Do you have to go to college to become a pro wrestler?

Doctors, barbers, even clowns need some schoolin’ before they’re allowed to practice in their chosen field. But what about an up-and-coming wrestler who’s looking to go pro? While you don’t need a college degree to bonk somebody over the head with a folding chair, surely there must be some sort of training involved (not counting the potentially painful “on the job” training, of course). Hoping that perhaps the house that Hulk built could tell us what it takes to be king of the ring, we began our search at the official WWE web site. We found a list of job openings with the company, but sadly, none appeared to be for wrestlers.

Onward we marched to a British site entitled Hammerlock Wrestling. Specializing in “professional wrestling and submission wrestling styles,” the organization offers wrestling camps for aspiring body-slammers and head-lockers. Apparently they know what they’re talking about — their news archive lists the exploits of former
students and the camp has hosted guests like the great Jake “The Snake” Roberts.

In general, athletes begin as amateurs and then, if they’re good enough, move on to the pros. In its own over-the-top way, wresting is no different. If you think you have what it takes to tussle with the big boys (and girls), The Ring Post offers a list of schools from Massachusetts to California.