like debating or drama helps you to be able to perform in public, which you do in pro wrestling. Drama is also good because you have to play a role that originated from someone else- that is what you do in the WWE if you don't come up with the character yourself. Even then, you always have the opportunity to have input as to your character. On the independent circuit, you have total freedom, which can be challenging if you don't have ideas as to what character you should play. Promoters can help with this, as can friends.

If you have the time and money to spare, you might get involved in martial arts, boxing or amateur wrestling. They contain skills and moves that are transferable to pro wrestling, as well as helping with fitness.